Manning, PNM riding on sheer luck

I have drawn this conclusion, as indeed many other citizens have, based on the performance and arbitrary conduct of the Manning administration in Government. The current squandermania is fuelled by the economic fortunes of the country at this time.

It has nothing to do with frugality or economic imperatives to transform the economy and put it on a sustainable path. Just as the petrochemical industry, the country’s coffers are the beneficiary of windfall profits brought on by unprecedented high oil prices, resulting from factors removed from Government’s intervention or policy. Mr Manning has been lucky. It was by accident he (Mr Manning) was able to lead the PNM, due to the demise of the organisation’s established elites in the 1986 general elections. He led the PNM to victory in the following election, and caused anguish to the PNM in a short-lived term (after three years) by calling elections two years earlier than scheduled.

Subsequently and by sheer serendipity Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, Ralph Maraj and Trevor Sudama caused the succeeding UNC government to fall, forcing general elections. On a mantra of corruption an 18:18 deadlock emerged. Again by pure peradventure Mr Manning’s PNM was handed the Government by Mr Robinson, in a situation where it could have gone either way.

Luck however secured a marginal victory for the PNM. Since then none of the things executed by Mr Manning and his Government can be considered of their own doing and design. It appears that there is an unseen force at work and in their favour. From the looks of things Mr Manning and the PNM are set to misuse that which was handed to them for nurturing and care in the interest of all the peoples in Trinbago. The year 2007 may well mark the final chapter in the strange luck that Manning and his cohorts have assiduously and painstakingly and frivolously frittered away in an excuse for good governance.

ERROL SANDERSON
Tunapuna