In an environment where settled dipolar party politics and party labels are such a way of life, it questions whether introducing another label will be wise and whether it could gather enough traction to cause serious attention from an electorate. Nevertheless, the current status of affairs on a Vote of No confidence pending on a ruling Party gives rise for reconsideration of party labels and political identity.
The pending “Vote of No Confidence” does not imply a “Vote of Confidence” for the official Opposition, the P.A.M. After all, if P.A.M had the confidence of the electorate it would have been in control of the Parliament. What can be concluded from the status of affairs is that the No Confidence in a Douglas led Government only presents a political opportunity to the official Opposition, P.A.M. There is no ground swell towards the official Opposition, but a call by many for it to unite with those disenfranchised from the Douglas led government in order to defeat his administration at the polls.
Let’s drop back a bit on the theater. The last election many would argue could have been won by the Opposition, but for its ineptness and lack of will to open its doors to the fluidity of the public’s choice of candidates. But 3 to 5 was better than 1 to 6. So there was atrend away from Labour but not sufficient to turn the table around. It was obvious, and still is, that the survival of Labour, despite the grumbling of its supporters on its leadership, rises from the existence of P.A.M as a potential replacement. Labour has successfully played this “fear P.A.M more” card. Now there is trouble in Labour, do those disenfranchised suddenly run to P.A.M? That would be great for Labour because then it could brand the prodigals as “Guy Fawkes” of its Parliament for the benefit of P.A.M. From another perspective, P.A.M would be happy to embrace the discharged to control them and to maximize the opportunity to get into and control a next government. But is this good strategy or the best answer? The Labour Party is well oiled and well-greased with a Douglas wheel. The Party has practically become the personality of Douglas. P.A.M is yet to match his wheel. Even the conduct and operation of Parliament now seems to be controlled by Douglas. Those who believe negative politics can be translated into favour for the opposition only need to look at the outcome of the most recent US Presidential election and the C.O.P/UNC campaign against the PNM in Tobago. It takes more than a bad feeling; it also takes a comfortable feeling about replacement of the “devil”.
The new Opposition can avoid all the negatives and fears by allowing the disenfranchised from the current government and those now beginning to come into the theater to develop a new political brand with which it can merge in the future. Also, it should create a vehicle for those disenchanted with the ruling Party to cross over. Provide the surf board and build a super Opposition, even if it means creating a new brand that can deliver a political super volcano. It’s all about winning and building a team for the best interest of everyone, not a few. It would be difficult for a Douglas Government to survive if the upcoming election is to be a referendum on him and his conduct in government because much of the dissatisfaction in his camp rises from his conduct. But despite so much dissatisfaction within the Douglas Labour, his survival is a testament to the ineptness of the Opposition and lack of its political capacity.
Why the dissatisfaction within Labour and also within P.A.M? Some would contend they are all the same. What happens in one has happened in the other. Put P.A.M in and they will do the same, or will go back to some of what they had in the past whenever in control of the government. So, how can one avoid this? With a new Brand which can speak to the heart of the problem; a Brand that the Opposition must allow to thrive if it is getting traction, which can only benefit the Opposition and the disenfranchised in Labour. After being in politics for some time, too many seem to look to the graft, greed, corruption, patronage and hording of wealth through the office of government for their own benefit and their cronies. Where is your country? Where are you in relation to your country? Where is your team? For such a small State, does it not take team work to survive and to remain competitive in the world market? What has been the Motto since Independence? Has anyone looked to it as a standard?
COUNTRY ABOVE SELF! There it is!
The Brand should be CITIZENS ABOVE SELF FOR THE PEOPLE, C.A.S.P; those who are
committed to rise above self, ego, self-centeredness, greed, graft and corruption for the best interest of the people and the public. Is it not the persistence of these propensities why both the previous P.A.M government and the current Douglas led Labour government have lost favour with the electorate? Now’s the time to fix it. If the Labour representatives of Constituency #3 and 7 are discharged from their government, it only stands to reason that the Opposition should allow them to develop their independency and have their own brand which will benefit the Official Opposition. Unopposed, with their own brand, it will be hard for the leadership of the current government to make a strong case for a choice to be just between P.A.M and Douglas Labour. It’s time for the bitter grudges to be put aside and a new leave to emerge for both sides to embrace and look to the future and not to the past. But independent candidates are not sufficient to quell the fears of the dissatisfied in both political sides. It takes just one more independent seat to make the theater even and avoid such fears.
Voila, Constituency #1. Think of 3 C.A.S.P candidates, 3 potentially electable P.A.M Candidates
# 8, 5 & 4. Fear P.A.M more? Nonsense! It’s now truly a great political opportunity to create a new page for an alternative to the Douglas Labour politics. CASP-PERS are all that’s needed on both sides.
Remember that friendly ghost carton called Casper? Imagine in the middle of the night, someone knocks on the bedroom of DD The Great and whispers: Casper is here for you! Oh My God! He quickly jumps out of his bed, scrambles for his red socks, red underwear, red shirt and red shoes. “Boy, we need to get out of here”, the cry comes. “Ain’t no jumbie coming fer me any more! Tek back dat No Confidence Motion!”
“CASP-PER”, where are you? Clean up our house please! Citizens Above Self for the
People and the Public interest!
