Dear Editor: Political parties must understand value of experience alongside fresh faces

“[…] With the current leadership transition announced by Dr Keith Rowley, despite having new faces in the likes of Kareem Marcelle and Christian Birchwood for the Laventille seats and not-so-new faces in MPs Terrence Deyalsingh, Faris Al-Rawi, Stuart Young, Nyan Gadsby-Dolly—who all have at least 10 years of experience under their belt—the PNM’s GE 2025 offerings still feature a few MPs with 20 and 30 years’ worth of experience in debating and piloting legislation.

“We cannot underestimate the value and balance the Beckles, Robinson-Regises and Imberts bring to a party that is transitioning into the future…”

The following Letter to the Editor on the balance between old and young MPS in Trinidad and Tobago’s major political parties was submitted to Wired868 by Carla Streete of Carapichaima:

Please permit me a few lines in your publication. Last evening I was looking at UNC’s pavement report. We are in an election year and I like to keep up.

I listened to contributions by Dave Tancoo and Vandana Mohit and I was struck by the immaturity of their platform delivery after almost five years in Parliament and realized that they are the senior MPs in the current UNC.

This realization forced an instant comparison to the sitting government that has managed from 2015 to now to maintain a balance of experience and new blood.

I note that even with the current leadership transition announced by Dr Keith Rowley, despite having new faces in the likes of Kareem Marcelle and Christian Birchwood for the Laventille seats and not-so-new faces in MPs Terrence Deyalsingh, Faris Al-Rawi, Stuart Young, Nyan Gadsby-Dolly—who all have at least 10 years of experience under their belt—the PNM’s GE 2025 offerings still feature a few MPs with 20 and 30 years’ worth of experience in debating and piloting legislation.

We cannot underestimate the value and balance the Beckles, Robinson-Regises and Imberts bring to a party that is transitioning into the future. With Dr Rowley’s imminent departure, their presence becomes even more important for anchoring the government.

It is useful that he sees the importance of both tradition versus change in what he offers the country.

If only the Opposition Leader were as resourceful in giving us voters options.

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