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“[…] Governments come and go, and with them their pet projects, regardless of whether those initiatives were making a difference.
“What happens next? The same communities, the same youth and the same families are left once more to pick up the pieces.
“[…] This goes beyond dollars and cents and is a matter of trust and accountability. Each programme that disappears without continuity chips away at citizens’ faith in governance and social progress…”
The following Letter to the Editor on the potential consequences of abandoning useful initiatives when governments change was submitted to Wired868 by social impact consultant, Kwasi Cudjoe of D’Abadie:
Time and again, Trinidad and Tobago has witnessed the same troubling cycle where freshly picked programmes arrive straight from the idea orchard with much fanfare, promising transformation and upliftment.
Be it focused on youth, citizen security or community development, many of these initiatives are unfortunately tethered more to the life of a political administration than to the long-term needs of communities.
Governments come and go, and with them their pet projects, regardless of whether those initiatives were making a difference.
(Copyright Office of the President.)
What happens next? The same communities, the same youth and the same families are left once more to pick up the pieces.
This is about asking honest questions related to national advancement and not about pointing fingers or getting caught up in political divisions.
How do we ensure that the progress made isn’t lost when a loan closes or governments change?
What systems are in place to really sustain efforts that communities or vulnerable groups have advanced?
(via Trinidad Guardian.)
How can we move forward from short-term projects to long-term support?
The pattern is painfully too familiar, one in which programmes often operate like pop-up tents, temporary, glossy and ultimately packed away. Some, ill-advisedly designed, not for impact but as a legacy project badge of honour.
The consequences, however, aren’t temporary and leave behind disillusionment and unmet expectations. This goes beyond dollars and cents and is a matter of trust and accountability.
(via Uncle Keron.)
Each programme that disappears without continuity chips away at citizens’ faith in governance and social progress.
Worse still, the practice of developing unsustainable programmes that are high in number and low in staying power also reveals a deeper flaw in how we view social development.
It’s not about how many launches or ribbon cuttings we can count in a fiscal year. It should centre on quality, continuity and whether these interventions truly address the root causes of social issues or merely patch over symptoms for a while.
Copyright: Office of Parliament 2025.
On a side note, we must also be candid about the risks of relying on external funding or loans, as geopolitical shifts can quickly change global priorities.
The faucet of donor aid doesn’t flow forever, and our communities should not suffer when the world blinks or looks away.
As a citizen, I believe that now is the time for our past, present and aspiring leaders to rethink how we approach development. And we need to demand that programmes, especially those affecting our most vulnerable, are built for sustainability, with local ownership and long-term planning.
Development should not be a revolving door of short-term fixes but a consistent march towards genuine, lasting change.
Where does T&T go from here? We need to decouple programmes from politics by establishing or revisiting existing independent agencies to have them manage and sustain key initiatives across political cycles.
We must also prioritise community ownership and capacity building by shifting from top-down implementation to co-creation.
(via OPM.)
Invest in local leadership, civil society and governance structures so that initiatives can be owned and maintained by the people they are meant to serve.
Nearing 63 years of independence, we should understand by now that development is not only about starting new things but also about staying the course.
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Want to share your thoughts with Wired868? Email us at editor@wired868.com.
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Cudjoe’s letter strikes at a truth many in Trinidad and Tobago know all too well: our country is caught in a cycle where promising social programmes—especially those meant to uplift youth, communities, and vulnerable groups—are often short-lived, tied more to political lifespans than to national needs. Jaill your comment, sharp and unapologetically candid, adds another layer—highlighting the public’s growing disillusionment with leaders who appear more invested in personal legacies and party loyalty than in the people they are meant to serve.
The consequences of this dynamic go beyond wasted money. Each programme that is abandoned without continuity chips away at the public’s faith—not only in governance, but in the idea of progress itself. It sends a signal that transformation is performative, not purposeful. That change is seasonal, not structural.
But what if Trinidad and Tobago could flip this narrative?
In a world increasingly defined by division, polarization, and identity politics, our nation is uniquely positioned to offer something different—a model of pluralism that works. We are a people of many races, religions, and backgrounds. From African, Indian and Chinese to Indigenous and European heritage, our culture blends like the ingredients in our most beloved dishes—doubles, pelau, callaloo, roti, bake and shark. Our culinary identity alone is a national unifier and a symbol of what’s possible when we mix diversity with mutual respect and shared purpose.
This is more than just cultural pride—it’s a roadmap. Trinidad and Tobago can set an example for the world, not only in how we celebrate diversity, but in how we govern it. The key is to take the unity we demonstrate through food, music, and Carnival, and apply it to the structures that govern development.
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So, how do we move from pop-up projects to lasting progress?
1. Legislate Continuity: Programmes that serve communities should not live or die by election cycles. We must push for legislation and reforms that protect vital social initiatives from political interference by placing them under independent, professionally managed bodies with long-term mandates.
2. Foster Community Ownership: Programmes must be built with—not just for—communities. Co-creation must replace top-down directives. When people see themselves in the process, they protect the outcomes.
3. Elevate Public Service Ethics: We need a culture shift where leadership is defined by service, not status. Public roles should not be stepping stones for personal CVs, but platforms for lasting impact. Leadership development and civic education must emphasize humility, accountability and continuity.
4. Use Culture as a Tool for Civic Engagement: Just as our food brings us together, so can our festivals, music, and shared traditions be harnessed to strengthen national identity and civic responsibility. Development is not only about policy—it’s about people feeling like they belong to the same story.
5. Create Systems for Transparency and Feedback: Citizens must be empowered to track and evaluate government efforts. Real-time community feedback mechanisms, audits, and public scorecards can ensure that promises are not only made—but kept.
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A Call to the Heart of the Nation
Development must stop being a revolving door of projects that sound good in manifestos but disappear in practice. Our future demands more. It demands that we treat every initiative as part of a longer journey—not a political detour. It calls for leaders who look beyond their term limits and citizens who demand substance over spectacle.
Let us be a nation that doesn’t just produce world-class music, food, and culture—but also world-class models of inclusive, sustainable development. In doing so, Trinidad and Tobago can become not just a celebration of diversity—but a living example of what it means to govern with continuity, compassion, and collective purpose.
We already know how to bring people together. Now, let’s build a country where that spirit doesn’t end after the parade passes—but leads us forward, every single day.
Look at the faces pictured in this article. Do you see genuiness or as the youths will say, realness etched on these faces?
Ascension to government is never about the people/constituents/voters etc. It is about these persons applying the finishing touches to their (already) considerable CVs. It is about getting to what they consider to be the zenith of their careers/existence. It is not about the country or the betterment of the people.
Listen closely to the discourse (official statement, the flippant ones and you get an idea of what’s up with them) Hence some are so emboldened to the point of openly confessing that the party they represent is more important than the country they aspire to lead. Sadly this is reflected in the decisions/carnage they wreak along the way.
Since it is not possible to get our politicians to genuinely care (about the people and the resources they are entrusted with). We must demand that some level of continuity is factored into their approach to governance. Maybe this can begin with adjustments to our constitution.