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“[…] Surely, we are supposed to be fed up and tired of the mess perpetrated on us by politicians who profess to be spiritually moral and incorruptible, yet they and their fanatics on social media, radio talk shows and letters to the editor, encourage and promote:
“Lies, half-truths, innuendos, picong, propaganda, mudslinging and character assassination on their platforms and programmes—without addressing the issues negatively impacting our lives, or proffering any clear vision to create a society where everyone would count…”
The following Letter to the Editor on the need to change our political habits was submitted to Wired868 by Bryan St Louis, a former education officer for the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU):
Elections are a fundamental component of democratic societies, serving as a crucial mechanism for citizens to exercise their right to choose their representatives and leaders.
Political parties were formed with the primary purpose of winning elections, which leads to power and control of the economy and an ability to implement their political agenda.
In order to achieve that objective, political parties play a pivotal role in shaping the outcomes of elections by using all available resources to wield significant influence over the democratic process—hence the reason the major political parties shy away from campaign financing legislation.
From campaign strategies to voter mobilization, fundraising activities, media influence, amongst other myriad ways, these political parties shape electoral outcomes to maintain or achieve power.
While elections are supposed to be the cornerstone of democratic governance, in our society, it only enables citizens to determine who would be the party in power via the voting process.
After elections, the voice of the citizens is ignored as those elected into office operate as if they are now the owners of the nation.
Manifesto promises and budgetary commitments are just robber talk—because if they are not kept, no one is held accountable.
As citizens, we do not hold anyone accountable because, presently, we exercise our right to vote on the basis of the party we support and not on issues negatively affecting the nation and whether the vision proffered by our chosen party would address those issues.
It is my view that we give blind support to our party regardless of the issues that we are burdened with as citizens.
Fellow citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, we need to change our politics!
We have had enough corruption, misgovernment, mal-administration, extravagance, ignorance, arrogance, inefficiency, individualism and party acrobatics in public affairs, inflation, crime and violence, poor representation, outdated labour legislation, inappropriate political appointments, poor and inefficient public services, bad roads, horrendous traffic congestion and indiscipline among our youth over the years; and no one is taking accountability.
Additionally, issues of mismanagement, anti-worker activities and the failure to listen to the people and provide equity and social justice in the society continue to plague us.
Surely, we are supposed to be fed up and tired of the mess perpetrated on us by politicians who profess to be spiritually moral and incorruptible, yet they and their fanatics on social media, radio talk shows and letters to the editor, encourage and promote:
Photo: Deposit Photos
Lies, half-truths, innuendos, picong, propaganda, mudslinging and character assassination on their platforms and programmes—without addressing the issues negatively impacting our lives, or proffering any clear vision to create a society where everyone would count.
Many of them say “we love you, so we will take good care of you”, but after 63 years of independence and 49 years of being a republic, we still have: an inefficient police service, intolerable road conditions, inefficient public transport, exorbitant food prices, floods every time it rains, poor and unreliable health services, inadequate water supply, inefficient education system, inefficient justice system and lack of sustainable employment.
So, I want to suggest that we need good governance in Trinidad and Tobago and this must be balanced with good politics and caring politicians.
(via OPM.)
Our society is in decay! Our future is in our own hands—in fact, it is at our fingertips once again.
We may not be ready now but the question going forward is: are we seriously interested in making the politics right?
If not, then we will continue to be divided by those who have the financial resources and glib tongue to sway voters and achieve power to satisfy their own party and class interests and that of their financiers, to the detriment of the needs of the ordinary citizens.
It is my hope that we don’t like it so!
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Bryan St Louis is a former education officer for the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU).
