Noble: Trust fund babies chasing the wind—how the PNM still avoids reality

In the run-up to our General Elections, I indicated how the world’s events impact our country and how our method of selecting candidates operates.

The notion of a rentier economy (one in which a significant portion of income is derived from owning assets like land, natural resources or financial instruments, rather than from producing goods and services) where the ruling party has the power to allocate the spoils was discussed.

The problem with a rentier economy is that it spawns trust fund babies—adult children who are unaware of the financial realities of life and unequipped to be responsible for themselves, because someone else’s money has always been there to protect them.

The label is often associated with privilege, entitlement, and laziness.

In our case, gas and oil made us the quintessential trust fund babies. According to Maestro’s calypso, Mr Trinidad, we will continue to look for a Messiah. False promises will abound.

While one economist moaned that it is not the right time to raise rates, Dr Ronald Ramkissoon stated that as a country, “we have taken advantage of or abused” many of the subsidies that successive governments have allowed.

Trust fund babies often do not wish to face the reality that the fund is in trouble and, by extension, their way of life is threatened. They prefer to chase the wind—a metaphor for pursuing a futile undertaking.

Gurr (1970) explains that the gap between expected and achieved welfare creates collective discontent.

“For Aristotle, the principal cause of revolution is the aspiration for economic or political equality on the part of the common people who lack it, and the aspiration of oligarchs for greater inequality than they have—that is, a discrepancy in both instances between what people have of political and economic goods relative to what they think is justly theirs.”

We should examine our election results through this lens.

However, there is a peculiar group of trust fund babies —the People’s National Movement (PNM) hierarchy. They inherited a grand institution, but through arrogance, they have squandered their inheritance.

Now, after their electoral loss, they are trying to bramble us: no interest in self-reflection.

In an astonishing Facebook post, the Party’s General Secretary said: “he was not consulted and did not approve of the strategy engaged by the Party’s former executives to move forward in the April 28 general elections.”

He distanced himself from those ‘who took us from government to opposition’.

“I am loyal to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Party founded by Dr Eric Williams, the resilient People’s National Movement.”

Mr Cummings, obviously, is not well-versed in Dr Williams’ thinking about the role of the general secretary.

“The legislator dominated in the individualism of the Old World; it is the constituency organisation that must dominate in the party of the new. The key is a reorganised central office.

“The Party must have its own ‘cabinet’ and its own ‘ministers’ in the central office, centring around the general secretary, who, in calibre and status, must be on par with the legislative representatives of the Party.

“The responsibility of the general secretary must be the organisation of a central office functioning in such a way as to serve all elements of the Party as a guide, to train people, and to develop the talents of individual party members wherever they may be.” (Cudjoe, 1993 p 219)

Cummings failed to grasp the lesson of his predecessor, Martin Joseph, who did the reverse of Cumming’s actions. Joseph was elected as a member of Parliament and then reverted to become a senator due to the demands of serving as the general secretary.

Which other general secretary tried to grasp control of the Party as Cummings? Where were the training sessions of the famed party school? Who was developed?

“The legislature remains in theory and, in practice, the highest organ of government. Power is concentrated in the hands of ministers. Therefore, the more powerful the Party in the community, the more powerful the legislative and ministerial arm of the Party.” (Cudjoe, ibid, p 220).

Was the Party more powerful in the community? The self-proclaimed ‘Mayor of La Horquetta/Talparo’ received a resounding electoral reprimand.

Any self-respecting chief executive officer would have resigned, and any competent board would have fired a person for such a performance.

Is William’s advice of integrity, humility and patience still applicable?

Louis Lee Sing’s comments about Dr Keith Rowley may have been true, but they certainly look applicable to the present crop of leaders.

“Dr Rowley had the possibility to be a transformational leader, but leading is not an easy assignment, particularly when you’re leading, and you have built up a team of people and surrounded yourself by people who demand nothing of you.”

In the last few weeks, have we seen anyone who demonstrates a deep understanding and the skills to be a transformational leader? Instead, we witness the fawning ‘fanboy’ antics of persons like Marvin Gonzales, who should know better. Loyalty is the word!

At last year’s Budget forum, Imbert reported: “I do think that quite a few people feel that things are better now than they were five or seven years ago.”

The question was posed: Was this what the party groups told him?

“In the face of Imbert’s disconnection, did the General Secretary serve all elements of the Party as a guide?”

At least, Dr Rowley shouldered his responsibility. Why is Cummings speaking about ‘shifting the blame’?

The Party has drifted from its original moorings. Who, like Dr Williams, can now provide “an intellectually unassailable perspective to contemporary debates”? (Palmer, 2006, p 25).

What will we see in the Parliament based on the response to the recent Venezuela impasse?

Dr Williams affirmed the People’s National Movement’s embrace of “all races and colours and from all walks of life… dedicated to the pursuit of national ends, without any special privilege being granted to race, colour, class, creed, national origin”. (Palmer, ibid, p 24)

We now hear whispers of a Black Caucus. Really?

Kwasi Robinson, the outgoing social media officer, has been criticised for his performance. But nobody has turned the spotlight on the ‘dumb’ Minister of Communications.

Did he not sit idly by while his peers chastised the hurting population with callous advice about ‘coal pots’ and ‘macaroni pies’? Did he advise Dr Rowley of the impact of snatching the spoils of the Salaries Review Commission?

Dr Williams’ advice regarding communication: “It is not writing articles in the press that is important. It is to lay down the lines along which articles should be written and to find and develop this talent in all sections of the organisation.”

Is he now being recycled to sit beside others to trot out explanations about their past performances?

Eric Williams said: “Let me make it quite clear, the men to fill these two top posts, general secretary of the Party and editor of the Party (the communication head), must be men who look upon their tasks as sufficient to occupy the greatest talents and energies that they have.” Cudjoe, ibid, p 222)

The entire leadership of the Party should be required to read Williams’ speech, Perspectives for our Party (Cudjoe, ibid, pp 208-236), or stop pretending to be Williams’ disciples.

There is a sense that ‘a win is a win’. Did the Party review its 2020 victory? After a humongous effort to contain the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, what was the impact in the polls?

The turnout was only 58%, the lowest since 2000. The Party lost 15% of its votes from its 2015 victory.

Was the Party stuck in the mode of an emotionally distant husband? “Ah gie this, ah gie yuh dat, what more yuh want?”

Let us visit the past election results and draw lessons. Otherwise, we would be continuously looking for happiness like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz:

“Someplace where there isn’t any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It’s not a place you can get to by a boat or a train. It’s far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain.”

Stay tuned.