?Prime Minister Patrick Manning must be grossly disappointed.Manning's excitable and emotional monologue in Parliament last Friday was doubtlessly aimed at whipping up partisan passion on religious beliefs, an ever-inflammable issue in this land.
To wild desk-thumping by his parliamentary devotees, the PM indulged in a meandering, self-serving and largely irrelevant discourse that would have been unnecessary if he had only responded to an earlier query from whistleblower Jack Warner. The questions about the Guanapo cathedral were straightforward and warranted a simple explanation the day Warner, oversized picture in hand, demanded an account and justification. Manning mumbled a timeworn religious clich�, opting to return a week later to zap almost an hour of the already limited Opposition day in the House. Irrelevancies aside, Manning pressed buttons to seek to ignite a heated religious debate about non-Christians damning a faith about which they know nothing and hounding the Prime Minister because of his beliefs. Even by Manning's well-known penchant for histrionics while under attack, he was on troubling turf, guilty of goading religious vitriol in the-ever fertile local climate. "Persecution of the Full Gospel fellowship movement has to come to an end," he slammed, in the alarmist manner of bygone sidewalk heretics. And: "I'll attend any church; that's my right! I'll consult whom I wish for spiritual experience."
In characteristic high-handed manner that has led critics to decry that portrays hubris syndrome, Manning even damned two journalists, darkly hinting that they could face a "spirit lash." The hysterical posturing merited either one of two responses: Outrage from a dumbfounded nation or casual dismissal as another frenzied mouthing from the boy who cried wolf. Thankfully, the nation opted for the latter, tired and frustrated at Manning's fondness for emotive and vacuous uttering when he is under intense public pressure. Frantic responses from Christian denominations would have had the effect of sparking an ill-tempered holy war of words, in the process sidetracking the nation from more pressing concerns. There were the inevitable muted rejoinders from the faithful on both sides of the religious aisle. But the matter remained in the political arena, with Kamla Persad-Bissessar being handed a salacious issue with which to make her debut as Opposition Leader.
Manning may have been profoundly disappointed. He could do with a distraction, what with Persad-Bissessar enjoying a protracted political honeymoon in spite of justifiable disappointment over a couple of her senatorial picks. Manning's brassy response indicates that the Government's damage control mechanism is limited to no-holds-barred parliamentary outbursts and gaudy propaganda advertisements in the media. As Information Minister Neil Parsanlal possibly has limited influence with his boss, the PM simply convinced that public grand- standing is the best defence against robust public attacks. As for the public's bemused response to Manning's over-the-top statement, it probably sug- gests the further maturing of our society and its gritty determination not to be browbeaten with drivel. In the end, the matter remained unresolved. Most people have long been convinced that Manning bent the rules and fast-tracked the system for this enigmatic lady of God who has much influence over him and represents him at international State houses. Not missing a beat, the Prime Minister was pounding the pavement this week for the fast-approaching local government elec- tion, even as the country groans over a critical water crisis that is, above all, a failure of political management.
The Water and Sewerage Authority, a long-time poster child of inefficiency, is having difficulties managing its complaint hotline, fixing pipeline leaks and equitably delivering truck-borne supplies. Pray, tell, just when would WASA effectively deal with the larger issue of winning more water, rooting out corruption and efficiently managing its affairs? For her part, Persad-Bissessar hasn't yet jumped on the water crisis, although to the credit of both Speaker Barendra Sinanan and MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, the former recently permitted debate on a motion on the subject filed by the latter. The effrontery of Utilities Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid suggested that the Government–just as with the church issue–is not about to accept responsibility. In the midst of the Government's political theatre, a curious sideshow is developing between the Madam Opposition Leader and Warner, ever a Jack in the box. Keen observers have been noting Warner's shadow boxing around Persad-Bissessar, making statements that ideally should come from her office and generally adopting the role of co-pilot. There is an inevitability of public clashes with such double-headed leadership and the first unseemly collision involved, of all people, serial Senator Wade Mark.
Warner, clearly without conferring with the woman at the helm, announced that Mark had been axed, since "the party membership has ... asked for change" and that "the political leader is merely respecting the wishes of the membership." Not so, a deadpan Kamla seemed to suggest, reappointing a relieved Mark, in the process ending the anguish of the career opposition legislator. There may be wild celebrations in the Mark household, but in the house of the rising sun, the Kamjack duo may face tension unless they chart out each other's respective roles. Manning, meanwhile, has awoken to corruption in the Housing Development Corporation, a troubling reality that has long been known to most people except the housing corporation, that is, until the appointment of the trusted Jearlean John. The bobol scandal is an indictment against a succession of line ministers. Manning's larger assignment, however, is confronting the tinderbox T&T has become, with disgruntled people persuaded that the only way to make the authorities hear is to block public roadways.
The blockade of the Beetham Highway was rank lawlessness, but illustrates the wide gulf in relations between the common man and the governing institutions. The protest of simple Penal folks for a supply of water illustrates the absence of justice and fairplay, with some nationals being deprived of even a once-a-week supply while others can still surreptitiously water their lawns. Party chairman Conrad Enill virtually acknowledged the Government's credibility deficiency the other day, but there have been no meaningful attempts to redress such faulty governance. The situation would surely not be improved by Prime Minister Manning's bluster on the controversial church issue. A word to the wise!