In what can be described as politically startling, the once and again chairman of the People's National Movement (PNM), Franklin Khan, has made less than subtle overtures to the Congress of the People (COP) through a media opportunity that if the COP wasn't comfortable where it was sleeping that there may be room on the PNM's bed. Gone appears to be the days of the party's arrogant trumpeting of winning alone and losing alone under its former leader, and the new leadership seems to have at least awoken to the reality of post-Williams politics, where any party willing to lose alone will be graciously obliged by the electorate.
We are not so easily brainwashed or manipulated anymore.
The COP for its part seems to have stumbled into the role of most desirable "belle at the ball" and, while possessing little political clout of its own, seems to have the ability to make a good time even better for whoever it chooses to dance with. If that be the case and until others of similar or more political sexiness join the dance, we may well be in for some good political horning in times to come. Pressed to comment, chief apologist and political hanger-on, Mariano Browne, rushed to distance the party from this "skettel" behaviour enunciated by the erstwhile chairman, even as the few remaining members of the COP (those who wear their yellow in private) were asking "what's in it for them." Which leads us to the point of this: What could the PNM possibly have to offer anyone now that its own political fortune is in such steep decline?
Reduced to a national punchline over the now famous abstain afternoon, none of the frontline members are even visible enough to comment on important issues, leaving lightweights like Browne (Mariano) and London (Orville) to pontificate this way and that.Trying to adopt the role of handsome suitor is one thing, but my question is: If you intend to turn heads in this dance, shouldn't you at least spend some time ensuring that you are, at the very least, politically attractive? There appears to be nothing salvageable about the PNM right now, save for its diehard supporters who may no longer be as diehard as many think. There is an old Trini saying that thief from thief does make God laugh, and wouldn't it be hysterically ironic that, while pretending to court for another's prize, someone else comes along and takes what they took for granted away?
Dr Keith Rowley promised the generation of hope, the post-Williams members of the balisier party, that they would be returned to a place of respect under his stewardship. This has not materialised and he appears to have failed to deliver on that promise. Now, obviously sensing the national disenchantment with the party he leads, he and his team seem to have finally arrived where the rest of us have been since May 24.
Again Keithos, from the top:
• Drop the deadweight: Disconnect from the politics of destruction and establish the PNM as a sound alternative to governance with vision and policies ready to go.
• Make the party attractive: Woo the electorate with stability and decency, and jettison those rabid supporters who are doing nothing good for the party and are in fact turning away those who might have been interested.
• Move away from race: Make the party as all-inclusive as you can and then go further. Post-Rienzi, Trinidadians are fed up with all the talk about race.
• Deliver on your promises: There is nothing that can save the PNM until trust is returned, and all the posturing and gerrymandering in the world will not help now. Patrick Manning and his cabal have to go as the people continue to see them as living examples of the worst things about politics. Until this is dealt with in a comprehensive manner, nothing will bring the centrist, middle of the road, "country first" voter back, nothing.
While he is still leader of the party, Rowley needs to either lead, follow or get out of the way.
He needs to listen more than he talks, smile more than he frowns, and engage the people from a position of real leadership and understanding and end the non-stop lecture. Franklin Khan may be onto something here and reaching out to others may be very important as the party needs to grow if it is to survive. Before heading out in search of new political partners, my advice to the PNM is make sure it at least has something of substance or value to offer in exchange for what they already have, that is, if you don't want to end up losing alone after all.
Phillip Alexander
Via e-mail