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No Change of Heart
The bacchanal over Rowley’s sudden firing is not likely to weaken the PNM. The reason for this is the party draws its sustenance from a well-entrenched, hard core African voting bloc that is more inspired by the fact that it does not want an Indian Prime Minister. Performance, policies and political philosophy is secondary, if not totally irrelevant.
The UNC is no different, but its Indian hard core base has been more accommodating, some say. The support for ANR Robinson as PM in 1986 is referred to as evidence of this. I disagree. This was an act of political necessity as the Indian base had realized it simply could not win government by itself. More importantly, it was grudgingly accepted that new party would not be able to pull enough votes from the PNM unless it had an African leader. That is why Panday facilitated Robinson.
The hard core base of both parties is intact and the hope that it might be dwindling with the new generation of young voters is not supported by the empirical data. Children are culturally schooled into the ways of their parents and this guarantees both parties a steady supply of new racial recruits.
Rowley’s firing reminds me of the famous “Not a damn dog bark!” statement from Dr Williams which captured the contempt of the PNM leadership for its racial flock. It explains why Panday could have told supporters in the last general elections, 'Forget the candidate and vote for the symbol'. The ‘symbol’ referred to here is not the rising sun, but rather the coded idea of Indian leadership.
Both leaders know that their racial tribe will support their race. The ‘opposite number’ is precisely that: the racial and political opposite of you. You are taught that you simply cannot trust the other group to be fair; they will not allow you to feed at the trough of government. This explains why people will dissent, but incredibly say that they remain PNM to the bone. PNM supporters want to protest and march against the government because of crime and high food prices, but not against their political party from which the government is drawn. Difficult as it is to reconcile, they manage to separate the two.
They will remain PNM even if they think the government is failing them as if they are ignorant of the fact that it is their support for the PNM that creates and re-elects this very failed government which is the object of their protest. Conversely, UNC supporters will remain firm regardless of how clear and predictable their political destination on the opposition benches is.
At the end of the day, this country is being held to ransom both hard core groups who vote for a racial ideology that is disguised as a political philosophy. There is little difference between the two tribes on this score.
Panday’s comment on Manning’s treatment of Rowley illustrates this. He lacks the moral authority and political credibility to criticize Manning because he was no different. His statement that, “If I were prime minister and someone behaved in a manner that weakened the power of the Government to deal with the people's problems, I would fire him/her. In this regard, my record speaks for itself. But if such behaviour resulted from a genuine attempt to expose fraud, corruption and mismanagement, I would promote him." is amusing. I am certain Ramesh wore a smirk when he read that comment.
Rowley will learn an important lesson: the love and adoration of the PNM tribe is conditional. It is inspired by their desire for African leadership and this is what comes first. That is why the PNM could not allow Errol Mahabir or Kamaluddin Mohammed to succeed Dr Williams and the dour George Chambers was selected.
Manning is strengthening his leadership. He simply does not want strong people capable of independent thought around him. He has removed his natural successor and there is now no heir to the PNM throne.
Dr Rowley must see the opportunity in this crisis. The nation must hope that he will learn to appreciate and enjoy the new intellectual and political freedom. His statements thus far have been disappointing. It reeks of, 'I was born a PNM and will die one no matter what'. So much for sharing a cup of tea now, with Chandresh, I guess.
A towering figure in parliament, he can carve a place in our political history by articulating his criticisms of the government outside cabinet in the interest of the nation. A quiet retreat on the backbenches into political reticence (if not oblivion), in the hope than papa Manning will someday forgive him for doing his duty, will damage his credibility.
by Anand Ramlogan 2008-04-26
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In the space of a few days, we have seen Rowley fired, Manning defending his actions, Rowley throwing out an alternative explanation, and many, many persons of all tiers of society - from political pundits to media hounds - analysing, dissecting, cogitating...
None of it will make any difference. No matter how many hints are thrown out, nothing will change.
There is a mentality in Trinidad that Anand hints at - better the trouble we own gih we, than the trouble the other side gih we...
Things will continue as normal. Duncey headed people will bawl and lament the waste, the corruption, the total uselessness of the government but in the end they will continue voting the same way. Only in this regard, I have to say that there are some slight indicators that the Indian population is more willing to shift from the tribal mindset.
But the Negro population will continue to support the PNM, and the Indians the UNC, and forever the twain shall ne'er meet.
For anyone who is capable of an intelligent thought, this is an entiely frustrating affair, much akin to beating your head against a brick wall. Sometimes I cannot understand why the people don't see the need to make a change for themselves, but I suppose like an amoeba cannot help but divide, so too they cannot help their instinct.
And so, once again, a golden opportunity will be lost, forever blown in the wind.
"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself" - Thomas Paine.
An interesting conversation follows:
[Excerpted from: Shahid Dadabhoy p59 in Naaz Coker, Racism in Medicine: An agenda for change, (2001) Kings Fund Publishing ISBN 1 85717 407 0]
Did you figure out which 'Continent' it was?
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I assert that 'oppression' in T&T exists and is in large part racially motivated.
Anand, Jumbie and many others continue to refer to certain groups in T&T as 'African' and 'Indian'. The equivalent of these peoples in America and England - removed from their ancestors by the similar timescales - do not (largely) refer to themselves as African or Indian. And I'm yet to hear a born and bred white American refer to himself as English, Irish, Scandinavian. And certainly similar persons in England do not refer to themselves as Roman or Italian!
However, Trinbagonians of the analogous groups tend to see themselves as still very connected to Africa and India in many ways. The vast majority of them have no concept of the cultural, ethnic, and genetic diversity that exists on respective continents. How on earth could they logically connect to anything of that which is so factually nebulous in their minds? I speak partly from personal experience. When sitting in T&T prior to 1990 I could not understand what Africa meant. Africa was a thing on a map. Eventually I travelled to Africa in 2001. We did not tell relatives in T&T that were going there. So I decided to surprise them (in T&T) with a call from Tunisia.
Well ah still speechless! I didn't/don't really know what to think. Why might I get beat up in 'Africa'? Ah mean like 'dee whole ah Africa', something about Tunisia? Something special about me or the whole of Africa, in the mind of Indo-Trinbagonians 6000 miles away? In reality the relatives didn't even know whey dee ass Tunisia was? And to make matters worse my teenage son (though very bright), after the holiday, thought Tunisia was in Europe! [Well we had a laugh about that one].
It's similar to when I spoke with Trini's on the phone from Scotland - they kept referring to "Englan' and London". The point? They are totally clueless (as was I prior to 1990) - as to what the UK is! And you must keep in mind that for my O'level Geography I studied the geography and economics of the UK (and passed very well, thank you) - so I know what 'clueless' means.
And I confidently extrapolate from the above that when Trinbagonians talk about India and Africa they (in large proportions) are totally clueless about what the reality of those nations, or their people are about. The UK's mere 95 thousand square miles will fit omteen times into the 12 Million square miles of Africa and 4.7 Million square miles of India. So Trinbagonians (from my experience) in having such a difficult time appreciating life and cultures in the UK; can I expect them to magically and more accurately comprehend continents a zillion times larger and more diverse? But how do they achieve it in T&T? Easy - they fool themselves and take themselves into culturally accepted delusion. And those who therefore appear misguided, are the likes of me and Sir Vidya Naipaul (labelled a neemakharam in the process).
I suggest that the people of Trinidad & Tobago are lost! They hold on to identities inappropriately and refuse to define themselves as a separate culture. In recent years this hunting for identity has resulted in a strange alignment to American culture. This has led many Trini's to speak in weird American accents. This phenomenon was seen in Jamaica 15 years previously.
The inappropriate identities latched on to, have led to 'racial' divisions. Instead of seeing themselves as one people they have polarised themselves based on a delusion that large sections of them are African or Indian. Imagine if my suggestion comes to be proven true - that the major part of the division based on pure fantasy, delusion and 'self-misidentification', is the real source of the Nation's demise.
Mr John Public born and bred in T&T, I say to you 'You are not African. You are not Indian. You are not Chaiynee. You are not Spanish. You are not French-Creole, You are not Potogee.' I say these are false identities that have no foundation in logic. The sooner the dividing lines are closed and the lot of you decide to embrace reality - yes my reality - that you are one people and one unique culture, on one ship - you will begin to make real progress.
To continue to remain divided as stupidly as you do, is to lead yourselves, or allow yourselves, to be led into oppression and oblivion. But it's not just about you and it is not just about today. It is about tomorrow and it is about your descendants.
So Mr Indian from Curepe, Barackpore, or Penal - throw away dat cup yuh have in dee cupboard? Yuh eh know which one? Dee one yuh does keep fuh niger to drink from!
This is not just an ordinary firing of a Senior Cabinet Minister and long standing, popular PNM member and supporter..!
No one at that level gets fired for a 5 minute tirade, whether behaving like a "wajang" or "hooligan"..or not, as Manning said...was the case at hand here...!It just does not add up, it does not make sense, Rowley hit a raw nerve or got too close to home, in Manning's books, something spooked him, Manning that is, and this is only a distraction...!
...when the mark buss, and the cat out of the bag, you go hear tings like the "Chinese connection",(the Taiwanese wife of Calder Hart and her Chinese friends in the Far East)remember Manning and his visit to China and his international obligations, hence the reason for a jet?) not to forget all the Chinese Contractors and workers in Trinidad and illegal Chinese immigrants??)! - human slavery??? for a fee???
... you go hear names like Andre Monteil, (the PNM treasurer and friend of Manning,) and university class mate of Calder Hart and the man who invited Hart to come to Trinidad, remember the $110 million transaction that went away just before the election and never returned? you go hear names like HCL Managing Director, Michael FiFi and Clico and free (3) apartments to Calder Hart which he sold for over $3 million dollars...and pocketed...???,
...you go hear about Manning's 2020 Vision of which Calder Hart is the "engine" to drive it,together with tall big buildings and billion dollar stadiums and hospitals that cannot seem to get finished and always end up with "huge cost over-runs"..in the millions...even billions..?.
... you go hear tings like "a house for everyone" of which Calder Hart is the architect of the plan, since he was involved with CHMC, ("the Canada Housing Mortgage Corporation") and the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) (affordable housing for everyone) for which he got hauled in on so many occasions along with the Housing Minister of the day to answer in Parliament for over-expenditures and less house starts to show for it... and yes, too many cost over runs also, and nothing to show for it, described as the "sinking Titanic"(check Saskatchewan Hansard)...sounds familiar just like in Trinidad???
...yes, same Calder Hart...connect the dots...Manning have the plan, but Hart has the know how along with his wife has the Chinese connections and contacts to make it happen...! you'll see...!
...so this ain't no ordinary firing, this is billion dollar business that cannot get interrupted by no "five minute tirade", this is serious money involved....too much money at stake here...lots of folks in it, so no monkey business in Monkey Island...Rowley or no Rowley...there is much more to come yet...just wait and see...! like playing with the "chinese mafia"!
...the firing was only a distraction from the real mc'coy, to shift focus on "politics", but Rowley knows some but not all, Patrick and Hazel look like the key players, with Saith in on some of it, and Calder Hart and his wife being the chief operatives...the inside folks, the connections, the Chinese connections...check the Chinese Embassy news and their visits to China!
...wait till the mark buss, it will come out soon...dese tings cyar hide for too long...!
...patience my friends...patience..!
and goodluck...Trini.t.o.o
You are right Trini t.o.o.These same names crop up time and time again, too many times for coincidence. I am reminded of something one of James Bond's nemesis told him:'Once is happenstance,Twice is coincidence,Third time is too many and is enemy action.' (Or words to that effect).As we all know these names crop up more than thrice already. (^_^)There is indeed damning evidence that millions are sucked out the treasury, and no accountability to stem the flow.Like you say, we have to wait, but I am sure these boys make Johnny O look like an amateur.