Dookeran praises Warner, launches new search for political unity

Congress of the People (COP) leader Winston Dookeran said Sunday Jack Warner is an exemplary politicians and a true patriot who loves Trinidad and Tobago.

He was speaking at a Divali celebration in Warner's Chagunas West constituency. Warner had invited the COP leader to share the stage with him and deliver the feature address.

In acknowledging Warner's gesture, Dookeran said he was humbled by the invitation and reminded his audience that it was in Chaguanas 25 years ago that he started his political career, winning a seat for what was then the United Labour Front (ULF).

He said while Warner and others spoke at the function on behalf of their constituents he would speak for the entire country since he holds no seat in Parliament.

But first he showered praise on his host. "I salute him (Warner) as an exemplary Parliamentarian and a true patriot of our country. I know Jack Warner loves Trinidad and Tobago."

And then he shifted to his message of unity, saying Divali offers the ideal opportunity to talk about such a subject.

He said Hindus believe that there is a bit of the Divine in each one of us in the form of the soul or the Atma.

"My message to you tonight is to use the bit of divine power inside each one of us to sustain harmony and Unity of Purpose among our people, and in the politics of our land," he said, adding that he found the true search for unity in the pages of the Ramayana.

"In this epic poem, we see how the structure of unity and character leads to a decisive victory of the divine man. It took fourteen years, and was at all times sustained by TRUTH," he said, referring to Rama's banishment from his Kingdom and his triumphal return after exile.

"The Ramayana centers on the principle of Unity in Diversity, arguing that otherwise there will be constant restlessness in society. The restlessness in the politics of our society today is because our leaders have severely violated the principle of Unity in Diversity," he said.

Dookeran added, "We see this visibly in Government, in our Parliament and in our Political Parties. This is why the COP is founded in Unity in Diversity and is opened for all of the people of Trinidad and Tobago."

The former central bank governor said citizens must never fear the future but must instead work together to shape it through unity.

"Our politics must not promote racial divisions, nor must we, the people become victims in our own society. It is unity of purpose and unity in diversity that protects the world, and secures an enduring freedom for our nation," he said.

The COP leader said the restlessness in the nation's politics must stop, adding that "the recklessness must come to an end, and reason must now come to the fore, with a sense for the future."

He said, "Tonight, I start that journey with you again, for yet another time, as we tap that bit of divinity in each one of us to bring a oneness between unity and character in the politics of our country.

"I know the road is dangerous ahead, but I also know if we do not take it, the danger ahead will be even greater as the nation plunge into permanent crisis."

Dookeran offered guidelines for taking charge of the future:

• we must not fear the future
• we must be brave and courageous
• we must create that future

He said, "Unity of the people we can. Unity of the people we will. Unity of the people we must. For the Unity we seek, we must find common ground, but common ground is not all we need."

He explained that in seeking unity "we must also seek higher ground" and reiterated that the nation and its leaders must remove race from politics so that "the unity we seek would move the nation into action."

Dookeran said he looks forward "to starting the journey of Unity for yet another time.

"Once it was at Reinzi complex, then it was, in the midst of booing at Center mall, Chaguanas on February 19th 2006 and now it is here at Marchin Village, in the Constituency of Chaguanas West," he said.

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