Letter: Yes we'll be political, Mr Imbert!

Every time someone or some group stands up against the government of Trinidad and Tobago on issues affecting the people of Trinidad and Tobago, Colm Imbert and his colleagues brand such a stand as "political".

By so doing he attempts to diminish the issue because in his mind being "political" is probably a bad thing.

Politics according to Wikipedia, is a process by which groups of people make decisions. The term is generally applied to behavior within civil governments, but politics has been observed in all human group interactions, including corporate, academic and religious institutions.

It consists of "social relations involving authority or power" and refers to the regulation of a political unit, and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy.

Minister Imbert usually speaks of "political" as it pertains to methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy by civil or even official political groups. The very policies that his colleagues would otherwise force down our unsuspecting throats.

Ironically, he does not view as "political" the examples set by him, his leader and his colleagues, when they attempt to take away the rights of citizens; squander the resources under management for the citizens; keep citizens insecure and afraid; prevent citizens from having access to efficient services such as health care, education and the like; penalize citizens for saving and securing their future; cover up official corruption; and ensure only a few good friends prosper.

In a civilized, democratic society policy making should be about increasing the rights of citizens; ensuring that citizens grow and develop; ensuring that citizens are safe; ensuring that citizens get the best education and health care; ensuring that savings are rewarded; ensuring that corruption is removed from the system to ensure that every citizen enjoy the resources provided to the nation.

So yes, when we march against more taxes we are being "political". When we march against corruption, we are being "political". When we march against the draft constitution, we are being "political". When we march against the destruction of our environment, we are being "political". When we march against high food prices, poor health care, poor education, thievery and arrogance in government, we are being "political".

And yes, Minister Imbert, we will continue to be "political" because it is the only way we will get a better society for all after all we cannot depend on our "representatives" for that.

Gavin Nicholas Attorney at Law