Former President Arthur N.R. Robinson is unhappy with some of the "adversarial positions" that politicians and their supporters are taking in the campaign for the May 24 election in Trinidad and Tobago. In an interview with the Sunday Guardian, Robinson - who is also a former prime minister - he explained that this is one of the reasons why he met on Thursday with opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
The UNC leader and her People's Partnership colleague, Ashworth Jack of the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) met Robinson for two hours at Robinson's home.
He told the paper his luncheon meeting was intended to “make a small contribution, by an act of civility.”
He also said this is a significant time in the political development of Trinidad and Tobago since it is "the first time in the history of T&T that a lady is competing in the race to become Prime Minister; I felt that some decency could appear in electioneering in our country at this time.”
Robinson told the paper many citizens have told him they are disturbed "by the atmosphere in T&T with respect to the election campaign,” adding that “I, myself, am quite unhappy over the level of argument and rhetoric that is taking place."
Robinson appeared to take a swipe at the People's National Movement (PNM) campaign which is trying to water down accusations of corruption by suggesting that it is not as corrupt as the Panday UNC government.
He said such a position is “a non-argument and a disreputable one.”
The former president said he hopes his meeting with Persad-Bissessar “would be a signal, however minute, to help reduce the level of confrontation.”
He noted that all politicians must remember that “our children are witnesses to our behaviour and may in some way be influenced by it to the detriment of the future of our nation."
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