The course of governance by the new administration is under scrutiny and fire as much by impatient supporters as by detractors anxious to discredit the Partnership for political ends. Before the last elections I wrote on 4th May 2010 as follows, and to date I can find no reason to bewail the perceived shortcomings of the People’s Partnership.
“The People’s Partnership of UNC, COP, TOP, and others is a coalition of diverse political interest groups that have as their common objective, better governance of Trinbago for the good of the citizens of this twin island state.
"(Manning) has galvanised the opposition parties into unification as a single Party of Parties after their prior divisiveness ensconced him into secure tenure now abandoned all too hastily.
"All that was needed was a common foe, evil enough to warrant concerted confrontation.
"The Party of Parties will bring their various, even conflicting theses to the table and synthesis will result from their deliberations. No longer shall labour have to confront government. It will share in governance and bear equal responsibility for the economy’s performance.
"A benefit of the Party of Parties is the automatic watchdog role of each. The incentive for good governance is the cherished prize of leadership which each shall harbour, while serving the common good.”
In my own view, the tensions that exist within the Partnership work to its better functioning.
The built-in watchdog role remains effective. While others yearn for an idyllic single true unified party, with equality for all sectors, I view that aspiration as historically failed in the efforts of the NAR, and even the UNC which had splintered by the secession of the Dookeran-led COP faction.
The UNC suffered for decades from the ambitions of aspirant leaders until the founder himself was blamed as the cause of all schisms.
A partnership recognizes senior and junior partners, a very useful feature in putting matters to rest before fracture by assumed parity.
That the UNC is the senior partner may be an uncomfortable fact to junior aspirant partners, but clearly that settles contentious issues by the stark reality of the power structure.
It is interesting to admit also that even within single unit parties, power struggles occur.
Within the UNC itself, whether through impatience or ambition, we now have a ubiquitous Minister of Works dabbling in matters better left to sister ministries. Left alone, this intrusive propensity will yield its own fruit of public opprobrium rather than the popularity it seeks.
I see Mr. Warner becoming increasingly frustrated by his own impatience over the inevitably slow pace of governance transformation. His dazzling kaleidoscope of ideas continue to need constant revision.
The PPGORTT is being challenged for delivery, and the chorus sounds like that of impatient urchins. Mature reflection tells us that their delivery of promises has been largely interrupted by unanticipated crises gallantly handled.
It is also ironic that while many condemned their campaign promises as overly ambitions, they are now being denounced for not delivering that which was seen as unfeasible.
Certainly, the PPGORTT cannot meet all promises if it maintains the present money paradigm. But to revise the Central Bank Act requires more audacity than it can now muster.
Simple basic solutions have also been offered for the HDC repair challenge and the nationwide annual flooding events, but the grandiose environmental challenge seems more fascinating.
What the PPGORTT has delivered surprisingly on is human-suffering relief and claim settlement along with a partial Pension subsidy scheme. Its 120-day program success should not be prejudged.
It is clearly setting about to deal with its inherited debacle, to which must be added the mandatory prosecution now apace. In short, the PPGORTT has encountered more refuse than it could have anticipated.
While many are noising about over the current NY trip, it seems to me that it was designed to circumvent security threats that were serious. It is also clear that many who did not qualify paid for their trip.
And I see the opportunity for a needed break as a definite benefit for the overstressed Madame Prime Minister.
What the PPGORTT has also fulsomely delivered on is a continuance of established programs and policies that remain of benefit to the nation.
Unlike the NAR which virtually stopped the Government train for assessment, the present transition has been fluid. One is not unhappy at the criticisms being leveled against the PPGORTT, as we must remain vigilant and critical by bitter experience.
For its part, the PPGORTT must remember that the PM has invited criticism to ensure government’s performance excellence.
M.F. Rahman
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