Column: Rowley's dilemma is how to justify his mutiny against his own party

Keith Rowley appears to have found himself in a political straight jacket.

The new PNM leader told supporters earlier this week that the current government seems to be  “more PNM than PNM” since it is keeping many PNM programmes.

He made the comment as he tried to explain his party's rationale for voting for the budget.

One of his caucus colleagues was careful to explain that there is a difference between voting for government policy and the appropriations bill. 

Colm Imbert stated on an Internet chat site that MPs vote for the "appropriations" not the budget speech, which he said is a statement of government policy.

That means, according to Imbert, when Rowley and the PNM registered their "Ayes" for the budget they did not agree to such things as the scrapping of the smelter or the CL plan. So his point is that it's OK to support the budget but at the same time slam the government.

Rowley didn't follow that line of logic.

Instead the opposition leader admitted that the PNM "ushered in" the People's Partnership, which he suggested is really a different incarnation of the PNM.

But he had a warning, a reason why the new government is not fit to be in office.

“Those who got it don’t know what to do. They have no plan. They didn’t expect to be in Government...We ushered the People’s Partnership into Government half way into the term,” he said. 

Rowley admitted that the PNM “invited” change and that the voters’ reaction in the May 24 general election was to the way the PNM leadership at the time managed the country, not that the policies were flawed.

Rowley said the PNM elected not to play "stupid politics” and hurt the party's credibility so it voted for the budget, which contained PNM plans.

So what really is Rowley's point?

What we have experienced in Trinidad and Tobago since the electoral overthrow of Manning and the PNM is a shift to good governance and a clear direction to improve the lives of the people.

And contrary to Rowley's argument, the People's partnership DOES have a plan - a good one - that it clearly outlined in its manifesto. That document was not something scrambled together for political expediency.

And yes, it embraced some of the PNM's plans, which had the potential to work well under a government of the people. 

The GATE program, for example, is being expanded and improved. And as a point of interest, GATE was really an improvement on the UNC "dollar-for-dollar" policy introduced under Kamla Persad-Bissessar's stewardship as education minister. 

What the People's Partnerhip government is doing is called CONTUINUITY. It's what's expected of a responsible administration. 

Sadly, in the process it has inherited a lot of baggage from the Manning era, some of which will cost the taxpayer much more than anyone envisaged. 

The CL fiasco, the Offshore Patrol Boats (OPV), the la Brea smelter project are examples of bad and costly decisions that the new government must now address.

The real problem for Rowley is that HE campaigned against the PNM and his former leader and wanted nothing more than a PNM defeat. The People's Partnership won two elections based on its programs and the failure of the PNM. 

That is the reality that Rowley cannot face. He is still in shock and hoping that he can convince his divided party that his mutiny was justified. 

He is using the argument that to make an omelet one has to first break the egg. The truth is the egg was a rotten one and the people discarded it along with the whole chicken coop.

That's a matter the PNM must now address instead of trying to take credit for what the People's Partnership is doing. 

And Rowley would do well to try to emulate the new kids on the block and redevelop his party as one that respects and represents the people, not only its parochial interests.

The people voted for change and so far, although there is obvious discontent in some quarters, they are happy with their decision because they are seeing a strong light at the end of the tunnel signaling true HOPE for a better Trinidad and Tobago.

And Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her colleagues know very well that if they become arrogant like the PNM and ignore the people, those who put them in office will fire them with the same zeal with which they elected them.

The people are still in charge of Trinidad and Tobago. And now, more than ever, they know it and understand their true power.

Jai Parasram | Toronto - 29 Sept. 2010