...but is anyone listening? Today, the results of an opinion poll are being released.
Reading a poll published last Sunday, I was pleased and mildly surprised. It showed that, despite the almost hysterical attacks, the trade unions’ agitations and the constant media pressure, the people are not really dissatisfied with the government’s overall performance after one year in office.
I do not know the results of the poll being published today (Sunday May 22), but I have faith that it will generally concur with the results shown last week.
So, when the opinions of ordinary, “no-axe-to-grind” people who want their government, whichever Party it is, to manage the country competently and effectively, tell us that they approve of the government, we ought to listen.
So, when the opinions of ordinary, “no-axe-to-grind” people who want their government, whichever Party it is, to manage the country competently and effectively, tell us that they approve of the government, we ought to listen.
We listen, often because we have no choice, to the allegations against the government.
What are we to make of Manning’s still unsubstantiated accusation about the Prime Minister’s home. And of Keith Rowley’s false claim about the AG being in our New York Mission and questioning “racial imbalance”?
Yet when these charges were being falsely made, we were ready to believe and crying “look corruption”! But when the charges are refuted we still heard them repeated over and over again, so the stains of the allegations remain.
But it appears, although many will not acknowledge this, that the majority of the population is not interested in the baying of the PNM Pack.
But it appears, although many will not acknowledge this, that the majority of the population is not interested in the baying of the PNM Pack.
Indeed, they are beginning to weary of the noise, and especially wondering why these people were not this conscientious in identifying corruption when they were in government.
Had they the courage to speak then, they might still be in power today (well not Rowley!).
But they were not just silent, they were vociferous in their praise and support for Calder Hart; and for Finance Minister Karen Teshiera’s “right” to withdraw her funds from the failing CLICO; and for Yuille-Williams’ and McDonald’s “scholarship awards” and the latter’s attempt to conceal these; and for Manning when he told Shanghai Construction to bill an additional $30 million to the Diplomatic Centre and use the money to build that church in Guanapo!
And so much is being made of the public differences among members of the PP Government.
And so much is being made of the public differences among members of the PP Government.
Some of us are entitled to be critical of the government ministers who clearly speak out of turn, and who appear to have little respect for at least an appearance of cabinet consensus on issues. But the PNM does not have that entitlement, not when they are split asunder and cannot even vote together in parliament.
Where were the voices of Imbert, Amery Browne, McDonald and Jefferies when Manning was slandering their colleague Keith Rowley in Parliament? They were silent for good reason.
Where were the voices of Imbert, Amery Browne, McDonald and Jefferies when Manning was slandering their colleague Keith Rowley in Parliament? They were silent for good reason.
We must never forget that Manning’s administration was far more corrupt than the UNC of 1995-2001. This is not just my opinion, folks. It was Keith Rowley speaking in Parliament.
And he was speaking about Imbert, Amery Browne and Marlene McDonald, as well as Manning and Calder Hart. But Imbert might now claim that what Rowley was saying is not “evidence”!
And consider the token, embarrassed support being given to Manning for all of his petulant childish behaviour leading up to his justified suspension. Rowley could not even get his minions (or were they Manning’s minions?) to vote as one. Their new Party Chairman is out fishing for coalition partners, and the PNM is criticizing the Peoples’ Partnership for a lack of unity?
I have said before, and I say again: The present government has outperformed their predecessors in every area of governance, and they have done so under the most difficult and sometimes provocative conditions imaginable.
And consider the token, embarrassed support being given to Manning for all of his petulant childish behaviour leading up to his justified suspension. Rowley could not even get his minions (or were they Manning’s minions?) to vote as one. Their new Party Chairman is out fishing for coalition partners, and the PNM is criticizing the Peoples’ Partnership for a lack of unity?
I have said before, and I say again: The present government has outperformed their predecessors in every area of governance, and they have done so under the most difficult and sometimes provocative conditions imaginable.
And every current Minister, taken one by one, continues to outperform their predecessors in every area. But they certainly deserve criticism, for they have mismanaged many issues. But their mismanagement has mostly been in poor administrative decisions and in plain dumb communication gaffes.
But they asked to be held to a higher standard, so they cannot complain about some of the criticism they draw from us.
But they asked to be held to a higher standard, so they cannot complain about some of the criticism they draw from us.
However, in the same token, we must all appreciate that these were not Gods or Saints whom we placed there. They are simply Trini humans, all pretty well known to us, and as vulnerable to hubris, arrogance, nepotism and corruption as the previous government and indeed the next government.
But we can say for this government, that when wrongdoing has been exposed, issues have been corrected, and persons removed. In the past, wrongdoing was denied, and even supported and praised.
Even as the PNM is rallying to continue its sabotage, the people of this country, when silently polled, have indicated that they are supporting a government that is more effective, and less corrupt than the former one. I consider this to be a voice for reason and stability.
But we can say for this government, that when wrongdoing has been exposed, issues have been corrected, and persons removed. In the past, wrongdoing was denied, and even supported and praised.
Even as the PNM is rallying to continue its sabotage, the people of this country, when silently polled, have indicated that they are supporting a government that is more effective, and less corrupt than the former one. I consider this to be a voice for reason and stability.
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