It is said that one can ride a tiger, but the danger comes when the rider tries to dismount.
The current State of Emergency brought the analogy to mind, as we wonder how and when Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will return the country to normalcy.
The current State of Emergency brought the analogy to mind, as we wonder how and when Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will return the country to normalcy.
Having mounted that tiger, and controlling it for the time being, what will happen when she dismounts? And some are suggesting that maybe she will not! Given the risk that the tiger might turn and devour her, she may be tempted to continue the SoE even beyond the next three months.
All of us, even those of us who supported the declaration, have considered the question. How could we not? For the beast—the crime, the killings and the fear-- could simply return, and turn on us when the SoE is ended. Can we afford to end the Emergency?
Before I try to answer that question, we need to look at some of the other instances where our politicians have ridden the tiger—chosen dangerous courses of action which have subsequently backfired upon them. Hopefully, this diversion may place the current situation in a better perspective.
Both Patrick Manning and Basdeo Panday decided to try to ride the tiger in the late 1980’s.
All of us, even those of us who supported the declaration, have considered the question. How could we not? For the beast—the crime, the killings and the fear-- could simply return, and turn on us when the SoE is ended. Can we afford to end the Emergency?
Before I try to answer that question, we need to look at some of the other instances where our politicians have ridden the tiger—chosen dangerous courses of action which have subsequently backfired upon them. Hopefully, this diversion may place the current situation in a better perspective.
Both Patrick Manning and Basdeo Panday decided to try to ride the tiger in the late 1980’s.
Manning’s PNM was also feeding it at that time, helping to create the “hunting ground” for Abu Bakr to exploit. In July 1990, both Manning and Panday were at least sympathetic when the tiger pounced. Both were aware that “something” was going to happen in Parliament on July 27th , and both sneaked away, without warning anyone that the tiger was about to pounce.
Panday was eventually permitted to dismount and disappear into relative obscurity, because the tiger chose to feed off Manning’s largesse.
When Manning tried to appease the tiger in 2002, by giving it land, his party rose up against him, and temporarily chased the tiger away. But it stalks Manning and the PNM still.
When Manning tried to appease the tiger in 2002, by giving it land, his party rose up against him, and temporarily chased the tiger away. But it stalks Manning and the PNM still.
The Party mounted another tiger—the gangs of thugs who had helped Manning win the elections of 2002 and 2007--which also had to be appeased. The PNM courted them and fed them, URP and CEPEP formed their diet, and they were allowed to roam and kill without hindrance.
Manning eventually realized that he was never in control of that tiger, his professed faith notwithstanding, and he knew he had to get off the tiger’s back. But how could he do that and survive?
When he saw Kamla rising, he jumped off, and placed her on the tiger’s back, telling it that she was lighter, and clearly nicer. He sneaked away into ignominy, his cowardice and betrayal of his party obvious to all but himself. And so this tiger suddenly had a new rider. Would she try to appease it like others had done in the past?
The answer is clearly not!
Manning eventually realized that he was never in control of that tiger, his professed faith notwithstanding, and he knew he had to get off the tiger’s back. But how could he do that and survive?
When he saw Kamla rising, he jumped off, and placed her on the tiger’s back, telling it that she was lighter, and clearly nicer. He sneaked away into ignominy, his cowardice and betrayal of his party obvious to all but himself. And so this tiger suddenly had a new rider. Would she try to appease it like others had done in the past?
The answer is clearly not!
Unable to use existing laws to stem the flow of drugs and blood, she did what I and others had been recommending for years. Kamla now has the squealing tiger by the tail, and most citizens stand and cheer her on. But clearly she cannot let go of the beast’s tail and turn it, now angry and vengeful, loose upon the people.
The mission for the government is to either subdue or kill the tiger. And they must do this within a reasonable time, for Kamla cannot “protect” us—or indeed herself, by simply holding on to its tail, which is what the SoE is achieving. She must show that she is protecting us from something more sinister than the marauding tiger which was feeding on gang war victims.
Enter Keith Rowley and Fitzgerald Hinds.
The mission for the government is to either subdue or kill the tiger. And they must do this within a reasonable time, for Kamla cannot “protect” us—or indeed herself, by simply holding on to its tail, which is what the SoE is achieving. She must show that she is protecting us from something more sinister than the marauding tiger which was feeding on gang war victims.
Enter Keith Rowley and Fitzgerald Hinds.
From the moment that their former patron put Kamla on the tiger’s back these two have been baying at her like hungry jackals, unable to prove anything they bark about. Rowley had asked that he and the PNM be consulted by government on the crime issue (what was he bringing to that consultation… the name of Mr. Big?).
Do any of you have any memory of Rowley or Hinds (before the latter became inconsequential) offering to “consult” when the PNM was sponsoring crime?
Anyway, when the government actually did whisper confidentially to Rowley what the secret was, he promptly betrayed their trust and went public with the news! And said he did not believe a “drug war” was possible. So why did he support the OPV’s?
And, look how the tiger is turning! All of a sudden, Rowley and Himds are running to report to the police that they have received death threats from Manning’s old tiger----Abu Bakr!
Well, well, well! Kamla, methinks you should point that tiger in the direction of Rowley and Hinds and loose (sic) its tail!
And, look how the tiger is turning! All of a sudden, Rowley and Himds are running to report to the police that they have received death threats from Manning’s old tiger----Abu Bakr!
Well, well, well! Kamla, methinks you should point that tiger in the direction of Rowley and Hinds and loose (sic) its tail!
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