Commentary: When did Ralph Maraj become a guardian angel for T&T citizens?

Ralph Maraj in his PNM incarnation

Ralph Maraj wrote in a recent column:

"Whilst ordinary citizens struggle for survival, corrupt public officials wheel, deal and steal hundreds of millions.

"They are as evil as murderers prowling at night. They prowl day and night, murdering the nation's future.

"They look so decent: jacketed or perfumed and pretty, smiling at the cameras, feigning care and concern. But they are incarnations of deceit, wolves in sheep's clothing, serpents underneath; totally conscienceless, uncaring of people and poverty; and untroubled by the looming threats to the nation's viability."

Very strong words and compelling imagery, indeed. In the same column the former cabinet minister who served under prime ministers Patrick Manning and Basdeo Panday also stated:

"Corruption takes food from the mouth of the poor...It threatens every citizen. This disease has been infesting Trinidad and Tobago for the past 50 years."

If indeed this has been going on for 50 years, then Ralph was part of the elite that was taking "food from the mouth of the poor" so what gives him the credibility or moral right today to become a guardian angel of the people?

The fact is he has indicted himself because he served on both the PNM and UNC administrations. And he is still clinging to one of his political masters.

As recently as last year he was a point person for Patrick Manning during Manning's "reports to the nation" although it is common knowledge that Manning was kicked out of office for leading what was probably the most corrupt administration to ever preside over the affairs of Trinidad & Tobago.

That's not my indictment. The people of the country - including thousands of members of Manning's own party - decided that Manning and the PNm were not fit to govern. It was Keith Rowley, the present leader of the PNM, who made the most damning statement about Manning and his government when he said the Manning administration was the most corrupt ever.

Ralph probably sees himself as a corruption buster because he teamed up with Ramesh Maharaj and Trevor Sudama to do a deal with Patrick Manning to overthrow the Panday government within months of the UNC winning a clear majority in the 2000 general election.

Ralph called out the UNC administration, saying that the PM at the time needed to do something about corruption "to my satisfaction". In the media frenzy that followed Ralph demonstrated that he was a political opportunist seeking personal gains, not fighting to end corruption. 

If the Panday team was corrupt, so was Ralph. Months before his move against Panday he was campaigning on behalf of Panday's party - slamming the Manning PNM. He won his seat as a member of the same "corrupt" party as did his co-conspirators, Ramesh and Sudama.

They fell out with Panday not because of corruption but because they felt their slice of the political pie was not big enough. They went to the other "corrupt" political leader and cut a deal through which they would ask President Robinson to fire Panday and appoint Manning as prime minister. Was it political spite alone or an opportunity to grab a better helping of the pie? 

For Ralph, jumping ships was nothing new. He was a Manning cabinet minister and when he and the boss fell out he ran over to Panday and betrayed Manning. Then in 2000 he had an encore performance, running away from Panday and embracing Manning. 

Having nowhere else to run, he remained with Manning and has tried to peddle the Manning agenda while denouncing the present administration as corrupt without providing the evidence to support his accusations.

That's typical of the PNM - make up a story, tell it repeatedly until it becomes "true". Ralph is hoping that he might find an opening within the PNM establishment to get into a position of influence to take "food from the mouth of the poor". He is eyeing another elite position like the pigs on Animal Farm, pretending to fight for the other animals while consorting with the humans.

Ralph is making his play because the PNM is a divided party. Keith Rowley and Patrick Manning have support from their respective loyalists. Manning's influence is waning due to his failing health and Rowley's lack lustre performance has caused the PNM to seriously start looking for a leader who can beat the PP in 2015.

Perhaps Ralph is hoping that he could pull off a coup by knocking down the Kamla administration and making a run for the leadership of the PNM. The truth is none of the two would happen. 

If Ralph really wants to present himself as a champion of the people he must make a clean break from his political friends who seek only power for themselves, not an opportunity to serve the people. If he can do that it would be a first step in a very long journey to redeem himself.

Jai Parasram - Toronto, 28 Aug. 2012