The worst kept secret in Trinidad & Tobago is secret no more. David Abdulah stated on Monday the that Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) would not attend the second anniversary rally of the People's Partnership on Thursday.
In a lengthy statement, the leader of the MSJ outlined his reasons for the decision, noting that in the opinion of the MSJ very little has changed since the election of 2010.
"The MSJ is concerned about reports that the state sector governance culture has not changed after 2010.
"All that has happened is that faces have changed: nepotism, discrimination, patronage and corruption are still the order of the day in too many enterprises. The “winner take all” culture of the PNM is very much alive in the view that it is “we time now” and party loyalties count for more than merit in appointments," he said.
In his flowery rhetoric he did not provide evidence to support his charges, choosing instead emotive language to justify his decision and demanding a government committed to "social justice, equity, peace and sustainable livelihoods for all".
Abdullah, as expected, blamed the People's National Movement (PNM) for the culture that the MSJ has denounced and stated that the society "cannot go through another process of dashed hopes and the failure of good governance unless there is hope that we can finally get it right with a political leadership that demonstrates that strength lies not only in votes or the mobilization for rallies, but in articulating a clear vision which citizens help to shape and own".
He said that includes generating the confidence of citizens "that principles are being upheld, the right policies are being implemented, and that good governance is being practiced".
He said that is the context in which the party has decided not attend the rally.
I do not wish to comment on the merits of the arguments presented by Abdulah and the MSJ for its decision not to attend the rally. That will come at another time.
However what I find most curious about the MSJ's position is that Abdulah is today highly critical of everything the government has done in two years yet just a couple of months ago he was waving the coalition flag, standing shoulder to shoulder with members of the People's Partnership, rallying the troops to support Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the opposition no confidence motion. Yet his statement is clear that nothing has changed since 2010.
Today he is denouncing the very government that he was praising just two months ago.
In a lengthy statement, the leader of the MSJ outlined his reasons for the decision, noting that in the opinion of the MSJ very little has changed since the election of 2010.
"The MSJ is concerned about reports that the state sector governance culture has not changed after 2010.
"All that has happened is that faces have changed: nepotism, discrimination, patronage and corruption are still the order of the day in too many enterprises. The “winner take all” culture of the PNM is very much alive in the view that it is “we time now” and party loyalties count for more than merit in appointments," he said.
In his flowery rhetoric he did not provide evidence to support his charges, choosing instead emotive language to justify his decision and demanding a government committed to "social justice, equity, peace and sustainable livelihoods for all".
Abdullah, as expected, blamed the People's National Movement (PNM) for the culture that the MSJ has denounced and stated that the society "cannot go through another process of dashed hopes and the failure of good governance unless there is hope that we can finally get it right with a political leadership that demonstrates that strength lies not only in votes or the mobilization for rallies, but in articulating a clear vision which citizens help to shape and own".
He said that includes generating the confidence of citizens "that principles are being upheld, the right policies are being implemented, and that good governance is being practiced".
He said that is the context in which the party has decided not attend the rally.
I do not wish to comment on the merits of the arguments presented by Abdulah and the MSJ for its decision not to attend the rally. That will come at another time.
However what I find most curious about the MSJ's position is that Abdulah is today highly critical of everything the government has done in two years yet just a couple of months ago he was waving the coalition flag, standing shoulder to shoulder with members of the People's Partnership, rallying the troops to support Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the opposition no confidence motion. Yet his statement is clear that nothing has changed since 2010.
Today he is denouncing the very government that he was praising just two months ago.
The question that is most pertinent today is at which time was he being a hypocrite - during the campaign in support of the PM against the PNM motion or today? Surely he could not have believed in March that everything was just fine and suddenly today determined everything was wrong since 2010. That defies logic and it is something that he would have to explain to the people.
Also, I note that Abdulah is asking members of the MSJ who have been appointed to state boards to resign "with the exception of the tri-partite (labour, business, government) boards". I wonder, however, why he is not showing leadership in this regard and not resigning his position as a government senator.
How can he in all honestly decry the government and the partnership today in such strong language and continue to sit in Parliament to represent the same government?
There is another equally important issue. Abdulah is the general secretary of the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union (OWTU), which has stated publicly on several platforms that it intends to bring down the government. By association, Abdulah is part of the movement to topple the government.
It is therefore most unethical and hypocritical for him to be a part of a movement to undermine the government and continue to pretend to represent the views of the government by occupying a seat as a senator.
Also, I note that Abdulah is asking members of the MSJ who have been appointed to state boards to resign "with the exception of the tri-partite (labour, business, government) boards". I wonder, however, why he is not showing leadership in this regard and not resigning his position as a government senator.
How can he in all honestly decry the government and the partnership today in such strong language and continue to sit in Parliament to represent the same government?
There is another equally important issue. Abdulah is the general secretary of the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union (OWTU), which has stated publicly on several platforms that it intends to bring down the government. By association, Abdulah is part of the movement to topple the government.
It is therefore most unethical and hypocritical for him to be a part of a movement to undermine the government and continue to pretend to represent the views of the government by occupying a seat as a senator.
I refuse to believe that it is because he is reluctant to give up his senator's monthly salary of $16,000 and the perks that come with the office. Surely someone who is clamouring for governance based on "policies that are based on social justice, equity, peace and sustainable livelihoods for all" would want to demonstrate that he can walk the talk.
I expect that when the Prime Minister returns home Abdulah would greet her with his resignation from the Senate. If he doesn't he would leave her no choice but to fire him.
Jai Parasram | 22 May, 2010
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