When ting no regular, trouble deh
The African proverb in the title of this column, reworded in basilectal Caribbean English, captures an undeniable truth about the human condition: irregularities lead to trouble. And nowhere is it truer than in the UNC condition today.
In essence, the UNC is a house divided into two identities and enveloped by very dark clouds of corruption and misconduct in the management of the nation’s affairs. The Panday UNC is the stronger identity at the present time and is likely to be right up to Election Day, December 10, for political monoliths, especially those sustained by a living tribal icon, do not crumble and die easily, though they may lose considerable supporting structure. The relatively large crowds attending the meetings of the Panday UNC tells us that the monolith is still there, as does that UNC’s continuing attraction of high-profile persons despite the serious stench of corruption, which some of them have previously inveighed against publicly. But even as the Panday UNC stays alive, it is losing credibility among more and more people or, at the very least, strengthening its disfavour among those disgusted by its ways before the fall of the government.
Motivated by concerns of an ostensibly higher kind, people like Robin Montano, Nizam Mohammed, and Beverly Ramsay-Moore may block their noses from the putrid fumes of corruption or even, as seems to be the more accurate metaphor, inhale those fumes with comfort and equanimity, but there are thousands, including former supporters of the undivided UNC, who are sickened to the point of puking and who want to rid themselves forever of the bitter taste.
Rejection of the Tobago NAR and reliance on PNM mercenaries bought over to cross the parliamentary floor. Ingratitude to Robinson who had made Panday and his ethno-political constituency king. Millions of dollars lost in the NFM rice scandal and in the Miss Universe and World Beat adventures. Bribe-taking, thievery, and reckless squandermania at a variety of state enterprises. Contracts given to party financiers, friends, and relatives in circumvention of the tendering process. Charges of hefty kickbacks to ministers from contracts. Appointment of seven losing candidates to ministerial positions, in violation of the spirit of our democracy. Inncogen and unneeded electricity and no guarantees of construction of supporting plants. Ministers participating in cabinet discussion of matters in which they have a personal or company financial interest, whether declared or not. Party monies received by the prime minister not properly accounted for. No proactive action from the government to bring the country relief from apparent acts of corruption, only the advice (or is it the dare?) to bring the evidence and, latterly, the promise to set up a permanent commission of inquiry. Undermining of the UNC constitution by the political leader.
And so it goes ad nauseam. It did not have to be that way.
Even if the Panday UNC denies any clear proof of corruption and misconduct on the part of the government, and even if Panday claims that Maharaj and company have no real case against his way of governing but, rather, are disloyal and racist megalomaniacs intent (just so?) on returning the PNM to power, the public has been given more than enough reason to believe that there are serious irregularities, that ting no regular. These irregularities are not figments of the pubic imagination.
It is irregularities in the governance of the country that have brought the UNC trouble. It is irregularities in the management of the party that have brought the UNC trouble. It is irregularities within the house of the UNC that have brought the government down. It is the UNC to blame, not anybody else or any other party.
That does not mean, however, that the Panday UNC can’t win the December 10 elections. Enough persons may still vote for the party on the basis of loyalty to the Panday cult, UNC performance in a number of areas over the last five years, and unrelieved distrust of the PNM, among other things. Yes, enough may.
But if they do, neither the irregularities nor the trouble will go away.
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