Malnourished political consciousness

AFTER YET ANOTHER political carousel, otherwise known as a General Election, the searing awareness that Caribbean politics has entered a phase of permanent stagnation has been painfully reinforced.

This dismal prognosis is not a commentary on the merits or demerits of Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s United National Congress’s (UNC) electoral victory over the Peoples’ National Movement (PNM) in Trinidad and Tobago on April 28. Instead, it is a recognition that beneath the unhealthy diet of inconsequential elections that Caribbean people have been forcefed, is a sickly and malnourished political consciousness, devoid of any serious developmental discourse, deficient in the vital minerals of national purpose, starved of philosophical nutrients, and manifesting clear symptoms of rot and decay.

Given the monumental changes occurring today, it was frustrating to witness the Caribbean limp through another General Election without even a pretence at a discussion of what a new Trinidad and Tobago would look like in the emerging world order. During election night TV coverage, the best explanation offered by PNM panellists for the defeat was the party’s failure to address worrisome polls and electoral trends. They also raised questions about the timing and wisdom of the leadership transition from Dr. Keith Rowley to Stuart Young. No deep philosophical reflections, only narrow electoralism.

Similarly, the main issues which have occupied the attention of Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar since her election victory have been small “pedantic” issues such as the “4.42 billion deficit ‘hole’ for May and a projected $11 billion deficit for this fiscal year”. Our leaders are skilled at throwing picong at the defeated party, but unschooled in the art of focusing on large developmental visions that can inspire entire generations rather than titillate the party faithful.

These observations are not Trinidad-specific. A recent article by Dr Basil Springer, in another section of the Press, entitled Democracy in the Caribbean, has noted that of the recent elections which have taken place in the Caribbean three have resulted in changes of governments, while another five elections are expected in 2025 (Curacao, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and St Vincent and the Grenadines). One is also likely in St Lucia. The main concern identified by Springer amidst these elections is the need for strong oppositions to keep governments in check. While Springer’s perspective is not to be dismissed, it is symptomatic of the air of staleness that has pervaded the Caribbean electoral atmosphere. The world is changing rapidly in radically remarkable ways offering wholly new possibilities for the Caribbean.

Just take United States global economic realignment or the role of the Sahel States in Africa as cases in point. Amidst these monumental changes, are we to be excited by the Tweedledee and Tweedledum musical chairs that Sserve as smokescreens for stagnation? Are “strong oppositions” the only things we should hope for from our elections? Let’s put away childish things.

Tennyson Joseph is Associate Professor of Political Science at North Carolina Central University. Email tjoe2008@live.com