Mr. Hotep, which political party do you support
in Trinidad, the Indian based UNC or
the African based PNM?June 18, 2000
By A. H. HotepThe short answer would be none.
However, I would explain my reasoning for what I think is in the best interest of Trinidad and Tobago.
In your question, you mentioned Indian based UNC, and African based PNM. These people are supporting political parties under duress. They are all aware that they do not benefit from such racial support, but they feel more comfortable with the Idea of one of their kind in leadership role. Here in lies the problem. They need a better understanding of themselves to select and work with a better kind of people.
Both of these parties continually deceive the public and squander the resources and the leadership in these parties are aware that once the keep the people thinking that it is one group versus the other, they can maintain enough support to be in leadership roles. The people who really get the material benefits are the big businesses that support both of the parties. These people are mostly White people who 'profit' from the ongoing divisions.
In the past under the PNM, people became very complacent with the status quo and never considered an Indian Prime Minister doing the same wrongs. That is the situation today; the UNC Government is doing the same wrongs of the PNM. What I like about this government is that they were unprepared for the role of Government, and they did not build up a clique of supporters in the White dominated aristocrats. So in their rush to appear as elites they are individually trying to be part of the elites through trying to redefine the social elites. They would not get the support of the white elites. Their conduct is coming over as crude.
They will continually get into conflict with the "Upper" and the "Lower" social groups as they try to create a position for themselves. They will not be contented to remain as Indian elites because as a status symbol Indian is synonymous with Sugar cane plantation and poverty. The social status that they have grown to envy/love was shaped by European standards, and these are the standards that everyone who would like to be classed as elites is vying for. Of course, they will not be accepted in this class, so the next best position is to act as go-betweens. These go-betweens are the ones who sell the masses the illusion that they can elevate them to higher standards. (European defined classes) They do not even think of what standards they speak of, their behaviors are automatic having been trained in these values with little or no proper historical reflection.
When these opportunists use African and Indian, or any of the respective coded words in their public speeches, it is only to get the support of people who consider themselves poor so they could sell them the illusion. The people really do not buy the dream, but without another way to evaluate the situation, they settle for lesser of evils.
What do the people expect for such support? They expect jobs where their term of reference is being loyalty to a party. They cannot conceive that they are supposed to honestly earn their way because they are aware that their decisions were already dishonest, especially after having to openly support lies to demonstrate such support.
The country is in this volatile state because of the corruptions of the people together with the leadership's continual demand for blind loyalty. This is the reason we are having so much discussions with fingers pointing all around.
My position is that these are good times because the decadence is being made more obvious by this government that lacks the experience in concealing their corruptions and they are being scrutinized by other politicians who are more seasoned at hiding. People are getting a chance to examine the state of their political climate and will have to ask how did we end up here. Each wrong the PNM shows the UNC to be doing, UNC responds mentioning similar wrongs done by past PNM regimes.
Those who are in favour of education are the winners because trying to understand the situation can best serve becoming enlightened.
Because I cannot be supportive of any of the two parties I can only give an opinion that can best serve the interest of getting the people more aware of the nature of the systems they support. The view could give support to any of the parties depending on the popular views, the masses are expressing at a point in time. I will express an opinion that will allow the public to either examine or experience other issues which they have not considered. In that case, I am supporting my self through assisting in advancing education.
END