By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
January 03, 2008
The last week of December was tragic and tortuous. The assassination of Benazir Bhutto and the tearing apart of Kenya because of a rigged election demonstrated the fragility of human existence and how much we live on the edge. I have traveled to both countries, seen their beauty and feel much sympathy for their citizens’ pain. During the last week I have also had to make painful decisions about my treatment for a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
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I suppose I can say publicly what Selwyn Ryan (See Express, December 23) can say privately and obliquely when he speaks about the specter of the non-representation of twenty five percent of the population and the impending disenfranchisement of Africans in the political process that is likely to happen here eventually if we do not attend to this situation. Forbes Burnham and the PNC ruled Guyana by fair means and foul although they were fewer in numbers than the PPP until the PPP booted them out never to see power again in the foreseeable future.
The print media has a critical role to play in hosting the political and institutional memory of T&T that is noted for its traditional forgetfulness. The media must also serve as an archive documenting political position and conduct to deter politicians from manipulating us conveniently at their whims and fancies.
I was caught between completing my year-end review for the Business Express and watching television where a miracle of sorts-team West Indies actually flogging South Africa’s bowlers, Chanders edging his way to another century-was taking place, when the telephone rang. “Are you tuned in to BBC?” asked my friend of umpteen years, Mike Bazie. “No,” I replied, telling him about our team’s performance. “They just killed Bhutto! Switch channels. It’s coming across live.” He didn’t have to say which Bhutto, or tell me how she was killed. “Hey,” I told Mike, “I must watch this cricket it’s enthralling we need to make 400-plus runs. I’ll check Bhutto in a while.”
The Manning Ministers have been selectively and actively preaching that the issue of instituting measures to arrest the crime pandemic will always be treated as a politically non-partisan matter. But PM Manning will not practice it and come out from his political crease when the occasion demands.
The voice of the people, we are often reminded, is the voice of God. My rejoinder to this scriptural interpretation of democracy is: the masses so often prove to be asses, one wonders if God has any influence in secular matters like elections, party affiliations, and worst of all, in leaders people choose to anoint or lionise. Six weeks ago close to 200,000 Trinidadians chose Basdeo Panday and the UNC to represent them in Parliament. In fact, a few years ago twice that many among the electorate not only voted him into power, but hoisted him on their shoulders as Prime Minister and paraded him as a lion-king, exemplar supreme.