Re-Branding the PNM

Democracy has worked. In light of the shows of immaturity during the campaigns, the acceptance of the people’s will was demonstrably admirable.

 

Globally, the politics of democracy as an evolving dynamic is becoming more and more inclusive and participatory in its nature. A less naïve more politically demanding electorate has decided that what we need is not for “you” to take care of “us” but for the government to function as facilitator and servant of the Republic. What can be determined is that the PNM has once again become irrelevant. Rebranding (one of these neo-catch-phrases cum cliché) of the PNM is what is needed for its revival. This revival, as an absolute necessity for our democracy to grow, is predicated on a critical analysis of the PNM’s machinations.

 

With a traditional tribal base the PNM will continue, but what is now required is for them to be as vibrant an opposition as the UNC was in order to ensure the checks and balances are brought to the public light so that any missteps are highlighted. As directly ineffectual as an opposition is it’s role in governance as an elucidator to the public is non-partisan and absolutely essential. Without a strong opposition force a stunting of the evolution of our republic is assured.

 

In assigning blame for the PNM’s loss, Patrick Manning’s acceptance of such is justifiable and the ensuing fallout he is suffering is symptomatic of the general state of malaise afflicting the PNM. As an institution the PNM’s archaic system is an antithesis of democracy. One can’t expect to run a democratic government if the party’s own core thrives on autocracy. This autocracy will eventually (as was seen) seep into and corrupt the very democracy it claims to uphold. The disclaimers and distancing being thrown out now demonstrate the weakness of the leadership suffered by the PNM. The lack of dissenting voices in a cabinet of ostensibly weak individuals marks a clear lack of commitment to serving the Republic, which in turn assigns just as much blame to them. In exiling the one dissenter (Dr. Rowley) Patrick Manning flexed his political will echoing the sentiment of Dr. Williams; when I speak not a damned dog bark, effectively reducing the cabinet to one voice parroting edicts to a captive impotent audience.

 

In playing out the role of Patrick the Most Vilified the growing sympathy if not kept in check can spell a reversal of roles to Patrick the Re-anointed. What is clear is that if the new leadership of the PNM does not bring its constitution out of the ‘50s into the 21^st century then regardless of who takes charge a replication of Patrick Manning is inevitable.

 

It has been said that corruption in public office is treason. And as treasonous as corruption is, turning a blind eye to it makes you just as complicit, just as guilty. If the politicians haven’t realized that the population will no longer tolerate corruption nor the coddling of the offenders then the “vilifications” will continue.

 

An incumbent government has the best advantage of winning an election. The simple fact is as our new Prime Minister has averred incessantly throughout the campaign  “Serve the people” is the surest way to win an election. Incumbency offers you this opportunity better than opposition does. It must be realized that from day one you are preparing for the next election. Two concepts need to be considered and amalgamated.