GOVERNANCE NEEDED - TALK LESS ACT MORE

There are those who act without much fanfare, and those who rely on style to see them through crisis. However, style soon burns out like the proverbial torch in the dark night. Government by style lacks temerity and by necessity begins to fade away in the people's minds as a serious organisation capable of really doing anything to bring relief or solutions to their myriad of problems.

It is unfortunate that the Government instead of anchoring itself as a performance organisation, seems to branding itself as one that cannot get anything done or knows what its about. This is absolutely far from the reality, but unfortunately perception drives reality.

The consensus among some key opinion leaders is that the Government needs to settle down and begin the process of delivering for the people. The Prime Minister still engaging in extended honeymooning saw it fit to come to the Parliament to speak about a children's fund, rather than announce a radically new health policy to effectively address a broken down public health care system. Several recent polls in 2Q 2010 show health care as being right up there with crime as the most pressing issues uppermost in the minds of the people of T&T.


Kamla Persad Bissessar's advisors need to understand that a public relations gesture cannot anchor or even provide the substance upon which to hang the health policy of the country. The Prime Minister should have had a comprehensive policy position within which she could have long, medium and short term deliverables and objectives which would have been a positive move, giving people some hope for the future.


It might be good to say that the government does not have ideas, but a Government is as good as the quality of its thinkers, and not because persons are elevated to high office that it makes them creative intellectuals or go getter's. Unfortunately, the PM's mantra about caring for the children and hearing their cries have lost its flair and impact.


The media and key opinion makers now want something new and substantial to report upon. The photo ops and meaningless statements are losing their sting. The Prime Minister needs to cultivate a new image. Spin doctors seem incapable of making the transition from opposition politics to governance. Kamla Persad Bissessar is in need of a make over. The march along the yellow brick road to government has happened and now the Prime Minister needs to be reshaped, repackaged and presented to the public with a GOVERNANCE agenda.


The Prime Minister needs strong willed and objective thinkers to advise the government if they are to make meaningful progress and move society forward quickly.


The Politics of Trinidad and Tobago is not easy. 2010 is not finished and we have seen the fall of two maximum leaders in Basdeo Panday and Patrick Manning, the collapse of a government, the rise of the first female leader of a major political organisation and Trinidad and Tobago's first female Prime Minister.


The year 2010 is not over and the resounding support from the public for the peoples partnership in June seems to be wavering in November. Trinidad is in the middle of a leadership crisis. The change of government was not able to deliver as yet, on hefty expectations created by platform promises during the fiercely fought 2010 general elections.


For many years the population wanted a credible political alternative to the Peoples National Movement (PNM) and in May 2010 voted overwhelmingly for change. But the jury is still out there and people are looking on and debating whether the administration will make the full term.


I believe that the people's partnership will go to a full term. But power cannot hold political parties together and if things are not working out well, then there may be a need to solidify the situation.


Manning collapsed because he could not hold the PNM party together, not because his government Ministers were about to defect. It is also dangerous to use up grassroots goodwill. It is too early in office to heavily defend the Government using grassroots supporters. This is exactly what happened to Patrick Manning and the PNM which led to their downfall.


The more that the leadership style of Manning and PNM was criticized, the deeper into the ground the party buried itself. Anyone can justify anything, explanations are always out there to be had, but it is the result which matters, and without tangible results, talk will soon fade away if the criticisms on the other side seem to have traction backed by a non performing government.


Kamla Persad Bissessar's challenge as a leader is when to stop playing with her popularity and the people. Dr. Keith Rowley is a weak leader, incapable of bringing people together for a common purpose. His style of management and people skills are not suited for public life, and his list of friends maybe as long as his political enemies. But in politics he can suddenly turn from being the people nightmare to the peoples fare, everyone eating out of his hands.


The Peoples Partnership needs to settle down and begin the painstaking process of becoming a national party under one umbrella, one objective, and most importantly, start to think as one government. There are many bright and well intentioned people, but the government must not get caught up in total-politics.


Most importantly, merit and trust must return to politics and this must be achieved by a strong willed leadership that is willing to lead by example, and give those who are competent the opportunity to develop their ideas. Last but not least, talk less, act more, people will soon give praise and recognition where it is due.

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