Better United – alternative to voices of discontent

STEVE ALVAREZ

OVER THE last few years and in particular the last few weeks, TT has been struggling to find quality opposition to the well-financed and organised PNM government. The many political entities that are opposed to the governance agenda of the PNM have in many ways been voices of discontent without a realistic alternative vision.

Notwithstanding the dearth of sagacious suggestions and comments from some in opposition, many of the political parties not represented in the Parliament have become the voice of the people. These political organisations have been working in our communities offering a ray of hope to the citizens and making pertinent intelligent commentaries through the traditional and social media.

Recently, some of those parties agreed to work together in the best interest of the people of TT. Among the many are the Congress of the People led by Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, the Port of Spain People’s Movement led by Louis Lee Sing, the TT Democratic Front led by Anthony William, the New National Vision led by Fuad Abu Bakr, and the Democratic Party of TT led by myself.

These parties, having agreed that our nation is better if we unite, consented to share their ideas and vision for a better nation under the banner Better United. Together the groups have released three videos.

The first, available on YouTube under Better United, thanked the healthcare providers, security personnel and the Government for their services during the covid19 pandemic.

The second, available on Facebook under the Better United site, addressed the way forward after the pandemic.

The third video, which was carried live on Facebook and Zoom and is available on Facebook under Better United, dealt with food security and the crisis facing TT as we struggle to feed our people. There were some especially important suggestions that were made that are critical to the endeavour to feed ourselves.

Lee Sing spoke about land reform and the need to use agricultural land for agriculture. He underscored the point that the food crisis is real and soon the food delivered through hampers will be exhausted. The nation will then be faced with the reality of dwindling international supplies, limited foreign exchange and a local agricultural sector in disarray.

He spoke too about the need to address squatting, the use of Caroni lands and a scientific approach to land use.

William spoke of modern agricultural methodologies. His presentation covered modern approaches to agriculture using technology to manage cultivation, production, and processing. He also spoke to using global best practices to augment our local approach to food production.

Seepersad-Bachan spoke of the agricultural food chain. She charted the path from seeds to the plate. Her presentation included details on integrated advance technologies, innovative ways to produce and distribute products and an overall approach to agriculture that saw modernisation and innovation resulting in excellence.

She ended by indicating that with new technology and modern management young people will be attracted to agriculture as a means to create wealth.

Abu Bakr indicated that with the right approach young people from both rural and urban communities will move away from criminal gang activities to food production.

He lamented that scarce resources were spent on endeavours that perpetuate the wealth of the few as the nation continued on a path of importing food rather than investing in agriculture and ensuring some level of food security.

He suggested that with structured management agriculture could not only feed the nation but offer opportunities for young people to access housing through appropriate land distribution and sustained economic development.

I indicated that TT had a very profitable and widespread agricultural sector that was abandoned over the last 50 years. I spoke about the need for targeted subsidies in a new approach to agriculture, the need for new laws addressing chemical use to ensure that products meet international standards and the introduction of forest rangers to patrol agricultural plots, forests, mountains and parks.

I suggested that funding used for CEPEP and URP projects can be utilised to employ this new sector of workers. I believe this new employment initiative will not only attract many to agriculture but will ensure they are given an opportunity for meaningful long-term employment.

Overall the presentations, moderated by veteran journalist Andy Johnson, were informative and auger well for a viable political alternative to the many who see politics as an opportunity to impute improper motives on adversaries and to denigrate and malign the characters of citizens brave enough to offer themselves for national service.

Better United is a growing political group in which political parties dedicated to a better TT will offer the population an opportunity that, if embraced, will see a TT utilising the talents and ideas of all our people towards a brighter tomorrow.

Steve Alvarez is the political leader the DPTT