No one is invincible

THE EDITOR: A lot has been said about the insurrection that took place in the US just over a week ago, when the US Capitol was invaded by hundreds of Americans protesting results of the democratically held elections late last year.

Scenes at the Capitol Hill were viewed all around a shocked world and many condemned the riot which dealt a body blow to that country's governance, especially as America prides itself in being one that holds sacred the concept of democracy. Coming out of this were several comments which focused on outgoing President Trump.

Permit me to highlight something I saw which can be a lesson to all, especially budding leaders and politicians. We are all aware of Donald Trump and his success in the business arena. No one can dispute this and he used his business savvy and clout as a launching pad to enter into politics and ultimately becoming the President of the United States in 2016.

I am not going to debate his office, what he did or what he did not do in the Oval Office. What I am looking at is a behaviour that I saw in that man, which is dangerous and destructive to every human being, especially coming from a man in a leadership position and in fact, who is considered the most powerful man in the world.

As a leader, if you hold to a concept that, "I am invincible, have all the answers, listen to no one, am proud and self-opinionated," then the path you are heading will eventually lead to ruin. Heed the old saying, Pride goeth before a Fall.

This in my personal opinion took away so much from Trump and his legacy. Leading a country is not a one-man job but requires teamwork. It requires respect and getting the best out of people. There can be no room for arrogance.

I encourage all including our leaders of industry and our politicians, to learn these vital lessons taught by Trump on how your behaviour, how your conduct and how your very words can cause what we saw at the US Capitol a week ago. No one is invincible and what happened in Washington DC can very easily happen anywhere else in the world, including right here in sweet T&T.

ARNOLD GOPEESINGH

San Juan