Catholic priest: PNM, PDP must compromise to solve THA deadlock

Fr Leslie Tang Kai stands aside as Andrew Llanos washes the feet of his wife Dana at Scarborough RC Church on Holy Thursday. In his sermon on Good Friday the priest called on the PNM and PDP to work together to solve the THA six-six deadlock. - Photo by David Reid
Fr Leslie Tang Kai stands aside as Andrew Llanos washes the feet of his wife Dana at Scarborough RC Church on Holy Thursday. In his sermon on Good Friday the priest called on the PNM and PDP to work together to solve the THA six-six deadlock. - Photo by David Reid

Roman Catholic priest Fr Leslie Tang Kai believes the the People’s National Movement (PNM) and the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) must compromise to solve the six-six deadlock in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).

He made the statement while delivering the sermon on Good Friday at the St Joseph RC Church, Scarborough.

He reasoned that given the deadlock, compromise can only be achieved if both sides recognise each-other’s strengths and weaknesses.

“If you have to work as a collaborative government, we must be prepared to decrease for the other to increase,” he told the congregation.

“We must be prepared to understand that the person who is better equipped for a secretary in a division should always be the one that you put to the do the job.”

Tang Kai said politics in TT is geared too much toward helping family and friends as opposed to society as a whole. He said there must be a straightforward appreciation of human merit.

He added: “But when our politics is geared towards helping their friends and their family and their cohorts, the business of the day does not get completed.”

Tang Kai argued that in such a scenario there will always be division unless as a people unless a commitment is made to work for the benefit of all.

He said while someone may lead the assembly, he or she may not be the best chief secretary.

“Put the strengths where it is needed. That will give us proper governance or the best secretary of finance or the best infrastructure secretary.”

Tang Kai said people must be willing to say, “I understand my limitations and my strengths and I put my strengths where it is best needed.”

The priest said there is also politics in the church.

“Often even within the church, there is competition and fight down for position and rank. My brothers and sisters, there is too much politics in the church.”

He urged the congregation to exercise humility during Easter and beyond.

“We have to learn to humble ourselves and work together for the building of God’s kingdom here on earth and more particularly here in Tobago.”

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