Why UNC cannot win without a coalition

THE EDITOR: The PNM (Afro-based) and the UNC (Indo-based) will always be the strongest political parties in TT. The fact that the UNC cannot govern without joining with a coalition of other parties is as clear as the nose on any face. It is my view that the PNM and UNC have had supporters of both races for quite some time, but the problem is where UNC supporters chose to live.

The Indo-based UNC is geographically fettered/constrained by thousands of supporters living as closely as possible together for religious and cultural reasons. Nothing is wrong with that feeling of safety in numbers. But this decades-long physical division, coupled with the Westminster system of governance, has unfortunately changed the political scenario into them and us.

Why has the PNM been so successful at winning most elections since 1956? The face of the PNM included Afro, Indo, Chinese and mixed whites. From 1956 to 2022, this is still the face of a party that was designed to endure.

These supporters, of all races, live permanently in all areas of the country.

The children of the indentured continue to do extremely well in school. Hundreds of doctors and lawyers studying abroad, with practically 90 per cent of returnees moving back home to south and central Trinidad. This man-made division has endangered the UNC in prime political seats.

A decided slap in the face to the other coalition party members of 2010-2015 was that then prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar appeared uncomfortable living at the Prime Minister's residence in Port-of-Spain. With my own two eyes I would see the state helicopter deliver the PM to the Savannah when she had to be in Port of Spain.

Can you imagine the US president not living in the White House? Or the UK prime minister not living at 10 Downing Street?

It is galling to read remarks about the PNM being corrupt and labelling the UNC unfairly. Can it be said that on the two occasions of UNC rule that billions of dollars never disappeared? The People’s Partnership government with 29 seats never touched anything? Nothing?

Give us a break, please. Political hysteria can be debilitating to all of us.

LYNETTE JOSEPH

Diego Martin