Silencing the independent vote

PAOLO KERNAHAN

IN POLITICAL years, a concept a bit like dog years, the countdown to the general election has already begun. For folks with a weak stomach, that's not welcome news, but here we are.

Given the sharp decline of our quality of life – rampant murders, economic paralysis, infrastructural collapse, etc – this election will likely be tighter than that of 2020; as tight as a frog's cloaca, as the calypsonians say. Both major political parties are keenly aware of this. As such, they're exuding a frisson of desperation – it's practically a musk. That's saying a lot for a country whose political landscape is largely shaped by race-based tribal voting and slavering devotion to a cult of leadership.

On the side of the incumbent, party leadership (reposed entirely in one man) and supporters are trying to convince the nation we're living in a halcyon age courtesy of the PNM's stellar stewardship. On the side of the forever opposition, the hapless leadership and their agitated yellowjackets are convinced we've slipped into the fifth circle of hell.

Both parties have been in a perpetual election mode of sorts, keeping the car running since 2015. Keith Rowley routinely retreats to where he feels most comfortable and competent – the political meeting. There he basks in the unflinching adulation of unquestioning supporters. For the UNC, there's the Monday night forum where Kamla Persad-Bissessar and others loosely tackle national issues and breathe life into supporters' belief that they're backing a party that's still in contention.

Neither PNM nor UNC diehards need to be sold. They don't need to be served the kool-aid; they're mixing it themselves with gusto in their homes and communities. It's the independent voters and thinkers who hold the balance of power. That's why marginal seats are so contentiously eyed during the election cycle. Why then are the PNM and UNC training their guns on this cohort? Also known as folks in the middle or moderates, independent voters increasingly face vicious attacks for raising perfectly reasonable questions and criticisms about the actions, behaviours, failures and omissions of both parties.

Recently, anyone stepping out of the line with pertinent inquiries about the enthusiastically trumpeted Dragon gas "deal" was immediately set upon by PNM online goonbots. On the other side of the political divide/canal, UNC yellowjackets were dispatched to harangue people supportive of motions to trigger a change in party leadership.

If you found yourself in the invidious position of doing both, then you had to take licks from both the red and yellow. It's peculiar that independent voters are so energetically reviled by the two political albatrosses. "You all feel you all superior to party supporters." "Eef you have so much sa-port, why you don't form your own party?"

The independent, floating, moderate demographic is considerable – election statistics show this time and time again. Those who interrogate obvious spin presented as fact are often told, "You should stay out of PNM/UNC business." That's precisely the problem. Party devotees view their parties as private members' clubs. So when those clubs ascend to office, only people ensconced in them should benefit from the spoils of political, class and race warfare.

Both political parties are auditioning and interviewing for the job of running the country. There is no such thing as "PNM and UNC business." No political aspirant should offer themselves for consideration and be uncomfortable with dissenting views, freely expressed concerns, and stinging criticism. This can easily be avoided by sticking to private life.

I've been described as both an undercover PNM and UNC operative; a double agent. This is because I raise questions about both political parties and criticise failures of leadership and foresight.

Political parties need nonaligned voters to win elections. Pouncing on citizens who won't drink deeply from a chalice of lies won't get you over the line. If, as a political party, you are unable to convince undecideds that you're the better option to lead the country, you can't fault them – fault your terrible skills of persuasion and wobbly moral authority.

Every citizen in this country, even those who don't vote or vote irregularly, has the right and obligation to speak out against corruption and incompetence. The sooner the political parties accept that, the better for us all. The PNM must defend its record of defiant failure and arrogant malfeasance. The UNC must explain its inability to present a credible, well-informed alternative voice in Parliament. Telling citizens to "hush dey mout" won't change the most basic requirement of the job – answering to the people.