Analyst: Augustine showing signs of hubris syndrome

POLITICAL scientist Derek Ramsamooj believes THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine is showing signs of hubris syndrome.

And, if left unchecked, he said, it could affect Tobago’s chances of negotiating for greater autonomy.

Hubris syndrome occurs when someone in a position of power develops a magnified view of themselves and their capabilities, resulting in excessive self-confidence, obsession with personal image and contempt for criticism.

At the launch of the Tobago People’s Party (TPP) on Sunday in Scarborough, Augustine, in his address as interim political leader, spoke disparagingly about the Prime Minister and Police Commissioner Erla Christopher-Harewood.

Referring to Dr Rowley, Augustine said, “I have come tonight to symbolically take a travel up to Mason Hall (where Dr Rowley was born) because there is a navel string there that I want to dig up and I am going to take it down to Whitehall and deliver it to a baldhead man down there and say, ‘Keep your navel string, it no longer belongs to Tobago.’”

He also described Rowley was the “worst thing to happen to Trinidad and Tobago since the coming of Christopher Columbus.”

Augustine, alluding to the police searches at the homes and offices of THA officials and public servants last month, also accused Harewood-Christopher of siding with the government to undermine the THA.

He said Harewood-Christopher has to account for how she is managing the police.

On Tuesday, Ramsamooj told Newsday, “The presentation made by Farley Augustine suggests that hubris syndrome is stepping into his political personality.”

He cautioned, “It would be prudent to understand the political dynamics within the society of Tobago and then by extension within the society of Trinidad and Tobago to establish your political credibility to deal with challenging political matters before you begin such a controversial political attack.”Describing politics as “civilised war,” Ramsamooj said, “War, at times, can be a politically bruising, demonstrating hostility and brutality.”

In Augustine’s case, he argued that to “come out politically swinging without establishing yourself may be a liability to his political credibility.”

Ramsamooj said Rowley has had more than 30 years of political experience.

“He is a battle-weary, hard political warrior.”

He said the Chinese philosophy of death by a thousand cuts versus that of a samurai politician performing harakiri (ritual suicide) should be reflected in Augustine’s political utterances.

Ramsamooj said one of the initial challenges for Augustine is whether the government sees fit to begin implementing and collecting the property tax in Tobago.

He said, “It will be a challenge (for) the property tax, that would be law in TT, not to be applied to the Tobago economy. The rental value of property in Tobago, since the island is tourism-oriented, would even be considered higher than the equivalent property value in Trinidad.”

Tobago, Ramsamooj said, will have to make a decision if it wishes to pursue autonomy in such as aggressive manner.

“What would happen if Trinidad decided to withdraw any types of subsidies and allowances given to Tobago? There are geographic spaces in Trinidad, such as parts of Mayaro, Icacos, Toco, which do not possess access to the quantum of resources that Tobago has.

“So to talk big when you don’t have access to electricity, water, internet, airlift, elements of nationhood, such as passports, drivers’ licence, currency, may create more animosity than fixing the required problems.

“The issue is not what you say, the issue is how it is said. It is how you lead strategic negotiations to increase autonomy, but be part of the unitary state.”

Ramsamooj said this required patience, civility, strategic thinking and consensus-building.