Can public trust the politicians?

THE EDITOR: Can the population of TT trust its political leaders? When US President Donald Trump allegedly questioned why his country’s soccer team had to play against two countries — Trinidad and Tobago — at the same time in a FIFA World Cup qualifier, his presidential observation may not have been too far off the mark.

Can anyone say if TT’s amended Constitutions — independence and republican — were designed to encourage harmony among our diverse population or was the perpetuation of partisan leadership its de facto intent?

On attaining independence from the British in 1962, did the framers of the Constitution deliberately miss the mark with many of their assumptions in their desire to appear to distance themselves from the colonial elite? Was the diverse populace sufficiently primed to understand the implications of being “given” independence without struggle or sacrifice?

Was TT really “forged from the love of liberty” and would Pat Castagne — the composer of our national anthem — had he a looking glass, have written the words “with boundless faith in our destiny?” Who is the “our” to whom he refers?

Neither the PNM nor the UNC, in its many guises, have established in the minds of the populace a sense of individual and collective belonging to TT. In fact, there is no “one we” in TT. There is no “our” united by common concerns to take the country forward in a way that is beneficial to all.

Proof of this lies in the manner in which the failed anti-gang legislation was/is being handled and communicated to the public.

How can the public trust elected politicians who accuse one another of lying? And yet, as so frequently happens in Parliament, members on both the Government and Opposition benches refer to one another as “my good friend.” In this particular instant, birds of a feather certainly do flock together.

Frankly, it may be easier to get Trump and the North Korean leader to have meaningful discussions as opposed to having the leadership of the PNM and the UNC engage in such activity.

JOHN HENRY, Petit Valley