Clarence Rambharat showed his true People’s National Movement (PNM) colours last week when he told the people of Mayaro he would wash his hands of Trinidad and Tobago if the country returns the People’s Partnership Government to office in the general election scheduled to take place later this year.
Mr Rambharat is the selected PNM candidate for the Mayaro constituency, currently held by Winston “Gypsy” Peters of the United National Congress (UNC). He made the statement at the end of a walkabout with his political leader, Dr Keith Rowley.
“I left my job in Canada. I haven’t worked since. My time has been dedicated to getting the PNM back into office. I am 8,000 miles away from my wife and kids. If we lose this election, I wash my hands of this country! If we lose, I will not have a Plan B for you…,” local media quoted him as saying.
His statement amounts to bullying the people to vote for him with the threat that if they don’t, he would desert them and return to Canada.
It is significant because that one comment tells the people of Mayaro that Rambharat has no concern for them and their welfare; his mission is only to win an election and if he can’t he is not going to serve them.
Suppose the people vote for him and he wins the seat but his party remains in Opposition? What he is saying is that all his promises and all his talk about representation amount to nothing because if the PNM is not in government he would get on the next plane to Canada and leave the people without representation.
If I am a constituent in Mayaro, I would tell Clarence Rambharat that since he has no commitment to Mayaro or Trinidad and Tobago, he could get on that plane right now.
Many of us leave home for multiple reasons. I have lived in Canada for more than 25 years and remain loyal to my country of birth but at the same time I have a commitment to my adopted home. That is why I have never considered getting into electoral politics, which requires total commitment. That’s why the laws of Trinidad and Tobago forbid anyone with dual citizenship to contest an election unless the person is an involuntary citizen of the other country.
Rambharat is a political mercenary who’s here only to try to get the PNM into office. If he fails, he would leave because he has no interest in anyone in Mayaro or the country; his loyalty is to himself and the PNM. This is consistent with the PNM narrative that this is PNM country.
If I were a constituent in Mayaro I would have some serious questions for Rambharat:
• Did you take a leave of absence from your job for a fixed period?
• Depending on the outcome of the election will you go back to your job and it would be business as usual in Canada?
• If you win your seat and the PNM loses the election will you stay and serve the constituents of Mayaro or will you give up the seat?
• If you are so committed to Trinidad and Tobago why do you continue to have Canadian residency?
• Why did you leave your family behind in Vancouver pending the outcome of the election?
Rambharat’s lack of commitment is worse than that of the late Gordon Draper, who was a senator and minister of Public Administration in the PNM administration that took office in December 1991. Draper contested and won the Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West seat in the early election called by Patrick Manning on November 6, 1995, but the PNM lost the election.
Draper, like Mr Rambharat, had little interest in the people or the promises he made in the election campaign and spent most of his parliamentary life working overseas as an international consultant rather than serving his constituents. His rationale was that he could not live on the salary of an ordinary MP.
By his own admission, Mr Rambharat is having a hard time wooing the people. “I’ve walked this constituency and people cuss meh,” he told the people. If he does the analysis he would understand why.
The people of Trinidad and Tobago are no longer passive onlookers who vote purely on loyalty to a party.
They are paying close attention and Mr Rambharat’s remark about washing his hands of Trinidad and Tobago which was clear evidence that all his talk about representation amounts to nothing.
Rambharat shows lack of commitment
By Capil Bissoon
Clarence Rambharat showed his true People’s National Movement (PNM) colours last week when he told the people of Mayaro he would wash his hands of Trinidad and Tobago if the country returns the People’s Partnership Government to office in the general election scheduled to take place later this year.
Mr Rambharat is the selected PNM candidate for the Mayaro constituency, currently held by Winston “Gypsy” Peters of the United National Congress (UNC). He made the statement at the end of a walkabout with his political leader, Dr Keith Rowley.
“I left my job in Canada. I haven’t worked since. My time has been dedicated to getting the PNM back into office. I am 8,000 miles away from my wife and kids. If we lose this election, I wash my hands of this country! If we lose, I will not have a Plan B for you…,” local media quoted him as saying.
His statement amounts to bullying the people to vote for him with the threat that if they don’t, he would desert them and return to Canada.
It is significant because that one comment tells the people of Mayaro that Rambharat has no concern for them and their welfare; his mission is only to win an election and if he can’t he is not going to serve them.
Suppose the people vote for him and he wins the seat but his party remains in Opposition? What he is saying is that all his promises and all his talk about representation amount to nothing because if the PNM is not in government he would get on the next plane to Canada and leave the people without representation.
If I am a constituent in Mayaro, I would tell Clarence Rambharat that since he has no commitment to Mayaro or Trinidad and Tobago, he could get on that plane right now.
Many of us leave home for multiple reasons. I have lived in Canada for more than 25 years and remain loyal to my country of birth but at the same time I have a commitment to my adopted home. That is why I have never considered getting into electoral politics, which requires total commitment. That’s why the laws of Trinidad and Tobago forbid anyone with dual citizenship to contest an election unless the person is an involuntary citizen of the other country.
Rambharat is a political mercenary who’s here only to try to get the PNM into office. If he fails, he would leave because he has no interest in anyone in Mayaro or the country; his loyalty is to himself and the PNM. This is consistent with the PNM narrative that this is PNM country.
If I were a constituent in Mayaro I would have some serious questions for Rambharat:
• Did you take a leave of absence from your job for a fixed period?
• Depending on the outcome of the election will you go back to your job and it would be business as usual in Canada?
• If you win your seat and the PNM loses the election will you stay and serve the constituents of Mayaro or will you give up the seat?
• If you are so committed to Trinidad and Tobago why do you continue to have Canadian residency?
• Why did you leave your family behind in Vancouver pending the outcome of the election?
Rambharat’s lack of commitment is worse than that of the late Gordon Draper, who was a senator and minister of Public Administration in the PNM administration that took office in December 1991. Draper contested and won the Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West seat in the early election called by Patrick Manning on November 6, 1995, but the PNM lost the election.
Draper, like Mr Rambharat, had little interest in the people or the promises he made in the election campaign and spent most of his parliamentary life working overseas as an international consultant rather than serving his constituents. His rationale was that he could not live on the salary of an ordinary MP.
By his own admission, Mr Rambharat is having a hard time wooing the people. “I’ve walked this constituency and people cuss meh,” he told the people. If he does the analysis he would understand why.
The people of Trinidad and Tobago are no longer passive onlookers who vote purely on loyalty to a party.
They are paying close attention and Mr Rambharat’s remark about washing his hands of Trinidad and Tobago which was clear evidence that all his talk about representation amounts to nothing.
EXPRESS
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