Camille exposes political petticoat

THE EDITOR: Senator Camille Robinson-Regis’ recent statement in the Upper House concerning rats emerging from their proverbial holes with reference to the proposed pension increases for judges and parliamentarians was extremely unfortunate, disrespectful and reckless.

It was expected that after Robinson-Regis, leader of the Opposition bench in the Senate, was castigated to the political wilderness by the previous leader of the PNM, Patrick Manning, her resurgence into the political landscape would exude wisdom, humility and finesse. However, her return to the political frontline was coloured with disrespect and rancour as she castigated honourable citizens of this country whose contribution to the development of TT diminishes hers to relative dwarf status.

The Leader of the Opposition must not be seen to be in the business of rebranding old wine in new bottles. He must be wise enough to know that cast wine remains cast wine in spite of its age.

His predecessor Manning may have made serious political blunders that cost the PNM power on two occasions but some of his decisions remain sound in his de-recruitment of political milestones.

Robinson-Regis’ untimely, brash and disrespectful remarks about upright citizens like Reginald Dumas, Martin Daly and others have exposed her political petticoat. It has firmly established in the minds of the populace that she has past her political economic useful life, to re-emerge as a virtual political dinosaur.

Politicians must realise that the time is right, now, more than ever, to refine their conversations to engender meaningful thought for quality dialogue to be part of the national psyche. The prevalence of disrespectful and debasing utterances by politicians cannot be encouraged if we are to add value to our holistic national development initiatives.

Robinson-Regis needs to rethink her political strategies and approaches if she is to retain any relevance in the new political landscape. Her outdated modus operandi offers no salvation to the PNM for their emergence as a relevant political force to lead the citizens of TT.

It is now incumbent upon Dr Keith Rowley to search for new political talent if he is to realise his boyhood dream of becoming the Prime Minister of TT.

A dream he has held since the age of five years, according to his elder sister.

SHELDON DRAKES

Port-of-Spain

NEWSDAY