Jack Warner Wins
We present and encourage progressive Caribbean views of Caribbean and world affairs.
Mr. Jack Warner |
The late President of Guyana, Mr.
Forbes Burnham, once talked about the vagaries of democracy. We believe that
the victory by Mr. Jack Warner is instructive of such. Democracy like the
weather is unpredictable. That is why, we guess, it is said that the voice of
the people, is the voice of the Lord. Once the ballot legitimizes the democracy
we are expected to accept it as if it were the divine wish of a superior being.
We hold no admiration for Jack Warner
but his victory in the by-election of Chaguanas West, in our opinion, clearly sends the message, that the Caribbean
electorate has a tendency to place personality and likability above all other
considerations, in determining the suitability for political office.
We are therefore forced to admit
that perhaps politics “has a morality of its own”, a position held by former
Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Basdeo Panday. We therefore posit
that the vagaries of democracy give hope to all those who can get their names
on a ballot, irrespective of their morality or character.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad
Bissessar, was obviously the real loser in this contest. Quite frankly her
about face in condemning Warner as corrupt after defending him for many years was
alarming. She tried to insult the intelligence of the constituents and paid the
price. Her political light is rapidly dimming and we imagine it is only a
matter of time before it will completely fade away.
The next several weeks will
reveal Mr. Warner’s intentions and we would not be surprise if he turns his attention
to becoming Prime Minister. We also note the dismal performance of the
opposition in this contest and its failure to garner at least ten percent of
the vote. Luckily for its leader, Dr. Keith Rowley, it achieved the low
expectations it had set.
Our position on Mr. Jack Warner's
remains unchanged. He is not fit for public office. However, we respect the
right of the constituents to participate in the democratic process and
therefore we accept the decision of the constituents of Chaguanas West to elect
the representative of their choice. We must also be fair to Mr. Warner because
he resigned and returned to the people for a new endorsement and was
successful. His political stocks are now
greater than they were before this victory. Such are the vagaries of democracy.
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