I feel driven to express my dismay at what I think has become an established position for the People’s National Movement and its leaders - putting party before country.

The plan to have approximately 13,000 party supporters (a minimum of 500 from each of the 26 constituencies which the party won at the last elections) assemble at Woodford Square to show solidarity with the political leader as he faces a motion of no confidence in Parliament shows just how much the distinction between Government and party is not made. The party is coming out in full force to show how powerful it is in the face of action by the Opposition in the Parliament.

If the Prime Minster has to face a motion as the leader of the Government then let him do so in that capacity. Surely if he has faith in his ability to lead the nation then he doesn’t need to be bolstered by party supporters telling him how wonderful they think he is!

While I can readily understand and accept one’s commitment to an organisation which may have assisted in one’s development, I have a difficulty with blind loyalty. This, moreso, when the loser is oftentimes the country. Too many times in the recent past the country has been made subordinate to the party simply to ensure that ’we remain in power’.

Why is it that, when a party loyalist’s modus operandi is being called into question, the citizens of the country are not allowed to hear all the allegations and the responses via a commission of enquiry? Why do party members, for fear of being deprived of the ’largesse’ given to them because of their political affiliations, sacrifice their principles at the altar of expediency? Is it any wonder that the country has come to this sorry state where the crime rate is seemingly out of control because ’rocking the PNM boat’ is just not the done thing? Party members prefer to grumble in private but in public retain a deafening silence about the ills of the country.

Remember, fellow citizens, that our country must mean far more to us than any political party ever can. The country belongs to all of us - the party, apparently, belongs to just a few!

Concerned Tobagonian

via e-mail