Dear executive and members of the COP, it is my view that the Congress of the People has become a major part of the problem of governance in Trinidad and Tobago and can no longer offer any solutions to the people.

We are at a juncture in our history where we need a strong voice emerging pointing to leadership that we can support and trust. Leadership that offers sincere committment to national development; to bringing harmony and balance to the four races of man that co-exist in this space; to assisting this nation to understand the time and align itself with the awakening to the new reality that is emerging in the earth out of the debris of collapsed systems; to practical and comprehensive programmes and policies that would allow us to overcome ignorance and prejudice and conquer the mountains of culture, society, economy, politics, religion, media  and education.

From its inception the COP has spoken disparagingly about the nature of the United National Congress (UNC). I find it very unfortunate that having decided to join with the UNC to attain government, the COP can still find nothing good to say about the UNC almost two-and- a-half years later. What is most disturbing is that the COP expects to stay in a partnership with the UNC, convey to all and sundry how rotten they think that they (the UNC) are and expect the electorate to not recognise the COP as vulgar hypocritical parasites. 

The COP is turning out to be worse than the UNC. The whole nation knows where it stands with the UNC. For the COP to stay in the Partnership and pretend that it is superior and different to the UNC is tantamount to taking the nation for fools. Marriage is the act of becoming one. Therefore this continuing political marriage makes the COP one with the UNC.

It is very sad to see how the COP has so easily abandoned its principles, programmes and even its pretence at sincerety in exchange for the trappings of power and prestige. The argument has been put forward by the COP that you cannot do anything if you are outside of government. Well that is true, especially if you have not been able to do anything inside the government. I have lost all respect for this sad spectacle that is parading as the COP.

Our one hope was that the real COP, the one we thought we voted for in 2010 would emerge and reclaim its brand, its fire, its principles and most importantly, its own identity. Alas, this is not to be. The People's National Movement (PNM) lost its way too a long time ago.What will we do now? The people must make the next move. Organise! Organise! Organise!

Karen Bart-Alexander

via e-mail