T&T’s BARBER GREEN AND FOOD CARD POLITICS

IN the early days of the national leadership of Dr. Eric Williams it was termed “rum and roti politics.”

With the improvement of the national infrastructure, “standpipe politics” became the vogue expression, an ode to the provision of pipe-borne water in urban communities.

Times have changed, but Trinidad and Tobago’s politics remain stepped in patronage, cronyism, and a flagrant spoils system.

So, the 2023 Local Government election is seeing an abundance of “barber green and food cards” politics.

The Government, which neglected the national infrastructure to the point of roads becoming wrecked, is undertaking a frantic pre-election paving programme.

And “food cards” – financial assistance for the socially displaced – are being given away willy-nilly.

In addition, some candidates of the ruling People’s National Movement are crudely offering to assist the poor in accessing taxpayer-funded programme.

This is being done out of the candidates’ campaign offices.

The relevant government ministries were allocated large sums in the recent supplementary budget to finance the election goodies.

“Rum and roti” politics” is alive and well.

In one of the most murderous lands in the world, would the PNM buy votes by paving roads and providing short-term social assistance?

Would this age-old political ruse win the electorate’s favour in a country of raging poverty, steep unemployment and runaway cost of living?

Whether or not this coarse and indecent campaign style brings about results, it says a lot that the country’s oldest political party could still consider it feasible and sensible.

It is instructive that “barber green and food cards politics” is taking place after 61 years of national independence and two bountiful energy bonanzas.

While T&T must depend on an election campaign to have roads paved, leaders of nations that obtained independence during the same period are directing economic and social change.

Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali has been utilising his country’s oil and gas windfall to create an economic revolution, and to attract foreign direct investments.

Ali and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness were wooing investors in Europe last week.

A few days ago, the Guyanese leader was marketing his country in China, following up on missions to the United States, India and other major economies.

Jamaica and Guyana obtained independence in 1962 and 1966 respectively.

For its part, T&T has fallen to the bottom of the investment heap, losing businesses to the value of US $914 million last year, the only Caricom country to have an outflow.

Less than a decade ago, T&T was welcoming energy and other investors to an annual average of US $1.5 billion.

India, which secured independence in 1947 after 200 years of British suppression, is heading to become the third-largest economy in the world.

The Asian giant currently has a space mission heading to the moon.

While it is unfair to compare tiny T&T with a country with tremendous resources, it is fair game to contrast with Singapore, which is smaller than the land mass of Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.

Singapore was recently adjudged to have the most powerful passport in the world, a testament to its immense economic clout.

The quality of life of the 5.5 million residents is among the highest in the world, with modern and efficient public systems, top-notch healthcare, a modern education ecosystem, and favourable business environment.

There is innovation, a clean environment, and meritocracy in the public and private sectors.

At a time of fast-evolving change – artificial intelligence is the latest technological frontier – the authorities in Trinidad and Tobago are practising Eric Williams-style “rum and roti politics.”

It says a lot about our leaders and what they think about the people.