Letters to the editor
Newsday
Editor: I was exploring with relatives a school of thought that perhaps a monarchy might have been better than a democracy because it removes the need to appease sectors of a society for their votes and allows the focus to be on what is best for a nation .
A relative pointed out that in a monarchy one is stuck with a leader for life and if that leader is incompetent or evil, that nation would have no choice but to live with such incapacity until he or she was leaving. Democracy allows one to change such leaders.
Another relative pointed out that democracy allows people to vote for their self-interest, and whether that self-interest is for the betterment of the nation or not, the majority vote for what they believe is best for them.
This got me thinking about Trinidad and Tobago and the way we vote. Is it more important for us to see a leader in the country who looks like us, or who seems representative of our culture, than one who seeks the best interest of the nation? Is having a politically appointed job or receiving political benefits more important than improving the national infrastructure and government management structure?
If my relative is correct and people vote for their own interests, then one might ask at what point is the interest of the community, or the nation, taken into account? The possible conclusion may be that such consideration is given only after personal needs are met.
If in fact the desire of TT people to elect someone from their own social, cultural or racial sect is more important than electing one with national objectives beneficial to the majority, then at what point would national issues be taken seriously? Realistically, in a country lacking homogeneous existence, sectarian voting cannot allow national issues to be the determining factor in one’s voting choices unless and until other matters of personal interest are affected.
These issues are present now and this is the time to look beyond the sect and seek leadership that offers a path away from temporary sectarian complacency.
At what point will people get fed up and sick of seeing our young people lying in pools of blood from the increasing gun violence.
When would road safety take precedence over temporary government projects aimed at funding support for the next election?
When would the good people come out in droves and elect leaders with integrity and competence?
Will there ever be a time when the future of one’s family, community, country takes precedence over one’s desire to feel empowered by seeing one’s sect in office?
I don’t know the answers, but I do know that for economic development, infrastructure improvement, security in our communities, food security and modern education to be the focus, a way must be found to look beyond sect and beyond selfish gain.
STEVE ALVAREZ
by e-mail
