By Raffique Shah
April 12, 2025

In the 45 years I have been writing a weekly column for one newspaper or other, I have never advised my readers which candidate or what party they should vote for. I started with a satirical column, “MP for the Masses”, in 1980, in the run-up to the 1981 general election, the first since 1956 that Dr Eric Williams was not at the helm of the PNM, having died in 1980.

I wrote a combination of humour, addressed the economic fortunes of T&T, took potshots at politicians—by then I had completed my one term as the elected MP for Siparia where, in 1976, I had polled the third highest number of votes—6,601—with only PM George Chambers and Boodram Jattan polling more votes.

The key to maintaining a fierce independence, even as I demolished many an egotistical minion, is to remain principled. This stance allowed me wide freedoms to criticise from Dr Eric Williams down to the man who sat on an MP’s chair for five years and never so much as whispered a word: the silent MP, Hardeo Hardath, PNM Nariva. Several political parties tried to woo me to run for a seat in my best years, but I politely declined and preserved my integrity and my independence. The former, no one can challenge; and the latter, I breached with good reason.

The general election due to be held in two weeks has been converted into a life-or-death battle mostly for the United National Congress and especially for its leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar. In her bid to stay relevant, and in the process destroying the careers of some decent young political aspirants, she has had to join forces with some dubious and devious characters.

She has made the long and winding road from opposition leader to opposition leader sheer torture. In Marquis de Sade fashion, which is punishing, she has kept the pretenders to her throne at bay, reduced them to silent lambs or, in some cases, onlookers—not even on the sidelines, but in their households glued to their television sets.

If the stakes were not high, I would have ignored her and moved on to serious politics. But the stakes are high. This is my country she is playing with. I have known no place in the world other than this cussed-blessed country. And, in the evening of my life, I plan to go nowhere. I shall stay right here. For being patriotic, people like me have watched with dismay as some politicians rape the country, pillage it and later on, join together to “fix” it.

The oil, gas and petrochemical industries have brought us joy and sorrow, shame and pride, as politicians use and abuse them. The curse of corruption which is now embedded in our DNA has stalked us from as far back as I can recall. I, the eternal optimist, have seen the country suffer and prosper after successive governments.

To borrow a timeless exclamation made famous by PNMite Dr Desmond Cartey at a public meeting at the 1981 election: “All ah we tief!” Damn right we did! A few of them, PNM and ULF served petty sentences, others run free in some cases still enjoying their ill-gotten gains and yet others still hold high office and much like Penguin’s Devil, they wining in we face.

If I had the power to forgive, I may have extended that courtesy to a few. However, I cannot forget those who, as Persad-Bissessar puts it, take milk from babies’ mouths—UNC thieves, her thieves. It pains me to listen to her talk about who thief what from where, never once admitting that the biggest gang of thieves came from her inner cabinet. Said sin applies to the innocent looking—some might be uncharitable and call them garish—I call them thieves and they should not get anywhere close to power. My fears of them ever getting in power again disturbs me, nay, terrifies me.

If I am to retain my manhood, my patriotism, my pride in country, I must call on electors to not vote for the UNC. I am not telling you whom you should vote for, there are at least 20 parties you can throw your support behind. Today, I climb down from my ivory tower and I advise you whom you should not vote for, the UNC. Now I await the proverbial “Shah! Yuh is ah PNM dawg. Why yuh eh go and dead?” I can’t die, yet. Who else will attempt to set right all the wrongs some people seem intent on committing.

And, that’s why I write.