Look, politics is not for everybody; neither is everybody made for politics. Politics, especially party politics, can damage reputations, cause deep embarrassment and even damage families. Of course, it is profitable for some, but there is lot of collateral damage in and through politics.
But the brave and ambitious stick it out, with or without the required ability, even pledging that their entry or participation in politics is “to serve the people” and not themselves. That, as is well known, is a long story.
A shorter, worrying and tension-filled story is the screening exercise by the two major politics parties. The party leadership, the screeners and the process all become a matter of political life and death for the contestants.
There are shoo-ins, favourites, “questionable” ones and “rejects.” The rejects seem to get bigger headlines than the approved ones. In fact, a “political reject” is highly publicised as a “damaged goods.” Now facts are facts, but I am still not sure if “reject” is the appropriate word.
When La Brea MP Stephen McClashie was turned down by the PNM screening committee last Monday, the thunderous headlines were “PNM rejects La Brea MP,” “McClashie rejected.”
Who saw him fit to be MP and Minister of Labour in the first place? He is a quiet, unassuming gentleman MP and clearly no match for the vocal, experienced UNC shadow labour minister, Rudranath Indarsingh.
It shows something is fundamentally wrong, even unfair, with the screening process in this and other related situations. After all, such appointments have significant implications for the taxpaying population.
Maybe the time has come for political parties to publish the criteria for selection – two major ones being merit and loyalty.
Further, candidates and MPs should be properly told they are in for a five-year term at least: Parliament is not a place of permanent residence. If and when they are “rejected” thereafter, the exit process must be fair and transparent.
Yes, politics can damage reputations and cause deep embarrassment. Of course, we will be hearing of more “rejects” as the screening continues. Will Mr McClashie now walk around La Brea with bowed head, or will he, like “losing” candidates Michael Seales and Dr Lovell Francis, be shoved up to a high government post, party-politics style?
Gentleman McClashie, faithful to his PNM, humbly said he was “okay” with the decision. His political leader will like that.
The other La Brea nominee, councillor Jillon Lewis, was “rejected” too.
As the media excitement continued, things were not so gloomy for Laventille East/Morvant MP Adrian Leonce, who one day looked like he withdrew, next day he was in, next day out, and then next day we heard “the process was continuing,” with loud appeals for his return. He too is a quiet, unassuming gentleman and, like Mr McClashie, appears not to be made for hustle-and-bustle partisan politics. Maybe the senate? He was the only PNM MP who expressed reservation over the SRC high-level increases for politicians. We wait and see
