It is always good for Christians to read, learn from, and practise the teachings of the Bible. Similarly, our Hindu and Muslim brothers and sisters turn to their sacred texts for guidance on morality, wisdom, and the principles of a good life. Yet, despite the abundance of spiritual and moral instruction available to society, many continue to reject wisdom in favour of shallow counsel, inflated egos, and intellectual emptiness.
My distinguished colleagues and I recently reflected on several passages from the Book of Proverbs which, at this troubling time in our national life, appear particularly relevant. We revisit them often to refresh our minds as we continue, despite adversity, to offer counsel and advice:
“Walk with the wise and become wise” (Proverbs 13:20).
“A wise man listens to advice” (Proverbs 12:15).
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.”
“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”
“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”
These timeless warnings force several uncomfortable questions upon the nation. Will our leaders ever learn? Or are words of wisdom being wasted on self-opinionated politicians intoxicated by superficial authority, endless flattery, and delusions of grandeur?
History teaches that some past prime ministers sought to project themselves as “supreme leaders” when, in reality, they were pseudo-supreme figures — individuals wrapped in the trappings of power but lacking genuine moral authority and broad national legitimacy.
The late Irish playwright Oscar Wilde once observed that appearances can be deceptive, and nowhere is that more evident than in politics. A pseudo-supreme leader is one who survives not through wisdom or statesmanship, but through manipulation, fear, sycophancy, and the blind loyalty of a narrow political base. Many now ask: do such figures exist in Trinidad and Tobago today?
The pensadores, reflecting on the present political landscape and the methods used to gain and retain power, examined two familiar UNC slogans: “When UNC wins, everybody wins” and “Better days are coming.”
With respect to the first slogan, many voters swallowed it whole, much like the townspeople in the German legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. In the famous tale dating back to 1284, a colourful piper used magical music to rid a town of rats. But when the mayor refused to honour his promise of payment, the piper retaliated by leading 130 children away, never to be seen again.
The political parallel is difficult to ignore. Grand promises and seductive slogans can mesmerise populations, but eventually reality arrives demanding accountability. Fortunately, the people of Trinidad and Tobago are not fools. Increasingly, citizens are weighing promises against performance and slogans against results.
The harsh reality, many conclude, is that everybody did not win. Many lost.
Now the population is being serenaded with a new refrain: “Better days are coming.” The question is whether citizens will once again fall for political poetry and emotional manipulation, or whether they have finally learnt from experience.
Have the people, as the old saying goes, “smelt a rat”? The phrase, often attributed to the colourful Irish politician Sir Boyle Roche, refers to the growing suspicion that something dishonest or deceptive is unfolding in plain sight. The evidence, many believe, is beginning to surface.
What then will the people do? Will they objectively analyse the evidence before them, or will they continue blindly onward — publicly hoping for the best while privately expecting the worst? Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, several critical national questions remain unanswered. The Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs is reportedly meeting with government officials in Washington. Yet the discussions appear shrouded in secrecy. What exactly is the current state of Trinidad and Tobago’s relationship with the United States?
Will Washington assist in resolving tensions between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela? Has Venezuela even acknowledged the Prime Minister’s proposal to send a negotiating team to Caracas regarding Trinidad and Tobago’s rights in the Loran-Manatee gas field?
These are not trivial questions. Trinidad and Tobago urgently needs both oil and, more importantly, natural gas. Energy remains the lifeblood of the economy, and diplomatic arrogance is a luxury the country can no longer afford.
As Scripture warns, “Pride goeth before a fall.” In this case, humility, pragmatism, and mature diplomacy are urgently required. Differences with Venezuela must be resolved with wisdom, not ego.
The respected former professor of international law and international relations has repeatedly reminded the nation that Venezuela traditionally rejects third-party involvement in bilateral disputes. Indeed, many treaties and agreements between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela explicitly state that disputes are to be resolved between the parties themselves.
Frankly, Trinidad and Tobago does not need to spend exorbitant sums hiring foreign consultants when capable experts already exist within our own borders — patriotic individuals willing to advise pro bono because they genuinely love this country.
But once again, pride, prejudice, political vanity, and hidden agendas appear to be triumphing over common sense.
