Dear Editor,
Mr David Granger when asked why Ms Vanessa Kissoon was off the List of Representatives said that she had served two terms. If Ms Kissoon is not on the List because she served two terms, where does that leave Amna Ally, Basil Williams, Volda Lawrence, George Norton, et al, who are on the List and have served more than two terms?
One cannot help but question whether Ms Kissoon is paying the price for breaking ranks with the political leadership, by standing for and with the people of Linden against the 2012 proposed imposition of electricity charges that was announced in parliament, and later pulled back after the people staged weeks of protest against it. She was a major leader in organising and mobilising her constituents on the fateful day of July 18.
If this is the price for delivering leadership to one’s constituents, then Ms Kissoon must be heralded as the victor in the people’s quest for representative leadership. Clearly, hers has been selfless leadership for her constituency. As such she must continue to walk proud after this experience, recognising that the position she has taken in representing her constituency has allowed her people to keep the lights on for the children to study, among other things.
It is a shame efforts made by the people in the Region to identify their representatives through a system of involving groups in the decision-making process, were ignored to arrive at a List that is personal and not representative. This is a blow to democracy and undermines efforts to strengthen regionalism by empowering the region to identify the geographic representative(s) which came out of the constitutional reform process.
The Region was kept in limbo until the list was presented and reported by various sections of the media. This is no way to treat young people, young women and hard-working supporters who you rely on to put you in government. It is an unacceptable trait that must be purged from our politics. It is discouraging to youth, particularly those who have worked hard for political change. This high-handed behaviour will further alienate young people and those looking in. As we watch Ms Kissoon’s issue play out, it confirms how the List system can be abused to deny grassroots democracy, and to deny the regions representation through their choice of elected officials to represent them. One gets the feeling in this era of politics that there is very little difference between the incumbent and the challenger.
History will be kind to Ms Kissoon. She has done her country, young people and progressive women well. And whatever path she travels henceforth, her future and those lives she will touch will be well served.
Yours faithfully,
Minette Bacchus
