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Message of thanks from Anand
My Dear Friend and Fellow Citizen,
I wish to express my deepest gratitude for your support in my campaign for the Tabaquite constituency for the Congress of the People.
Our campaign was short and intense people from all walks of life responded to the call for a new politics and you were at the forefront of this massive movement for change. Your support be it financial or otherwise was greatly appreciated and I wish to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Without your support, my campaign would not have been the tremendous success that it was. Although I did not win the seat, I feel a personal sense of satisfaction as I was able to capture 5,519 votes or 31 % of the votes cast. This is a tremendous statement for a party only one year old and a candidate 35 years old and coming into this race at the last minute.
I give you my assurance that my work will continue in the form of fighting for justice and equality for all in the courts. I will also continue to contribute to the transformation of our society by actively monitoring the government as a shadow MP and minister. I am extremely comfortable in where I located my politics and remain committed to the COP. To this end, I shall continue the struggle for new politics, national unity, the equitable distribution of wealth and integrity in public life.
The experience of this campaign has enriched my life as I have made many new friends and grown close to so many who were attracted by the common vision and purpose of a better Trinidad and Tobago. The dynamics of the political equation is bound to change in the near future and we must ready ourselves for the surgical political intervention that will be necessary to save our nation from further corruption, division and mismanagement. Your support will be needed again and I trust that you will be ready for battle at the appropriate time. God bless and please keep in touch.
Yours Respectfully,
Anand Ramlogan
- 1248 reads
The worst thing now would be for the COP to disband. It is important that WE stay together and "flog" them, possibly before 2012. While it was a courageous fight for Mr. Dookeran and his team, in one year they have managed to win the love, courage and confidence of more than 100,000 people. Sadly, the majority of Trinidad and Tobago has shown that it is not ready for a change in politics and a change in governance. May God bless our nation.
Rikka
Rikka
Rikka,
Thanks so much for the support. We must build on this solid foundation and I'm in for the long haul.
Anand
My friends the writing was on the wall for those not blinded by party politics reciting what they heard on the platform. We all knew the PNM would win and we also knew the UNC could not win. I gave no predictions for COP except to say that they have shaken up the politics of the country which I believe what they set out to do.
I also said a lot of ppl would be hurt and so it is. Even Mr. Panday himself was bitter. But I know to himself he knows he has to carry a great weight for what happened. He underestimated the level of support Mr. Dookeran was able to generate and misunderstood that that 3rd constituency does not support UNC or PNM. If therefore he required a coalition then a proper formula must have been devised...WITHOUT his open involvement. Many blind UNC supporters, like Panday in that bitter, ridiculous speech, are looking to blame everyone else except themselves.
I don't support party, tribal politics therefore I hold no allegiance to any party whatsoever. But if one is honest one should be able to see that Panday knew he could not win the elections that's why he went all out (no expenses barred) to secure his heartland and settle for opposition. It was survival instinct for party and self and he wanted to sink COP. That was his re-strategy. I'm not sure he has done that despite his 15 seats. That UNC party needs to consider its future post Panday and I'm not sure it has much of a future post Panday.
Many congratulations to the PNM they fought a good fight. They real worry they had was COP gaining any kind of momentum because they knew COP was making in-roads into their own constituency. COP I maintain had a poor campaign on the one hand and of course the PNM had the UNC trying to preserve itself at the expense of COP on the other. In other words COP was too busy fending off a bitter and vicious UNC to be able to make that large impact. UNC did all the PNM's dirty work. And of course PNM had enough ammo on UNC to deal with them if they succeeded in destroying COP to come after them. As it is it was not necessary as COP stood strong and all PNM had to do was fuel the fued, which they did.
It's time to move on now. I congratulate Anand on fighting a good fight. He had to cope with a vicious opponent. Many ppl in his shoes would have thought they were in over their heads when the onslaught was coming fast and furious. He held on and came out much the better. Congratulations. I think PNM benefitted greatly too from the titanic fight. For a while I thought he would have slipped in.
It was a good election. I hope that this is not the end of things as as a country we need to get away from this racial politics. It serves no purpose. We also need to get away from this first past the post system we have. It too has no place for T&T in this day and age.
I maintained that we all knew what the issues were, we just could not agree the vehicle in which to travel. The election results bear this out.
Panday will not be around forever and its left to be seen how his departure will affect the dynamics of the political equation. There are several milestones such as his court cases that could produce change. The COP has to build on the excellent foundation and position itself for the future. Even if there has to be some sort of unity among the opposition forces or the base wants to shify to us, we have to be a strong party. I'm in for the long haul.
Regards,
Anand
Well it's indeed re-assuring to hear from Anand and to gain his assurance and committment. It's also nice to know he keeps in touch with the many, diverse views (and appreciate the ppl who air these views) expressed on his website. And over the election period there have been many. His fight in Tabaquite was an interesting one (what he would have done now to have gotten those PNM votes). Perhaps, the party suffered the most from the confusion, uncertainty and fighting with the UNC.
It would do well to firmly maintain its own indentity and desist from rubbing up shoulders too much with UNC leadership. It doesn't sound too good whenever u hear for example Jack talk about all the negotiations he carrying out with COP behind close doors and how these broke down. It's enough to scare prospects and supporters alike away. In this regard I acknowledge the PNM as an institution able to hold its own and not be embroiled and subsumed (easily or otherwise) by another entity like that.
The UNC is exposing, taking advantage of and trying to steal the COP young and early foundation. Some may even say shaky foundation. It is not even giving time for the concrete to solidify. COP need to move to hold this in place and stand out as an institution separate and apart from the UNC. There is little time for COP leadership to be shell shocked by the election results or exhale. Mere talk would not hold 148,041 ppl together. COP need to find creative, action oriented ways to keep the organic structure alive. Perhaps some humble suggestions:
Could someone in COP start to update its website and make it more interactive and dynamic? That website has gone dead since the election results. Maybe opening the site for blogs would be good.
How about purchasing some air time (maybe an hour) at least once a month (or once a week) in the media? The PNM have their hacks and hands all over the media and so too does the UNC although not as much as the PNM. Why is the COP so slow to reach out to its supporters especially when they have given so much support and was left high, dry and so emotionally laden after the heavy defeat? Although, COP held an inter-faith service, that was a one off event. Everyday, PNM and UNC supporters are allowed their expressions through their radio programs.
What about some events to cater for the grassroots COP? COP is being labelled as a middle class party by its detractors....maybe COP needs to do more on this front. Christmas is coming up.....some donations to disadvantaged communities? A Christmas occasion?
Maybe, others may have some suggestions also.....these are just some of my objective thoughts.
COP is in for a long haul. Without a single seat it is a party that lacks a certain degree of legitimacy, that UNC-A and PNM will naturally have.
COP needs a carefully measured strategy for winning hearts and minds at the next election.
COP needs to maintain credibility and build on what it has at the moment.
I agree that COP associating, or false rumor of associating with the UNC, is bad news. Remember in politics the truth does not always win, and credible lies are powerful things.
The COP needs a root and branch analysis of its operations about why it failed to win sufficient hearts and minds in the last election. That is an exercise in self-brutality i.e. being brutally honest with itself. A person does not know himself simply about thinking about himself. It is by interacting with others and gaining their feedback that he learns about himself. This can be painful for an individual as it is likely to be for the COP.
In other words COP should invite comment on where others felt it went wrong. Of course, in all of these kinds of consultation there will be stupid and idiotic comment. That is part of the pain. But 'no pain, no gain'.
COP should be careful not to simply rationalise away any feedback it receives. Sometimes the perception of the people is correct.
COP needs to ensure that it creates a strong enduring relationship with the common man. The common man doesn't care for intellectualism as much as many may believe. The common man wants to know 'whey he nex' food and shelter comin' from'. And the common man is in the majority. Professionals and intellectuals are few. The segment of the population that determines the election will take the time nor energy to evaluate long term pros vs. cons over 10-15 years etc.
That segment will vote according trust, friendship, and what they can get.
So it is a indeed a long haul and a very difficult struggle for the COP.
Aye boy, Scholar, yuh come back again.
Ah mean after yuh cheups an' walk of swinging yuh hips like a tanty-man, you come back to demonstrate how to spit and lick again! Boy you jes like yuh leaders - no shame or self-respect.
So, tell we nah boy - how yuh enjoyin' Ramesh and Panday, boy? Yuh geh nuff rum an' roti or what?
'Common man' - what, you want tuh beat yuh gorilla ches' fuh being a common man? Daize how bazoodee Ramesh and dem have yuh.
Boy, is long time I eh say a prayer - tonight ah go pray tuh God tuh gih yuh vision!
I'm glad you made the right choice, notwithstanding the end result. However, its the first step that counts, especially the ones in the right direction.
COP has a very good team and their foresight of the direction to take the country was a good one. It is also very comforting to know that it is the intention for COP to be around for a long time, that's certainly good news for the citizens of the country and the nation as a whole.
As a suggestion though, I am aware of a similar situation which happened in a "truly democratic" country in that "the third party" did not win a seat in the elections, but like COP, got significant voters and support.
That party was able to "appeal" to Parliament with the support of the opposition party and did get "special funding" to continue to operate their offices, so that the electorate who voted in that jurisdiction was not left unrepresented in the political process. I just thought I'd mention this as it may be another way that COP can seek government funding to remain alive and well and be around for the next election. Just a thought!
Anyway, on a more personal note, I feel our nation would be in good hands with individuals like yourself and your party and leader Winston Dookeran, including the agenda you all have set out in your manifesto.
As for fans like myself, and others of like mind on this site, we'll always be there to provide our support in whatever way we can, for as long as we can, just to make things happen, if it only means keeping the public informed and aware on an ongoing basis, after all knowledge is power, to the people that is!
Best wishes, and thanks to you!
Goodluck! Trini.t.o.o.
I recall that Manning was given the Prime Ministership in 2001 by then President A.N.R Robinson to resolve the 18-18 tie, based on "Moral & Spritual" Grounds. Manning has since been portraying himself as the "pastor" and quoting the "bible passages" as he walks about trying to show the people his morality is "holier than thou" and above that of anyone else!.
Well, now he has the opportunity to demonstrate that superior morality by recommending the "appointment of independent senators" from COP candidates so that they can continue their presence in the legislature and to also represent the electorate that supported COP during the elections, the 148,000 of them, providing he wants to do the right and moral thing for his people and the country, as he keeps preaching to us all.
Don't hold your breath though, that benchmark may be too high for "his morality"!
This is just one more avenue that Manning can take to make things right for the country and its citizens. But then COP has its challenges ahead, real challenges, however, I am sure they will overcome them and will prevail in the end. Good always conquer evil!.
I am also glad you decided to stay the course Anand for the long haul, as there are and will be lots of wide based support for you and COP yet to come! This is only the beginning, a new beginning towards a better future, for the people and the country!
Thanks to you personally for your courage and determination shown in the face of difficult choices and yet be able to stand head and shoulders above it all. Thanks to all of the COP team too!
You are all a welcome signal of change to come, a change for the better, a relief and a breath of fresh air at last. Thanks again!
goodluck to you!
I would like to add my congratulations to the long list that has already been in place. I always knew you had it in you and would encourage you to follow your heart. You will always have my vote.....maybe I'll be able to vote in the next election 4 yrs. from now. there are many people who will be quite willing to make the trip to Trinidad to vote.
Keep doing what you do....it's done with class.
Tara B.
Tara B.