Copyright trinidadexpress
The Leader of the Opposition, Ms Pennelope Beckles, is a lady in the true sense of the word. Having observed her over the decades of her public political life, and having had the pleasure of meeting her once very briefly in a public place, her courtesy and humility were to me an object lesson in the attitude of public personages in their interactions with members of the public. It was a Saturday morning in Chaguanas several years ago. I was parked on a side street, awaiting my wife. A vehicle drew up behind me and was apparently having difficulty parking properly. I heard a gentle voice and looked up to see someone I recognised as Ms Beckles. She very politely explained that her husband was having difficulty parking and asked if I would do her the favour of moving my car forward a little to facilitate him. Her demeanour was so humble as to evoke instant compliance. There was no demand, no hubris, just a simple request. I had always observed up to that time and afterwards, as an unbiased voter, that this lady carried herself as a proper representative of the people, giving respect where it was due, eschewing the sometimes aggressive and arrogant behaviour of her other party representatives. She continued to represent the best attributes of persons in political life, even accepting the arbitrariness of many of her fellow parliamentarians. One remembers only too clearly her calm acceptance of the decision of her party leader at the parliamentary caucus in Tobago when he failed to get the result he wanted and abruptly aborted the meeting. She maintained her dignity and accepted the decision. Since the change of government, her demeanour has been transformed, more akin to the approach of the previous leader and his clique. She is more aggressive and argumentative, seeking confrontation and reversing the approach which she had so carefully cultivated in the past. It does not become her and is whittling away at her credibility and acceptability in the eyes of the populace. It is not too late for her to reconsider this approach and seek to bring more caring to the job of the people’s business to the benefit of the entire nation. Karan Mahabirsingh
