I have never held any position of great authority, and frankly it is something I have never aspired to achieve.
The reason being, is that I fear having tremendous power and influence over others will turn me into a raging sociopath, who thrives on the tears of those who oppose me and the kiss bottomery of my brainwashed sycophants.
I can guarantee should I be in such a position, I would fight tooth and nail to retain it, because power is like crack cocaine and that stuff is hard to quit (so I hear).
With great power, comes great responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is knowing when it’s time to relinquish your position. Especially if you have held that position since 1991.
On Wednesday at the sod-turning ceremony for the new headquarters of the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) at the corner of Lamy Street and Saddle Road in St Clair, Member of Parliament for Diego Martin North/East and Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert stated the next electoral term would be his last… um hum.
Imbert stated there was still much he wished to accomplish in his constituency before his retirement, including upgrading a recreational ground, which he said, “for one reason or the other that project never got off the ground.”
In 2011, in reference to the late Patrick Manning, Imbert said he believed those in their late 60’s should step aside and allow for fresh, younger political faces with new ideas and understanding of modern culture.
Imbert is 67 years old and has apparently changed his mind.
These things bother me, because when is enough, enough? Before getting married and whisked off, I grew up in Imbert’s constituency and besides one or two “road widenings” the area is still very much same.
The population has outgrown the infrastructure, Saddle Road is essentially a parking lot and the “block” next door to the police station, around the corner from MP Imbert’s office remains a booming business.
Sir, if you haven’t been able to address these issues, especially the nightmare that is Saddle Road and the flooding that comes every wet season, in 34 years, putting yourself up as MP for another five years isn’t for the benefit of your constituents, it’s for yourself.
It appears Imbert has gone the way of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, rather than that of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
Rowley has announced his retirement… most likely sensing that his time has come, and his presence is more of a liability than an asset (that unfortunately is the price you pay for being the face of a government).
Persad-Bissessar on the other hand insists on keeping her death grip on the leadership of the United National Congress (UNC), despite receiving extreme criticism for doing so, with many blaming her leadership for their last two General Election losses.
Whether he acknowledges it or not, Imbert isn’t exactly the most beloved member of the People’s National Movement (PNM). Long before his role as Minister of Finance ( a position that literally has made him one of the most loathed people in nation… again the price you pay), Imbert didn’t exactly rub people the right way.
Dude does his job and gives no fudges about what you think of him, which isn’t a bad way to be when you are an elected official.
The problem is, over time things have changed. People want more engaged, on the ground politicians, something Imbert has not been for many years. Whereas his no-nonsense approach to population may have worked in the past, it isn’t working now.
Unfortunately, the inability to leave office for the betterment of their party and nation has become a trend among many of our senior politicians.
What they fail to see is that the public perception of them has changed over the years. Scandals that have plagued their governments have stained them whether they were a part of them or not. They have lost their glimmer and the spark that made people put their trust in them.
In a time, especially at this juncture, where the people of T&T are looking for fresh, new ideas to solve our increasing problems, an older politician is no longer seen as an experienced one, but as an outdated one.
Whether it is the opioid-addictive strength of power or misguided altruism, there comes a time when every person holding positions of power must recognise that their sun has set.
An Inability to Leave
AZP News Commentary
I have never held any position of great authority, and frankly it is something I have never aspired to achieve.
The reason being, is that I fear having tremendous power and influence over others will turn me into a raging sociopath, who thrives on the tears of those who oppose me and the kiss bottomery of my brainwashed sycophants.
I can guarantee should I be in such a position, I would fight tooth and nail to retain it, because power is like crack cocaine and that stuff is hard to quit (so I hear).
With great power, comes great responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is knowing when it’s time to relinquish your position. Especially if you have held that position since 1991.
On Wednesday at the sod-turning ceremony for the new headquarters of the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) at the corner of Lamy Street and Saddle Road in St Clair, Member of Parliament for Diego Martin North/East and Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert stated the next electoral term would be his last… um hum.
Imbert stated there was still much he wished to accomplish in his constituency before his retirement, including upgrading a recreational ground, which he said, “for one reason or the other that project never got off the ground.”
In 2011, in reference to the late Patrick Manning, Imbert said he believed those in their late 60’s should step aside and allow for fresh, younger political faces with new ideas and understanding of modern culture.
Imbert is 67 years old and has apparently changed his mind.
These things bother me, because when is enough, enough? Before getting married and whisked off, I grew up in Imbert’s constituency and besides one or two “road widenings” the area is still very much same.
The population has outgrown the infrastructure, Saddle Road is essentially a parking lot and the “block” next door to the police station, around the corner from MP Imbert’s office remains a booming business.
Sir, if you haven’t been able to address these issues, especially the nightmare that is Saddle Road and the flooding that comes every wet season, in 34 years, putting yourself up as MP for another five years isn’t for the benefit of your constituents, it’s for yourself.
It appears Imbert has gone the way of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, rather than that of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
Rowley has announced his retirement… most likely sensing that his time has come, and his presence is more of a liability than an asset (that unfortunately is the price you pay for being the face of a government).
Persad-Bissessar on the other hand insists on keeping her death grip on the leadership of the United National Congress (UNC), despite receiving extreme criticism for doing so, with many blaming her leadership for their last two General Election losses.
Whether he acknowledges it or not, Imbert isn’t exactly the most beloved member of the People’s National Movement (PNM). Long before his role as Minister of Finance ( a position that literally has made him one of the most loathed people in nation… again the price you pay), Imbert didn’t exactly rub people the right way.
Dude does his job and gives no fudges about what you think of him, which isn’t a bad way to be when you are an elected official.
The problem is, over time things have changed. People want more engaged, on the ground politicians, something Imbert has not been for many years. Whereas his no-nonsense approach to population may have worked in the past, it isn’t working now.
Unfortunately, the inability to leave office for the betterment of their party and nation has become a trend among many of our senior politicians.
What they fail to see is that the public perception of them has changed over the years. Scandals that have plagued their governments have stained them whether they were a part of them or not. They have lost their glimmer and the spark that made people put their trust in them.
In a time, especially at this juncture, where the people of T&T are looking for fresh, new ideas to solve our increasing problems, an older politician is no longer seen as an experienced one, but as an outdated one.
Whether it is the opioid-addictive strength of power or misguided altruism, there comes a time when every person holding positions of power must recognise that their sun has set.