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Ha
Monica!
By
Gillian Lucky
gilly@tstt.net.tt
Ha
Monica! You have been caught and exposed. Whoever you are
and whatever you may be, you have proven by your letter to
the editor published two days ago that there remains in our
country people who are not prepared to act in the national
interest.
For those readers who fortunately missed the letter to which
reference is made, permit me today to answer the absurd allegations
and unsustainable insinuations made by one who claims the
name Monica Gopaul, a resident of Curepe.
Let me state from the outset that I am usually hesitant to
defend myself when ridiculous aspersions are made but to turn
a blind eye on this occasion would be contrary to my unstoppable
nature to set wrong things right.
How dare you call
Monica appeared extremely upset by the fact that I dared to
make reference in the public domain—both orally and in
writing—to the deafening silence of President Maxwell
Richards on the issue of escalating commission of serious
crime, more specifically the brutal attacks on law abiding
citizens who were the victims of the rampant kidnappings.
The question remains whether the call by desperate, vulnerable
citizens for the Head of State to calm the fears of those
who live in daily fear for their lives, limbs and liberty
was out of order.
Certainly Monica felt that such a call was out of place and
downright unconscionable. So incensed was she by my action
that instead of articulating an opposing point of view with
clarity and objective conviction, Monica sought to frontally
attack the entire Opposition.
Persuasive argument was replaced with a personal attack and
a suggestion of a career change. Either, Monica does not like
politicians on the whole or those involved in opposition politics.
Hopefully Monica does not have any close relatives including
children who have political ambitions.
Uphill battle
Monica’s idiotic suggestion that I expect the President
to “patrol the streets in a police uniform or perhaps
dressed in full starched white, pith helmet, sword in hand
on a white horse, charging up Laventille Hill, in pursuit
of bandits” suggests that Monica is at the very least
aware of one top hot spots in the country.
Further, the image of the President dressed as a knight in
shining armour is more relevant to olden times when maybe
Monica was in her youth. The fact that such a preposterous
proposal was made is indicative of Monica’s tremendous
outrage as a result of my criticism.
As former US President Bill Clinton well knows, it is better
to leave some Monica(s) alone.
Monica’s admission that her great admiration for the
President manifests itself in her reading any and every publication
of His Excellency’s speeches means, amongst other things,
that Monica has spare time that can be effectively put to
good use. For example, being a resident of Curepe, Monica
must be aware of the high crime rate in the area. In order
to keep abreast of the President’s statements and respond
to the “diatribe of his critics.” Monica must be
a dedicated news spectator.
Monica must have seen the deplorable state of the St Joseph
Police Station as shown on television, that station housing
officers responsible for monitoring and preventing crime in
her area.
Why doesn’t Monica lead a peaceful march or organise
a meeting without a political agenda to propose a meaningful
way to deal with escalating crime? Could it be that Monica
is herself afraid to expose the incompetence and inefficiency
of this Government? Does Monica have some relative who is
dependent on being in the good books of the PNM at least until
2007? Ha Monica, caught you once again.
What’s in the making
Monica began her article questioning: “what are we to
make of the UNC member of Parliament for Pointe-a-Pierre?”
Let me answer by stating that as a young Trinbagonian with
an unyielding sense of patriotism, I make no apology for acting
in the national interest at all times. But Monica’s problem
seems rooted in the fact that I am a member of the UNC and
not the party of her choice, whichever party that may be.
My finding is based on the unnecessary comparison made with
her subject and Basdeo Panday. Perhaps there is something
in Monica’s political past that remains unresolved and
for which she must have closure. I am available to give guidance
to Monica because she is obviously in need of assistance.
Right on target
Monica should get her information right. President Richards
is not a “new target” or, in fact, any target at
all. Since when did constructive criticism become equated
with launching an attack?
Those who choose to hold high office must be prepared to withstand
the pressure of constant public scrutiny and because no human
being is perfect, there will be instances in which a person,
including a President, may act inappropriately.
By the same token, Monica is free to find, unlike some others,
that my presentations on the platform are “boorish and
boring” but her finding has been made as a result of
my alleged attack on the President. Is it that Monica has
aspirations of her own to become an independent senator and
so must protect the Office of President at all times?
If that be the case, then Monica is well within her right
to fetter her freedom of speech but I am not prepared to follow
suit, provided that my utterances are not frivolous or vexatious
and always made in the best interest of the people.
Amazing candour
Monica is rightly impressed that the President “has been
fearlessly challenging the Government to undertake a revamping
of the tragedy which is our education system and which even
the Prime Minister has seen fit to criticise.”
In like fashion, Monica should be pleased that a call has
been made for these two outstanding men to make a public statement
about the escalating crime rate with a view of assuring the
citizenry that all is not lost. Is it that Monica has a preference
to education as opposed to matters of national security and
law and order?
If that is so, what is objectionable about those of us who
feel strongly about the present lack of national security,
respectfully asking the people with the power to create positive
change to perform the function for which they have been chosen?
Ha Monica, it is your motives not mine, that have been revealed
by the content of your letter. My performance as a young parliamentarian
is an open book for all to read. Hidden agendas are not part
of my modus operandi thus I openly declared my opinion that
the President should be a person with a brilliant legal background
and a paragon of moral virtue.
And yes Monica, in 1997, my father was a candidate for the
post, nominated by the PNM, a party which you may now support.
As I stated candidly then and I state candidly now Justice
Lucky would have been an excellent choice.
Ha Monica, there must be no apology for being right.
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