Oh the games most politicians—particularly those who are in the driver’s seat—play with people’s intellect.

How else can we view the Prime Minister’s announcement on Friday that the life of the local government bodies would be extended by one year?

His reason, as he told the Parliament, was that Government was now in the process of dealing with the much-talked-about reform in the local government system.

Like so many other citizens, I am happy that at last something tangible is being done in this direction because for too long this entity has been treated like the bastard child of our system of governance.

Ask the local government representatives and hardly anyone will tell you they are pleased with the present system, which leaves them looking like bit players in the democratic system under which we are supposed to be governed.

I hope that when all is said and done, whatever is finally agreed upon would encourage a better calibre of candidates to offer themselves to serve in this important arm of the national politics.

This is not to say that most of the present crop of councillors and aldermen are not worthy of their positions. But because of the known disadvantages in local government, only people who have a genuine desire to serve offer themselves.

In many instances the don’t-care attitude of those at the helm of central government, the obviously talented and bright people are reluctant to enter the politics at that level of the game.

In his address, Mr Manning was at pains to point out all the good reasons—in his estimation—why the local polls, legally due to be held this year, were to be put off for at least another year.

With a very straight face, the Prime Minister, who told his party he had nothing personal against the Chief Justice—no relevance, eh?—outlined five proposals which would form part of the reform process.

One of them is power-sharing between central and local government, with the former being the policy-making body and the latter the principal executive arm of the State.

I am not sure how many, including myself, understand what that means. But I believe Mr Manning didn’t give the main reason (or is it the real one?) for postponing the polls.

I am willing to bet that the real reason is that he is afraid to face any national polls at this time.

Many people, and unwisely so, do not credit Mr Manning with much intelligence. I don’t know why they are making that fundamental error and only time will prove me wrong—or right.

But Mr Manning knows very well that he stood a very real chance of losing a local election this year and counselled himself that it is better to postpone the polls to later when the waters are unlikely to be as rough as they are at this time.

So he sought and found an excuse: talk about local government reform.

Any Prime Minister being handed a gift in the form of a totally fractured opposition would not think twice to snatch the advantage by calling an election.

But Mr Manning is not stupid. Why run the risk of being defeated at the local polls, thereby being put under the psychological pressure of having to come from behind in the general election, which must be held next year?

The talk I got on the ground last Friday was that Mr Manning was going to announce the date for the local polls or even the general election. But I told those armchair political pundits to disabuse their minds from that outrageous scenario.

There are too may things not going in the PNM’s favour, the most important of course being the runaway crime situation. You really expect the man to repeat the mistake of 1995?

There are too many disenchanted PNMites who are saying in no uncertain terms that they are fed up with their party’s performance and would not be voting PNM. If you feel I am talking crap just listen to the radio talk shows. They are saying they are not voting the UNC but they would not be backing their party in the next general election.

And know what? The UNC supporters just cannot wait to get out there and stain their fingers for the rising sun.

Nothing I have said means the UNC would win or the PNM would lose. All it means is that at this time the politics is very fluid and, as the people say, any number can play.

In the meantime we have to wait and see how this old talk about local government reform before local government polls would pan out. Me? I am not holding my breath.