A Letter to Kamla

[peanut]

No one could have said it any better

Dear Kamla,

Everybody knows politicians can’t be trusted.
Seems like the old boys club used you to gain credibility.
Stop doubting your power and move beyond the position of party groupie.

I might not agree with the things you say, or the company you keep. After all, you’re a politician, and everybody knows that politicians just can’t be trusted. It’s the whole forked tongue thing, you know. Don’t dig no horrors.

But before you were a politician, you were a woman.

Which is not an easy thing to be in Trinidad. Hell, between the lechy men on the street and the constant, obsessive pressure to keep an acceptable size, it’s downright difficult.

I imagine you had a Nani who would have urged you to take your education. That your mother insisted that you do well in your exams.

That your mother and father and your pundit and your whole community told you that you could be anything you wanted to be.

That you believed them and did all that you had to do.

So here you are a successful lawyer, an interesting enough public speaker, articulate, loyal.

And you still get passed up for something you’ve been working towards all your career.

In truth there are few things I remember about you and your time in parliament. Aside from the amount of flak you got for that whole pipe incident. And how they unceremoniously took away your post as Attorney General in favour of everybody’s favourite answer to the question “Which politician doesn’t have a soul?” also known as the prodigal Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.

I don’t know about you, Kamla, but it looks to me as if the old boys have used you to gain credibility and then giving you the tata-y end of the stick.

It’s the kind of tokenism and posturing that makes me more nauseous than a vegan in Scrunter’s pork fete.

I mean, I would have thought you had more credibility than that Jack dude. But I guess in this town, b---- have more weight. And even better if they’re attached to an African man. It’s a convenient confluence, really. And so it’s not about who is more valuable, but who has the right package.

I’m going to go out on a feminist limb and say, sistren, you could do things there that no man would even dream of.

You and women like you have untapped potential in political parties.

Kamla, between you and me, you should have skated out of that party long time. It’s only so much abuse we should have to take from the old boy’s club.

It’s only so many times they get to relegate us to the political kitchen to do what we do best. Cook up strategies for them and their friends.

What the UNC is doing now is taking what little you were able to do as far as making the party have some semblance of normalcy as chaos reigned between El wannabe Commandante Bas and the floor crossing under the curious notion of new politics with COP.

It’s almost as if, Kamla, you doubt your power. You and the whole of the Fat Arse Brigade have to stop these old boys from relegating you to the position of party groupie.

If not, how different are you from the girl on that UNC ad from Carnival time with the rising sun coming out of her panty?

I hear the old silver fox saying in his patriarchal patronising tone some piece of folly that you have just as much of an opportunity to be Prime Minister.

But I want you to know Kamla, make like you’re running from an abusive or philandering husband who cries and promises never to do it again. You need to take your jahaajin bundle and ride out. You can do so much better, Kamla. You’re worth so much more than that, if only you cut loose from all of that dead weight, sistren.

Francine sang dog does run away, cat does run away, what happen to you, Kamla? You could run away too.

http://www.guardian.co.tt/Attillah.html

[Solachica]

I read tht in today's Guardian. Something to think abt.

[Vampire_Princess]

they need to give Attilah a raise.

that article is brilliant, and she writing what most women thinking. 6 stars ******

[snowbird]

Kamla like many of us women are actually afraid to admit that we have hit that glass ceiling. Instead we go around talking a good game about how we've broken it.

Like all women our pride won't let us admit that we are actually on the outside with our noses pressed up against the window.

It's sad to see someone with so much potential being cut out by 'the boys' ; but then again, does someone who now shows (by her compliance of this travesty) that she has so little self esteem or self worth warrant a place as Leader? Maybe the boys know her better than we do. In politics, in order to be Leader you have to be able to swim with the sharks.

[Scorpio]

I see they taking about making Kamla President if UNC win, I just hope Kamla ent takin' more basket.

[latany]

Trinidad has never had a female PM. It would be nice to see how Kamlah mature as a leader to assume the role of T&T PM.

[skl]

I see they taking about making Kamla President if UNC win, I just hope Kamla ent takin' more basket.

empty promise.

[peanut]

I see they taking about making Kamla President if UNC win, I just hope Kamla ent takin' more basket.

empty promise.

It have to be an empty promise .... UNC-A NOT WINNING THIS ELECTION!

That promise was made to keep Kamla and her supporters in the Party.

[snowbird]

I see they taking about making Kamla President if UNC win, I just hope Kamla ent takin' more basket.

empty promise.

It have to be an empty promise .... UNC-A NOT WINNING THIS ELECTION!

That promise was made to keep Kamla and her supporters in the Party.


Those people are so obscene, they would sell their mothers if it would buy them a few more votes.

[Maccogirl]

That was always media old talk no one can promise to give any one the president position since that is a position that both side have a say in that, so it would of been very foolish for anyone to buy into that old talk but then again some of you always believe what the papers say and they sad to say are causing a lot of confusion in this election and doing it daily both against the PNM and the UNC.

[vaio]

interestin letter.... Kamla know she get sidelined... look at her speech yesterday... it had some sting in it.... but ah must give she A for being brave and putting on a strong face and standin up in front dat crowd... all ah dem who bawling when she name call... look how dey feelin sorry for she... but encouragin she to remain in de party since dey all know dat she wld never, never, never, get to lead the old boys...

[Scorpio]

I like Kamla, make no mistake about it, but I was disappointed when she accepeted the Opposition leader role when Dookeran became UNC leader; Right now, the PNM would have been reeling if Dookeran was leading the UNC with Kamla as his deputy. There would have been no COP, no need for a UNC alliance, no room for Jack warner, and Panday would have been put out to pasture.

We would all be focusing on the real issues now, and it would be a straight case of kicking the Mannings to the kurb on November 5th !!!

Why didn't Kamla refuse the opposition leader role 2 years ago ?

[cm103]

I like Kamla, make no mistake about it, but I was disappointed when she accepeted the Opposition leader role when Dookeran became UNC leader; Right now, the PNM would have been reeling if Dookeran was leading the UNC with Kamla as his deputy. There would have been no COP, no need for a UNC alliance, no room for Jack warner, and Panday would have been put out to pasture.

We would all be focusing on the real issues now, and it would be a straight case of kicking the Mannings to the kurb on November 5th !!!

Why didn't Kamla refuse the opposition leader role 2 years ago ?

Very true. If Dooks had taken that party helm without any interference then the UNC would have been looking at stealing back all those marginal seats and taking this election easily. Manning basically put it on a platter for another party to take.

[Scorpio]

. Manning basically put it on a platter for another party to take.


Exactly !! But inteaed the opposition chose to fight among themsleves and open the door to another 5 years of Manning.

[cm103]

. Manning basically put it on a platter for another party to take.


Exactly !! But inteaed the opposition chose to fight among themsleves and open the door to another 5 years of Manning.


Well one man blocking unity of the opposition but he saying that he welcoming it by putting together an alliance.

I was hoping with Kamla in power we would have seen an opposition coalition but that got dashed with the sidelining of Kamla.

[Scorpio]

. Manning basically put it on a platter for another party to take.


Exactly !! But inteaed the opposition chose to fight among themsleves and open the door to another 5 years of Manning.


Well one man blocking unity of the opposition but he saying that he welcoming it by putting together an alliance.

I was hoping with Kamla in power we would have seen an opposition coalition but that got dashed with the sidelining of Kamla.


I too was kinda hoping that Kamla & Dookeran would have been able to come to an accomdation whereby COP & UNC does not contest the same seats, and also that they keep their guns pointed at Manning & PNM rather than at each other.

I know COP may not be able to take the election, but, like I said before at least they present an option for the conscience voter.

[lou_uk]

The UNC is a party of alpha males. Now that Ramesh is back, don't think he will be easily side stepped.

But there is a message in all this for those in the COP who believe in the COP's cause. Will you stay and fight? I think some might have missied that.

[reno01tt]

They give Kamla the post of Leader of the Womens Arm of the UNC-A can any one tell What the F... that mean?

[Scorpio]

But there is a message in all this for those in the COP who believe in the COP's cause. Will you stay and fight? I think some might have missied that.

I'm not a 100% COP supporter, but I see COP as the only option for anyone with a conscience, so, as long as dem two smartmen in charge, I ent running to UNC no matter how much crowd they have.

[reno01tt]

I am so disappointed Kamla had the perfect Oppertunity to leave the UNC and join with Dooks to form the next Govt. It would have dealt a death blow to Jack an Bas Co Ltd.

[peanut]

They give Kamla the post of Leader of the Womens Arm of the UNC-A can any one tell What the F... that mean?

I enquired about that this morning and from what I am being told, no such arm exist in the UNC.

[Maccogirl]

All yuh good yes I was wondering when the nonsense would start I find all yuh take long :D

[Sumana]

They give Kamla the post of Leader of the Womens Arm of the UNC-A can any one tell What the F... that mean?

I enquired about that this morning and from what I am being told, no such arm exist in the UNC.


There is a Women's Arm

[snowbird]

They give Kamla the post of Leader of the Womens Arm of the UNC-A can any one tell What the F... that mean?

I enquired about that this morning and from what I am being told, no such arm exist in the UNC.


There is a Women's Arm

But does it make sense that a woman with the capability to run the country should be relegated to being in charge of the Women's Arm of the party. That is akin to some chauvinistic households where even though the wives may be equal to or even smarter than their husbands, they are relegated to the kitchen, or to changing the dirty diapers...... being that is woman's work.

Think where Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Benazir Bhutto, Eugenia Charles; think what the world would have been like had these women be relegated to ' The Woman's Arm' of the party.

This should be a wake up call to all of you aspiring young woman politicians; choose your alliances carefully; and what ever you do, do not let a man tell you what you are capable of, especially when you know your self worth is much greater.

[Maccogirl]

So kamla should resign now like Valley or run to the COP since she is being treated so badly ok that is an excellent move she should go I think that is the best move Kamla could make for her political life right now, she should be on the phone calling Yetming all now dealing as to what the COP will give her if she comes across and if she don't like the offer she should call Manning also. :roll:

[cm103]

So kamla should resign now like Valley or run to the COP since she is being treated so badly ok that is an excellent move she should go I think that is the best move Kamla could make for her political life right now, she should be on the phone calling Yetming all now dealing as to what the COP will give her if she comes across and if she don't like the offer she should call Manning also. :roll:

Better than hold out for table scraps for Bas. She could hold the fort down when it quiet, as soon as elections start up she get kick aside for the man with the money and for Bas to get another chance at whitehall. You really think he go give Jack a chance at PM once Jack money win the elections?

If that is the man allyuh want as PM then go through. Its not like anyone could convince you'll any different. Panday supporters should really start taking a leaf from the PNM book, "we like it so".

[JediKnight]

They give Kamla the post of Leader of the Womens Arm of the UNC-A can any one tell What the F... that mean?

I enquired about that this morning and from what I am being told, no such arm exist in the UNC.

So, are you still fooled? I notice the bold red letters at the bottom of your posts have since disappeared. At least that's a good sign. Yesterday was a weak attempt at damage control, and up to today I spoke to UNC supporters who came over to the COP because they felt insulted by yesterday. You are right, there is no women's arm! I was awaiting the big announcement and boy did it fell flat. I had just left a meeting in Port-of-Spain when I heard Bas on the radio with the "big announcement" and I couldn't stop laughing until I got home 20 min. later.
:mrgreen:

[JediKnight]

They give Kamla the post of Leader of the Womens Arm of the UNC-A can any one tell What the F... that mean?

I enquired about that this morning and from what I am being told, no such arm exist in the UNC.


There is a Women's Arm

Who was the head prior to yesterday and what has/will become of her?

[JediKnight]

So kamla should resign now like Valley or run to the COP since she is being treated so badly ok that is an excellent move she should go I think that is the best move Kamla could make for her political life right now, she should be on the phone calling Yetming all now dealing as to what the COP will give her if she comes across and if she don't like the offer she should call Manning also. :roll:

No! She should go to Patrick and beg like Ramesh did in 2001. We know if that fails the UNC will welcome her back with open arms. Go strong Ramesh... a fool and his party is soon parted! :mrgreen:

[Maccogirl]

Better yet let Kamal, Cadiz and Valley form a party it not to late, tell them go brave :roll:

[JediKnight]

Better yet let Kamal, Cadiz and Valley form a party it not to late, tell them go brave :roll:

Why form a party? Dey could join Mayhoo and Nicholas!

[snowbird]

So kamla should resign now like Valley or run to the COP since she is being treated so badly ok that is an excellent move she should go I think that is the best move Kamla could make for her political life right now, she should be on the phone calling Yetming all now dealing as to what the COP will give her if she comes across and if she don't like the offer she should call Manning also. :roll:

Well this is wrong and strong; with party supporters ^^^, one day Kamla is everybody's darling; the next day......." she should resign". I guess now it's her turn to get kicked around like they did Winston.

Talk about a bunch of ungreatful wretches; the UNC uses people when they need them (like how they used Cadiz to give them credibility) now that they 'think' they are ahead, already they beginning to show their true colours.

COUPLE AH WORDS TUH DE WISE......

1. Doh count egg before egg birthday .......tell Panday, doh call de moving trucks yet
2. Never dam the bridge you've crossed......Yuh just might need dat bridge (those honest people) tuh get yuh back home.

[skl]

the UNCA has no women's arm. its not a party remember ?


the UNC has a women's arm but it already has a leader. unfortuntely i dont know her name.( I think it is Lisa Bolai but ah not sure)

i search the UNC website but unfortunately they dont have thier executive listed. (I also curious to know who the Chairman of the UNC is now)

[JediKnight]

( I think it is Lisa Bolai but ah not sure)



As in Mrs. Sudama?

[vaio]

huh? :shock: :?