Kamla and Biden: The Downfall of Democratic Leaders

Placed under the microscope, we find peculiar similarities between Joe Biden, the incumbent American President, and the ex-Prime Minister of our isle. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Kamla, vilified as they are, have shared the unfortunate designation of being an electoral obstruction. The extent of Biden’s inefficacy brightly reflecting off the U.S. opinion polls.

In contrast, Kamla’s sketchy future can be deduced from her incessantly stumbling track record. While the cultures of our small island versus the colossal U.S. aren’t strictly comparable, the practice of democracy remains a shared principle. However, the political and constitutional frameworks in the two democracies exhibit stark discrepancies.

Kamla’s orchestration of the United National Congress(UNC) earned her two consecutive defeats in the general elections of 2015 and 2020. Yet, brazenly she continues her reign as the political leader of UNC. Her meager respite came when her candidates managed to secure internal elections this year, yet the voters were hardly representative of the general population.

An increasing number of skeptics assert that Kamla may not prove victorious as UNC’s prime ministerial contender in the next race. The widespread sentiment resonating among the populace appears to be that Kamla, along with her entourage, should dissipate from the political arena before the upcoming general election scheduled for no later than November 2025.

Not too surprisingly, Biden has been classified an electoral burden for the Democrats due to glaring signs of his advancing age. His puzzling loss of comprehension during a debate with Trump on June 27 drove the Democrats into a frenzy and led to a scandalously publicized debacle.

Within a month’s time, Biden chose to withdraw from the presidential race, much to the relief of all concerned, clearing the stage for the scheduled November 5 election. A change in the script saw him endorsing his Vice President, Kamala Harris as the Democrats’ presidential nominee.

Globally, Democrats breathed a sigh of relief as the daunting shadow of Biden lifted off the electoral stage, rallying euphorically around Kamala. However, Biden was not quick to exit politics. Despite the intense pressure and scrutiny, he believed in his ability to defeat Trump and fervidly continued to assert so.

Capitulating to internal pressures, notably from fellow party members who weren’t subject to the influence of the political executive, Biden gracefully chose to step back. Even though Members of Parliament are spared from such scrutiny, they are susceptible to possible retributions from their political leaders.

Political party donors, along with validating elites whose campaign financing is not up for deception, played a palpable role in urging Biden to step down. Consequently, it becomes essential for the masses to ask: what does this apparent crisis reveal to us?

Our people face immense socio-economic pressure with an ever-looming threat of violent crime, and looming anxieties of insolvency for the nation. The upcoming general elections necessitate the provision of plausible choices for the electorate.

Members of Parliament often shudder at the idea of displeasing the political leader. It thereby falls upon the validating elites, those who don’t dabble in unregulated campaign financing, to motivate the UNC to shed its old skin and persuade the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) to distance itself from its jesters.

Opting for the perceived safer route, the government seems to have grown audacious due to an assumed absence of fear of electoral defeat. The deficiency of such a threat could lead to a perpetual cycle of neglect and indifference.

At this juncture in our quirky political structure, politicians lack incentive for retrospection. As if walking into a trap, the electorate appears trapped between equally vexing selections. It is critical that the public voices its collective dissatisfaction and makes both major parties aware that the voters are compelled to vote grudgingly.

The electoral situation seems nothing short of an olfactory challenge, with voters feeling as if they have to vote while consciously blocking their noses – a sentiment that ought to strike both, the UNC and PNM, with a stark realization of the need for change.