FERDIE FERREIRA
We elect them
We reject them
We canonise them
We demonise them
We charge them
We discharge them
We love them
We hate them
We bless them
We curse them
WHO am I talking about? Our politicians in and out of office. With the exception of a very limited few, they are the hardest working group of citizens in the society. I know of no other group, both in the public and private sectors, who work harder and of whom so much is expected/demanded.
Love them or hate them, this is a fact of life. You can displace some of them, but not all of them. In reality they are indispensable. Whatever form they come in, unlike most of us they make themselves available to us, most of the time at great sacrifice to themselves and their families.
They have no union representation, no grievance officer and no shop stewards. They are invariably subjected, unlike any other group, to unlimited scrutiny, intense observations and unlimited abuse, as they relentlessly engage themselves in destroying and devouring each other.
They have no contracts, no working schedules, no fixed working hours, no overtime; they are on demand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, etc.
This is not in defence of our politicians who very often deserve the criticisms levelled at them, but to draw to the attention of the national community the realities of the life of active politicians, more so in a democratic society such as ours.
Under no circumstances am I prepared to join the choir or sing the chorus led by the Opposition Leader, a victim herself of the above mentioned hazards of the most thankless and stressful profession in the world.
History records the effect political office has taken on the lives of some of the greatest leaders in world history. One only has to read the book In Sickness and In Power by Dr David Owen, a distinguished medical practitioner, elected politician and former foreign minister in the James Callaghan government in the United Kingdom.
In addition, our own history has been characterised by the medical effect it has had on several of our politicians, including five of our former prime ministers. Three of them died at the age of 69 - Dr Eric Williams, George Chambers and Patrick Manning. The other two had to seek medical attention at home and abroad - ANR Robinson and Basdeo Panday.
The five of them died, in spite of several allegations of corruption, without the accumulation of wealth they were accused of obtaining while in office. It is no secret they all lived relatively simple lives. I knew all of them personally.
To date, serious questions continue to be asked re: the health of the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader.
The worst aspect of today's sometimes venomous criticisms for a better remuneration package, led by the Opposition Leader, is that in their outrageous comments they continue to ignore and deprive themselves of what they are more than legitimately entitled to.
Their vociferous support for increased remuneration for the judiciary, f
