Opinion
- Editorial- Commentary
Trinidad
Express:
He
who rules the polls controls the purse
Editorial
TRADITION has been that once an election date is announced and political parties
move into full gear business activity slows. Major investment decisions are
postponed until the ruling party settles into office.
It's that season again, now that Prime Minister
Patrick Manning has pulled the election date from
his back pocket. It wasn't that much of surprise.
But he who rules the polls will control the national
purse. Prudence should therefore dictate caution
in business once there is uncertainty as to whose
hands would zip or unzip the treasury bag.
Hopefully, the election euphoria would be quickly
over because politics aside, businessmen and politicians,
regardless of their party persuasion, tend to generally
agree on what it essentially takes to move a country
forward, economically.
Plans and creative ideas scarely seem to be the
problem in moving towards developed country status-a
phrase that is itself also fast becoming cliched-but
the rate at which we implement them does.
Whoever would hold the reins of power on the night
of November 5 would be well advised therefore,
to focus on not only charting this country's economic
course for the next five years but quickly setting
sail.
Implementation or the lack thereof has been a
major reason for the downfall of many a company
and the stagnation of many an economy.
Although our economy, has robustly resisted downward
world trends over the past few years and oil prices
continue to move in our favour, we must be careful
not to bury our heads in the sand like the proverbial
ostrich and be fooled into believing that we can
spend indiscreetly to score political points. In
this global economy we cannot afford to believe
we are an island.
Discretion must guide our actions.
Forget the political rhetoric. Whoever would rule
well politically must indeed demonstrate the ability
to manage astutely and keep the country on course
for long-term economic growth.
That's what we expect come the morning of November
6.
The
Trinidad Express is
one of the most important newspaper in Trinidad.
Petroleumworld not necessarily share these
views.
Editor's
Note: This article was first publish in Trinidad
Express, Wednesday, October 3rd 2007 . Petroleumworld
reprint this article in the interest
of our readers.
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Petroleumworld
10/07/07
Copyright ©2006
Selwyn
Ryan.
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