IS this the season for ‘joke politics’ in Trinidad and Tobago by the leadership of the governing People’s National Movement (PNM) and the main opposition United National Congress-Alliance (UNC-A)?

In what could only be unintentional and uncoordinated behaviour, the leadership of both the PNM and UNC-A (assuming the ‘A’ in the original acronym is still valid)–are providing political amusement at a time of growing tension over endemic criminality and economic uncertainties.

If it is not amusement, then this columnist for one would like to benefit from an intelligent explanation why both Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday are so willing to expose leadership problems of their own makings?

Let’s look first at Mr. Manning, according to headlines in the Express: “I don’t want to be President” (Sunday, October 25); “PM changes mind–interested in President’s job” (Tuesday, October 27).

Apparently affected by the carping criticisms and picong about his wanting to be the first Executive President of the nation, the Prime Minister and his opponents, or detractors simply being mischievous, would be aware that a new constitution to enable a politician’s to rise to such an eminent and powerful position remains very much a work in progress.

True, there are various “drafts” around of what a new post-republic constitution should provide in relation to the election and powers to be vested in an Executive President–considering, for example, variations in Guyana, Haiti and Suriname, within the Caribbean Community.

But Manning, whose powers as Prime Minister under the existing constitution, are quite immense – as also obtains in other Caricom states – and can be exercised judiciously, or quite harshly and controversially – does not really have to embarrass himself with an uninvited declaration, such as: “I don’t want to be President…”

“That (executive presidency) holds no attractions for me. My concern is not personal aggrandisement…,” he assured.

Then followed, a day later what his supporters and opponents would already had suspected:

Manning performed his verbal summersault just one day later with a straight face: “If the electorate wants me (as President) I will accept…”

Sweet, sweet politics! And then there was Mr. Panday:

Defiant as ever and without any willingness to at least share blame for the multiplicity of wrongs by him and others that have combined to rule out the seriously ruptured UNC-A from returning to power under his leadership, Panday was boastfully telling his opponents within the party:

“Those threatening to join another party (should be dare to again contest the leadership at UNC-A elections scheduled for January 2010), do us a favour and go now…”

He would not be “blackmailed”, he threatened..

Well, Panday may be right in ridiculing his opponents, in and out of the UNC-A, who glibly call on him to disappear into the sunset and let the leadership be replaced by others ambitious enough to take on that challenge.

But is he willing to at least admit that his leadership, or lack of it, has contributed to much of the prevailing ridicule, hilarious jokes and bitterness to which the UNC-A is currently exposed?

Not really. This would not accord with our own West Indian brand of ‘realpolitik’.

This could play into the hands of his political detractors and enemies, some of whom may already have, unwittingly, written their political epitaph– ahead of new national elections.

And whether or not Manning succeeds in becoming the first Executive President of this nation, it is very doubtful that, for a start, the likes of parliamentarian Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, Winston ‘Gypsy’ Peters and that enigmatic politician of football fame and money, Jack Warner, can really make a success by themselves, under whatever banner, against the PNM.

Let me leave with a final observation on perceived “political jokes” with a reminder of the thinking of Lawrence Maharaj, Panday’s once controversial Attorney General and assumed likely successor as party leader:

Instead of doing what ‘Gypsy’ Peters had done in showing up at the UNC-A weekend congress, the MP for Tabaquite was telling residents of Cocoa Piece in Gasparillo, (as reported in the Express), that he plans to call on all Heads of Government attending next month’s Commonwealth Summit in Port-of-Spain to “make a donation which will be used to alleviate the suffering of the people of Cocoa Piece…”

You think it easy! Who wants to be serious in a season for political jokes? (Courtesy yesterday’s Trinidad Express)