Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, projecting a “tough” local government battle, has said the Government has made missteps and failed in some quarters to “sell” its message.
The PM said so last Thursday, noting local government elections are being held at PP’s midterm. “A low point in the popularity of most governments as evidenced recently in the United States...But just as that administration bounced back to sweep the polls, the PP stands poised to do the same,” she said.
The PM said she expected a tough local government battle and it was PP’s objective to ensure every community had representation ensuring accelerated development plans met the target.
“We were elected with the highest of expectations...one can say our coalition is victim to its own success at raising the bar in what the electorate now demands in the new dispensation,” she said. “So while there have been missteps along the way, the PP has achieved, or is about to achieve so many things for people’s betterment; but we recognise good news doesn't always make for great headlines. Who’s to blame? We are. We’ve failed in some quarters in selling our message, in informing you adequately of all that has been positively taking place. We’ve also failed to spend enough time among you sharing ideas and learning from you.”
The PM said that would change and her Cabinet reshuffle was to accelerate delivery to meet public expectations. “If 18 hours a day isn’t enough for us to deliver, then we’ll have to give 20, find a way to power nap to recharge and deliver, deliver, deliver. No excuses. No explanations. Just execution beyond the call of duty. That’s our mantra now,” Persad-Bissessar said. (GA)