Dear Editor,

The business community must do its part to rescue our country now.

The prime minister has indicated that an election will be called in about one year from now. A year is a long time, but not in politics. What is positive about that statement is that it allows for the formation of a very well-organised political entity to take Trinidad and Tobago forward. Let us examine what we have and what is required.

The Opposition United National Congress (UNC) is the largest political party outside of the ruling People’s national Movement (PNM). Both political parties do not seem to be popular among the majority in the population. While the population is looking for something new, they are sufficiently informed and intelligent to agree that a new entity without the appropriate personnel to inspire hope will not get their support.

The population is looking for a leader that can unite the races, who has a history of honesty and integrity, and who is not seeking self-enrichment. With such a leader ought to be people, preferably of both races, with expertise in agriculture, tourism, education, economics, local government management, crime management, computer science, sports, and the many other areas that need competent personnel like water management and land and property management.

Trinidad and Tobago has such personnel. They come from both sides of the political divide. Those are the people that must come forward now to offer their services.

A major obstacle to getting the appropriate personnel to serve is economic persecution. I had to decide between politics and my job when I decided to offer to serve. Consequently, I suffered economically. That is a real concern and is perhaps the number one reason many competent personnel prefer to write and offer solutions but refuse to represent the people in an election.

Steve Alvarez

bilcoa@hotmail.com