Historian and Scholar Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh expresses optimism about the future of the Kamla Persad Bissessar led administration, but, a culture shift is needed to ensure all the parts work together cohesively in the coalition of interests.
He especially noted the labour movement and suggests some patience is needed.
00:00Historian Dr. Jerome Tilaksing praises the Prime Minister's speech at Thursday's swearing-in ceremony.
00:08He described it as excellent and as giving hope to the population.
00:13Still, he says, the public and the trade unions must exercise forbearance and appreciation for the economic times in which we now live.
00:23I think what we have to bear in mind too is that the trade union movement is splintered, it is divided.
00:28You would see we had about eight trade unions saying that they are not politically aligned, so that it's not a united trade union movement.
00:40And we will have people who would be, you know, enemies with the PSA, enemies with the OWTU, and they will be attacking the union element of the government.
00:49And while he still sees light at the end of the tunnel, Dr. Tilaksing remains sceptical about the backlash of U.S. policies.
00:57I'm very fearful of the impact the international scene will have, particularly if President Trump tariffs have a negative impact on Caribbean economies.
01:09A small island economy such as ours, this will affect, you know, the price of oil.
01:14It could affect our external and internal policies.
01:18Also speaking with the morning edition was attorney at law and political leader of HOPE, Timothy Hamill-Smith, who says,
01:27the first thing the new government must tackle is crime.
01:31He says continued crime will hinder Trinidad and Tobago's ability to attract foreign investment.
01:38Certainly anybody would say that crime is at the top of the list, because unless we fix crime, nothing else matters, nothing can occur.
01:49There can't be any more investment.
01:51There can't be any, you can't develop a foreign exchange that we need so badly.
01:56So that crime has to be at the heart of it.
01:58He also recommends, among other things, steps be taken to fix the justice system, the education sector and to implement a voting system that makes every vote count.
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