THE VOICE OF ONE

The Bright Side
It seems like almost a lifetime ago, that Larry (I am no longer sure of his surname) Haywood (?) presented a radio program on what was then, Radio Guardian.

His warm, soothing voice (with a Canadian accent) caressed the airwaves as he opened his show. “This is the Voice of One – Random Thoughts about Things in General.”

To my recollection, his commentaries sometimes voiced intelligent minority opinions and at other times, those of the intellectual, silent majority.

Some of us, Elders, may recall that Dr. Eric Williams saw the Trinidad Guardian media as his nemesis.

Last night I saw and heard another “Voice of One”. His voice was not soothing but raspy. His demeanour, though outwardly calm, had a sense of urgency. His accent was definitely Trinbagonian. His thoughts were not random but finitely specific.

What Dr. Keith Rowley expressed was minimally disconcerting, if not downright alarming.

To my mind, he expressed both the opinions of the intelligent minority as well as those of the intellectual, silent majority.

What is the Bright Side? It is that there is at least one individual who is brave enough to stand up and speak out.

I think that he is right. Democracy and Freedom are destroyed one day and one action at a time. Incumbents, the world over, have weakened and eliminated institutions to remain in office. All this while the “democratically free” sleep, avert their eyes to what is going on and remain silent and inert.

Do not be fooled. Dictatorship in transition temporarily tolerates free speech and thrives on complacency.

In a land where speaking out can be detrimental, I hope that Dr. Rowley’s example would inspire others to wake up, take a stand, speak out and ACT.