PM declares: Vision 2020 is a partisan matter

Vision 2020, Trinidad & Tobago's national initiative to achieve developed nation status by the year 2020, has been labeled by the Prime Minister as a party program in Parliament last week.

Let me be clear, I would like to commend the Prime Minister and the PNM administration for providing the nation with a well-articulated, cohesive, comprehensive, and ambitious strategic plan. I am not saying that he should ignore his or his colleagues' input in the vision, or that he shouldn't use it to educate the public (i.e. campaign) as to why they should be returned to office. I am disappointed about how this is attempted, and I worry about the implications and ramifications of such a statement (and indeed his thinking behind it).

• It sends a signal that Vision 2020 should be dismantled if the PNM loses
  
  This would be truly unfortunate -- it would be a waste of time and resources if we have to "start over" rather than amend the vision to changing circumstances and democratic will


• It excludes the non-PNM supporting population from the national vision
  
  This goes for both the public and the opposition parliamentarians who will then feel the need to oppose Vision 2020 just because they are the opposition
• It obfuscates the fact the vision was fleshed out by distinguished professionals and with state resources
  
  If Vision 2020 is a "PNM thing" is the Prime Minister effectively calling the experts he assembled to author the strategic plan (the MSG) party operatives? (Note his words: "the PNM, [] has a Vision 2020 document to take this country to developed-country status.") Should the PNM then reimburse the state for the years of resources used to develop the project?


• PNM actually lost support after Vision 2020 was rolled out
  
  ...so either the Prime Minister is wrong -- and the country has expressed disapproval of the PNM's plan -- or the Prime Minister is wrong -- and the "PNM's" plan really wasn't taken what returned them to power.

• The statements were inflammatory, distracting and counter-productive
  
  The government was purportedly presenting the Revenue Authority (TTRA) Bill! Instead, the Prime Minister takes time away from the matter at hand to berate internal UNC politics, and to challenge the opposition to produce an anti-Vision 2020 plan. For once I may have to agree with Mr. Panday when he said Mr. Manning is "palancing" in Parliament.