TWO KINDS OF TRUTH

 I got the title of this post from a most enjoyable and readable novel by an American, Michael Connely.  In it the author argued that there were two kinds of truth: one is the unalterable bedrock of one's life mission, and the other is the malleable truth of politicians, charlatans, corrupt lawyers and their clients, bent and molded to serve whatever purpose was at hand.

The more I thought about the learned author's proposition that there are two kinds of truth, the more I thought that he was absolutely right.  The only thing that I would change is the first: I would argue that  the first kind of truth is the unalterable bedrock of what exactly is going on in any particular sphere of life. I would leave the author's definition of the second kind of truth  as I believe that it is solidly on point. 

 We see examples of this everyday, not only in the big countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, but in the little countries like Trinidad & Tobago. For example, is it true that Prime Minister Rowley's daughter, her husband and their son have not only taken up residence at the Prime Minister's official residence but are also using official cars, official personnel and official special branch guards 24/7?

If this is true, why is this okay now but it wasn't okay when the accusation was made that then Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's sister was supposed to be living at the Prime Minister's official residence in St. Ann's back in 2012? I seem to remember that Marlene Macdonald, who is now the present Minister of Community Development, made a big stink about this saying in effect that it was not only wrong but evidence of corruption on the part of Mrs. Persad-Bissessar. I really can't remember the details of that particular accusation, but I seem to remember that it was reported that the sister lived in England and was visiting the Prime Minister and assisting her with an illness.

Whatever, it really doesn't matter. What matters is that assuming (though not accepting) that the accusation against Mrs. Persad-Bissessar had merit, then doesn't it follow that if this story/question about Dr. Rowley's family is true that what is taking place is also wrong?  With respect, the ruling PNM cannot have it both ways. Either this is wrong for everybody or it is right for everybody. And either the story about Dr. Rowley's family is true or it isn't! Either way, the facts ought to come out and we ought to be told 'yes, it's true', or 'no, it's not!' 

And we should begin to insist on the first kind of truth from our leaders and not the second one. Speaking for myself, I am fed-up with all the lies that we have had to swallow over the last few years. And I don't care who is telling the lies; they ought to be stopped ... now!  And it is we, the citizenry, who have to stop them from being told.