Delroy Chuck

Writing a column for the past 15 years has been one of my pleasant, weekly, challenges. During the past two general elections, I took leave. After next week's column, I will take indefinite leave. A column is easily one of the best means of communicating and sharing ideas, opinions and thoughts with others.

After each column, I accept criticisms and acknowledge comments, usually via the Internet. Occasionally, I get overwhelming appreciation, which makes my many hourscomposing the columns and my years of political hustling worthwhile. In public life, criticism and abuse are part of the course, so when one gets compliments, it becomes irresistible to avoid sharing them with the many critics who think otherwise. In Blaka's Box, The Star, June 20, 2007, he wrote: "JLP MP Mr. Delroy Chuck is a gentleman. I wrote him once, challenging something he said in his column; and he took time out to send me a decent, dispassionate response in which he explained his position and substantiated his point.Naturally my admiration for him increased tenfold. Yes people, these seemingly small things make a big difference. Mr. Chuck's civility has left such a mark on me; I remain one of the most loyal readers of his articles and a keen observer of his political career. I respect him as a thinker, and I like him as a politician, and I would gladly endorse his candidacy and encourage people to vote for him, or vote for his party because of him, Mr. Chuck mek people love labourite".

Respond to readers

Interestingly, I spend a fair amount of time responding to readers who comment on opinions expressed in these columns. I also meet people who engage me in discussion and challenge me to write on matters that concern them. A regular reader expresses forthrightly, I believe, how others are thinking and their deep and passionate concern for the country's political process:

"I had the good fortune of meeting you and one of the things that struck me was your sincerity. One of the greatest concerns of the common man is 'Are these politicians in it to serve me or themselves'?"

"How many MPs actually live in their constituencies and if they don't, how often and how vigorously do they really pursue the interest of their constituents? It seems as if the only time they show some energy and passion for the post they hold is when it looks as if they might lose and then you see them running to the people for support. It is strange how this phenomenon usually occurs sometime near an election.

"We need to truly want to serve the people of this country who, in spite of the trials and hardships they have had to bear over the past many years, remain and maintain for the best part, decent and hardworking citizens."

"I truly love the people of this country but I equally despise the way our elected officials use and abuse them while themselves living the life of kings far from the squalor and decadence they have left the common man in. I hope you will pass on your 'sincerity of service' to your colleagues and, hopefully, when your party has won the next elections they will seek to serve the interest of the people and not just themselves."

As public officials, we are scrutinised daily by the people. From what we say, how we behave and interact with the people, we are judged, sometimes wrongly but usually correctly. We may succeed in fooling the people some of the time but, hopefully, not all the time. It is easy to advocate how much we love the poor, our unselfish commitment to serve the people, our abhorrence for violence and our deep devotion to Almighty God, as we seek to win votes, but before long, if we do not truly mean it, our true intention and character are exposed.