WHILE all eyes (or most) are on the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) and the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) as the two parties gear up for the next general election, the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) could turn out to be the dark horse in the race, if the party’s PRO Darryl Naranjit has his way.

Although some might argue that it is more likely to be a dead horse, those who remained faithful to the party that made history in 1986 do not share that sentiment.

Speaking to TnT Mirror at the conclusion of a Press Conference last Sunday, Naranjit said: “We are trying to rebuild the party, and in doing that, the NAR intends to give young people a voice.”

Party leader Carson Charles, although a member of the party’s “old guard”, reflects the party’s new youthful image, and the party’s convention in Port of Spain a few weeks ago attracted more young people than ever.

CARSON CHARLES

DARRYL NARANJIT

The party’s PRO reminded that in the party’s early days, most of its membership consisted of idealistic young people.

“Many of them have grown up, and have ‘departed from their youthful agendas’ to adopt a more realistic vision.”

He continued: “We learned from our experiences, and the party has not only matured.

“A political party has to be an institution, and the NAR (is well on the way to achieving ‘institution’ status) as it has stood the test of time.”

Naranjit admitted that the PNM is an institution, and he believes that no other party comes close to that besides the NAR. “In a stable (two party democracy), the NAR has the ability to become the ‘other party’ again,” he said.

He also believes that voters in Trinidad and Tobago would eventually move away from ethnic politics and the NAR would be their natural choice as it is the only party without an ethnic base.

A combination of non-ethnic voting patterns and a younger membership might be the antidote that could pull the party out of a 14-year drought.

The electorate’s new electors (18 to 24-year-olds) were all under 10 when this country experienced its worst breach of security to date (an attempted coup) under the NAR, and they would hardly remember what some describe as this country’s darkest hour.

Older members of the electorate have not forgotten, and the recent events preceding the arrest of coup leader Imam Yasin Abu Bakr brought back unpleasant memories of curfew, gunfire, hostages and decomposing bodies for some.

They might also recall the unpopular austerity measures put in place by the then Prime Minister ANR Robinson, measures that cost the party the bulk of the goodwill they generated during the election campaign of 1986 that swept them into government.

But other voters might remember that crime was nowhere where it is today.

They might also remember the Robinson Administration for having the balls to give the nation what some insisted was “bitter medicine” needed to survive a worldwide recession.

It might not be realistic to expect the NAR to win the next general election due in 2007, or even to form the Opposition.

But their opponents should not take any increase in their support for granted.

Coup leaders, terrorists, and tyrants have all been absolved in the past.

The NAR Government, while they were often accused of being out of touch with the population (and sometimes with good reason), was guilty of none of these things, and history might be kinder to them than some may want to admit.