After years of reviewing legislation, attending debates, advocating and promoting the interests of their constituents in the Lower House, some former MPs are jobless and job hunting following last year’s general election.
The results of last September 7 general election has left many defeated candidates and those who were not chosen to contest the polls for the People’s National Movement or the People’s Partnership scanning the employment pages or seeking referrals from prominent people they know, while some have turned to farming or have sought jobs outside of our shores.
Life after losing or leaving politics is always challenging for some.
The PNM’s victory saw 19 new MPs being elected, while the PP had ten MPs joining the Lower House.
Life hard for
Nileung Hypolite
For former Laventille West MP Nileung Hypolite, life has been an upward battle since Parliament dissolved last June.
Last March, Hypolite was sidelined by the PNM’s screening committee. Hypolite admitted that he has been “catching his royal” after not being considered for a position under the PNM.
“It is hard. You have your family to take care of. We laid the foundation for the PNM’s victory in the 2015 general election. I was also told that when we were in government there would be plenty positions that needed to be filled and there was nothing to worry about. I am still awaiting a phone call to see whether something will be offered to us. The work that we put in from 2010 to 2015, they cannot win the election overnight like that.”
He said the small business his wife owned “cannot support me.”
Hypolite has been making ends meet by dipping into his savings.
While he knows the job of an MP “is only for a contracted time,” Hypolite said he never expected to be in this position today, now that the PNM is in power.
“Things have not been easy.”
If Hypolite continues to remain unemployed, he said he might be forced to find a job cutting cloth at Jimmy Aboud, working Cepep or URP, or shining shoes for people.
“I can tell you we cannot continue like this much longer. I have seen some former MPs come right down to nothing. If you are not a professional like a doctor or lawyer to get back into practice and you came straight from the public service or private sector it’s difficult because a person may not want you to come and work for them because they did not like the party you supported.”
Fitzgerald Jeffrey turns to backyard farming in Guapo
Former La Brea MP Fitzgerald Jeffrey, who represented the PNM from 2007 to 2015, has turned to backyard farming in Guapo.
Jeffrey plants short and medium-term crops as a hobby and to put food on the family’s table. “I just had a bumper crop of sorrel. Just now I will be reaping pigeon peas for Carnival. The oranges and grapefruit will come after,” Jeffrey said.
Before getting into politics, Jeffrey, 64, dabbled in agriculture.
“I have been doing it for 25 years. Now that I am no longer an MP, I am spending more time in the garden, do church work, and give motivational speeches to students.”
Jeffrey said the crops are not sold to the public, but consumed by his family.
The former principal and minister of state in the ministry of science, technology and tertiary education said his days in politics are over.
Donna Cox doing more with less
... ‘I want to be respected, not whine about what I don’t have’
In the next two months, Donna Cox who was rejected as Laventille East/Morvant MP last April will complete her MBA in entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation.
For the last six months, Cox who has been unemployed, admitted that she has spent quite a bit of her savings.
“I have been doing so since I was in opposition because the salary in opposition is small.”
Cox said she has been adding self-austerity measures, buying more local items, paying her bills, and doing so much more with less.
“I will always be able to make ends meet because of my upbringing I have had from my parents. As children we were always taught to put something away for a rainy day. I don’t want to be pitied. I want to be respected and not whine about what I don’t have.”
Even though the pay of an MP was not much, Cox said, “I still made the choice to be the ultimate MP and not seek employment elsewhere. That meant that I was able to live comfortably on that salary because I hung my hat where I could reach. If I follow Maslow’s theory for example, I am definitely able to meet my basic needs, so it’s my higher order needs that are in question. While it is difficult managing without a job, my feet are well planted on the ground. I know who I am, and I know that a party like the PNM does not forsake commitment and performance. “
Asked if she felt she should have been gainfully employed, Cox said “certainly, if I said I didn’t have expectations I would be lying to myself.”
The fact that Cox was not selected keeps her grounded in her Christian principles.
Cox said the general election was won by Dr Keith Rowley and a number of trailblazers who are absent from the frontline.
“My commitment to the people of T&T is no secret, many are aware of the role I have played while we were in Opposition and to bring our party to victory.”
The former minister of state in the Ministry of National Security hopes her additional qualifications will help her become “marketable in my field.”
Amery Browne
gainfully employed
Since his non-selection at the PNM’s screening last April, Dr Amery Browne started putting measures in place to become gainfully employed.
Following his exit as the Diego Martin Central MP, Browne began treating patients as a public health physician, focusing mainly on sexually transmitted infections.
The former minister of social development has also been assisting at a PAHO chaired committee that focuses on improving maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health care services.
Browne has also has been penning a book, which he hopes to publish, and also wrote a love ballad which he will record this year.
He still participates in social and community activities, continues to serve as president of the Diego Martin District Scouts and spends time gardening.
“I have become quite experienced and proficient at rearing sweet peppers and ochroes for the home table. I also am an avid deep sea fisherman.”
Browne said at no time as an MP did he engage in bacchanal, disrespect and the immaturity that we have often seen on display.
“At times I do look back and reflect on how different my life would have been if I had said “no” in 2007, but everyday I am encouraged by so many persons who appreciate and embrace the decency and thoughtfulness that I always endeavored to reflect to the population.”
Overall, he said, his experience has been a positive one.
“But my journey and experiences have conveyed on me a sobering certainty that our nation still has a long way to grow. With full respect to all of my peers I can say without fear of contradiction that I never used office to access a single cent apart from my official remuneration nor to seek or give favours, jobs, contracts or any benefit to any family member or any friend, I never solicited or accepted kickbacks, illicit cash or gifts and I never made decisions designed to benefit the privileged at the expense of the humble.”
Browne said our nation needs no more examples of politicians who are overtly or covertly corrupt, callous and greedy.
“Of course, I have also seen the very ugly side of politics where some folks can become drunk with the power to elevate and destroy, and I saw some of that during the screenings of the various parties.”
He said his family time was the biggest beneficiary of the changes that 2015 brought.
Devant Maharaj works as a consultant, going into agri business
Former food production minister Devant Maharaj, who filed his nomination papers on a UNC ticket for Caroni Central last August but was rejected by the party, is now employed as a management consultant for a private organisation.
The job was offered to Maharaj days after the PP sufferered a crushing defeat at the poll, but he only took up the position in November.
“As a former government minister you cannot get a job in a state enterprise with the PNM. They firing the people we hired much less to give us work.”
Maharaj said since he left the ministry over 400 employees were sent home.
Maharaj said he also intends to pursue some business opportunities with his wife in the coming months.
The business opportunities, Maharaj said, would be agricultural related.
“The ministry opened my eyes to the potential in agriculture.”
Nizam Baksh keeps busy with family business and grandchildren.
Former public utilities minister and Naparima MP Nizam Baksh is now working in his family’s Barrackpore business since giving up politics.
Having spent 19 years in politics, Baksh, 74, has been keeping himself occupied doing social work for the Barrackpore Islamic Centre and spends time with his seven grandchildren.
“I have been keeping myself busy. All the things I could not do when I was an MP and government minister I am finding time to do now. I am spending time with my family...mainly my grandchildren and working in my family’s business.”
Baksh’s family owns a construction equipment and spare parts business.
He admitted that before he became an MP he worked in the business.
Baksh was replaced by Rodney Charles.
Cadiz goes back into his business
Having managed three government ministries—trade and industry, tourism and transport from 2010 to 2015 under the People’s Partnership government—Stephen Cadiz said he did not have to go job hunting when he was not reselected to contest the Chaguanas East seat.
Instead, Cadiz jumped back into his equipment rental and emergency power company businesses, which he managed before entering the political arena.
“Now I am going back into the business at a chairman’s level. I won’t be running the day-to-day affairs, but will have an active role in making the right decisions for the companies to keep it operational in this recession.”
Vasant Bharath set to work in Africa
Former trade and industry minister Vasant Bharath will be packing his bags next month to take up a lucrative job in Africa.
Bharath, who was defeated by the PNM’s Terrence Deyalsingh in the St Joseph seat in the general election, said he also had several personal projects in the United Kingdom which he plans to resuscitate.
“I had offers from multi nationals to do some work in Africa, which I would start in mid February. I will be doing work for them in one of the African countries. As you know, I am a chartered accountant, but I do have a masters degree in law and business administration.”
Bharath will be required to work three to six-month periods in either managing, manufacturing and providing consultancy services.
He said he did not receive any offers in Trinidad and opted to go outside when the opportunity came knocking.
“I will be travelling back and forth. One has to keep busy.”
The firm does not have a base in Trinidad, Bharath said.
Bharath, who was unsuccessful in his bid for political leader in the UNC’s internal election last December, said he remains a member of the UNC.