Hinds just wants ‘to live’ after leaving electoral politics

Laventille West MP Fitzgerald Hinds. - File photo by Jeff K Mayers

LAVENTILLE West MP Fitzgerald Hinds continues to remain coy on his political future after he announced his intention to withdraw from electoral politics.

The news of his decision first broke at a post-cabinet media briefing on November 28.

The Prime Minister said Hinds had decided not to seek re-election as the party's Laventille West candidate in next year's general elections.

Dr Rowley said,"You see, when you come to a point sometimes, you come to a crossroad, and you have to make a decision, and sometimes the angles of the crossroad are quite sharp. I saw it somewhere in the paper, I think that (it is) ‘family discussions’ or something like that. I too have a family, and I know how these things go.”

Speaking with the media on December 10, after an event at which US officials donated US$100,000 worth of disaster-response equipment to various disaster-response agencies, Hinds was asked what he planned to do next.

“I have already publicly stated that having served as member of parliament for the better part of 30 years, I have decided, after having had deep consultations with Mrs Hinds, my children and, of course, myself, that I would desist from further representative politics. I have made that very clear.”

Pressed further on how he intended to spend his time, Hinds said, “What am I going to do? I'm going to live! I'm going to live!

“I have lived, so far, for 68 years. So I intend to continue to thank God and to live for those that he would accord me going into the future.”

Newsday asked Hinds if he intended to return to politics, even as a senator, but he said he was unsure what his future held.

“I have in my hand here my phone, my glasses, a small diary given to me at the climate-change conference last week, and I have my file pad, (but) I do not have my crystal ball with me.”

Apart from saying he was pleased with his experiences and the people he met during his three decades of representative politics, Hinds offered little else, except a pleasant “thank you and goodbye,” as he laughed and walked off.