This country has now reached a point where it is only through decisive action on the part of all citizens rallying around a cause can we ever hope to bring Trinidad and Tobago back from the brink of disaster where we now stand.

In 2002 as an Opposition candidate for the marginal seat of San Fernando West, ammunition and cocaine was placed in the water tank of my home. To date that crime against me and my family remains unsolved. I have been waiting four years for the long arm of the law, to which this Commissioner of Police yesterday referred, to grab hold of the people responsible for this act.

Allegations were made by persons independent of me which went to the highest levels of the ruling party. The Commissioner of Police dismissed these allegations, no proper investigation was conducted and the issue remains unsolved.

During the day of the elections itself you will recall relatives and associates of mine being led away in hand cuffs based on thumped up charges, yet during the course of the past four years hardened criminals were escorted into prison and into court with their hands swinging free to wave to passers by as they wished.

That was yesterday.

During the course of last year we have seen a sitting MP and a former Minister of Government bully and abuse citizens because they did not agree with their point of view. So far their has been no sanction of any kind on this MP and therefore it is to be assumed that such action has met with the tacit approval of the PNM and the Prime Minister.

Today we see an activist Inshan Ishmael call for a two-day shut down in this country. What has happened to Mr Ishmael?

First his substantive business has come under attack. The Government has moved swiftly to impose quotas for the importation of foreign used vehicles. Mr Islmael imports foreign used vehicles for a living.

Next came an order by the Telecommunications Authority for the removal of his two programs from IBN Channel 8.

Then there was a statement by the Commissioner of Police - a man who should have been busy in search of Vindra Naipaul Coolman and the killers of his very own officer and her family - suggesting that the long arm of the law will reach anyone who entices or intimidates business people from opening for business.

After has come the revocation of the right to assemble in Aranguez for a rally on Saturday after permission was already given.

Finally we see that Mr Ishmael has been detained by the police. Officers arrived at his home in the night - a move which was clearly aimed at intimidating Mr Islmael.

People of Trinidad and Tobago - this is your wake up call.

Yesterday it was me, last year it was the villagers of Chatam, today it is Inshan Ishmael - tomorrow it will be you.

The time to unite, the time to rally around a cause, the time to come together as a people for the cause of the people is now.

This is not a cause for the politicians. We are past that. This is not a call to unite politicians - we are past that.

This is a cause for the people and so I make a call to the people of this country to stand up, stand firm and join together in the interest of democracy and in the interest of good governance and make sure that what has happened today will never happen again.

People of Trinidad and Tobago connect the dots ... Yesterday it was me, today it is Inshan, tomorrow it will be you.

Sadiq Baksh