I am indeed glad to have read the press release from the Evangelical Association and the Christian Council. It implicitly expressed the same sentiments that I have been promoting for sometime now, namely, that we must raise the bar in the political dance. But what moved me most was not the tempo but the timing. What brought it on now rather than before? It seems to me that the conditions that exist now have been commonplace for a very long time.
You see, in this limbo dance of “how low can you go”, saying what you like about your opponent, has invariably been par for the course. And more often than not what is done is worse than what is said. What was said and done at the CM last interview was ridiculously tasteless and provocative. Any self-respecting person would react immediately to it — and some did. Unfortunately, they do it mostly behind closed doors sometimes using expletives that cannot be aired in public.
And another thing we know for sure is that action and reaction are equal and opposite. And if the CM speaks nicely; truthfully; intelligently; and respectfully; the same will be given unto him and vice versa. Some things trickle down and that is why you got to watch what you say. It is particularly onerous for people at the top to be politically correct, but if they can’t they should at least be honest. The CM should know this and also recognize that he has no monopoly on spewing garbage. It defiles us all and makes us intellectually poor. Anyone can be a political clown or political ignoramus. But what about the people — is this all that there is? Who says we must sit back for five years; find a quiet corner; listen to the CM spout nonsense; and then suck it up and say nothing? Too bad “dem days are gone man”! We want action on Cap Juluca. We don’t want the CM talking like it is some bad disease like AIDS. We want him to give us good talk about settling it – and that jobs are coming back. It is disgusting!
Of course we have a choice. But to wait for five years under these conditions to exercise it is “a tough row to hoe”. And those who know better want to do better now. However, we are limited and can only talk. So why are we fed up, frustrated, and disgusted? And, yes, we are pained by the monotonous, incessant, confusing diatribe and nothingness sold to us by the CM as gold — when in fact it is pile of “Cow Dung”.
Now what can be a bigger turn off than to turn on your radio and hear the CM’s voice saying the same old things he has been saying about Banks, the Governor and Cap Juluca that he said yesterday — and has being for the last three years. Man, give Jack his jacket! It is enough to drive you nuts.
That Governments must govern — that much we know. But they govern differently and do not have or have to have the same priorites. That is something for the CM to learn from Banks. Right or wrong, he acts on his own volition when he makes his decisions. The CM should do likewise and not show-up at an interview with a bag of creased old MOU’s saying, “I am here to defend myself. See what Banks and the Governor did! I have more to show you!” Now, with regard to the conduct of Government, is that transparency or plain stupidity fit for a clown and not a CM? BUT everybody sinks into the abyss and despite the wishes and warnings of the Evangelical Association and the Christian Council we wont be able to raise the bar. It is the guy who is holding the limbo stick that is causing the problem. Something else we know – right now it is the CM who is holding the limbo stick. It is not Banks or the Governor! Yet the CM is blaming everyone else for dropping the stick –“What a ting!”
Notwithstanding the fallacious nonsense spewing from the CM, we’ve got a country to run. Whether this period is an interregnum or an aberration or whatever — we still must move on in the best interest of Anguilla.
But not everyone reacts to things in the same way when they are frustrated. Some people “stupes their teeth at it” and others roll up their sleeves and speak out about it. They may not express their displeasure in a manner that suits everyone and the matter could have been brewing for a long time. That may or may not be the case in the recent name-calling scenario that perceivably prompted the Evangelical Association and the Christian Council’s press release. However it could be worthy of consideration before rushing to judgment.
In a political season, like ours, words stray and the user may use them in such a way to give strong meaning and focus to his point of view, which may not be wholly understood and accepted by all in the manner he anticipates. Sometimes semantic arguments can create storms in a teapot. But let us fair because it could be in the particular circumstances that the speaker said what he said.
There is a lot of pent up feeling around us. We have no jobs; no money; no plans; a lot of useless MOU’s and plenty of political abuse. That is the mess we have got to clean up and not just everyday harping on how the last guy blew it! It is immature and irresponsible! If we sat around and did nothing but quarrel at press conferences it would be disastrous. We cannot live in the past. There is no use crying over “spilt milk”. WE GOT A COUNTRY TO BUILD. The country will not be built by the present approach of this CM highlighting every minute fault of the last Government.
This CM, a self-proclaimed proclaimed historian/politician does not take lessons from history. That is why he ruminates and regurgitates. He does not put facts in perspective, as a result the things he says today do not have the same meaning for him tomorrow. So you are stuck because he does not consider himself to be bound by what he said yesterday. To some people, behaving like that over and over all the time is tantamount to craziness.
This is also borne out by the fact that he has in fact proclaimed that he has nothing to do with Cap Juluca and that it is in the Governor’s hands. Yet he talks about it everyday. But alas one is glad to hear from the Evangelical Association and the Christian Council! At least some people are looking out for truth and decent political behaviour in Anguilla. But do they have teeth? Are they preaching to an empty pew? Whatever the situation may be one thing is certain: we got to get somebody else to hold the limbo stick.
However, fellow Anguillians, we should know by now that as long as this CM is in power there will always be some level of gutter sniping. His style promotes – produces it. He can’t help it. It is his nature. He was born that way, it seems. Plus he is only one man. There are others. Let us call upon them!
Editor’s Note: The views expressed in the above article are those of the writer and not The Anguillian newspaper.
