WAKING UP AFTER TAKING MORE THAN ONE FOR THE ROAD!

 

Having taken more than one for the road (quite a few drinks too many perhaps), I have been, to invoke Pink Floyd, Comfortably Numb for 100 days.

But I can assure you that my work is not over.

  When a few weeks ago, a very dear comrade close to the ruling National Democratic Congress in-boxed to say he has not heard any public commentary from me, I said to him: I don’t have the luxury to do a running commentary on day-to-day Grenadian politics.

   I added facetiously; I have resigned from making enemies. I am busy making a living.

  And anyhow my constituency, that runs from Bermuda to Guyana, is bigger than his anyway.

   Inspite of popular beliefs, I don’t get up every morning thinking of politics; nor do I interpret everything in political terms.

   Sometimes I just don’t have enough information or research time to comment properly on some issues; and sometimes at other times, unlike what I did not do enough of during my limited cricket days, I choose to leave some balls outside the off stump.

   I say these pieces now only because of this so called 100-day observation – which is frankly an American inspired non-sense, since you cannot judge any government properly in that time.

   After all, this government has just been turning on the lights and changing the carpets; and the new furniture has just arrived.

  And cabinet only had time to do one collective silly facebook live on a bus tour to the Trade Center. Additionally, Andy Williams has not had enough time to even think about posing in the Prime Minister’s car, nonetheless.

  We fired a few cooks and caregivers in that time too, but what the heck. By this time in the very first New National Party administration we had gotten rid of Richard Duncan already anyhow.

    So, what is Daisy* fussing about?

    The NDC talkshow host has called for ‘ethnic cleansing’ and its online editor says we are not moving fast enough to clean-up house (pun and all intended).

    Like an efficient sou-sou hand – they say – we’ve passed the time for swapping one set for another set.

   But I don’t want to get cynical, so I have turned off my radio. For anytime I listen I begin to feel that Grenada is not a country – just a bad idea.

   As we mark 100 days since Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has been sworn in – unlike some of the self-designated leaders of his party’s mob front, I am not worried about him.

  We are gratefully moving forward in his safer hands.

   Additionally, he is a kind of Munich man who first learnt to blow his bubbles at Teacher Bridget’s school. So, I know his foundation is strong.

   My worry is about the rest of us.

   PM Mitchell (D) has spoken well about change – but I am not sure he understood us. I am not sure we understand him.

   The PM might be about setting up the future. But the rest of us are about settling scores.

   We never wanted change. Just give us exchange.

   Listen to the daily irreverent vileness financed by overseas party donations, and you’d understand.

  We don’t have a problem with sons-of-bitches, once they are ours.

   We want all the senior people the police force to be moved; and every little cook we saw in a campaign rally, be put to pasture.

  We want the trade unions to shut up, because Keith Mitchell used to demand that too.

   We now want the opportunity to cuss Daisy and Grimes, because Keith Mitchell used to cuss them too.

   And anybody who complain about that, we simply ask: “Wey dey the day” when Keith Mitchell used to do the same thing.

    Let’s turn Calistra Farrier and Kellon Bubb into enemies because Keith Mitchell did that too.

   Some of the yellow people say Farrier and Bubb never said anything when Keith Mitchell was in power; well Amazing Grace!, because these deaf people can now hear.

   The “Whataboutism” that permeates is stronger than River Antoine rum. It’s not yet even the after party, and people who have none, are already drunk on power.

   So Mr Prime Minister I am sorry. We are making extremely harder for you. It's unfair that you have to watch the chickens and make the omelet at the same time.

   I once told a previous Mitchell that Grenada can’t be fixed. And I am darn serious. So just manage as good as you can, and the Spirit of Tan Do-Do in Bamboo in Munich will be well pleased.

   It’s unfair to ask you to fix this broken house, when 30 thousand people are walking around with broken-hearts, eternally damaged by the “gimme de thing” era.

   You've been speaking about change – but that’s small change.

   How about the big dollar wine? Replace one set of large paying cronies, with just a new set. No sweat. Keith Mitchell did the crony thing for donkey years. He has a doctorate in it.

Learn from Papa.

But seriously, don’t bother with change. Just give us exchange.

The green people had their Mitchell; now yellow people have theirs.

 Mr Prime Minister, let the people get the government they deserve. Not the one you will like us to have.

    Wey you de dey all these years? Don’t you know that our governance is synonymous with pettiness, vendettas, rumour and victimization?

    Your folks are calling for blood. Give the people what they want. George Worme says if you don’t, you’re sure to get one term.

   One proviso though: Listening to Worme is hazardous to a long-term career. Ask Tillman Thomas how this turned out.

    A few years ago – in a jurisdiction I would not name – we had just finished a successful campaign and earned an unlikely victory for a first-time leader, with an almost new slate of candidates and winners.

   After a grand swearing in a few days later of the cabinet, I went up to that leader again – offered another congratulation – and reminded him that I am leaving “tomorrow” but we will be in touch.

    His retort: You leaving tomorrow? So, you think you’d bring me in this thing, and then your turn your back and go?

    We had a good chuckle.

    But beyond the laughter, there was a serious point.

    Opposition is easy. Campaigning is fun. But governing? That’s where the stuff gets serious.

    Sorry Prime Minister Mitchell, the people brought you into this thing. And unfortunately for them, the carnival is over.

     I once told a new political entrant the easiest thing you will do in politics is oppose. You don’t have to be brilliant; you just must sound like you’re brilliant.

   So over to you now Norland Cox!

    PS: I might have something more to say in another 100 days – because I never get weary yet!