Celebrating division, while a nation bleeds

Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas on Sunday continued his lap of honor in his grand colorful celebration of division.

Seriously, I never thought so many people would have come out to cheer on a train wreck.

Having lost the majority of his MPs along the way, the Prime Minister leads a triumphant, belligerent band of appointed senators, whose very political relevancy depends on a leader that has become the joke of the Caribbean and a potential losing candidate of St Patrick’s East.

Simply put, Sunday was an expensive partially state-sponsored NDC executive-angering “Prime Minister’s rally” which “endorsed” an “NDC” candidate; a spectacle sanctioned by the Prime Minister and NDC political leader even though the last ruling of the executive at which he was present, was for a hold to be put on endorsements until the party – somehow, miraculously – gets its divided house in order.

The Prime Minister, a self-declared man of faith, obviously has no patience for miracles.

As with his mantra of accountability and good governance, he speaks a good game, with not enough action to show for what he has grabbed as his claim to fame.

Some of us, who love a train wreck, watch with amusement – maybe actually bemusement – at the biggest power grab in Grenadian history since 1983.

I wrote in November 2010 (though I said it privately a year earlier), to the chagrin of even some people who are acknowledging it now, that the Prime Minister is embarking on a hijack of democracy.

Back then, some accused me of hyperbole; others of even sour grapes.

In a stuttering defense of his democratic credentials back then, Prime Minister Thomas decided the best defense was to tell a bold face lie about the accuser – rather than give a genuine commitment that “the people’s voices will (indeed) be heard.”

Since then, this has been the hallmark of his “good governance” agenda – demonize anyone who dares ask a question; belittle and slander his critics.

Now I see they have turned on Glynis Roberts and Michael Lett – members of their cabinet – even though they still need them to prop up the tottering government. (And these people who now want to question the characters of Roberts and Lett have so little virtues of their own, that in less serious times it will be a standard joke).

The level of vitriol and deceit, hypocrisy and spite – makes whatever level of vice and bad-mindedness witnessed under various governments since independence looks like child’s play.

And as the Prime Minister and his hangers-on continue to fight for political survival, the nation continues to pay a dear price – with hotels facing closure, unemployment rising, poverty spreading; and hopelessness and anger taking root in rural Grenada.

In any other serious democracy, save a few dysfunctional Asian and African countries, a leader who had any statesman’s yearning, would have called a general election and humbly let the people decide – having done the best for his nation – win, lose or draw.

But this has little to do about the nation, Grenada; and we are dealing with anything but statesmen.

How do you call an election early, when some say only a few months to go before they are qualified for a parliamentarian’s pension and favor a delayed national poll?

Or all the other excuses you hear – that have anything but to do with the well-being of a rudderless nation.

Sometimes I tell frustrated Grenadians who speak to me, that hold on – a year is not a long time (since that’s the limit to which this can be stretched).

But seriously, how can I tell that to the man whose business is facing imminent closure? How can I tell that to the youth who has not worked in years and looking for – at least – hope? Or to the CCC worker, who now lost his house because he defaulted on his mortgage?

Does a nation have to wait until the Prime Minister settles his own political scores?

Well, with free bus, free beer and free food – we might all join the celebration of division.

The suicide caravan is coming near you soon. It’s the only show in town!