Vincie Sex Scandal & Caribbean Progress

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Power, politics and sex have always been bacchanal territory. Factor justice into the mix and there is intrigue; perhaps passionate volatility. Typically I refrain from intra nation state issues because I view local intelligentsia more adept in explicating contextual pertinence.  However, the matter at hand has tremendous import for regional evolution with particular reference to leadership development, social infrastructure; and more importantly, the CCJ.

Across the Caribbean, the struggle powerful men have with their zip region finds no comfort as things unfurl around St. Vincent’s Prime Minister- who is clearly in a present dilemma, if not quagmire. The paradox of quagmire is that robust effort to extricate one’s self is exactly what aids faster sinking. In an aptly entitled novel, Things Fall Apart Achebe utilizes an indigenous village bird to dispense life related wisdom. The creature confesses “since men have learnt to shoot straighter, I have been forced to take fewer rest stops.” With notable exceptions, the quality of shooting related to this unfolding episode leaves much to be desired.  Perhaps more careful distillation will enhance flight patterns as we seek sustainable systems on our journey to regional maturity.

Spare a Thought for Politicians- Response to Responses

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Veranda Issues

Mr. Hurst’s response to my article, could at best, only be described as nothing but sundry noises. Comments aren’t remotely related to the central thrust of my article. One is left wondering what understanding of my thesis, if any, preceded his diatribe- I think none.

Issues raised by Mr. Astaphan are more on track, though sometimes digressing into the peripheral. Prior to addressing emerging themes that relate directly to the seminal article, three concerns (about the discussion to-date) are appropriate:

The Manning/Hinn Affair: Wisdom Vs Folly- An Indigenous Bacchanal Slant

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Recently, international tele-evangelist Benny Hinn created quite a stir by alluding to Prime Minister Patrick Manning (before his worldwide viewership) as “the most foolish man he ever met.”  Beyond providing ready made picong capital to political detractors, the pronouncement and its context lend for interesting review.

In the case at hand, who is wise and who is foolish are ultimately relative designations dependent upon one’s interest. Just as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, wisdom or folly is in the mind of the interpreter. Based on what has emerged to-date, I see aplomb consumer awareness exercised by the prime minister in what was in fact an indigenous decision making approach regarding a desired service.

Spare a Thought for Politicians!

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Spare a thought for politicians. The group that conveniently shakes hands hugs babies and makes un-kept promises. Those arrogant, self centered, sometimes corrupt individuals - Spare a though for them. Amidst loving to hate politicians we frequently loose sight of their humanity, the psychological traps, and job related pressures that collude to produce the queer intelligence that often defines their behavior. So spare a thought for them.

Psychological Factors

In a very real sense politicians are creatures of their environment- reactioneers to our demands and conditions. Famed Caribbean scholar, the late Lloyd Best opines even if there was no God, humans would have invented one. I imagine if there was no body politic, the public would have invented politicians: these popular kinsfolk upon whom we’ve come to depend.  And haven’t we ably schooled/tooled them until there is now rightness of psychological fit between our felt needs and their fashioned/fabled offerings?