Instant reaction to the first post-election Parliament

The first parliament since the new elections is now in the books. It ended about 15 minutes ago. In some ways, it was just like the parliament that preceded it: Ralph is still Prime Minister, Arnhim is still leader of the opposition, and Leacock is still making an ass of himself. In other ways, it was very different: Two woman senators on the opposition side, a new butcher of the English language (David Browne) to join Clayton on the government side, and a new insane person (Anesia) to join Cummings on the opposition benches.

 

Here are my instant opinions on what just transpired (instant opinions subject to instantly change with reflection and/or rum shop debate):

THUMBS UP:
To Ralph Gonsalves for calling a “snap parliament” to force the NDP to name its senators before they were ready. Dec. 29 was about as early as possible for parliament to sit following the elections and after Christmas. I have it on good authority that when Arnhim heard the date for parliament, he contacted the Clerk of the House to ask what was the hurry, why not wait till the new year?
 

The hurry was that Ralph wanted to force Arnhim’s hand – to make him name his senators without time to consult and while the party was still in turmoil, and then sit back and watch the dissension in the NDP ranks.
 

Have you seen the midweek Searchlight yet? Loser Linton Lewis is in there telling the press that he, the chairman of the NDP, was not consulted on the senators, that he only knew when the public knew, and that a number of his NDP colleagues were also in the dark. Linton also sulkily refused to comment on the quality of the appointments themselves.
 

Warning: This party will self destruct in 10, 9, 8 . . .

 

To Arnhim Eustace for naming two women as senators. I’m not a fan of either one. In fact, I’m not sure Anesia is sane (then again, with Cummings moving up to the ranks of MP, the NDP had to fulfill its quota of at least one crazy senator at all times). My views on Vynette are well known. But for gender balance reasons, it was a good move. And, honestly, they’re brighter than at least half of the people in that House, plus they’ll both make for great theater/comedy in the parliament.  

 

Historically, if memory serves, the NDP has had only male senators during the ULP era (Burns, Rasum, Leacock, Cummins), while the ULP had three women (Fife, Forde, Young). In one fell swoop, Arnhim has narrowed that score to 3-2.  

 

Arnhim was under pressure to make two picks (a) with limited time; (b) who wouldn’t challenge his shaky grip on the party’s leadership; and (c) who wouldn’t make the NDP rank and file have a “wtf?!” moment. Based on what he had to choose from, they were solid picks.  

Also, in picking two Arnhim loyalists, he showed that, for now at least, he’s still in charge of the NDP. Mitchell already said that he doesn’t think young women should be involved in politics – they should stay home and raise a family. So you know they’re not Mitchell picks. Linton is still on the outside looking in, so you know his faction was ignored. And Leacock also thinks Anesia is too much of a loose cannon, so he had no role either. This was Arnhim flexing what’s left of his Leader of the Opposition muscle. Use it till you lose it, Arnie.
 

 

To Queen Elizabeth II for still having her royal foot on our sorry subjugated necks. Look at all those proud black people and anti-colonialists pledging loyalty to her and her heirs (or “hairs” if you’re David Browne. All of her hairs, Dave? Or just the ones on her head? How bout underarms? Pubes?). Old Queen E still running tings in SVG.

 

 

THUMBS DOWN:
To “Major” Leacock for his silly little tirade. Arnhim must have been smiling to himself as the “major” looked undeniably minor league. For those of you who have a life, let me set the scene: 

 

 After everyone gets sworn in, there is a section on the agenda called “congratulations.”
 

Ralph gets up and congratulates all the MPs and senators, wishes them well, makes a tame lil dig at Arnhim.
 

Arnhim gets up, congratulates all the MPs and senators, pledges to be a vigorous opposition, and makes a tame lil dig at Ralph.
 

Clayton gets up and congratulates some guy from Calliaqua who just turned 100 years old (inappropriate, you say? Not the right time, you say? That’s how I STAY elected, he say).
 

Then comes the “Major.”
 

Mind you, you’re supposed to be making congratulatory remarks. But Leacock is only intent on congratulating himself. He tells us how he increased the vote for NDP in Central Kingstown from x% to y% to z% over the years. He talks about how hard he struggled. He talked about his 88 year old mother and his deceased father.
 

Me, me, me. I, I, I. Congratulations to me. I did it.
 

Then he launches into some vague, class-based tirade against entitled people and aristocrats (wait, isn't the NDP the classist/elitist/aristocratic party?). He says that he won’t ask Ralph to apologise for his “vitriolic” statements during the campaign, then turns around and does exactly that: demand an apology. Ralph is shouting at him, the speaker is trying to get control, the Major isn’t yielding the floor to the speaker. Loud. Divisive. Angry.
 

Very classy, Major Leacock. How appropriate for the ceremonial first day of a new parliament.
 

NDP supporters who were calling for Arnhim’s head must have cringed. Is this the best we got?
 

 

To Arnhim for (1) nominating someone to challenge Hendrick Alexander for speaker (why? You knew you were gonna lose, and the final result – 13-9 – makes the divide look wider than the 8-7 MP balance); (2) not in any way challenging the legitimacy of the vote or the election (didn’t he have a press conference the day after the election to say that the NDP had been cheated?); and (3) for once again suggesting that he was gonna bring the government down early. Big talk Arnie. But if you can’t back it up, you sound empty. Time will tell.
 

 

To Ralph for pretending to be this beneficent wise old man when welcoming Vynette and Anesia to the parliament. Um, Comrade, is that the same “snotty nose gal” Vynette? And the same “cultist, similar to Jim Jones” Anesia? Excuse me while I LMFAO.
 

 

To Julian Francis for speaking. No other senator spoke, did they? And to do what, thank your ULP warriors and calypsonians for their part in the party’s victory? Get out of campaign mode, already. Wrong place, wrong time, wrong person.
 

 

To Linton Lewis for aforementioned bitch-fest in the Searchlight. Face it Linton, you call no shots in the NDP. None. Plus, that kinda dirty laundry should be washed indoors, buddy. And if its being taken out in public, let someone else with some authority do the washing (i.e. either Sir James or someone who actually won a damn seat). Your best bet now is to hitch your wagon to someone else and become their henchman for the next five years. Chill.