Blame it on your wife

“When a man makes a woman his wife, it’s usually the highest compliment he can pay her, and it’s usually the last.” Helen Rowland [English – American Writer 1876 – 1950].

BLAME IT ON THE WIFE…

Politics in this country has always been an amazing phenomenon. Truly, the excuses some of our politicians can come up with gives us an insight into how they think. It seems though that politicians in Trinidad and Tobago have taken to the convenient means of laying blame on the door step of their wives when something goes wrong. After listening to Housing Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s testimony at the Commission of Inquiry into the Scarborough Hospital project, does he expect the public to believe that the housing project at Mason Hall is his wife’s own, and as such, he has no dealings with it!

One wonders therefore what he and his wife talk about during dinner, or just before they go to bed. Are we also to assume that they do not interact on a financial level, combining resources to provide a better nest egg for their siblings? If this is the case, perhaps the marriage is experiencing some degree of discomfort? In any event, I would suggest that the couple seek some sort of professional counselling in the not too distant future.

Dr. Rowley has not been the first politician to say something belonged to their wife and they had no knowledge of it. Leader of the United National Congress Basdeo Panday when questioned about a purported bank account in England was reported to have said that it belonged to his wife, was a joint account and that she managed what goes in and comes out of that account. Although I am not a controlling individual, I will monitor what my wife is doing [well if I was still married], for no other reason but to ensure that she is not being taken advantage of.

The most disrespectful act committed against the wife of a politician by her husband was the appointment of Hazel Manning as Minister of Education by Prime Minister Patrick Manning in 2001. Subsequently, the entire national community has held Mrs. Manning in contempt since a number of us believed that she got that position merely because her husband was the Prime Minister and had to make up for whatever misdeed that was committed and not for the fact that she was eminently qualified.

Well, Mrs. “Breakfases” went on to prove us right! Sources tell me that Mrs. Manning is preparing to fight the newly created Princes Town South Seat in the next general election- lets see if she is really cut out to be a politician. Whether she wins the seat or not is irrelevant- how she performs will demonstrate her true mettle.

To all politicians who wish to use their wives as scapegoats, I refer to a quote by Jerome K. Jerome in which he stated "It is always good policy to tell the truth unless of course you are an exceptionally good liar." You can look at it another way- if anyone of these gentlemen were to be caught in a compromising position with another man; they can easily claim that he too belonged to the wife!

WHO THE POLICE COMMISSIONER THINKS HE’S FOOLING?

Last week information was swirling all around town that a senior officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service was involved in a series of kidnappings throughout the country. Information also suggested that the home and office of this officer was raided and marked money that was used to pay kidnap ransoms were found at these locations. Up comes Commissioner Paul, with a big hullabaloo for a press conference, posing for pictures with his senior management team and the head of the Anti-Crime Unit.

I would like to assure the Commissioner that this whole show did nothing to allay the fears of the public. Every Tom, Dick and Harry knows that the Commissioner has no control over and has no idea what goes on at the Anti-Crime Unit. Added to the fact that the information or leak suggested that the guilty officer was a man and that he was out of the country. The Commissioner, by holding this press conference basically “outed” Oswald Allard as the officer under suspicion, because he, together with Katherine Weekes were the only two senior officers not present. Where is DCP Allard, why is he out of the country and when will we be hearing from him? The public deserves the right to know the facts. Let’s hope that this is not another cover-up! According to Stephen King (American Writer, best known for his horror novels. b.1947), “The trust of the innocent is the liar's most useful tool." Well Mr. Commissioner, I am not about to give your my trust that easily. While the Commissioner goes about trying to downplay the fears of the population of these “rumours” as he puts it, can he enlighten the public as to whether an investigation was conducted into a co-relation between certain senior officers, the police divisions they managed and the upsurge of kidnappings in those respective divisions whilst these particular officers served there?

SO BE IT!

My Prime Minister never ceases to amaze me and it gets me to wondering how do we really choose our leaders and if we give any consideration to whether or not they are fit to hold public office. The nation by now is aware of the statement the Prime Minister made to Michael J. Williams and Bernard Pantin at the church service to mark the 15th anniversary of the 1990 insurrection. In response to a request by the two gentlemen that there be a Commission of Inquiry into the 1990 insurrection, the Prime Minister stated that too much time had past and that a decision had already been taken by the government not to have an inquiry. When told that lives were lost, he said “So be it.” He even went on to state that there are other ways to get to the bottom of the incident, but serious thought was not given as to how. I am puzzled that a decision was already made although much thought wasn’t given to it. I wonder how this government makes decisions if much thought isn’t put into it. Well, I suppose that the performance of the government and the direction it is carrying this country speaks for itself!

In response to this latest outburst by the Prime Minister, all I can say is that if his wife is kidnapped, raped or murdered, or either one of his sons are buggered in a night club while they are out partying, SO BE IT!

"Sometimes when I'm talking, my words can't keep up with my thoughts. I wonder why we think faster than we speak. Probably so we can think twice."
Bill Watterson (American Author of the comic strip Calvin & Hobbes, b.1958)