While he could not be given the ‘fisherman’s ring,’ he now occupies the number two slot in the kingdom. His trek home took a little longer than expected. He would have had specific demands.
But those demands meant that the dutiful son of the home who pleased his father and showed his loyalty when others did not, would be stripped of his undergarments having, unceremoniously and unknowingly, lost his robe to keep the kingdom intact.
That level of sacrifice would have been too great; unconscionable; So, in the end, the decision was made to allow him, as Deputy Head of Greens, the dignity that his supporters demanded and that he deserves.
No airport will be named after him for his sacrifice- that ship sailed in 2001- but his consistency in putting country above self; Party over position, must resonate.
For the second time he will suffer in silence.
He may even shed a tear. Hopefully, with the father’s assurance he who remained in the household will, in the end, inherit the kingdom.
Time, his committee and good fortune may be on his side.
The expected move by the prodigal son from his uncomfortable, and perhaps duplicitous position amongst the variegated splinters brings a level of stability to the ruling Party. As a former head of the green Team, he is an insider.
As one of the variegated splinters, his off the cuff contribution on independence when a ‘no confidence motion’ in the government was being discussed, constituted a message sent and received.
His fortune changed immediately.
He will bring assurance, if not trust, to the front benches and because he is intelligent, prepared, experienced, deliberate, he will help ‘the father’ with governance and his public image;
And raise the level of debate and cohesion on that side of the aisle. Of course, he brings maturity. But he will also create tensions.
The Territory waits. It has nothing further to lose except itself. For the economic pillar that supports the government, in the main, is without the expert level of guidance that has organized and kept it out of grey and black seas and none who remain has the expertise and experience to guide it in the manner it deserves.
But, while ‘the father’ is no Alexander the Great, he has demonstrated the stratagem of a General McArthur by picking up the pieces from a badly waged battle by his former general.
With an Order in Council hanging like a Damocles sword; A Governor’s request to the OT’s Minister for more power to the Governor; And the demands of a COI that has made the Territory terribly inefficient and fearful in providing services to the public;
Businesses have felt the pain and life becomes more difficult for the very people who, the COI Commissioner told us, ‘deserve better.’
Well, they are not getting what they deserve.
The General’s strategy included a unity government, unprecedented in BVI politics; a dance across the aisle, twice, to hold on to that water that, once tasted, beckons again and again.
Power.
He will now be able to face the new UK OT’s Minister with the confidence of the House of Assembly despite the ‘no confidence’ vote. And the unintended benefit is that the green wall is now intact. That is admirable.
Where does that leave the remaining splinters? The six; Counting the newly dispossessed whose walk across the aisle can only result in a frigid embrace if any at all?
With an opportunity. An opportunity to put Humpty together again; To fuse the splinters.
An opportunity to create a unified functioning Opposition to hold the government to account.
An opportunity to, finally, put country above self.
An opportunity to demonstrate that the ‘old Fox’ is not being outfoxed in the henhouse by the ‘young hens.’
Of course, what is hoped for is a near impossibility. Too much anger, pain, distrust, strategizing, betrayal, thirst for power:
How can such a group put the needs of the people above personal ambition and avarice?
Legend has it that whoever drinks water from ‘Runaway Ghaut’ in Montserrat, must return to that Territory should they leave.
We drank decades ago. We have yet to return.
But we consistently return;
To Fridays.
Happy Friday!