“Tell the wolves;

(She’s) home!”

Another splinter is fused.

Is it possible that we have underestimated the cunning and political savvy of the Green General? Could it be that he is growing into his leadership role?

What we know of his Party is that it is organized.  There is a congress.  The members matter.  They vote on the political direction of the group.  And the vote is accepted, in the main.

The Party was spawned in Carvin’s home and he worked side by side with his father and Lavity to build it.  And then, he managed it for decades.  It was his party.  

But the toss up with the Green General for leadership of the Party after Carvin was relieved of his ministerial position, was bloody.  The base deserted him and, overwhelmingly, supported the General.

Carvin licked his wounds and fell in line.  Vastly different to the Member for the Third who ran off, built his own party and kept it going until his General signaled that it was time to come home.

And the Green General has had the distinction of enticing away, firing, and rehiring a member of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.  The member is leaving ‘her corner’ for the second time in as many years.

On election night, she was hijacked by the General and placed at his right hand; A position that was, prior, awarded to the Member for the Sixth District by the congress.

At the ceremony at Government House to mark her appointment, the shadow that must have crossed the heart of the Member flashed across his face.  It lingered for a moment.  And in that instant, the world saw his pain and disappointment.

And just as quickly, the moment passed; The shadow receded; And he, too, fell in line.

But the tango between the lady and the General did not last long.  The lady did not give the General the assurance he needed about the direction she would take in a vote of ‘no confidence’ that the Opposition lodged.

Of course, the General has been playing with the foundation of BVI democracy by refusing to allow the motion to be heard in the People’s House.  Nevertheless, the member was ousted to her corner.

But the visit to China happened.  And he realized that the most competent elected official in matters of Financial Services was sitting in a corner while the second most important part of the BVI economy was sliding down the tubes.

So, he stretched forth his hand.  She touched it and rose to her feet.  The lights flashed on and the ballroom came to life.  The music picked up where it left off and the tango resumed.  

And although he had nothing significant to offer beyond the dance, his protection and support, she agreed to take it on the chin for the love of country with the hope that her public would not ridicule her due to her fall from the dizzy height of Deputy Premier and Cabinet Minister to become a mere Junior Minister.

(Sure, there are moves afoot for a more dignified title but Junior Minister is all he has to give at the moment without constitutional changes)

Of course, two satellites crashed to the ground to make her resurrection possible.  The people of District One were stripped of the last of their dignity.  They lost a Premier in favour of a Junior Minister and then even that, comparatively, lowly position was ripped away.

But, as a consolation, District One picked up the position of Deputy Speaker of the House while the Alliance Member who was the #1 vote getter during the 2023 elections, lost, even the little that he had.

(The Green General does not make these appointments so he speaks of his wishes)

Finally, the Green General can sleep at nights.  He has a clear majority.  He has a stable government.  He should settle down to work.

Meanwhile, the machinations of the other splinters proceed.  So consumed are they with the notion of who will be in charge that they don’t even bother to ask; How may I be of service?

It is almost as if being in charge takes precedence to representing the people.

Would the vacant corner precipitate a push by the Alliance to demand the role of ‘Leader of the Opposition?’  Is the current Leader to be disgraced by the aggression and hunger from within for the second time?

What says the captured Queen on the chess board?  She likes to quote Aaron Burr that “The street of politics is a street of knives and all who go therein should be armed.”

If she goes and is injured, will she still bleed, blue?

Is the present Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition ‘well armed’ and up to the fight?  Or will ‘Bob’ be posted off to his building jobs?

 Has the Queen lost her will to protect ‘Bob’?  Can she even protect herself in this fast moving and dangerous game that feels like Russian Roulette?

We are not qualified to comment for all we bring to that ‘street of knives on our Fridays, is a pen and a point of view.

Happy Friday!