PM, Paparazzi and dinosaurs
Last weekend I missed the drama between the up-and-coming paparazzi trend in our media, with reporters trying to get interviews with the prime minister on the run, via the mic in the face and questions shouted from the crowd. It might work in a Hollywood red-carpet moment, but I’m not so sure we’re quite ready for it yet.
In the spirit of love for the only profession I’ve known, journalism — so they used to call it before media became the fashion — I hope that in the consultation scheduled yesterday with Jamaica House, a solution was forged towards a more grown-up style of extracting information. (The outcome was too late for our press deadline). In case any further help is needed (bright!), I offer the following totally unsolicited advice, first to the prime minister:
Dear PM: I know it must be very testing to hear yourself being criticised, often unfairly, day after day after day. I know the editorials, the commentaries and the cartoons must get on your nerves, but Ma’am, irritating though it may be, it goes with the territory. Look what happened to Mrs Thatcher. While she was being sent off with pomp and circumstance, there were those wishing that as the Iron Lady, she would rust in peace. Who said politics was easy?
When the temptation comes to sulk or run away from the daily criticism, Madam Prime Minister, go down into the bag of ancestral wisdom: “People nuh stone mango tree when it naw bear.”
The media’s frustration, however, is that you’ve become inaccessible. They can’t reach you. They don’t want questions fielded by ministers with responsibilities for whatever portfolios. They want to hear you, as leader, bring things into focus by the power invested in you. Never mind the criticism. You have to take it and run with it if the tug o’ war is to end.
Never mind the motives behind the paparazzi movement. “Fraid fi eye, cyaan eat egg.” So what if they’d like nothing better than catching you off guard? What if sparring with the media tops your list of “ten things I’d rather not do”?… But it has to be done. Not the sparring, because that soon becomes futile. Nobody wins battles with the media. Ask any political leader, especially in a time when politicians are the favourite targets for cynical dismissal and even disrespect, not just here but globally. Punch in the Marley music, PM, and sing with the crowd: “Get up, stand up, stand up for your right”… and add an important coda: “I will, I must communicate.” Jah Guide, PM, let’s press along. There’s much to be done. BG
Memo from dinosaur to our paparazzi:
My yute, I get the message. The age of the dinosaur is ending. The old-time meek and mild style of communicating: “Yes, Prime Minister; no, Prime Minister” is ending. No more will the media sit humbly by and await crumbs from the table. If you won’t give it, we will take it… or so we’d like to believe.
I admire your stamina and your energy, but, my yute, is not every day it will work. Take it from a dinosaur, not every battle will be won by storming the gates. Still invaluable is the list of contacts who can share valuable information. Believe it or not, there was a time when this was how we got people to talk, to give up what they were hiding. I know, it is much less exciting, old-fashioned in fact. Who wants to go there? The push and shove is much more dramatic. But yute, it don’t work all the time. You can see for yourself.
The mic in the face ting might look good on TV, but trust me, it is going to take more than that; assuming that the objective of the mission is not so much about “the great we” but the even greater “dem”, the people out there we will always have to serve. So let’s try it another way, nuh. A little manners (yes, that) goes a long way.
Jah Guide you too… Tyranosaurus Barbara
Where was I last weekend when excitement “tun up”? I was in Trini-land for the annual ANSA McAL Caribbean Awards for Excellence, established in 2005 to recognise accomplishments by Caribbean people in science and technology, arts and culture, and public and civic contributions. Jamaica has a national committee which seeks out candidates. Their accomplishments are thoroughly researched and then they are put up against other contenders from around the region. We’ve had distinguished Laureates who have been recognised; personalities like Professor Terrence Forrester, TMRU, UWI; and community activist Claudette Pious of Children First. This year’s award went to two Trinidadians, one Barbadian and a Kittitian via England. More next time. What I can say for now is that the awards ceremony in Port of Spain, last Saturday night, was a big elegant event. More labrish next week.
The arts are flourishing in T&T. This week’s big attraction is the Bocas Literature Festival, a division of the Edinburgh World Writers Conference. Jamaica’s Olive Senior has the honour of being chair of the judging panel. She also was chosen to deliver the opening lecture…. More of that to come, too.
The big-big story which is rocking the twin-island Republic was the resignation of Jack Warner following the scorching report of the enquiry led by Barbadian jurist Sir David Simmons, who looked into allegations of corruption in the affairs of the international football entities CONCACAF and FIFA. Warner, who was the key figure in Caribbean football administration, and Chuck Blazer, general secretary of CONCACAF, were implicated in a major-major scandal alleging massive misuse of funds. With public pressure mounting for Warner’s dismissal, the T&T prime minister could no longer hold out. She had no alternative but to request his resignation, declaring the situation “a distraction” from her government’s business.
When news broke on Sunday night that Mr Warner had handed in his resignation — and the PM had accepted — it was “hell and powder house”, as they say. The media ran with the story all the way past bedtime. The news overshadowed everything. By Monday morning it dominated everything. It was all people talked about. Radio stations played and re-played Hit the road Jack… and don’t you come back, no more no more.
Mr Warner also stepped down as chairman of the United National Congress (UNC), a part of the coalition Government of Trinidad and Tobago, but he remains a member of parliament. His constituency members came out to demonstrate that they still stood with him. They knew him, they said, to be a good man. Mr Warner maintained his innocence. The rest of the country snickered and swore. The Daily Express newspaper is publishing the findings of an investigation launched into Warner’s bank accounts. Episode Five was featured in Monday’s paper. Much, much more is promised.
FAREWELLS AND GOODBYES, all in one morning. Tomorrow, the arts and culture scene bids farewell to Olive Lewin at the University Chapel, Mona; Tony Laing at Sts Peter and Paul, and stands in solidarity with the much-honoured Leonie Forbes who, for the second time in a short while, says farewell to another son… at Scots Kirk. We’d like to be present to pay respects at all three, but life doesn’t work like that, does it? A choice will have to be made.
Rest easy all, more time till next time.