Gordon Robinson | Defend, defend, defend

On Saturdays I don mask and cape as stuporhero The Terrible Tout and hand out unwanted advice on sports betting.

My alter ego, married to a nagging, eternally suspicious wife known as She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBO for short), repeatedly teaches Defence wins every game. Apparently PNP has been following Touty’s tweets.

PNP’s approach to its recent tribulations has been to defend, defend, defend. It seems acceptance of wrongdoing or error isn’t an option. So, after Monday night’s disgusting display, PNP went on the defensive. Its first bout of verbal diarrhoea brought forth this: “the entire affair is regrettable.”

Ya think?

What was “the entire affair”? (1) PNP Deputy GenSec Dexroy Martin tried to evict two working journalists from PNP Headquarters for wearing green. (2) A threat “me can rape you, yu know” was caught on tape; (3) A supporter threatened a journalist with a stone.

How’d PNP’s initial evacuation deal with (1)?

“The incident involving Dexroy Martin…and a journalist…was completely unacceptable and doesn’t reflect [PNP’s] position with respect to engagements with media and guests on PNP property.”

Well, whoop-di-doo! But what has actually been done, beyond talking about it, to visibly separate Dexroy from the Party’s expressed position?

Not even that facile expression of regret lasted as PNP swiftly retreated into a defensive shell. Officials and media trolls alike labelled Dexroy’s words “minor”. One radio troll actually alleged Dexroy was “provoked” by the journalist’s pressure for comment. So who’s new, anti-democratic candidate selection process “provoked” the protest without which the unsavoury “affair” couldn’t begin?

After dancing around the “rape” threat by an “unidentified” person PNP’s initial Statement concluded “PNP unreservedly extends our sincere apologies to the journalist who was subjected to such abuse.”

That was Tuesday. By Wednesday night PNP was singing from a very different hymn book. Its “investigations” found the rape reference wasn’t directed at the journalist but was mere “banter between friends”. Pressed on radio for evidence, Dayton Campbell admitted PNP had a single statement from someone to whom he hadn’t personally spoken. Candidate Alric Campbell’s intelligence wasn’t sought. But it was his supporters protesting. Wouldn’t he be a first stop on any “investigation”?

Not a soul from PNP bothered to address (3). A stone wall?

Wednesday, in Parliament, yet another example of defend at all costs unfolded. AFTER the Speaker ruled that an Opposition MP’s choice of word was unparliamentary; AFTER the MP agreed to withdraw the word; LOO Golding rose to defend, defend, defend but only succeeded in embarrassing his own MP. Apparently the fundamental right to arrogance MUST be protected by any means necessary!

An interesting alternative attitude was apparent in a Thursday morning social media post from Lisa Hanna:

“As a political party, we represent so much more than ourselves. We represent ideologies and a potential belief system critical to achieving democracy, improving people’s lives and achieving success for our nation.

This organisation ultimately seeks to lead the country with the support of people whose co-dependence flourishes when we make conscientious decisions. It’s a reciprocal relationship that demands we always put the Party’s best interests above personal self-interest. Any misalignment of values is not an option.

Freedom of the press must be encouraged and maintained at all times. Unfortunately, the recent atrocity meted out to them isn’t the standard of what we should be representing especially in this modern era. It is most disturbing. The engine of the Party needs to remain oiled and the core members that run it ought to stay beyond scrutiny. Those who ‘fall from grace’ ought to take some time to self-reflect rather than wait on the usual nine-day wonder to pass, hoping everyone forgets.

If you are one of the leaders in the organization’s engine that seek government and your integrity doesn’t tell you to resign how must the country trust our decision-making to take ownership of not only when we are right but, importantly, when we are wrong?

If leadership is to be respected, it should lead by example.”

No worries, PNP soon get rid of HER!

So, after PNP’s endless verbal gymnastics, the Party STILL doesn’t know who said “me can rape you, yu know” but thinks it was a joke.

SERIOUSLY?

We KNOW who tried to evict journalists for breaching political dress codes. We KNOW a journalist was threatened with a stone. We KNOW the journalist’s words and the rape threat were recorded by one machine. But, no problem mon, defend, defend, defend.

We are listening. We are watching.

Peace and Love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com