Gordon Robinson | Too much speculation

Good domino (and bridge) players know they must make deductions from what opponents don’t play as zealously as from what they do play.

In these competitive mind sports, what you don’t do (also, in bridge, don’t bid) is as much evidence of what’s in your hand as what you do bid or play. For example, left hand opponent (LHO) poses double-six; you play six-five; right hand opponent (RHO) plays double-five; partner plays five-blank; and LHO plays six-deuce.

It’s pretty conclusive that LHO doesn’t hold six-blank. If he did it would mean he started with at least three sixes but failed to play two-sixes despite you already forced to play a six. In other words, he’s a Domino Dunce. That’s unlikely so six-blank lies with partner or RHO. The odds favour partner because he didn’t make the routine first play of cutting LHO’s pose. Instead, he cut your card and put blank to the poser. Either he holds no sixes or, more likely, he holds six-blank (probably at least three more blanks) so knows that you aren’t in danger of facing two-sixes. Partner’s expected plan is to eventually pass the poser with blanks but, as a preparatory move, he also tried (successfully) to force poser be cut his own pose thus reducing the threat of sixes.

This isn’t speculation. This is deductive reasoning applied to known evidence.

The opposite is true in politics. Politicians use as much deduction as dice players and rely as heavily on speculation as churches on the hereafter. So, for some time now, political trolls have been speculating adversely on PM’s character because the Integrity Commission (IC) has failed to “certify” his last two annual statutory declarations. That wild, widespread speculation has been unfair, unreasoned and unmeritorious.

Calls for PM to “explain” why IC hasn’t certified his annual declarations are nonsensical. PM honoured HIS statutory obligation by filing these declarations. It’s IC’s statutory obligation to review and, if necessary, investigate before certifying them or laying charge(s) against PM as indicated by any such investigation’s results. That IC has done neither is an indictment on IC not on PM. Adverse speculation about the status of these statutory declarations based on something IC has NOT done is baseless and childish.

I recognise there’s plenty electoral anxiety currently afflicting PNP officials especially as Andrew Holness’ approval ratings continue to come in much higher than Mark Golding’s. But PNP continues to expose its inability to understand the poll findings by flailing about on campaign trails misinterpreting IC’s inaction. The simple reality is that more of the electorate trust Andrew Holness than Mark Golding and their trust isn’t less from anything IC hasn’t done. In a society whereby political corruption is accepted as normative, unless IC actually accuses Andrew Holness of criminality, the electorate will continue to focus on his accomplishments and his empathy rather than crass speculation based on fleeting flights of fancy.

If an IC investigation should result in actual charges things might change. A prior prematurely published investigation conclusion resulted in egg splashed all over IC’s face so I’m certain that agency is ensuring it “dots” every “i” and crosses every “t” before making any further allegation. I strongly recommend PNP behave likewise.

In addition to being disappointed at the spurious speculation, I’m legally and linguistically offended by repeated references to “the illicit six”. It’s a defamatory insinuation used ad nauseam by Opposition politicians, careless media practitioners and social media trolls until it’s almost entrenched in the lexicon as defining six unknown Parliamentarians. This reference has been accompanied by progressively louder, more shameless wails to “name them.”

Assuming six parliamentarians are being investigated this wouldn’t make any of them or any of their actions “illicit”. The IC’s 2022/23 report (page 26) identified six Parliamentarians and 28 Public Officials under investigation for possible breaches of sections 14 and 15 of the Corruption Prevention Act (illicit enrichment). They are all MPs. Page 32 of the report records that 10 MPs and zero Senators were “ referred to the Director of Investigation for Illicit Enrichment and/or False Information during the period April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2023 (my emphasis).” So any mention of Senators in the sensational speculation is evidence of stupidity or incompetence.

So IC is investigating six MPs. So flipping what? None has been charged with any crime. Undisciplined, salacious speculation regarding their identity and defamatory labelling are irrational and improper. There’s no national need for this premature political attack on human beings.

Please stop it.

Peace and Love.

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