?Let's get started by accepting that Gary Hunt's address to the nation can in no way be considered an apology. It was above all else a Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs greatest hits. The nation was forced to resort to cable television as a starchy Gary Hunt, his eyes transfixed on the words written for him as they slowly marched across the teleprompter, made the curtains behind him seem more animated. Buried deep in the middle of this communist-inspired "good news of the people" propaganda bullet pumped into the heads of those cursed with the misfortune of basic cable was a reference to the $2 million flag. It was so fleeting, a humming bird lingers longer at a wilting flower. Then before you could raise the volume, it was back to the great work of the ministry and programmes to save the youth. There was nary a mention of any programmes to save us from Gary Hunt.
There is so much to this grossly fumbled act of contrition that I must be careful not to omit anything. It is probably obvious by now that the minister/automaton did not apologise for anything in particular, leaving it to the viewer to assign culpability according to perception:
a) I am sorry for the scandal.
b) I am sorry, but Sport Company you are going to have to take one for the team (that's why the salaries are spectacular).
c) I am sorry about the manner in which the $2 million was spent.
d) I am sorry for having been caught.
e) I am sorry mommy?
It has been described as late, but much more than simply tardy it was downright disingenuous. We were expected to swallow that tripe after Hunt bobbed and weaved when confronted by the media on the cost of the flag for weeks. He then came forward and said "you cannot put a price on national pride." Shortly afterwards, assuming that everyone in this country is burdened with his level intellect, he came to the national community and offered a figure of $18,000 and change. Even though the public outcry had risen to a roar, Hunt insisted he was absolved by Facebook, a place where a photograph of a kiskedee in mundane repose could generate fierce debate. It is obvious that the minister was sent by the Prime Minister to prostrate himself before the barbarians at the moat. Regardless of the Prime Minister's "nonsense, we planned these walkabouts well in advance of the UNC internal elections," it is clear that the ruling administration has acknowledged the very grave threat posed by the reanimation of the opposition and the call to arms for all other groups in society.
In isolation this could be shrugged off much in the manner that the Prime Minister has already exhibited. With public discontent over Udecott, the water- front project, Clico and Karen, the summits, Rowley, and of course the flag, to name a few, that decay of disgust has spread to areas never fathomed by the PNM, hence the awkward jolt into action. Prime Minister Manning is quoted as having told a gathering in Laventille recently, "I no longer drink because I do not want to stumble and fall down." This was an obvious reference to Kamla's mishap in the Parliament in which she was injured last Friday. It is interesting that this comment has not received half the condemnation that Panday's rum talk did and this latest remark was far more offensive. It certainly speaks to the pervasive air of desperation; the Prime Minister knows there is blood in the water.
Going back to the address to the nation by sacrificial lamb Gary Hunt, how many of you noticed that it was aired on all of the television stations for a second time on Monday night? It is a requirement of a television station's broadcast licence that time be allotted for government programming. What we are seeing now is an abuse of the system, given that once upon a time the address to the nation was reserved for urgent matters like crime or constitutional crises. Now the Government has taken to using this clause in the licence to foist its propaganda on the people. It is clearly not satisfied with the reach provided by the state television station CNMG which it resurrected at tremendous (continuing) cost to the taxpayer, so it now compels all television stations in the country to air Hunt's address to the nation not once but twice! They are so foolish that they do not realise that if the public begins to expect a speech about various ministers' glowing achieve- ments, from Piggott to post, when something of crucial importance to the nation happens chances are they have already switched to cable and the message is lost.
Something else happened recently which may have gone unnoticed. The state television station CNMG was awarded the rights to cover Carnival events. A mealy-mouthed Neil Parsanlal referred to other television stations' "commercial considerations" almost feigning some sort of understanding of an incapacity to provide this service in the private sector media. What was not discussed in any great detail was the tendering procedure that led to the state media house being granted the rights wholesale. From my checks with media houses, it is my understanding that there was no tendering whatsoever!
From an economic standpoint, given that taxpayers' money will be spent to float this "social responsibility," does the Government have a responsibility to publicise how much audience share is likely to be garnered against the money invested? It is our right and our duty to demand answers as to how our money is spent? We must never accept the arrogance meted out to us, suggestive of a supreme being's contempt for us lesser mortals. The Government, as I have said has awakened to the threat. Have you?