BALISIER SNAKES AND LADDERS

THE EDITOR: I am sure that most, if not all, will recall a favourite childhood game, “Snakes and Ladders” — an entertaining pastime which required no skill, just pure luck. At the throw of a dice you moved either forward or backward; sometimes plodding stoically along and at others either zooming up a ladder or down. Mr Manning, it appears, still has a penchant for that game, only now he is playing it with Parliamentary positions. May I as a citizen extend a warm welcome to the newly appointed Minister of Labour, Mr Roberts, as he enters the troubled arena of labour relations. Would it be impertinent to enquire as to where he gained the necessary “experience” which has prompted Mr Manning to zoom him up to head that vital  post left vacant by Mr Achong’s sudden resignation on a point of honour and integrity?

The current tension in that field will afford him invaluable experience in short shrift, however, the more so since Dr Lenny Saith, the Manning appointed conciliator, appears to have reached an impasse in his negotiations with the striking workers. Since Mr Manning has previously excluded poor Mr Hinds, one of the brighter members of his entourage, from inclusion in the front line of Government on the basis of his lack of “experience,” he alone must know where Mr Roberts gained his. The PM is obviously in either a magnanimous or appreciative mood.  He has announced two new ministerial appointments and a move on the ladder to counter the ignominy, or fallout, of Mr Achong’s personal decision to descend the ladder. 

Tobago’s Eudine Job-Davis has finally got a pick as a junior minister and Diane Seukeran has been returned to her previous position from the one to which she was consigned in his reshuffle. From the PM’s comment on announcing the latter’s reinstatement that that “move” had not worked out quite as expected, one is left to ponder whether he was dissatisfied with her performance or whether she was dissatisfied with the post she had been moved to! However, at this roll of the dice Diane is in luck.

Even Fitzgerald Hinds got lucky this time around and we understand that the position to which he is being appointed will be made known to us in due course.  We trust that Mr Hinds at least has been advised where he is going — the Secret Service perhaps? However, all’s well that ends well. It is becoming apparent just why Mr Manning thinks that he needs a new Parliament building though — how many more of his support team can he bring on board without sinking the ship of State?  Has he forgotten anybody this time around? He certainly needs all the help that he can get — things aren’t working out quite as we expected either when “corruption” was traded for “integrity.”

The game is obviously catching on though. Marlene  Coudray has been spared her move to Point Fortin.  She remains in her position, where she is from all accounts doing an excellent job —  and Mr Ramlogan didn’t even have to make a move in Court, the SAC rescinded their transfer order! What moved them though to this move at the 99th hour? Albeit correct and costly only to the taxpayer, who will bear the legal costs involved — a matter of little consequence to Mr Manning and his PNM though and miniscule by comparison with those of Mr Lindquist and Co in their search for “evidence.” Only Mr Manning’s image and credibility is suffering in this exercise.

VIRGINIA VERITY
Port-of-Spain