Magic Jack Warner

We can all enjoy communication Magic, but all of us cannot enjoy the benefits of the ubiquitous and indefatigable local magician our own Magic Jack Warner who like the imaginary Houdini never fails to disappoint his followers and believers. Sound the trumpet of tragedy, disaster and want and as fate would have it, Magic Jack and his PP the People’s Partnership would appear – rain, drought, fire or Court Order, the two magicians would arrive complete with the full media to ensure that the kindness and generosity of the Government is known to one and all. Give it to them, these guys really have it.

In my many, many years, more many than I care to remember I cannot recall any Government Minister or Prime Minister attracting so much attention from our media. Whatever the occasion, whatever the day or hour, coverage is forthcoming from both the Government and the private media. No reason why they are one – two on the Performing Ministers Hit Parade. These two ministers and their public relations agents have converted the PR institution into a quick pick establishment, if you don’t have a ticket you don’t have a chance.

Magic Jack with his deep pockets can always hit the poverty Jack Pot with alarming accuracy. Uncle Jack, the man who can deliver and Uncle Glenn with 8,000 undelivered houses built by the previous government, in addition to what appears to be unlimited financial resources and both ears of the Prime Minister have made them #1 and #2 at the box office as we complete the first year of the People’s Partnership government.

Except for our Prime Minister and the occasional outburst of the not so melodious Attorney General, the Minister of Justice and sometimes the intervention of Dr Roodal Moonilal, Dr Vasant Bharath, and the fashionable Dr Tim Gopeesingh, one may be tempted to ask “Boy, what de rest ah dem fellas doin”.

Day after day and night after night we are bombarded with the escapades, political excursions and diversions of these not so attractive front liners, whether it be Pothole Trace or a lovely wedding ceremony conceived in poverty and covered in cheap and undesirable publicity, everything is done to ensure that in the words of the late Mighty Duke, the poverty stricken couple are Mr and Mrs Joseph whether it be one foot Sarah or Tanty Merle, out comes Jack’s cheque book – once the occasion and the price is right. Half a million dollars is given to Daaga’s Laventille Foundation; $100,000 for Baptist School, and several donations to his Hindu brothers and sisters.

To date his generosity and unlimited need for publicity has assumed alarming proportions. Whatever the embarrassment to the beneficiary, it is immaterial to Houdini.

On Monday April 25, 2011 he travels to the constituency of Diego Martin West in an attempt to expose Dr Rowley, completely unaware of the massive destruction of productive farmers’ produce right next door to his residence.

Do not be surprised if he ignores his Cabinet colleagues, Messrs Moonilal and Bharath, compensates the farmers and offer to buy out the estate. Houdini is so obsessed with power and publicity that he is prepared to ignore all conventions and protocols.

The Prime Minister gives an Easter Message on behalf of the Government; he has to give one too. He has now become an authority on everything, from race relations and the discrimination of Hindus to foreign affairs and international financing except that of FIFA.

The Magic is working so good that it captivates ubiquitous and controversial Wesley – Professor Selwyn Cudjoe and attracted favourable comments from the normally objective, columnist Mr Michael Harris who declared Dr Keith Rowley the Opposition Leader “Bobolee 2011”, again completely ignoring the almost insurmountable task ahead of Rowley under circumstances never experienced by the PNM or any other major political party or political leader in Trinidad and Tobago with a former prime minister and political leader breathing down his neck.

Yet, he cannot control the Prime Minister’s Czar at Caribbean Airlines who has ignored and insulted him, yet remains Czar of the airline without an apology. Now Mr Magic Jack is realigning the Cabinet. What next from Mr Motor Mouth?

To my dear ministers just remember that overexposure can be just as damaging as under or no exposure and as I have said on many previous occasions, no comment is in fact a comment and sometimes silence is an option.