The phrase “smart money” has expanded from its original nexus with finance to now refer to anyone who knows what they’re talking about – and as such, should be given an ear. So, with the dust almost settled on LGE 2023, what’s the smart money saying? Well, if nothing else, that the PPP ensured the smart money’s gonna even deign to comment of LGEs! Before 2023, no one gave a hoot about them – and in fact, for two decades, they hadn’t even been held – without the sky falling!!
We were told that kinks in the system were being straightened out, and, in 2016, the PNC coalition Government – with great fanfare – relaunched the LGE ship, with a follow-up in 2018. So, after all their kvetching about the PPP central Government “stifling” people’s local aspirations to govern themselves, your Eyewitness looked on avidly for a change!! Sadly, it was the same ole, same ole!! And for this reason, with the PNC again back on the Opposition benches, the smart money has predicted we’re gonna be hearing again how Georgetown, for instance, is being “strangled” by the PPP!!
But the same smart money’s looking at the PPP’s promise to facilitate the folks who switched, and expects that – to enlarge the beachhead they created in traditional PNC strongholds – they’ll be pulling out all the stops with developmental initiatives across the board. After all, at long last, it’s not a matter of taking from Harrilal to give Harry – they now have money to take care of Tom, Harry AND Harrilall!!
So what’s the smart money saying about the PNC?? Well, that with all the time, money and effort the PPP spent on invading their turf, they held off the onslaught in the big enchilada – GT!! To be honest, the smart money never thought the PPP was serious about actually TAKING GT!! That was just the usual pre-fight “trash talk” of boxers before the fight!! But that doesn’t mean the PPP’s not serious about EVENTUALLY taking over GT. Like the Russian war strategy, the PPP’s political strategy’s very simple: throw everything at the opponent – including the kitchen sink – and just keep on coming!! Sooner or later, they figure, they’re gonna wear the PNC out!!
But while that may be true for a war in the trenches, politics is just as much about a war for minds. And this is where the smart money’s kinda cautious, since this is even more true for ETHNIC politics!! Here, folks get invested in their essential identity – which is exploited by THEIR political party to keep them corralled.
The smart money figures the PPP’s gotta be very nuanced to capture minds as well as bellies!! And that’ll take some doing!!
…and the challenge
The point above is illustrated by what played out in the Buxton/Foulis NDC – which the PNC lost in the 2018 LGE!! Surprised?? Well, if you were, dear reader, that proves LGEs were never high on your radar!! Though Friendship’s included in that NDC, there’s also Bladen Hall, Strathspey, Coldingen, Non-Pareil, Vigilance, Enterprise, Elizabeth Hall, Bachelor’s Adventure and Paradise in the mix!! Even with the PNC in government, the turnout in Buxton/Friendship – where the PPP didn’t even contest – was quite low.
Well, this time, in Buxton/Friendship, the PNC – and their Opposition local myrmidons – mobilised to repel the PPP onslaught with some notable switchers. And they succeeded. Their candidate in Buxton, David Jones, secured 964 votes against PPP/C candidate Letta Murray’s 114. In Friendship, APNU’s incumbent councillor Oswald Williams of the APNU raised his votes by 52 from 2018, when he got 526 votes. The PPP/C contender Edgar Simon barely scraped 40 votes from his constituents.
But, as in GT…the PPP got its beachhead!!
…and mangrove
Rising sea’s the name of the game, and the EU have been in our corner for quite a while to save the mangrove that historically kept the Atlantic from inundating our coastlands. They’ve just coughed up another $1billion!!
