Prime Minister on the Back foot?

Our Prime Minister is an avowed cricket lover and even in the context of his politics makes references to the game and his politics. In fact, for these elections his slogan is that he is “hitting a six”, a la Chris Gayle, aiming for a six- straight election victory, after having been dubbed by some of his supporters, “the World Boss”, a name adopted by the retired West Indies star, and fully embraced by Dr. Gonsalves.

However, having, a la Gayle, launched his re-election campaign in typical aggressive style, he has found himself midway with bowling challenges which demand an innings in the image of the former six-hitter. First a fast bowler was drafted from an unlikely source, Trinidad and Tobago, hurling bouncers not just at him but his entire domestic team, alleging impropriety in the purchase by his wife and children of apartment buildings in Trinidad.

The family spent much of last week answering these allegations, a certain distraction from his planned electioneering. However just as he was waxing warm in that endeavour, in a manner reminiscent of the adage, “when it rains it pours”, up pops another bowling threat, this time right from one of his retired team, and member of his first Cabinet.

The former lieutenant, former Foreign Minister and Education Minister Mike Browne, one of the shining lights of his first four administrations, has challenged Gonsalves’ six quest with a public announcement that he will not vote on November 27. The announcement came during a public address at a rally to mark the golden anniversary of the historic 1975 Teachers strike. Significantly the Teachers Union which Browne led in the 1975 strike, was not only commemorating that major industrial battle but also celebrating what it considers an important victory in its fight against the government in the ongoing court confrontation over the vaccine mandate.

The challenge seemed to be well-timed, aimed at forcing the self-baptised “World Boss” on the back foot. Hitting the electoral six has been made a more difficult feat given these challenges. While the T&T political fast bowler has been dismissed somewhat of a political maverick and his broadside on the Gonsalves family considered distasteful by some, it is well known that electoral politics is like war. Depending on the severity of the situation, no holds are barred.

The political torchlight was turned on the financial resources of the Prime Minister’s family and his connections with the former PNM administration in that country. Then came the Mike Browne yorker. This is not just a former sidekick; he was one of the leading figures in the ULP administration for the first decade of this century. People will want to know not just why he took to the sidelines but why he has arrived at a situation that he cannot even go out to vote for the ULP. “Dear, dear, what can the matter be?”

Whatever Mike Browne’s revelations, his statement has aroused much interest in the voting public and will, whatever its nature, make it harder for Dr. Gonsalves to accomplish the political equivalent of the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers “6 sixes in an over”.

Both admirers and denigrators alike are well aware of the formidable political skills of the Prime Minister. This new situation, however, must present him with perhaps his biggest challenge with less than two weeks left to polling day.

These nine remaining days may well turn out to be the greatest challenge of his life, requiring every bit of his exceptional talents. That “six in a row” has become a much harder boundary to cross.