Ya’all see the headline of the front page of the Midweek Nation newspaper? Well, if ya’all didn’t see it, it said, Mara Unsure. Now who is Mara, and what is Mara unsure about?
Well, if you doan know, Mara is late Prime Minister David Thompson’s wife. Now the people of St John are suggesting, or hoping, or thinking, that she should run for the seat that is vacant because of her husband’s passing.
Well, I ain’t know, hear? Uh mean, I ain’t nuh political analyst nor nuh guru; neither am I even suggesting that I even know anything much ’bout politics, but I would say one thing fuh anybody who might be thinking ‘bout getting duhselves into this field, that they should give it very serious, careful thought before dem jump into this sorta thing.
Politics ain’t easy.
I think the people of St John got it dat the seat is safe and rather than dem looking ‘bout fuh somebody who they would now have tuh get used tuh, they would prefer Mrs Thompson.
But you see me, I ain’t know ’bout dat, hear? What I would say tuh Mara is dat she let her husband’s legacy live on in St John, and let dem choose one o’ the homeboys or girls – somebody from up in there and work wid and pon dem fuh the next election.
But as far as politics is concerned, Mara, my dear, if I was you I would give myself a li’l time tuh mourn the passing o’ my husband and then pull myself together and start tuh focus pon muh three girl children and muhself.
I would go into a travel agency and make some kinda airline or cruise ship bookings fuh me and my three daughters tuh get away from all the lot o’ hullabaloo dat was going on for the past six tuh eight months. I would want tuh put a lot o’ the stress behind me for a while and go and tek a li’l chill somewhere for the time being where I could put up muh two foot and try tuh put the past behind me fuh the time being.
I would give my children a chance tuh relax and ketch duhselves; a chance tuh talk ‘bout some o’ the things dat might be bothering dem or might have bothered dem; the chance tuh express duh feelings, duh fears, hopes and dreams.
Look forward
I would let this getaway be the opportunity fuh my girls tuh heal and look forward tuh a new beginning wid-out duh father around. It would also be a chance fuh dem tuh spend some quality time together, tuh laugh or even reminisce ’bout all the good times.
Then, after all o’ this, come back tuh face the real world wid a new outlook, purpose and, maybe, even a new direction.
But this politics thing, I ain’t know ‘bout dat.
It is one thing fuh the people in St John tuh talk ‘bout you being the best body tuh tek over from you husband because you were there wid him as he went about his constituency. Dat is one side. You were there wid him as his companion, his wife, his friend, his soulmate, his confidant, his support – not a political partner.
The voters o’ St John all right, hear? Dem want somebody else tuh put up pon a pedestal. Dem want another Errol Barrow, another David Thompson. What I would suggest is dat dem build a statue and put two heads on pon um so dat nuhbody would evah fuhget the two greats who represented St John fuh all the years.
But as fuh you, Mara, if you gine think ‘bout anything, I would like dat you tuh think long and hard ‘bout anything tuh do wid this politics thing.
I would like you tuh remember dat your husband was in Opposition fuh the longest time and he wasn’t nuh big boy; he was Prime Minister fuh two years and he still wasn’t nuh big boy; he only became a big boy when he died. All of a sudden everybody knew only good and wonderful things ’bout him!
Look, Mara, I ain’t gine put you wrong; you is a woman just like me and I know the reason why a lot o’ women doan get into active politics is because it rough, and a lot o’ the times ya does have tuh get down in tuh the very trenches.
I ain’t know if you are capable of doing the trenches ’cause you seem like a very cool and quiet person tuh me.
Mara, all I would like tuh tell you is tek ya time. Doan leh nuhbody bulldoze or influence you into being or doing nutten just tuh suit dem agenda. You have tuh know what is right fuh you and you girl children. As far as I am concerned, dem must come first in your life.
Your husband lived his life and did what he wanted tuh do with it; it is now yours and your children’s, so I would suggest dat you doan just think ’bout running fuh nuh St John seat before you consult with the Most High ’bout what is right fuh your children and yourself.
• Mavis Beckles was born and raised in The Orleans. She has an opinion on everything.