IS THE REASON Peter Wickham was fired from the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) simply because the powers that be feel obligated to protect, at all costs, their image before Uncle Sam and punish those who purposely dare to or unwittingly tarnish their name?
They definitely will not have people saying anything that might change the minds of American wheelers and dealers about them or stop the tourisses from coming here. It is these little things that matter to most in authority.
Another thing, do the powers that be believe they are the only ones who should empty their guts up in America or to the Americans? It is not unknown for ministers of Government over the many years to be mum on matters of importance at home; say nothing; have “no comment”; deny knowledge; then go up to Washington or New York in a matter of days, sometimes hours, and belch out reams of reportage for Tony Best.
I swear it has to do with the ancients’ air of liberty and the Red Indians’ land of the brave.
The powers that be should suffer no misinterpretation or misunderstanding therefore about the eagerness of other Barbadians to open up their bowels in America or to Americans. Washington adores in sifting dirty linen – of the most soiled kind.
Of course, I am not saying Peter Wickham emptied his soul to anyone American, for all the statements allegedly made by him to Ambassador Mary Kramer and recently released by WikiLeaks. But notable in all the brouhaha is that there is little concern the comments to the American Embassy official – now leaked – may be true.
What matters is that the teller just shouldn’t have been caught on public record; and nary a thought that the bloody leaked cables may have sprung from lack of comprehension by the “emboff” or from inaccuracy of reporting.
And on top of that, how could we give the wheeler-dealers and tourisses the impression the powers that be and their associates indulge in brutally frank assessment of each other – and backbiting? Not these people from the island that’s 21 miles long and a big smile wide?
If the tourism officials had their way, we locals wouldn’t even know when there was a murder, furthermore the tourisses. It is about image protection!
Interestingly, the WikiLeaks caper has gone from satisfying the enquiring to pandering to the inquisitive, and now has settled on the insidious. But expect WikiLeaks to live up to its name: wicked leaking. And Peter, political scientist that he is, should have known better.
He denies proffering some of this information credited to him. It doesn’t matter; America is big, bad and always right!
If we must go to these American cocktail parties, let’s be garrulous as we like yet say little. Most of these “emboffs” wouldn’t spot the difference anyway. Let’s speak well of our opponents, show these embassy operatives how much we love our enemies. Americans do not understand compassion; only conquest.
Our acumen will confuse them. It could cut back on the number of reports to Washington. None of us should be traumatized by these reports on us sent there. What makes things said freely everywhere else so special when reported or uttered in Washington?
I have a problem with representatives of our authorities telling outsiders, especially the United States, about lapses in our security. But anything else is up for grabs. Yes, we have public officers with severe deficiencies and the oddest of thinking, but none as incompetent as the Americans themselves.
That the “emboffs” would report to Washington that I say the Minister of Education must take care how he dispenses the English language and set a better tone for teachers and students makes the concern no more or less painful.
That I can say the Minister of Finance is much less aggressive and bombastic, and is more placid, amiable-looking and engaging is none of America’s business.
Outside of having lost his pick at CBC, Peter shouldn’t be unduly worried about the gumshoe Americans; Mia Mottley should worry even less. As for Phillip Goddard, the “excellent contact”, what would be new? He has fought tooth and nail for them in another dispensation.
