[dropcap]O[/dropcap]n Tuesday most of the regular Constitution Park layabouts evidently had better places to go, more important things to do, than hang around the House. But there were those who, for as long as I’ve been alive, have been park fixtures, come rain or come shine. I saw no angry faces, no angry placards. No one mentioned the SLP promise of a new prime minister before Christmas. Maybe they’d simply stopped believing, period. Of course, one or two would not let this reporter enter the House without a word or two.
There was, for example, a Mr. Peter Joseph who, by his own account, woke up on a morning in December 2015 and, just like that, vowed to cancel his allegiance to the Saint Lucia Labour Party. Instead he started an aggressive campaign for now Prime Minister Allen Chastanet. He claimed that when Kenny Anthony still ruled the roost the order was given “not to give Joseph any work”.
His once faithful campaign buddy, Yellow Monkey, had experienced his own change of heart. Now he comes to Constitution Park mainly to remind the UWP that “almost three years on they still have not fulfilled their election promises”. Said Yellow Monkey: “They promised aged protected, sick nourished, infants cared for and the hungry be fed.” He showed me a video of himself hopping about in a yellow cape. “But they come and break down my stalls instead.”
He was referring to Mayor Francis’ clean-up campaign earlier this year. Yellow Monkey’s fellow Constitution Park regular, Carrington Compton, contradicted him: “Peterson Francis and Stephenson King doing the best work in the country.” He assured all in attendance that if he lived to be a hundred more years he would not see the government carrying out its announced demolition programme. “They would never touch that building,” said Carrington Compton, indicating the old courthouse. As for Mr. Macka-Me, all he offered was: “This is the worst holiday season ever and it’s all thanks to Allen Chastanet.”
Over and over someone shouted down a neigbour: “Is pappyshow you talking dere.” Some used to be close friends but politics had broken their bonds. Now they can barely agree to share the same Constitution Park air. The regular Constitution Park prophets disagreed on the future. One predicted, “This government will be the downfall of the country.” But I was pulled away by other agents of the Almighty who warned me: “Don’t listen to anything that man saying. He speakin’ for Satan.”
I discovered that none of the folks outside the House had the slightest idea what was down for discussion on Tuesday. None of them actually entered the parliament building, where honourable gentlemen behaved toward one another in the style of the permanent residents of Constitution Park.
