Castries South MP Ernest Hilaire (pictured) this week rescued his party leader from a headline hunter, no blood spilled!
It was only last August when I suggested in print that a reporter should not be surprised if the prime minister or another member of government chose not to expand on his response to an opposition MP’s question for the purposes of a unfriendly reporter, albeit perceived. On the recalled occasion I was referencing an encounter that involved a DBS representative and Allen Chastanet. But it was obvious that at least one reporter at the most recent Labour Party press conference was not, as they say “an enemy of de partee.” Indeed, by all he spouted at Tuesday’s meeting an observer might’ve mistaken him for a Labour Party strategist. The floor had barely opened for questions when Phillip J. Pierre was addressed: “I want to ask you about Independence. Have you been consulted?” “No,” said Pierre, to a question that hardly made sense. “No, straightforward.” Pierre might’ve asked the reporter what in the circumstances he meant by ‘consulted.’ Or what it had to do with Independence. But then, that has never been Pierre’s style. He tended instead to kill with kindness, even in the face of silly questions from self-important reporters.
But on Tuesday he encountered a particularly persistent strain, who possibly had something to prove or was on the hunt for a particular headline, whether or not his own creation. Shortly before the press conference concluded, he took his shot at Pierre: “Earlier you mentioned values and principles, and with so much happening in this country in terms of the economy and crime and unemployment at a high level, you have not received an official invitation from the government in terms of Independence celebrations, 30-something days to go.”
Confronted by this Niagara of non-sequiturs falling on top of more non-sequiturs, Pierre appeared overwhelmed. But the voice of the Voice still insisted on getting his headline. He went on: “Will the opposition take a stand . . . I’m being honest with you . . . will the opposition take a stand and boycott 40 and have y’all own Independence celebrations somewhere?” Pierre said, ever so patiently: “No, we’ve taken no such decision.”
“But will ya’ll?” the headliner seeker persisted. Pierre said: “But Independence is not for the government. It’s for all the people of the country.” The Voice horsefly kept buzzing at Pierre’s tail. “But doesn’t it send a strong signal to the government that hey, things need to be done and y’all pussyfooting . . . and these sort of things.”
Pierre repeated himself: “Well, we haven’t taken that decision yet. It’s something we can talk about but we haven’t taken any such decision.” It was at this point the MP for Castries South decided enough was enough. Addressing the intrepid Voice hunter, Ernest Hilaire said: “You know what? I think you should go back to reporting sports!”
