In light of some recent public pronouncements, if you were asked: “What do Philip J. Pierre, Rick Wayne and Claudius J. Francis have in common?” what would you say? If you answered “Romanus Lansiquot,” then dear reader go to the top of the class. But I am ahead of myself.
While I was a Voice columnist in 1992, I wrote in effect that it would take a miracle, a huge one, for the SLP’s candidate Pierre to defeat the incumbent Lansiquot in their battle that year for the Castries East seat. Whoever said politicians don’t read was wrong. By the day’s end, Lansie had called to thank me “for your endorsement.” Only in Lansie’s PR-wired mind could what I’d written have amounted to an endorsement, let alone an endorsement of UWP Lansie.
Come 1997 and again he was pitted against Philip J. Pierre. This time with catastrophic consequences for the 3-time incumbent. It is no exaggeration to say Lansie was decimated. To my mind, Lansie never recovered. His political tombstone read: Born 3rd May 1982, died 23rd May 1997.
If Lansie died on the political cross, the man who nailed him would ensure his good deeds lived after him. Philip J. Pierre has won the Castries East seat a record five times and throughout his tenure has never missed an opportunity to decorate Lansie’s tombstone with words of praise on behalf of their constituents past and present. Lansie had conceptualised the Entrepot Human resource Centre but it was actually constructed under Pierre and the St. Lucia Labour Party. Ordinary politicians might simply have basked in the glory of that achievement. But then Philip J. Pierre was never your regular politician.
So, there we were this past Thursday, when I was invited to a ceremony to mark the occasion of the renaming of the Human Resource Centre. You’re likely thinking, “Well, Pierre is now Prime Minster, it’s only to be expected he’ll rename the Centre after himself.” Think again. Didn’t we just tell you Pierre is not the typical politician? Never mind Lansie remains the only politician ever to have defeated Pierre, against the tribalism that holds our politics in its relentless grip, Pierre went against the grain of conventional thinking. Pierre did the unthinkable: he named the Centre after his once upon a time most worthy opponent.
The Prime Minister didn’t stop there. In his address on the occasion he relayed, not just to the assemblage but also to the wider nation listening on social media and for posterity, his relationship with his once upon a time UWP opponent. Which brings us to the original question about the common thread.
Pierre was in his element. He was the political Che Campeche, reeling off anecdote after funny anecdote about the late Lansie. He regaled (surprised?) his audience with his recollection of an occasion when he, along with Rick Wayne and yours truly, were at Constitution Park holding court when Lansie approached on his way to attend a meeting of Parliament. Under our breath, we playfully booed Lansie, fully expecting him to pretend we weren’t in the vicinity. Not Lansie. He stopped, turned around and headed back to his vehicle parked nearby. We observed him as he retrieved some items, lock his car and then started walking toward us. With a wide smile, he handed each of us a package that he asked us to please unwrap in his presence. We almost fell over with laughter when we realized we were each holding in our hands a brand new UWP tee shirt. We still had not fully recovered when Lansie wished us a great day and continued on his own business. That was Lansie. There were other occasions when to our great surprise Lansie personally delivered to Rick and me Jazz season passes. Whether or not we attended was his least concern. Keeping our relationship more or less cordial always mattered more to him. He was as famous for his seemingly angry outbursts in parliament as for his fine sense of humor.
Prime Minister Pierre also hinted at Lansie’s often referenced addiction to the spotlight, as indeed are most politicians, albeit not as openly as our departed hero. Pierre is the acknowledged exception. He recalled Lansie attending a funeral where he paid tribute to the deceased male. Ten minutes into his tribute Lansie was reminded by a grieving daughter that the occupant of the casket was actually female. Alas, she need not have bothered. Lansie continued his eulogy, more than once referencing “this good man!”
Attending the renaming session was Lansie’s granddaughter Alana. I swear her laughter was the loudest at the event. She certainly learned a lot about her departed grandpa.
While the Prime Minister entertained the gathering, my mind wandered down memory lane. I remembered the good times shared by Rick, Lansie and me. The matter of our political differences seldom surfaced. When they did, they always ended with laughter. We were just three Looshans enjoying one another other’s company. Ah, for the return of such days.
Last week’s ceremony ended with the Prime Minister and Alana together unveiling a plaque in remembrance of the one of a kind Saint Lucian politician that was Romanus Lansiquot. I still miss Lansie, as do many other citizens including our notably generous prime minister!
Peace and love to all
