A life is never wisely given to save a limb. A limb can be amputated to save a life.” Laborie MP, Alva Baptiste, ever waxing philosophical, this week spoke the quoted words of wisdom to Newsspin host Timothy Poleon. Just two days earlier the St. Lucia Labour Party’s National Council had elected Ernest Hilaire first deputy political leader, a post previously held by Baptiste.
As if to explain how Hilaire had managed to jump from second deputy over his head, Baptiste said: “Given the fact that I have control over my actions, I decided not to campaign, so as to avoid needless confrontation and political turbulence. The consequence of this posture was abundantly clear to me; sacrificing the position of first deputy political leader of the Labour party in the interest of party unity.”
He said the demonstrated greater faith in Ernest Hilaire was “in consonance with a possibility that I conceived a long time ago . . . Given my assessment of the current political environment, in my soundness of judgment I did not embrace the view that a contest would best serve our interests at this time, as it would require heavy political shelling, which for me would be divisive.”
He did not explain “heavy political shelling” but there could be no denying his message that a campaign to retain his first deputy position might’ve proved disastrous not only to his opponent but also for their party. Baptiste later told the STAR: “They say it takes two to tango. So if two or more persons are involved in elections then there would be active campaigning by both parties and that is what would generate the excitement surrounding it. I did not want to be involved in any campaign at this point in time. My interest is to prepare for the general elections.”
As for the consequence of his decision to leave his fate to the stars, this is what Baptiste told Poleon: “My name is not written on any position in the SLP. My navel string is not buried in any position in the party. I did not enter politics to gather triumphs of personal distinction. No, it cannot be about the preservation of personal political power because we can only lead our party back to victory if principle and unity are values above selfish ambition.”
Was he suggesting his opponent did not place principle and unity as highly as he does? Again Baptiste chose not to elaborate. Newsspin listeners were left to speculate about whether Baptiste’s message was that some of his party colleagues had “entered politics to gather triumphs of personal distinction”. About one thing he left no room for doubt: “The love, admiration and respect of the base of the St. Lucia Labour Party”—that was his reward “for the political leadership I have been providing for decades, and which shall not be interrupted by someone else occupying the position of first deputy political leader of the St. Lucia Labour Party”.
When asked about his support for the man who had been chosen over him, Baptiste said: “I don’t think that is the practice of the party. The practice of the party is to respect the outcome of democratic processes. Not to really go and be obsequious or sycophantic. We do support each other’s role on the basis of principle. I don’t think it is a personal support kind of thing. That is not how we operate in the SLP. So, to probably bring some degree of closure to the question, I have absolutely no difficulty whatsoever with Mr. Hilaire serving as first deputy political leader.”
It is possible that in all his time as external minister, not once had Alva Baptiste been more diplomatic.
In the absence of party leader Philip J. Pierre, his newly appointed second in command addressed news reporters at a conference on Thursday: “We are putting together the policy positions and the party is consolidating itself to put forward the best package—whether it’s policy, leadership and candidates—for us to win the next general election, and I think you have to see it in that vein, as the party moving forward. It’s not a diminution of anybody. It’s not a desecration of anybody. It is the party putting forward the best configuration for it to win the next general election.”
Conceivably the absent Alva Baptiste was listening out of sight as Hilaire explained that the National Council of the SLP had assessed the political situation and decided to move in the direction it did.
“It may change in the next three years,” Hilaire said, “if the circumstances are different. I think that’s the spirit in which all of us took it. Having done an assessment of the political situation let us not . . .” He paused, as if a thought had suddenly possessed him, exhaled. “I know Comrade Alva Baptiste very well,” he went on. “He’s an extraordinarily talented individual. So it’s the question of the National Council saying to the party this is the direction we want to go in now.”
Several years ago, at the time of Ubaldus Raymond’s resignation from the Kenny Anthony administration in favour of a job with the Turks and Caicos government, this was how Alva Baptiste dismissed his sudden departure: “I wish Dr. Raymond well. He is very talented. In fact there is so much talent in the St. Lucia Labour Party that we can afford to share some with those in need!”
More from Hilaire referencing Baptiste’s most recent public statements: “The National Council made its decision. He [Baptiste] indicated in his assessment that it was not the best. The National Council (which is like the elders of the party), the leaders of all the constituency branches, all the specialized officers and the parliamentarians decided in their assessment where we should go. We respect that. So anybody can have a different assessment. They’re entitled to do so. But we respect the decision of the National Council.”
Meanwhile both Hilaire and Baptiste have publicly declared their support for the current party leader. But then, as the late UK prime minister Harold Wilson once observed: “A week in politics is a very long time.”
