DENIS KELLMAN’S COLUMN- THE DEBATE

MARCH 30, 2006

Portia Simpson-Miller must be congratulated for her commitment and loyalty to party. She has shown that being ignored and trampled by internal politics can be used as a platform to continue to be street smart. She had to sit in the shadow of Mr. P.J. Patterson, but she never allowed that to stop her from continuing to be focused on what has to be done to keep the party popular.

Portia’s popularity in Jamaica was never in doubt by the masses, but her ability and popularity was always questioned by the Negrocrats in and out of her party. The PNC has now demonstrated the importance of winning and it has shown that once you can impress the masses and demonstrate your ability to be broad that you have goodwill to propel your party and country.

It was rather interesting to hear comments of the political scientist describing and praising her elevation. This new approach to politics will help solve the E in CSME and will help these countries to increase production and punish consumption. Caribbean leaders must understand that the problems of the Caribbean cannot be found in a text book, but must be found from among the real people of the Caribbean. The Caribbean must be accepted as a unique area with a lot of potential that can only be tapped using Caribbean solutions. This new approach was started by the PNM when Patrick Manning was elevated to head his party.

Earlier, I said that the E in CSME must be dealt with. It has to be done using an approach that cannot be found in a textbook, but it must be used to write a textbook. Our Great Leaders have left us with the blueprint, but our brilliant minds have been searching all the textbooks for the solution, but to no avail. We were told by the Right Excellent Errol Barrow that Guyana must be the “breadbasket” of the Caribbean. This follows naturally that if it has all the resources and if these resources are in demand on the international market, then it means that Guyana must be seen as “the economy” of the Caribbean.

Some will ask what foolishness is being suggested by this writer again, some will say that it cannot be found in a text book, so it cannot be accepted. Some will ask if this is Kellmanomics again, or if this is another theory in “madness”?

What do you need to create a good economy? You must have a market, natural, human and financial resources. In Guyana, we have all the natural resources, the CSME countries have the financial resources or are able to source them from the international market and human resources can be found in the region or can be bought externally. Once we are happy that the above is available, then we should stop trying to focus on each economy and continue to operate as normal in each country, accepting Guyana as the main export market. Let us ponder on these things, since I am only repeating the O’Neale’s vision for the Caribbean.

CHANDERPAUL AS CAPTAIN

Sometime ago, I said that the WICB was wrong in selecting Chanderpaul as Captain, when you have Brian Charles Lara in the team. I have watched the team defeated by the lack of strategy by Captain and Coach. This occurred when Sarwan was floored. Any good captain or Coach would have sent in the most positive player in the team. Brian Charles Lara, our most experienced player, unfortunately out of form at this time, should not have been sent in to face that fast bowling. Dwayne Smith should have been the man sent in instead to tame that aggression. I cannot understand how you can have a player that is attacking and you send him in to be defensive, when he should be batting to ease the tension for Lara and Sarwan.

It is no doubt that Chanderpaul has a role to perform in the West Indies team, but it cannot be as Captain. We are destroying him by continuing to keep him as Captain, it has deprived us of the runs for which he is known. The Captain, the Board and the Coach have caused us to lose the series in New Zealand. We must understand that the West Indies team is an attacking one and not a defensive team as we saw in New Zealand.

It is time that we accept that if we are going to regain our dominance, then we have to appreciate the talent of Dwayne Smith and the experience of Brian Charles Lara. I am told that Dwayne needs to refocus, but I believe that if you are going to find solutions to a problem, you cannot run away from it, rather you must confront it, because once your opponents know your weakness, they will continue to attack you. A problem must be solved and Dwayne Smith is right in trying to deal with it, he is no coward. I am happy with his approach to the problem and believe that he will perfect it soon.

Brian Charles must be asked to Captain the team until World Cup is finished.

Please remember that we have dealt with the CSM and we must see Guyana as the E. Now that the Village Academy has worked it out, it is for the Academics to do what they can do best.

Peace, love, humility, wisdom and understanding.

(Denis Kellman is the Member of Parliament for St. Lucy, Barbados)