Wheels Within Wheels... (Marlene-Gate Exposed)

They say that politics is NOT a bake sale, that it IS a dirty sport, and despite knowing this and having seen so many examples of just how dirty it can really be, that still does nothing to prevent me getting surprised from time to time. Take this continuing saga of Marlene Coudray for instance. Here is a perfect example of how what you see and what you hear may not be all that there is when it comes to the politics, and that some of the dirtiest tricks come disguised as gifts all wrapped up and ready to go.

What if the entire thing had nothing to do with the COP at all? What if it was all a master stroke of a move aimed at the PNM?

The UNC claims that they did not 'poach' Marlene Coudray and they are right; on the contrary to the COP's claims, what happened was the UNC's advanced team (in preparation for the next general elections) had long made a deal with her and were grooming her to be used in Point Fortin (where her husband Larry Achong is if not king, then an easy king-maker) against incumbent PNM Paula Gopei-Scoon. This was why she was approved as a Mayor in a UNC dominated Council, and, were it not for this would have been rejected out of hand when initially proposed.

The idea then was there was an expectation that Larry would have to help his wife in her campaign thereby diffusing him as a combatant and getting two for the price of one, and for students of politics and observers of history you have to admit this was a brilliant play.

The  reason for the accelerated program and the 'snatch and grab' manner in which she was secured in the the bosom of the UNC is because of a strong rumor that the San Fernando East constituency may soon be up for grabs. The Party needs to 'sanitize' her quickly with its (UNC) members, and what better way than to add her to Kamal's (Moonilal's) slate for the upcoming internal elections? If and when that by-election is announced, she will be announced as the UNC candidate to contest that seat as the deal has already been done.

The reason the COP was not kept in the loop or its leadership consulted is that at the highest levels of the UNC  the COP is regarded as unimportant to the politics and has been reduced to nothing more that a 'fight a cause' foundation. That the COP fails to get this despite all the evidence to reality may find them standing on the side of the road alongside Jack when the UNC maxi finally pulls over and puts them all out. They say if you can't be kind then at least have the decency to be vague, so I will withhold any further advice I may have for either Joseph Toney or Prakash Ramadhar at this time.

Stay tuned...