I have unobtrusively been observing the public's reactions to the volcanic events that erupted last week concerning former Planning Minister Mary King and must say that I am at lost for words. Where is the balance in our society when we cry "outrage" and "disgrace" at preposterous things we hear from Public Officials who promulgate unbelievable statements? A couple of years ago, former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday claimed ignorance or being oblivious to the fact that his wife of countless years Oma Panday was in receipt of a monetary gift of $100 000 from business tycoon Lawrence Duprey which was to be used towards the education of one of Panday's daughters. Basdeo panday told the nation that he was unaware of the gift given to his wife.
This statement seemed ridiculous because everyone knows that the Pandays have enjoyed a long and happy marriage and by all accounts they were never separated. Consequently, it became difficult to digest that Mrs Oma Panday would have failed to indicate this to her spouse. Subsequently, Mr Panday was vilified, castigated, ridiculed and condemned from the upper echelons in society to the grass roots people and as far as I am concerned he deserved this for trying to take the public to be idiots. This went on for weeks in the public domain. Mary King was not afforded the same treatment. Similarly, the "Immaculate" Mary King has also been married for innumerable years to Dr King and was an instrumental leader in the company's business. It is also inconceivable for any logical thinking person to believe that two persons residing in the same house would result in the husband failing to tell his spouse (The Minister of Planning) of his business intentions or pursuits.
Further, Mrs King being very close to her son Stephen, one would find it eccentric that no communication arose about the father/son's intention to bid for a contract where their family member is in charge? Mary King like Basdeo Panday considered the public to be "less than intelligent" and as such uttered these statements. However, what I find grossly unfair is that the immersion and countless ridicule and criticism that was leveled to Basdeo Panday for his statements was not afforded to Mary King. Is it because she was on a higher footing than Mr Panday in terms of perceived public perception on her as being the embodiment of virtue, morality and integrity? Please members of the public-explain your rationale in the disequilibrium of criticism and condemnation that was meted out to Former Prime Minister Panday and to former planning minister, Mary king. I await your response.
Schnall Schwartz
Maracas,
St Joseph