Dear Editor,
I just happened upon the latter part of the press conference hosted by a team representing APNU-AFC, so that I might have missed positives contained in the earlier presentations. However what I heard subsequently created an increasing sense of unease, which perhaps might have been a reaction to something emanating from the relatively young but not necessarily inexperienced press corps, which somehow drew my attention to the fact that, with the exception of the (former/current) Speaker the others at the table had not yet arrived at being journeymen politicians since they lacked any track record of performance achievement. Individually and severally they collected no background against which their pronounced intentions could be measured for validity. They were on slightly firmer ground when adverting to the future – in contrast to some of the misdeeds of their highlighted competitors.
In the meantime more thoughtful reviewers must have wondered about the ‘Speaker’s’ claim to (infallible) neutrality in ruling in the National Assembly, particularly since they would argue that it was exactly that brand of neutrality that led to some of the significant aberrations of the executive party from time to time.
But perhaps more disconcerting was who purported to be the image of APNU – substantially PNCR personnel – with the noticeable absence of the Leader of the party’s negotiating team. One may have missed any earlier acknowledgement of his contribution to effecting the eventual coalition.
Importantly also, no other component of ‘Unity’ was represented. Common sense would have suggested that at least the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (WPA) would have been included to show the solidarity being boasted about. This, with respect, has been seen by some analysts as a significant faultline in the APNU structure for some time. It is not too late to address this perceptible insensitivity, particularly towards more experienced ‘partners’.
The messengers involved must recognise that they are on a learning curve and must be conscious of their limitations as they are aware of those of others. The necessary self-assessment will help them to realise that the behaviour of the messenger is likely to speak much more potently to target audiences than the intended content of the message.
The young in particular are more compressed, and better taught, by models than by unvalidated words of intent.
Yours faithfully,
E B John