Kenny Anthony’s legacy comes under fire as the El Kwapo-PJP combo reshapes St Lucia politics.
Commentary by Concerned Citizen
CASTRIES, St Lucia — The 1997 Kenny Anthony, who attracted a sea of red to his launching in Vieux Fort, that appeared to the naked eye unblemished, a beacon of hope, was all a mirage. He was never really real.
Within three years of his election to office, he had turned ugly. The sea of red had dried up to the size of a bweego pond. By the end of his time as prime minister, Kenny was covered all over with scandals that stuck to him like half-dried sea shells: Rochamel, Blom-Cooper, Grynberg, Frenwell, NCA, among others.
His once adoring soldiers could hardly wait to dump him. And they did. First, it was Mario Michel who said bye-bye, Kenny, bye-bye. Then all the rest, after they decided even no-talent Pip was a better bet for their future than the Great (half) White Dope.
As if his contempt for Kenny wasn’t clear enough, Pip brought in the monster that Kenny had described as the “most frightening prospect confronting St Lucian politics.” Pip kicked out Kenny and embraced El Kwapo (Richard Frederick), of all people. A character whom the U.S. immigration authorities had declared persona non grata and revoked both his personal and diplomatic visas.
Then Pip installed Kenny’s “worst prospect” in the office of the prime minister and in his Cabinet. This same individual, whose reputation remains mud to all right-thinking Looshans, had the gall to publicly declare Kenny Anthony “a paffalogical liar” and “a massa.” He even accused Kenny of hanky-panky in the Grynberg scandal. And let’s not forget the loaded and famous “you know what I know” episode.
But Pip loves El Kwapo more than “cochon loves laboo,” as we say. Enough to choose him over golden boy turned brass ornament Kenny Anthony.
Now he is hoping he has found in the SLP’s recently launched candidate for Vieux Fort, Danny Butcher, a way back into the hearts of the people. No way, Kenny. Even though you picked yourself, Butcher knows well that his best chance of getting anywhere is to do as El Kwapo did: dump you as quickly as possible and show kiss-ass loyalty only to Pip.
You were finished the minute Mario walked out on you, Kenny. Finito. Butcher knows you have nothing to offer him, that your legacy will always be tied to how you disappointed St Lucians, Vieux Fortians especially.
They handed you the greatest gift ever, a 16-1 mandate on your first outing, and what did they get in return? They got El Kwapo. Oh, and a reputation a refuge for our country’s worst criminals.
Let Danny Butcher think about that. I have no doubt Richard Frederick has already reminded him. Like the man said: “Kenny coodeee!”
For more political insights and hard-hitting commentary on the El Kwapo-PJP combo and the shifting dynamics in St Lucia’s leadership, continue following Unitedpac St Lucia News.
