Perspective: Is State Minister Robert Morgan Constipated With Ignorance?

December 11, 2020 | By Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie |

Is Robert Morgan Part Of A Sinister Plot To Undermine Jamaica’s Constitution?

It is some time now that I have not attended a Post Cabinet Press conference. This is mainly due to time constraints and the COVID 19 pandemic.  Social distancing is a convenient way to keep my distance.  Alas!  This does not mean what happens there is not my business and my attention is too far removed from such post cabinet events.

PNP Business

The newly appointed State Minister with responsibility for information, Minister Robert Nesta Morgan is quoted from a voice clip he made iter alia:

“We as a government are not concerned with what happens in the PNP as it relates to the Norman Horne Senate Saga, that is PNP business. “

To be fair to the often brash Morgan, this is not a verbatim quote and we could be misinterpreting what he was communicating.  Personally speaking, that statement for me would be thoroughly prosecuted had I been at that Press conference.  Under the West Minster form of Parliamentary Democracy, it clearly defines what constitutes a government … it not just they who past the post and are able to select a PM to govern. There is also her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition that completes the full composition of the government.  It appears to me that Morgan has chosen to ignore the latter. Does he really know this fact?

Lack Of Education

 Does Minister Morgan need some education on the make up of a Parliament?  It should be also noted that Minister Morgan sits in the lower House, but also sat for a short while in the Senate.  Should we therefore excuse his apparent ignorance on the workings of government?  I beg to humbly differ and therefore find his utterance disturbing, despicable, dismissive if not disgustingly infantile.  Is he out of his depth? We hope not. It is all so pathetic to say the least.

The first question that begs for an immediate answer is: Was the goodly Information Minister intoxicated with some undisclosed beverage or it is just plain unadulterated ignorance?  We hope power has not flown to his head and has blurred his vision. It is well know fact that: “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Is this the case?

Microphone Diviculylitis

Was Minister Robert Nesta Morgan temporarily afflicted with a not so rare disease known as microphone diviculylitis syndrome.  There is no known cure for this affliction. It is widely suggested that the sufferer should just shut up.  President Donald J. Trump is another known sufferer of this disease. His condition is chronic, one must add. Thank God his days in the White House are numbered. Come January 21 he will be a has been.  In the case of Robert Nesta Morgan we do not know if his apparent ignorance will also make his days numbered.  Be cautioned, do not hold your breath.  When you have friends in high places your gaffes are easily, if not routinely overlooked and readily excused.

Let us return to the Senate Saga

How could Minister Robert Nesta Morgan be excused so easily for such a nonsensecal utterance?  Well it appears to me that not many in the fourth Estate take the likes of Robert Nesta Morgan very seriously. Should we be so dismissive though?

Press Time

Efforts to get a response from Minister Robert Nesta Morgan up to press time has been futile. I am not surprised and would not hold my breath at all. This is COVID 19 time and this pandemic is known to attack one’s respiratory system, so as a senior citizen I have to be acutely aware of this distinct possibility. This apparent wise caution on my part does not excuse Minister Robert Nesta Morgan or gets him off the hook. Under normal circumstances I would be anxious to get the other side, but as my hearing is good then I cannot be accused successfully of being biased.  I am ashamed of you Minister Robert Nesta Morgan.

Divided Government

The Biden presidency will likely have a Congress that is dominated by Democrats, on the other hand the Republicans may have control of the Senate. We call this a divided Government. We know how this affected Obama. He had difficulty passing bills. His agenda was seriously derailed.  This is good for democracy, even as it a pain in the neck. It is called checks and balances.  The current Norman Horne situation is cause for serious concern in Jamaica.

4 SOES Put In Place

Cause for Serious concern

To put a State of Emergency (SOE) in place calls for what is akin to a constitutional vote. In short it requires a two third majority vote in both Houses of Parliament to become law. With only 7 members in the Opposition Senate benches, this allows the JLP led Andrew Holness government to be able to pass any legislation, even suspend the Constitution if they (Andrew Holness et al) so wish. There are no checks and balances. The Andrew Holness government can even rule by decree, if Andrew Holness and his band wishes. So the current embroylio with Norman Horne that makes for an incomplete Senate appointment in the Opposition side by being short a Senator, is cause for serious concern.  Shame on you Minister Robert Nesta Morgan, it is all of us business. For you to appear to be washing your hands is scandalous and a gross dereliction of your sworn commitment to uphold the Supreme Law of the land our Constitution.  You are therefore being callous and careless in your utterance. What a pity!

Social media has been tearing Robert Nesta Morgan to pieces and throwing his carcass to the crows. Rightly so!

We will not spend any more time on Minister Robert Nesta Morgan’s gaffe. Was he do instructed? After all he is the Government’s official spokes person.  Is this the message his boss the PM wants to be sent?

If my perception of what Morgan is cmmunucating is correct, then we are threading down a dangerous road. Let us stop, look and listen as if at a railway crossing. Hopefully we can stop before the train crushes us? This is our perspective. What is yours?

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is a veteran journalist and keen political watcher.