Daviot Kelly

Since Flair is in a celebratory mood, I think I'll depart from my usual grouch mouse/cynical mentality and do some celebrating of my own. Nah, just messing with ya!

This week I'm a little concerned that there is a hex on the national security portfolio. Derrick Smith and then Dwight Nelson have had to seek medical attention overseas. Criminals will try anything so I'm not ruling out that there may be 'guzum' at work. Makes perfect sense to me that the unscrupulous would try to neutralise the effects of the top crime fighter. Our good friend, retired Senior Superintendent Reneto Adams, would probably have been the target of obeah attempts as well, but his 'science' might be a little stronger.

On a realistic note, this is just a case of when it rains it pours. Aside from finance, national security is the most demanding ministry and so wouldn't you guess that the minister in charge would 'tek sick'? I suppose wondering about crime-fighting strategy will make you ill. Finance Minister Audley Shaw doesn't seem to be ailing but then karma probably has decided that Shaw's got enough to deal with at the moment.

Coincidence? Perhaps

There may be something to this 'guzum' thing though. One of the world's most recognised 'ballers Cristiano Ronaldo is currently injured. A few weeks ago, a witch doctor told a newspaper he was paid to put a hex on him. Alas, he gets cracked on the ankle in a Spanish league match and then after a World Cup qualifier a week ago, is now out for about a month. Coincidence? Perhaps. And considering he is the type of player who wants the ball at his feet often (and as a result will get tackled regularly) he was bound to get a bad knock at some point this season. The timing is just a little too twilight zone for me.

But back to local security matters. The prime minister took responsibility for this troublesome ministry. As if he didn't have enough problems, he had to take on that one. Logically (the other Cabinet members were tied up) and symbolically (had to show everyone he was indeed the driver), it was the best he could have done. But I highly recommend the PM increase his intake of vitamin C and other essentials and continue to do so if he ever has to act again.

Seriously, I hope Senator Nelson doesn't have a relapse of whatever it is he had. Surely to have another security minister in such a small time (what? three/four years?) could not be good for continuity. And if he falls back into illness, call in the 'reada man'.

Say a psalm for the Government at daviot.kelly@gleanerjm.com.

Dwight Nelson, minister of national security. - file