PHILIPSBURG:---- The first press briefing of the Gumbs cabinet on August 12, 2015 has left me with the thought, "pinch me, this can't be for real."
Let me get straight to the point. It can be at least expected of our government members that they display a fair amount of emotional intelligence (EI).
The Prime Minister, I can only conclude, with nothing concrete to share with the people of
St. Maarten, but due to public pressure for openness, came out shooting from the hip in the first press briefing of the Gumbs cabinet. Sad!
The Prime Minister sits between 2 of his colleague ministers, also of the previous cabinet, and publicly throws them under the bus for according to him, neglecting their duty.
Better yet, the Prime Minister throws under the bus, the very same politicians/leaders responsible for him holding the office of prime minister today. Did these leaders not inform the Prime Minister what to expect when they proposed him for the post?
But what is downright disgusting, is the lack of empathy from one of the highest office holders of this country for the mental stress that so many of our citizens go burdened under for numerous and varied reasons.
This is why I mentioned the lack of emotional intelligence, and that is the inability "to recognize one's own and other people's emotions and the inability to identify, use, understand, and manage emotions in positive ways..."
The government needs to lead by example and when emotions run high, the emotional intelligence of our leaders is paramount.
To suggest that persons "commit suicide" and even explain graphically how to do so, is outright wrong, insensitive and unbecoming of any leader, let alone the Prime Minister of this country.
Maybe this particular press briefing gave the prime minister bragging rights in other circles and "public houses".
But I, for one, condemn this flagrant disregard for people's emotions in these stressful times and call on the Prime Minister to do as he preaches. The " look in the mirror" call, the tolerance call, the unity call, the bravery call etc. etc.
And lastly, the prime minister should stop to think how he is able to shine in the areas of European funding and Caribbean leadership, the Public Service Center concept, the OP with St. Martin, the VKS, English legislation etc. etc.
Prime Minister, bravado does not equal bravery.
