So
Daniel Feetham is the new leader of the GSD. Hold me steady, I’m in shock, I
never saw that coming!
The
GSD election battle was the nearest you’ll see to a one horse race with two
runners. The GSD executive chose the winner; just why the wider party was not
consulted I know not, perhaps there isn’t one. However I guess the executive
deciding it is a step up from the former Supreme Leader dictating matters. It
is hardly democracy at work but then the wider electorate will have its chance
to decide at the next general election whether Daniel Feetham is chief minister
material or not.
The
current chief minister is also leader of the GSLP, a party that Feetham once
aspired to lead. Fabian Picardo is not known to be a drinker of substances
alcoholic, may be the occasional glass of wine. Well on Monday night he could
be excused a tincture or two in celebration of the election of Mr Feetham
because without a doubt he was the candidate the majority of members of the GSLP
favoured.
As
Nick Cruz the leader of the PDP observed in my interview with him last week
both Feetham and his challenger Bossino would split the GSD as was seemingly
reflected in the executive vote. It sure is a rum show because as Cruz pointed
out both Feetham and Bossino started out in politics in party’s opposing the
GSD and now one of them is leading it. I suspect Bossino will keep his
ambitions burning because there may yet be a vacancy sooner than he expects.
Meanwhile all the true members of the GSD are over at the PDP and I wonder how
long it will be till others join them.
Of
course Daniel Feetham has been a party leader before with his ill-fated Labour
Party. He ditched that, got in to political bed with the arch enemy of his
family, and was even instrumental in giving birth to the PDP. And all he wanted
to do was lead the GSLP - and be chief minister.
So
the GSD executive, in its infinite wisdom, elected the socialist Daniel Feetham
as its leader over the Liberal Damon Bossino. So will the next election
manifesto be a centre right GSD one or a socialist one? You sell your political
soul and make your choice.
I
still believe Damon Bossino was closer to the true heart of the old GSD even
with a Liberal twist. He is young, bright and had three years to learn the
ropes of leadership a skill that Feetham is yet to master despite all his
reincarnations.
The
problem for the GSD is as the former Supreme Leader edges towards the exit door
the black legacy of his administrations live on with Feetham. What the party
needed was a new broom instead it has the former chief minister’s bag carrier.
There
are still numerous skeletons rattling in the government cupboards on the GSD’s
abuses whilst in power which still have to be let out. The former chief
minister isn’t escaping them; they are clinging to his ankle like a prison ball
and chain. His party had the chance on Monday night by electing Bossino to
distance itself from the past. Instead they have chosen Feetham who was as
close to the former supreme leader as you could get. It is a decision the GSD
may yet live to regret.
