THE PERFECT PUBLIC MEETING . . . AS LORNE UNVEILS HIS SOCIAL CONTRACT IN LA MAZ!

Perhaps, all candidates – including his opponent Rufus Bousquet - should consider taking a page out of Lorne’s political playbook for public meetings – albeit, it is unwritten.

PENSIVE, THINKING LORNE BEFORE HIS DELIVERY

I have been following political meetings “for ages” and never have I witnessed a political meeting that was so inspirational and so enlightening.

Perhaps, it had to do with the setting at La Maze (Choiseul) on the night of the meeting. Lorne’s bosom supporter – Mr Anthony “Derek’ Francis passed away 3 night before the meeting and the community was obviously still in mourning.

CREATIVE ARTISTRY WITH LORNE'S POSTERS

Hence, the meeting began appropriately with a minute of silence and a small tribute, as a mark of respect to Derek and his family. This was followed by prayers.

The first speaker was a local hero and he started his presentation with a hymn being played in background. He went on to do a dissection of the community problems facing La Maze, Montete and Roblot and went on to make recommendations for their amelioration.

MORE CREATIVE ARTISTRY: CAN YOU OUTDO THEM?

He was followed by a retired public servant who worked in the health sector. She enlightened the audience with a presentation on the state of health in the country. She singled out St. Jude’s hospital as being central to the health sector in the South and implored the government to deal with its rehabilitation with a greater sense of urgency. She also spoke about the economy, universal health care, care for the elderly and the provision of social services. Other speakers also made contributions.

A SECTION OF THE CROWD IMMERSED IN LORNE'S MESSAGE

Then, it was Lorne’s turn. He spoke comprehensively on a number of wide-ranging issues. Obviously, he has developed a profound awareness of the critical areas of development both within his constituency and at the national level – areas such as health care, education, agriculture, infrastructural development, youth and sports, the economy, tourism and the social services, among others.

ANOTHER SECTION OF THE CROWD

Lorne told the well-attended meeting (comprising mostly members of the community) that he has been on the ground non-stop for more than 500 days, during which time he has listened to the people’s problems and issues of development. He thanked them for opening their doors and letting him in.

He said, in a mellow, erudite tone:

 “I have listened to your problems; I have taken them and analysed them carefully; and I have transformed them into a vision and development plan for our constituency”.

He continued: “I do not seek perfection; none of us is perfect . . . I seek to make a good constituency better”; and the crowd roared. Somebody whispered to me “Is he a little Obama?”

Indeed, his oratory was brilliant but conversational, quiet and self-effacing. He was not talking down to the people; he was engaging them in a profound conversation.

The brilliant city attorney who has a vast family network in Choiseul/Saltibus drew an important parallel between legal and political representation and pledged to bring into politics the same quality of representation that he affords to his clients: “My clientele is a microcosm of my constituency; I will do for you what I do for my clients and I pledge to do it even better. I am Lorne Theophilus, one of us for all of us!”

For an hour and half, the audience listened to him as he unveiled his “social contract”! You could hear a pin dropped. There was no mépwi, no roro, no bad blood; not one criticism of Tucker, not for once mentioning his name! Lorne Theophilus was truly honourable and we look forward to him being overwhelming crowned by the people of Choiseul/Saltibus with the honour of parliamentary representative.