Clifford Andre- The new clown in the National Assembly
Judging by certain performances, so far, in the new National Assembly, the electorate was entirely correct in returning the verdict they did refusing to accord the SPPF an absolute majority, something they were willing to kill for. The biggest culprit has been identified as one Clifford Andre, proportionally appointed member of the National Assembly by the SPPF. Honourable Andre a relatively young, recently qualified lawyer practising from the Attorney General’s Chambers and an Army Captain by rank, did not waste any time making a fool out of the people who appointed him.
Honourable Andre started his maiden speech by intervening on a motion presented by his colleague, Honourable David Payet, the elected representative for Glacis. The motion was asking the Government to provide adequate day care facilities in the districts. When his turn came to address the National Assembly, Andre did not take long to put his foot in his mouth. He was too quick off the mark, an eye witness observed. He quickly ran out of steam and began panting away like an old steam engine locomotive. Clifford suddenly without prior notice to chief comedian went off the rail completely. He went on and on about the “Jj spirit” – “kosto” - “Konpetan”- “be what you want to be” and the fact that SPPF MNAs have “tenir pa large”. This partisan rhetoric which is arguably popular and apt in an election campaign to inspire the masses was certainly out of place in the National Assembly. Many was shocked by Andre’s approach as one of the brightest minds in the otherwise weak SPPF group, many was expecting the demonstration of a higher intellect and an intelligent and articulate well thought out speech. Even Mrs Gamatis, in all her wisdom, would have fared much better than our hapless Andre.
The talks in the bars in