Granger is a thinker

Dear Editor,

I venture to share a thought or two on Brigadier General (ret) David Granger’s opposition presence, and potential leadership of this nation.

A start is made with the negatives, as seen from my perspective. Mr Granger is, perhaps, too distant, too studious, too methodical in his approach to his current role. He strikes me, at times, as being too managerial, and too committed to a certain way that conflicts with my own thinking, and which has been beneficial to the government. Other times, there is the evaluation of a lack of raw political intuition, and an absence of an instinct for the jugular.

And yet, there is more, considerably more that recommends the man, the retired military officer, and a now central political figure of pivotal importance at a crucial time.

There is a man navigating along (struggling with) a buffeting journey on a suspended political thread. Below are waiting sharks, crocodiles, and all kinds of predators. That is, veteran predators of the political stripe. His is the challenge, indeed, the conundrum, to transform internally, viscerally, and psychically the image and inclination of his party; his is the thankless task of defusing and pacifying the more militant elements within; his is the responsibility to present a public portrait – a credible one – of a group, a party, an institution that is serious, substantive, and panoramic. Talk about fetching water in a basket to bathe duck! For every step of the way, there are critics and unbelievers, both within and without.

I must confess that many times I endeavour to capture the core essence and vision of the man, and I fail sometimes. I do know that whatever David Granger is, it is different from those who challenge him for the helm. Let this be said now: There might be more action oriented men than Mr Granger, and more radicalized aspirants than him, but they suffer from debilitating drawbacks.

None can boast the depth of his unassuming thinking; thinking that is painstaking, far reaching, even holistic. I am persuaded that the man is a thinker; a thinker in the hard-to-comprehend tradition of all deliberate speed. The second drawback that penalizes internal opponents is that they split the party first, and then they exacerbate the national racial divide in the most distinctive fashion, as well as immediately so. Any such ascendancy would be a major boon to the ruling party, census accuracy or inaccuracy notwithstanding.

There is one more thing. I have shared space with Mr Granger on three occasions; all three were in churches. On two of those three occasions the retired brigadier was accompanied by his wife. For me, that says a lot, and introduces some compelling vistas about standards, morality, and character. I stop here. I have said enough.

Today, I recognize the opposition leader for who and what he is. Tomorrow, there is the probability that appreciation may follow.

 

Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall