“As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –

You may succeed with another blow.”

Anon

It was with much sadness when I learnt East End MLA, Arden McLean had announced last week he had resigned from the People’s Progressive Movement (PPM), the political party of which he was one of the founders.

When you resign there are two losers. You and the party you have resigned from.

If there are problems within the party and you want it changed you cannot fight to win your argument if you are now on the outside. The same applies to the leadership.

It takes only five seconds to resign. It takes you back to the outpost you started from. The effect is instantaneous.

People normally only resign if they are asked to and thereby they are forced into it. They also resign because they know something dubious is going to be revealed and an investigation would ensue. So get out now.

This hasn’t happened in Arden’s case. His resignation gave no real clues why he has taken this drastic course at a time when the whole country is crying out for unity. His timing, therefore, couldn’t be worse.

He says his decision to resign was not taken lightly and he cites he was surprised at some of the statements made to the newspaper by Alden McLaughlin, the PPM leader.  Which newspaper he is alluding to he doesn’t say? However the premier gave a ‘dig’ at McLaughlin at his public meeting last Wednesday (8) saying he was being quoted all the time on the CNS website, something I have noticed, too.

Interestingly, when the PPM were in power, the same website was not exactly sweet to the PPM and in particular to McLaughlin when he was the Minister in charge of Education!

I fail to comprehend Arden’s claim how he can serve his constituents any better by being an Independent.  I have to ask how?