2014 could
be rightly named the year of missed opportunity. It didn’t begin with Paul Davis at the helm,
but it ends that way. Already hindsight confirms that, in contrast to Pope
Francis who will never have to face re-election, Davis’ failure was
pre-ordained.
Almost at
the start, Premier Dunderdale vacated her post amidst appalling insensitivity
to widespread public endangerment and economic disruption. Nalcor had visited upon the Island the
vicissitudes of DARKNL. Her “not a crisis” comment was just the latest in a
series of gaffes exhibiting an incapacity for empathy. A frustrated public had
reached their breaking point.
Temporary first
minister, Tom Marshall, took no opportunity to right what had become a
ship-wrecked administration. While opinion polls awarded him barely higher
marks than his predecessor, the local media did its best to award him an
undeserved pedestal. The man of great girth warranted little stature.
