What's in a name? Everything

An internet search of the name Lennox revealed that it is derived from a surname from the name of Leamhnachd district in Scotland which means "place of elms" in Gaelic. The website stated that the name Lennox is ranked number 678 in the United States and number 445 in the Netherlands as a popular name for boys. Well last Thursday in Roseau at the Labour Party meeting, the name Lennox was ranked number one in Dominica. One estimate says that name Lenox was mentioned over a 1000 times. It far surpassed any topics on public economic, or health policy, other growth and development plans and Labour party's governing record of achievement for the past 15 years.

But one did have to be a College graduate to sense that underneath the 'mepius' and other propaganda demeaning things that were said against Mr. Linton by PM Skerrit and his disciples, was an underlying fear for the man. In only 12 months as opposition leader, Linton has had many accomplishments including the assembling of an electrifying and dynamic team of candidates to contest the upcoming elections. Mr. Linton was elected as Leader of the UWP-Team Dominican in September 2013.

By mentioning Lennox's name ad nauseum , Mr. Skerrit and his crew were saying to their supporters in a most forceful way, ' Friends, we now have a new game on our hands and put on your seat beats because it is going to be a wild and rocky ride'. On Thursday night we witnessed a worried, confused and insecure Skerrit. His performance and behaviour can probably be categorized as what Phycologists refers to as the fight-or-flight response, also known as the acute stress response. It is a physiological reaction that occurs in the presence of something that is terrifying, either mentally or physically.

Mr. Skerrit for the longest while believed the office of the PM was bequeathed to him by some act and no one could mount any serious challenge to the Prime Ministership. Well that was yesterday before Lennox entered the ring. All of Skerrit's fears and insecurities were unmasked on Thursday night at a big party meeting in the center of the capital with an election imminent. Skerrit's visible anger and poisonous words at the meeting made him look like the accidental occupier of the PM's office instead of the elected PM.

This disposition contrasts sharply with the Skerrit we saw and heard at the March 2013 meeting at the same venue to celebrate his citizenship court case victory. He boosted about wiping his opponents out with a clean sweep at the polls just like his friend PM Keith Mitchell did in Grenada. Dr. Mitchell's New National Party won all 15 seats in the election in February 2013. At that night in 2013, Skerrit's belligerent tone made him sound like wrestler Hulk Hogan preparing for a WWF tag team match. Last Thursday night was a complete reversal as Skerrit acted and sounded like a beleagued Commander in retreat, sensing defeat and barking at his remaining troops to hold on to the fort with all they have before it is overrun.

Experts say the best way to deal with your enemies is to ignore them. One way is to avoid mentioning their names publicly and when you do it should be limited. The goal is to make them a 'no-body' instead of authenticating them. Well if this is conventionally true then why Skerrit and his crew did the opposite? Is it because they are devoid and bankrupt of ideas and have nothing substantial to say and so have decided to exercise the 'nuclear negative' option? If so then than by all accounts it has backfired. I would strongly suggest that Mr. Skerrit and Mr. Linton engage in a civil and well-coordinated debate for the sake of our island home. That is the practice in all democratic countries. This should be about Dominica and not about Skerrit retaining power or Linton attaining power.

Thursday night's dismal performance by Labour has resulted in the raising of Mr. Lennox Linton's profile and popularity. Maybe a high percentage of the next crop of baby boys born in Dominica in the next 12 months will be named Lennox. I predict that after the meeting on Thursday, the election has gotten much closer and of Labour loses it will have to blame its poor and ill-advised performance on Thursday night.

But whoever is running the Labour party campaign is not a very brilliant campaign strategist to devote an entire meeting mentioning the name of its most formidable nemesis. Instead a plan should be outlined articulating sustainable actions for much needed development and prosperity for our cash strapped economy. Isn't what this is all about stupid? It is about Jobs, jobs and more jobs instead of trying to demean Lennox by all means necessary and bellowing unfounded claims of plagiarism and name calling? Can that provide jobs for my boyhood friends in the LaPlaine Valley?

In Act 2, scene 2 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the question that was asked was, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet". "What does the name Lennox Linton mean for Skerrit and Labour party in this election cycle? Big trouble for Skerrit and confusion and fear in Labour's camp".