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Back From LA, PM Takes A Cue From Dodgers, Avoids Press At PGIA
posted (October 25, 2013)
Remember how the Prime Minister was in Los Angeles? Well, he must have learned a thing or two from the LA Dodgers! 'Cause that's just what he did today - dodged the press. The entire media, six TV News stations, along with radio and print - were waiting at the airport, on what was a very unusual day at the PGIA.

Unusual because for the first time in memory, the gate was rolled out at the entrance - and every vehicle coming in was stopped and questioned about their business at the airport. This barrier is usually only activated at night and we've only rarely seen it in the day - such as on occasions when foreign leaders visit.

But the barrier wasn't for the press, we were let in without any problem. The mood suggests that the barrier was put up to prevent any trouble that may have been started with a protest led by Rufus X at the airport junction. But, guess what? That protest never even happened. Rufus called it off this morning, but still the security forces were in high alert.

But, the UDP didn't get that memo and this afternoon, they set up an impromptu motorcade to greet the PM at the airport. Four or five vehicle-loads of party faithful, bedecked in red with their UDP flags, rolled up to the airport ready for a rally, no doubt to outdo any Rufus X protest - which again, didn't happen. But the UDP crowd never even made it into the airport, they were stopped at the barrier - and not allowed to enter the compound.

And it may be just as well because the Prime Minister never touched the land side of the airport. For the first time that we can recall - and we've been interviewing Barrow at the airport since the 90's when he was Deputy Prime Minister - Prime Minister Barrow did not come through the arrival lounge. His vehicle was waiting for him "airside", on the apron of the taxi area, and when the United Airlines flight from Houston landed, he went form the plane directly into his vehicle and was whisked away.

Of course, all the press was waiting near the arrival lounge - and we had to run to the barrier area where the UDP supporters had thronged to be seen by their party leader. He greeted them briefly and sped off - meaning the press didn't get a chance to talk to him there either. The party supporters dashed off shortly after behind their leader - leaving us with no Prime Ministerial interview to offer you tonight.

We don't know if it's the PM's bad back - which we had gone to LA to seek treatment for, or the still raging immigration scandal which led him to this unprecedented maneuver. One UDP who was there to support him was Lake I Representative Mark King. Before the Prime Minister came he was bragging about his leader's absolute commitment transparency:..

Reporter
"Is it customary for you to be at the airport to welcome the Prime Minister or is this just a sign of support in light of all the scandals that have taken place?"

Hon. Mark King
"This is my sign of support for my Prime Minister, for the rest of ministers, they speak for themselves. I am here for my Prime Minister and my party. Simple as that - I just came to welcome the man home."

"I believe that although a lot has happened I believe that our Prime Minister unlike the PUP Prime Minister and present leader, have a lot of balls to tell people the truth about what is happening in his government and his Cabinet. At the end of the day I believe that our government is the most transparent. The Prime Minister has said to you all as the media - PUP didn't told you all about this whole thing - we came out and told you all about it and if we have to go back to re-election the Prime Minister has said 'so be it.' I don't know what all the hullabaloo about. At the end of the day the media have all questions to ask the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister have answered all. If there are more to come he will answer all. If there is an election to come, so be it."

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