Time was when by-elections were considered low rent, not-nearly-ready-for-prime-time comedy. You know, lite. As in Miller lite? No more. Thanks to the 2007 by-elections that almost overnight had turned Richard Frederick—a lawyer with a somewhat controversial reputation—into St Lucia’s most talked about MP since, well, the brothers Bousquet, by-elections have come of age, with their own fatted sheep waiting to be fleeced.

As if already there was not ample evidence of their immeasurable arrogance, this week supplied still more proof that local politicians continue to hold themselves several cuts above the rest of us—certainly beyond public criticism.

Trouble and Keith Mondesir appear to be joined at the hip. Back in April 2002, Mondesir was convicted on an assault charge brought by a Gros Islet woman and fined $500 in a local court “to be paid forthwith, in default three months hard labour.”

A lawyer friend who doubtless had heard the various exchanges during yesterday’s lunch-hour call-in shows, for the most part mindless, decided to send me copies of the House of Assembly (Elections) Act, perchance I might find something therein to add to whatever I might have to write about the current “bribery” controversy.

For some time now Straight-Up host Claudius Francis has made the appointment of Dr James Hepple as tourism consultant to the St Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB) almost a personal issue. Francis and former tourism minister Philip J Pierre have been at the forefront of opposition to the appointment. The pair, in various media, have argued that there are St Lucians more than able to function as consultants, performing identical duties as would be required of Hepple, at a fraction of the cost—US$150,000.

Since her controversial nomination as the United Workers Party candidate for the up-coming by-election in Micoud North, Jeannine Compton-Rambally has been high on the media’s most-wanted list. No matter, the freshly minted politician appears to be doing her utmost to avoid reporters.