GONE FOR HYATT

Apr 18, 2010 News

There are times people tell you things that you really don’t want to hear or know. CNN recently identified some excuses by employees who showed up late to work. These gems included, “My ex-husband stole my car so I couldn’t drive to work”, “I was indicted for securities fraud this morning”, “I was trying to get my gun back from the police” and “I didn’t have money for gas because all the pawn shops were closed.”

An axiom on which I have based a lifetime as a Public Relations and Communications consultant, and one supported by my colleagues in the profession, is that you should not give additional publicity to bad news by attempting to rebut it.

It is almost as bad as, and sometimes is linked to, revelations that make the audience or reader ask “Why are you telling me all this?”

I was stunned when Prime Minister Manning took time out in his speech launching the 2010 general election to politicise what seems to me to be a domestic event. He revealed to the large crowd that his wife, Minister of Local Government, Hazel Manning, was not living at the Hyatt hotel. “She living home by me”.

One comment, in the newspaper, was “We believe you PM but just for those unsaved” Hyatt should tell the country that Hazel Manning was not staying in Room 1403. Within minutes, newspapers in the region and even one in Mumbai, India, had this tidbit on their websites.

Most people deduce from the fact that the Prime Minister introduced the issue at his meeting that there must be more than a grain of truth in the rumour. The gossip mill is already grinding the item into bite-sized bits and Trinidadian tongues, never reluctant to wag, are moving like Barbadian revelers when RPB’s hit “Something’s Happening” was played during last year’s Kadooment.

What is the next step in the evolving scenario? Cracked.com advises, “If you’re a politician, it’s just a matter of time before you get caught with your pants down and/or hand out. To save you the anxiety of figuring out what to tell the public, we’ve made a helpful chart to walk you through the process.”

The chart is based on five steps of political excuses- denial, anger, bargaining, remorse and acceptance. While Mr. Manning’s trousers, hands and wife are plainly visible on public occasions and are not down, out or at the Hyatt, and Mr. Calder Hart, though reportedly in Trinidad remains invisible, why should Mr. Manning need advice from cracked.com?

The answer is simple. What excuse would Mr. Manning give if having called the election more than two years early, his party loses? Denial: “I told the President absolve the Parliament, not dissolve it.” Anger: “By spreading rumours about my wife, the Opposition caused us to lose.”

Bargaining could be useful: “Mr. Bakr, what about giving me a second chance?” Remorse is always good, “I let my Hart rule my head.” I don’t know about acceptance but if it happens it will definitely not be at the Hyatt. When things turn upside-down the Hilton is definitely the place to be. (Tony Deyal)

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GONE FOR HYATT

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GONE FOR HYATT

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