Those two words are surprisingly not included in the Oxford English Dictionary, even though lesser, newer creations are. No, it’s not good or “proper” English but it immediately strikes a chord in your brain far more than saying, “This is most curious.”
“Curiouser and curiouser!” Cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English). The Alice in question is the famous Lewis Carroll heroine of “Alice in Wonderland” and ‘Wonderland’ is quickly becoming a good description of the Cayman Islands these days.
One of our lead stories yesterday (10) is under the heading of “Managing Director Leaves NRA”.
The story is small – only consisting of four paragraphs – and was sent to us by Government Information Service (GIS). We published it exactly as it was sent to us. No adds or subtracts.
It did not require anything else.
There was already enough material for an Editorial!
I have known Brian Tomlinson for many years. He was, until 29th June 2012, Managing Director of the National Roads Authority (NRA), a position he had held for almost five years.
I got to know him very well when I was a practicing Quantity Surveyor with JEC Building Consultants as I worked on a number of Public Works projects that he was one of the technicians. He was, without a shadow of a doubt, very competent and “got the job done” with a minimum of fuss. I cannot say the same about all the people that were employed there.
When I changed careers and opened up a television station, CITN-Cayman 27, our paths seldom crossed, except for a polite “hello” and a friendly nod. I respected him.
Now has come this small GIS release saying the “NRA Board of Directors have announced that Mr. Brian Tomlinson is no longer employed with the NRA effective 29 June 2012.”
Mr. Colford Scott, Chairman of the Board, thanked Mr. Tomlinson for representing the NRA at all levels and wished him the best in any future endeavours undertaken.
So, from that, one could only surmise Mr. Tomlinson has been sacked. Why?
All enquiries from us have met with a wall of silence. One media house says it is because of “downsizing at the government-owned entity and had nothing to do with his performance as the NRA director.”
Yes, the wording does sound like coming from a Civil Service spokesperson.
What is curious, and why I found myself imitating Alice, is the seizure of the controversial shipment of 32 tons of dynamite that came into Cayman earlier this year without the correct paperwork, was ordered by no other than Mr. Brian Tomlinson!!
Coincidence?
I don’t think anybody with a brain can possibly think that.
I think I’ll go and ask the Cheshire Cat what he thinks. He’ll tell me he doesn’t because he is mad and I am mad. If I wasn’t mad, I wouldn’t be living here.
But as every day goes by living here it does get, curiouser and curiouser, doesn’t it?
