TERRENCE HONORE

THESE ARE times when our card-playing days reflect on our political ways. This came to mind when I heard of the recent announcement by Prime Minister Rowley to change the portfolios of some ministers. It's much like the act of shuffling a deck (pack) of cards. Or so I thought.

But while it matters little to many, some among us take great stock in analysing the significance of such a move made by those in power. While we ponder the politicians' posture, like poker players sitting across the table of life, staring down each other and wondering at the real meanings behind the shift and shuffle. But in the craft of politics, like in the game of cards, shuffling, although sometimes necessary, can make things either worse or better for the protagonists.

In a search for clarity on the subject I sought the Cambridge dictionary which defined the word shuffle as: 'verb (move around) to move similar things from one position or place to another, often to give an appearance of activity when nothing useful is being done.'

However, I expect that there would be differing views on this interpretation, in our context, given our different political persuasions.

But to the layman, shuffling is a simple task of moving the cards from side to side. But there are cards that you shouldn't put too close to others and some just wouldn't fall in line. And every leader must have an 'ace in the hole,' I am told. But sometimes it seems that you cannot hide the jack far enough, no matter how well you move around the cards. At other times it seems like you just have to throw them all into the air and see where they fall.

But seriously, there must have been much study for this dramatic move. Like the SEA students getting set for their examinations, the leadership must have stayed up many nights studying the cards to get it right. However the questions still hang in the air. Who to put next to whom? Should I shuffle this way or the other? But like in the game of all fours, care must be taken with the action, as the opposition is quite adept at 'hanging the jack.'

Shuffling moves seem more like chess than a game of cards. Political parties, opinion leaders and strategists study the subtle movements of others...looking into the eyes of those on the other side of the seating in Parliament, shouting and throwing picong, with all the antics, to disturb and distract, to get each other to make wrong moves instead of prudent governance.

But those are the things that keep you up late at night when you hold the reins of government. You are tempted to do the shuffle and say like our first prime minister, 'Let no donkey bray.' And you can't let the swearing or the plaintive cries of the resigning players make you take your eyes off what is on the table. It's only a small economic pot we've got.

But shuffle as you may, or shuffle as you might, there is a science to this practice. Knowing how this thing is done is as important as knowing how to play the game. Like the late Kenny Rogers sang in his country and western clas