Speculation ran rampant over the weekend that the Senate majority bloc had collapsed and that a new eight-member coalition was being formed around the six Democrats in the 24th Legislature.
Beginning on Friday night rumors spread that two senators, Norma Samuel and Norman Jn. Baptiste, had bolted the majority and were prepared to join the six Democratic minority senators to form a new coalition that would effectively unseat Sen. Almando "Rocky" Liburd as president.
The speculation was advanced on a St. Croix weekend radio talk show where some callers and political pundits went so far as to suggest that a new majority would form around St. Thomas veteran lawmaker Sen. Lorraine Berry as president.
Political science professor Malik Sekou said on WSTX Radio (970 AM) Saturday that the majority had come apart. "The Millennium Eight has collapsed before it began because there were too many competing personalities and interests."
Sekou said if the new majority formation has not yet started, it is a matter of time. "They formed but had no governance coalition; they must have 10 members to be effective," he said, adding the majority bloc is "a toothless tiger because they cannot undo the Democratic governor's vetoes." In his remarks, Sekou also alluded to what he termed foolish decisions the majority has made since taking office two months ago. "I speak of the media bashing, the issuing of press credentials, the trip to the Republican inauguration by senators that are ICM'ers or independents, the hiring of the Dutco lobby group….these are unwise decisions." The advisors to the majority are flawed, he said. "They did not have their ears to the ground and they for the most part have suffered from foot-in-mouth disease." He said since December when he heard about the formation of the majority, he knew it was doomed.
The rampant speculation caused at least three members of the majority to call into the show. Sen. Adelbert Bryan denied knowing of any shakeup in the majority. Sen. Alicia Hansen said influential persons in the community are spreading "big money to break apart the majority." Hansen said the Democrats were meeting in Estate Work and Rest to woo Samuel and Jn.Baptiste into joining them. "Meetings are taking place as we speak and big money is passing hands," Hansen declared.
Majority leader Celestino White said he knew nothing of any takeover or change in the majority. Speaking on the talk show White said, "No one has expressed dissatisfaction with any initiative now underway by the majority." White said the speculation about a breakup of the majority coalition is one of several ongoing attempts to infiltrate the eight-member majority formed to look out for the needs of the community.
None of the Democrats could be reached over the weekend to comment on the reported shakeup and the plans to form a majority in the 24th Legislature. Berry made no reference to the speculation on her weekly 10-minute political broadcast on WSTA radio Saturday morning.
Legislative insiders said Sunday night that Jn.Baptiste may use the start of his planned Education Committee meeting Monday morning to either confirm or dispel the speculation that has dominated discussions across the territory this weekend. Others said that despite what John-Baptiste may say on Monday, the speculation about a majority shakeup will not go away because there are deep-rooted concerns and even differences amongst members of the existing majority bloc.
