Reflections offer a leader’s perspective

FREDERICK FRANKLY: “We cannot afford to have a competent journalist interviewing the big man..."

THOUGHTS SHARED: NewsMail columnist Frederick Archer. . Picture: Scottie Simmonds

"WE cannot afford to have a competent journalist interviewing the big man. Should he or she ask embarrassing questions, we could be banned from the press gallery for life or until the end of his term, whichever is the longest. While you are almost bound to ask odd queries, you are unlikely to say anything sensitive. You, and only you, are the possible representative we can send."

Of course, I was suitably humbled by such a fulsome statement delivered in person by the editor.

Before long, I found myself perched on a narrow, backless steel bench in a room marked "visitors lounge".

By chance the doors to the big man's apartment opposite me slung open and I could see him clearly seated on his throne gazing as if deep in thought at the massive chandelier.

Suddenly he rose and shouted: "Yesterday the capital, today the state, tomorrow the world."

Hastily the door was slammed shut by a staff lackey.

"Please," he implored, "do not report that speech. It is not due to be made until next week."

I assured him of my silence but took the opportunity while he was rattled to ask why the apartment bore a plaque saying, "The Portrait Room" when there were no pictures on the walls - only mirrors.

"The big man had all the portraits taken down and replaced by mirrors," the lackey explained.

"He considered the pictures showed how egotistical his predecessors were."

"But the mirrors reflect only him," I pointed out.

"But he is a great admirer of himself," the lackey explained.

"That ruling the world business, is he serious?"

"Perfectly. Our big man reasoned that if he can bring back this state into profit by sacking thousands of workers, he can cure the world finances by reintroducing global poverty."

"Won't the world's politicians object?"

"Not at all. He will soothe their conscience as he did with our local politicians by increasing their salaries. The same will work for the world leaders."

Just then the doors swung open to the big man's apartment. We bowed our way into his presence.

"Remember," the lackey hissed, "just one question."

After being kept on that steel bench for more than an hour, I decided the most important question could only be this.

"Where?" I asked in my humblest tone, keeping my eyes downcast, "where is the nearest toilet?"

Originally published as Reflections offer a leader’s perspective