And for the PUP - they are trying to have it both ways: making Said Musa's long delayed, long-long-promised retirement a moment for primetime political preening, while simultaneously suggesting that - on the ground - it's no big deal at all - a matter of straight succession as Musa's son, Henry Charles Usher - who has been working in Fort George for years - simply slides into the driver's seat. And while it could be that simple, politics, as we know is not a fixed equation: change a variable - and you could change the sum.
That's not expected in Fort George though, and today Kareem Musa made it clear that it's hardly within the realm of the possible:
Hon. Kareem Musa - PUP Area Rep., Caribbean Shores
"The National Executive will be meeting during the course of next week. I believe they are setting up a Zoom meeting to seek the approval and the endorsement of Henry Charles Usher in the Fort George Constituency. As you pointed out, it's been a constituency that has been blue yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It's such an amazing and excellent machinery that my father and his team have built there in the Fort George constituency, and we feel very confident in the People's United Party that we will be delivering that seat for the blue once again in the upcoming general elections."
Reporter
"Have you had any conversations with Henry since the topic of him succeeding your dad came up?"
Hon. Kareem Musa
"Yes, absolutely, it's an easy task, and none of us are taking anything for granted. Even though Henry has been by my father's side, he has been on the ground in Fort George. He has been in touch with the people. Yes, everybody might say that's an easy win for the People's United Party. But, we're not taking anybody or anything for granted, and we are going to be working hard to deliver that seat."
Reporter
"Is it a concern for you that there seems to be this perception that from persons outside the party that succession happens within families?"
Hon. Kareem Musa
"As you said, that is a perception, but I think at the end of the day, it comes down to the committee. In the Caribbean Shores constituency, there was no succession there. None of my family members ever ran in that constituency."
"In the instance of Fort George, as everybody knows, Henry has been the right hand. He has been the chairman, not just of the party, but the Right Hon. Said Musa for all these years. And so, at this very late stage, with my father resigning, retiring, there's no opportunity for a contested convention, even though I am pretty sure he would have won in that division."
On Sunday night, the PUP s holding a "Thankyou Tribute to said Musa" - which you can see on our Facebook page.
