The camera shy awards
Forget Al Gore and his Nobel Peace Prize (although I'm sure our local lads wondered why they'd been passed over) how about a prize for the most camera shy public figure?
The other week when the Lord Chief Justice Sir Brian Kerr gave evidence to a Stormont Committee he managed to get into the building without having his arrival recorded on camera. And when still photographers asked for a picture of the unusual committee hearing their request came to naught. However, Sir Brian's committee appearance was captured on the video cameras installed in the Senate chamber.
But before presenting the LCJ with an award, one would have to take into account the Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, who may be still recovering from his recent grilling over Northern Rock by the Westminister Treasury Select Committee.
Earlier this week the Governor and the Bank of England's Court of Directors paid their first visit to Northern Ireland. My colleague Yvette Shapiro was keen to have a word with the Governor but neither he, nor the Court of Directors, nor the members of the important Monetary Policy Committee (which sets interest rates) would do interviews. Although the Governor's speech to the NI Chamber of Commerce was released to the media, he would not allow himself to be filmed delivering it at the Chamber's dinner at Belfast's Ramada Hotel.
On the evening, Yvette went along to the Ramada . The hosts, the NI Chamber of Commerce, had agreed she could film at their pre-banquet drinks reception and interview local business leaders for a "Hearts and Minds" film on the economy. But while she was in the hotel foyer making a live contribution to that night's 大象传媒 Newsline, her camera crew and producer were thrown out of the drinks reception by the Bank of England's press officer and security men. The press officer told Yvette she was not allowed to film. When Yvette pointed out that the 大象传媒 was not filming the Governor and was present with the agreement of the local Chamber of Commerce, the Bank of England finally backed off. All the while, Mr King remained closeted in a private drinks reception for VIPs, far from Yvette's camera.
Would international monetary markets have plummeted if the Governor had actually been pictured walking around a bit of Belfast?
So who gets the award - the LCJ who was captured on video but wouldn't agree to a still photo, or the Governor who issued an official still, but steered clear of any of those new fangled moving pictures?
I'm 
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Mark
IT鈥橲 OFFICIAL: DAVID TRIMBLE IS A CULT!
Lord Trimble certainly would not win any prizes for being camera-shy or shy about anything for that matter. Mark, you鈥檙e not going to believe this one but the Assembly Commission has decided to commission a portrait of that Waster. And, in turn, he鈥檚 gagging to have it done. I would have thought there would have been some sort of demonstration of public disapproval but there鈥檚 been hardly a murmur of criticism about this daft idea.
I defy anyone to produce sensible reasons justifying an honour for that 眉ber-Waster. The man was an abject failure as a Politician. Dip into his political record. He was the man who, in the later years of his time as Party Leader and MP for Upper Bann, was a figure of derision and couldn鈥檛 even visit his constituency without an armed escort. He left the UUP with its Parliamentary representation lower than at any time in its history. Look at the hames he made of the UUP. My God, they鈥檙e now having to sell their [Cunningham] House. All Trimble鈥檚 fault. Oh, and I also accuse him of crimes against Humour.
Surely the Public should be concerned that taxpayers鈥 are funding this idiotic initiative. Peter 鈥淕reedy Garden Seller鈥 Robinson drones on about the need for efficiencies and savings so he could do no better than have a word in the Commission Chairman鈥檚 ear and tell him to catch himself on. Perhaps something more sinister is at work here. Could the planned portrait be the beginning of the Turkmenistanisation of Northern Ireland in which we engage in the cult of personality where political leaders, their portraits adorning every street corner, are hero-worshipped through unquestioning obsequiousness and praise.
What about asking Trimble to pay for the portrait out of his Nobel Peace Prize money? [At least John Hume had the decency to donate his share to charitable causes.] Alternatively, as part of his rehabilitation, why not commission Michael Stone to paint the portrait? He and Trimble have something in common in that they鈥檝e both ended up as has-beens. I suggest the portrait be hung in the Stormont Gentlemen鈥檚 Toilets, Locating it there would deter David McNarry from sneaking in for a quick smoke as well as giving Trimble鈥檚 former colleagues something to aim at.
Susie
Carryduff
On balance, the award goes to the Governor.
A quick google image search brings up far more of the cat in the hat (Mervyn King). In fact, you don't get any of the judge without including the "sir" in the search.
However, Mr. King probably thought he could 'get away from it all' with a wee visit to parochialand. Hide in the VIP bar with people who treat him like an economic genius and aren't going to criticise and ask awkward questions like those pesky journalists and politicians in London. (Do they sell northern rock to tourists in Belfast?)
Secondly, given that Sir Brian Kerr is a senior judge in Northern Ireland, his behaviour may be as much to do with security awareness as having two bad sides or being unable to do that walk past the camera thing.
Thirdly, Merv's behaviour has a hint of eau de pompous to it, which clinches it for me.
Now what's all this about David Trimble?
A cult needs followers and it was 55% of the UUC who fed the cult. The question now is would the same people purchase a print? Actually some would.