Reel Wamps

The CCT has featured another in a long series of not so subtly slanted articles on Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal politics. As usual, they get their facts wrong. That is not surprising, considering that three paragraphs are dedicated to former columnist Paula Peters, who has no relevance to this election other than being the partner of outgoing treasurer Mark Harding.

Here are some facts:

David Pocknett was on the Council when the former Chairman was in office. His jobs were to be liaison for the Horse farm operation and the Tribal museum. Pocknett likes to take credit for the education grant issued to UMASS Boston from the Kellogg foundation, but he in fact had no part in writing or negotiating this grant. It was written by a man Named Floyd Gallegos, who at the time was a candidate for his doctoral degree. Gallegos had worked for the tribe in the 1970’s and in fact was a good friend of Russell Peters and Vernon Pocknett, as well Oliver “Clucker” Pocknett who is David’s Father.

Pocknett had run against Shawn Hendricks for the Vice Chair position in the 2000 election and lost, He was also a candidate for chair position in the 2009 election and three weeks before the election he dropped out, which left a gaping hole that few have forgotten. David “I’m out” Pocknett’s cousin Putnam Peters ran, and did an admirable job in a short time, but lost in the tsunami of illegal voters paid by the Cromwell administration. The casino stalkers were bought cheaply, for $20, while some got winter jackets and a promises of a casino.

Cromwell loved to say that he worked for Fidelity Investment Corp as an account executive, when in fact he was just a computer programmer and repair guy. This is known and attested to by a variety of people who worked at Fidelity with Cromwell.

In the years prior to Federal recognition, Marshall and the council needed, and wanted, to get the applications for Tribal membership resolved, as it was a criterion for Federal recognition. Cromwell was on the Council for two terms as a council member, having been forced to join the Tribe in 2006, and, in fact, was part of the Council that ratified the contract between the the Tribe and the former investors. This contract was ratified with a unanimous vote of the council.

The programs that were available to the tribal members have been left to languish by the current administration of the Tribe. There is no transportation program, no elders program that works for all tribal members, the office in New Bedford has all but been forgotten and has no support from this administration. The New Bedford office is a recapped idea from the former chairman. The Tribal emergency team has no support from the council and has been undermined by the leadership and specific tribal workers related to the Chairman by marriage.

The CCT again missed the boat, and did not get the full story, but then that is their modus operandi. It makes no sense to say that a change in leadership would cause a negative impact for the tribe.

All elected officials are expected to do the job they are charged with by the constitution. The present administration has forgotten its legitimate members and has squandered $47 million–and maybe more. It seems that this administration has spent about $23,500 per tribal member since they have been in office and have produced nothing. Where is the money and where are the services it should have provided?

Our Tribe’s endeavors are, and should be, open to reasonable scrutiny and responsible reporting. What is unwelcome is news organizations becoming, or even appearing to become, a part of the delicate political process of Tribal elections and governance. The mission of the press should be the truth.

Big Brother Almighty had it pretty rough last night.  Now he’s posted the Emergency Meeting Notice to fix the Gaming Commission tomorrow as though he’s concerned with the health and well being of the Tribe.  All of a sudden he’s worried about us? We have no services and get nothing from this administration but a lot of debt and hooey.

So many secrets to be told

So tomorrow it’s do or die for BBA.  He has to have an EM because he can’t get a quorum for a regular meeting.  The Council knows this isn’t about the health and welfare of the Tribe. It’s about the Gaming Commission because it’s the  “Stash the Cash” fund.  And, anyone voting for it is in fact endorsing the whole smelly business.

It’s about BBA, Mark Harding and Yvonne taking care of business for Genting.  Then they have turn around and redo it in a regular meeting….to be legal. Both efforts will be tough to do. Judging by Navajo Joe’s petrified performance last night, things are not well in the Wamp Swamp. And he’s an easy target for Chinese Water Torture.

Genting is a rough group.  Ask the Seneca. But for BBA its the end of the line and the Gaming Commission is the last play in the game with the big boys.  Frankly, he never knew how to play.

No longer loved by Genting

Council members Selena Jonas, Carlton Hendricks, Jr., and Laura Tobey Miranda walked out on the vote to redo the Gaming Commission.  That means they lacked a quorum to correct the screw up.  And Big Brother Almighty was hot!!!!!! He adjourned the meeting post haste, shouting  ” This meeting is adjourned !”  They lacked a quorum to vote on anything, which also meant they couldn’t take up a request for more money from Genting.  Supposedly they don’t have the revenue for the election.  Funny shouldn’t that money still be in the bank or somewhere since the election never happened ?

Where’s it at?

See what I mean?  These guys got some bad stuff.

So now Cedric says he will call an Emergency Meeting because he only needs 7 for a quorum.  Really ?  It’s up to Winnie and Marie now.   Those guys have thrown Marie under the bulldozer so many times, she has the permanent tracks everywhere.

Nice group.

But Genting ain’t happy with  Big Brother Almighty because he just can’t deliver.

If it were not for the storm, we probably would have a new group of Council officers at the helm.  But the storm stirred up more than snow.  Since there was no election or transfer of power, the current group of officers and Selena Jonas are serving without authority.  They weren’t reelected  or unelected, any action taken by them means nothing…no votes will count no contract signatures  are valid  nothing.

Think about it.  Cedric is desperate enough to give his wife a contract  for ten years and what could you do? That’s what I mean. These people apply the laws to help themselves.  But he should have done it before Sunday.  We can’t continue living the nightmare.  But it keeps coming!

It’s a dream come true for Cedric and Mark Harding, because they can sit there and collect the last of the Genting money before it’s all gone.You think they will stop taking a check.  Shoot, are you kidding?

But now this limbo status creates a serious  legal quandary.  That gaming authority redo ( set for Friday) is still a problem because the Council members are not willing to crown Cedric and Mark in particular. The relationships have deteriorated substantially. The Council does not want the baggage of consigning us to years of indebted servitude.

It’s rumored  that Cedric wants to postpone the election for 60 days.   That’s to allow his crack security team to keep handing out Little Debbie Cakes that say ” Vote for Cedric.” Knowing our high incidence of diabetes, clearly they’re trying to kill us off.

The Interim Chair

But its the Council’s move.  They can remove them, or just ignore them until the election is over. You better believe all those lawyers lead by Navajo Joe ( Mark Tilden) will be going berserk with all their opinions based on precedent that has nothing to do with our Constitution. They’re on their way out too and are trying to preserve their gravy train.

The most senior Council member is Yvonne Frye Avant.  She is the Chair, and it would go down the line by seniority.  Yvonne finally gets to be in charge.

The raucous Council meeting was packed with an audience full of angry shouting  tribal members.  Despite the extraordinary opposition and shouts of condemnation, Cedric Cromwell lead the effort to reinstate his sister-in-law as chair of the election committee.   Clearly desperate to hold on to power at any cost, Cromwell was engaging in methods used by Republicans to suppress voter turnout.

Attorney Mark Tilden, a Navajo, has taken a prominent role  in crafting the suppression plan. Tilden has denied all challenges to the voter election list and pulls the strings for Kimmie Frye “SR”  Cromwell’s sister-in-law.  Frye has no experience in conducting elections.  She works in the Health Department with her sister Cheryl Frye Cromwell.

Cromwell’s support is very thin among core Tribal members and he is attempting to discourage them from voting.  This latest move may have the reverse affect.  When similar attempts were made around the country voters stood in line for up to 7 hours to cast ballots for Barack Obama.