‘Bermuda Needs Strongest Possible Opposition’
Following the by-election two days ago, Opposition Leader Kim.Swan said “Bermuda needs the strongest possible opposition today because the Government is failing in the three most important areas of island life: the economy, education and public safety,” continuing on to say that “It is unfortunate that the BDA chooses to focus its political guns on the UBP.”
“As far as the BDA is concerned, they set themselves up this past year as a separate party and I do not think they are of a mind to join with the UBP. Indeed their leader a few weeks ago said the UBP should “turn out the lights”. That’s hardly an overture to some form of coalition. So the ball is in their court,” said Mr Swan.
The PLP’s Marc Bean won the Warwick South Central by-election in a landslide with 310 votes [67%]; the UBP’s Devrae Noel-Simmons came second with 78 votes [17%]; and the BDA’s Sylvan Richards was third with 70 votes [15%]. At 460 out of 1,149 registered voters casting ballots, the turnout was 40%.
Mr Swan said “Bermuda politics does not change overnight. It took the PLP 30 years to win the government; 30 years to win more than 50% of the vote. The United Bermuda Party understands the political landscape today and recognizes that we are engaged in a long-term campaign to win the support of the island. That day will come; I think sooner rather than later. People today are deeply concerned. They can see the island heading in the wrong direction. They know Bermuda can’t keep going down the path we’re on. And they know that the PLP Government has been leading them down it.”
Mr Swan’s full statement is below:
The United Bermuda Party’s mission today is to do whatever we can to get Bermuda back on track, to get it working again. This is our most important concern. And so we will continue to fight, push and argue for a Bermuda that
- educates its children
- spends wisely
- operates openly
- imposes safety in our streets
- practices fairness in all things, and
- stops piling debt onto the shoulders of or children.
Getting these things right is fundamentally important for the Island’s future well-being. And so today, we continue with our work. We believe in Bermuda.
Bermuda politics does not change overnight. It took the PLP 30 years to win the government; 30 years to win more than 50% of the vote.
The United Bermuda Party understands the political landscape today and recognizes that we are engaged in a long-term campaign to win the support of the island. That day will come; I think sooner rather than later.
People today are deeply concerned. They can see the island heading in the wrong direction. They know Bermuda can’t keep going down the path we’re on. And they know that the PLP Government has been leading them down it.
Change must come, and the United Bermuda Party will continue to speak for that change.
As far as the BDA is concerned, they set themselves up this past year as a separate party and I do not think they are of a mind to join with the UBP. Indeed their leader a few weeks ago said the UBP should “turn out the lights”. That’s hardly an overture to some form of coalition. So the ball is in their court.
As far as we in the UBP are concerned, we recognize Bermuda’s best interest does not lie in a divided opposition. People who cannot support the performance of this Government – and there are many – are frustrated because they do not see a viable way to replace them in the current situation. It’s not healthy.
The fact is that Bermuda needs the strongest possible opposition today because the Government is failing in the three most important areas of island life: the economy, education and public safety.
It is unfortunate that the BDA chooses to focus its political guns on the UBP.
I’m of two minds on this. On the one hand, Mr. Swan is correct in that we do need the strongest possible opposition. On the other, the UBP set themselves up for failure by submitting a candidate who was scarcely free of his probation for cocaine possession, and lost a lot of credibility in doing so. To my understanding, the UBP and the BDA have never made any specific attempts to forge an alliance, and I don’t think that they should. I think that they both need to focus on growth as a relevant, significant party on their own and pose a threat to the PLP that way.
So long as the UBP exist, the PLP are guaranteed victory. The last thing the PLP want is for the UBP to disband.
The UBP are in crisis and struggling to stay alive. When they put foward their canditate, I told a sitting member that I thought that is was a poor choice at this point in their campaigne. I was accused of attacking the candidate,when I was questioning the decision to run a canditate that was force people to look at him rather than the issues. The PLP have retained their support base while the UBP have lost. Poor voter turnout cannot be a factor as the ratio would have still been the same. Mr. Swan’s statement regarding the BDA targeting the UBP, speaks loudly of political naivete, from one who is supposed to be a seasoned veteran. It was a total disconnect with the people that got them in the position they find themselves and which also keep them there.
Both parties should disband, and give up their seats. This will force parliament to dissolve, as our system requires both a ruling party and opposition. Otherwise, the UBP and BDA areonly taking votes from each other. Neither is a threat to the PLP, so either disband, or fight over the crumbs as the PLP landslides to 30 seats next election. BAD for Bermuda.
Dissolve, and then what, though?
That’s a good question lol. Parliaments have had to dissolve in other places and reform as something entirely different before. Personally I just don’t see us moving forward under this present system. It’s winner takes all, party before country, divide the races, and so on. It’s getting us nowhere…
I agree, I just don’t see a reasonable alternative. Even if we disbanded all the parties, it would be every (wo)man for themself, and I can’t imagine that would be anything but more self-serving and worse for Bermuda.
The BDA is growing. The UBP is shrinking…they are in crisis mode. We need to stand back and allow the UBP to die so that this country can move on.
The ubp is a party that is so steeped in its legacy issues that it simply needs to go away. I don’t care if they merge or die, byt they are dead. Their latest candidates are simply chips off the old block being the children of UBP (Jackson and Swan). No real change there! Swan is finally seeing the light and is scambling. How the faq he has stayed as leader having seen five mp’s, a senator, chairman and a candidate all quit under his leadership is beyond me. Seems that the white puppet masters need him out front – there is no other logical explanation. Swan – WAKE UP AND SEE THE ISSUE. YOU ARE STAYING ALIVE BY CONSERVATIVE WHITES LIVING IN THE PAST CONSTITUENTS WAITING FOR THE “GLORY DAYS”. I believe that the BDA has taken your white liberals who dislike the UBP old ways and have probably attracted black liberals who hate PLP and UBP. SWAN GIVE IT UP!!!!!!!! You are the one in the way of real progress!!!
“You are the one in the way of real progress!!!”
I have heard this “logic” being regurgitated in several different forums and I can’t for the life of me understand. So maybe JB can assist.
The Opposition is exactly that, the opposition. They have a distinct minority in the House and thus are essentially powerless in blocking any proposed legislation put forward by the ruling Govt.
That being said the PLP have a vast majority in the House and essentially have no opposition or obstacles to overcome when seeking to draft, present and implement any legislation that they feel is appropriate.
So given these two scenarios it is absolutely hilarious that individuals are placing blame on the powerless opposition for the fact that Bermuda is in the precarious position it finds itself in today.
So JB, how exactly is the Opposition thwarting progress within our shores?
It is a sincere question that I am honestly trying to understand the “logic” behind it?
Facts are facts – - the BDA and the UBP are fighting over the crumbs of the PLP government – - – In order to create the change that both opposition parties want, ONE OF THEM HAVE TO GO – - that’s just the numbers talking, people. They will continue to take votes away from each other, while the ruling PLP Government will continue to win elections with the same “white vs. black” mumbo-gumbo that they like to spit out of their mouths – - Remember, I am what I say I am – -
For me, until the BDA decides to get real and understand that they are only here (in the political arena) by falsehood and lies (All BDA members who are sitting in the House SHOULD HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR SEATS AS THEY WERE ELECTED AS UBP REPS), they will never get my vote or support. You can not start your legacy on that – - yes, I know others will say that they did not have to give up those seats – - BUT THEY SHOULD HAVE, that’s my point – -stand on your own legacy, instead of the foundation (fragile as it is) of the UBP.
The UBP need to accept a few things – - times have changed and they need to get with it. The same old song and dance of “we are different, we want change, we want a united bermuda” – - IS NOT WORKING. Try a different tactic – - anything would be a pleasant change! Tackle the issues with straight talk and defintive solutions and get out and talk to the young Bermudian voter – - you will be surprised what you may find.
As for the government, time is a beautiful thing – - when you realize that the old guard of PLP support is slowing fading away with all the scandals, rumors, and mismanagement of public funds, as well as that PLP stronghold human support getting older – - then, and only then, will you see the light of day – - the time is ripe for change – - and not the BDA or UBP change either – - maybe I should start a political party?
Everything you said mate makes absolute sense…
Let me know if you do (start a political party)…
“(All BDA members who are sitting in the House SHOULD HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR SEATS AS THEY WERE ELECTED AS UBP REPS), they will never get my vote or support. You can not start your legacy on that – – yes, I know others will say that they did not have to give up those seats – – BUT THEY SHOULD HAVE, that’s my point – -stand on your own legacy, instead of the foundation (fragile as it is) of the UBP.”
Agreed, ethically they should given up those seats. Though ethics doesn’t seem to have a place in politics, unfortunately. I only know that our current course is taking us to the edge of a cliff.
Wayne Furbert to. People keep conveniently forgetting he hitched to, but you don’t hear about that one, too funny.
@Sara – - you are correct – Wayne Furbert should have given up his seat in the House when he crossed the floor – - that is inconsistency in this system that creates this empathy
If you started your own Party, what would your Platform look like? What’s the top 5 things you would state, and how would it be different from the PLP, BDA or UBP?
In other “No Duh!” news… “Water Is Wet”.
Mr. Swan is absolutely correct that we need the strongest possible opposition.
I just wonder why it seems that NO work has been done over the past decade or so to provide us with one…
it is clear that the plp has the support. the very existence of the ubp makes the plp all the more powerful. brown did a great jon of ensuring that. the plp is a black party. the ubp a white party. if the ubp image goes away maybe we can move past black versus white…..that is why ubp must go away. maybe bda does too? i heard on the radio that the bda mps who were ubp did not resign and run again since the plp would have taken the seats. also they are still opposition so what is the big deal? fact is that ubp has been dying for a very long time….
So basically yuo are looking for the demise of one party all together so that the ruling party matures into a organization which seeks to govern for ALL of BDA and not their particular support base.
Personally that sounds like a personal/inside issue that can only be resolved with this “us vs. them” mentality is done away with in the minds of the members and supporters.
Your post above can easily be translated into the suggestion that white Bermudians should be absent all together from participating meaningfully to a country and society which they helped build and contribute to on a daily basis.
And the thought of having a one party democracy is not an option. Actually that scares the sh*it out of me. Do your research on one party “democracies” and you will see why.
We need an opposition. Plain and simple.
Sorry I misread your post.
It appears that you want BOTH opposition parties to go away.
Not too sure if you understand the term democracy or even heard the old adage of how “absolute power corrupts absolutlely”
“…the ubp a white party…”
Annnnnd the brainwashing is a success!
The problem is that even if the UBP disbanded tomorrow, and a new party formed, surely any new party will feature former UBPers, and the PLP’s entire agenda will be labeling such a party as the new UBP( something they do with the BDA). So the question truly becomes, where do we go from here. Because as much as we talk about either the UBP and/or BDA disbanding, what exactly is the alternative? As long as the PLP can successfully spin race and rhetoric, they will continue to win elections, despite an unimpressive track record on handling the economy, tourism, education.
Since you’re asking in a reply, here’s what I think needs to happen.
At the moment, for many folks in Bermuda, there are no viable options to the PLP. Regardless of party loyalty, rhetoric and demagogy, the PLP is the best bet, compared to the toothless lions of the UBP and the ethically challenged BDA.
So there needs to be an alternative that isn’t one of the three.
In fact, there needs to be an alternative that isn’t a party.
That way, there’s no betrayal. No “Voting for the enemy”.
The ONLY alternative that I see, and I welcome other suggestions, is to, as a VERY loosely organized group, let the parties know that the job they are doing is unacceptable.
There are only two ways that I can see to do this.
It’s been said that we have an unspoken, unenforceable duty to vote, and I agree.
However, we don’t have to vote for the choices offered.
The first way is easy. Spoiled ballots. It’s a strong message, if done en masse. It takes away any “Oh, they didn’t turn up because of the weather” conjecture. A movement of dissatisfaction with the parties where there is recordable evidence? That’s huge.
The second is a little more difficult and would take a LOT more organization, but I think it’s an amazing idea that would send a HUGE message to the parties.
An Independents Movement.
Instead of registering to vote, register to run as an independent.
EVERYONE does this.
I’m not sure about the legality of it, or even how to organize it, but THAT would be a message to the parties that we are fed up with how they are doing things. It’d be a definitive “ENOUGH! Do your job!”.
The key is to take the “Mandate of the people” and “The People have spoken” away.
The key is to remind the politicians on both sides that they work for US, not the other way ’round.
The truth – - well spoken – - that is the issue right there!! There is no alternative from the PLP so people will keep them in power because they can’t see either opposition parties as government – - sad!
I tried to post this in a thread a few pages back….but it appears to have been lost as Bernews has not approved it as of yet. I assume that to be the case as Bernews does not appear to censure
Anyways, this is in response to Mr. David E. Chapman
____________________________________________________________________________________
Sen. Furbert’s comments offend a large portion of the population on a weekly basis
All I can say is that if a white Bermudian went to the media and spoke in such derogatory terms about their black Bermudian counterparts there would be hell to pay. But since it is the opposite way around she is lauded as a “hero” and rewarded with a Senator’s seat.
It amazes me that the PLP state that their party is for ALL Bermudians and regularly criticize white Bermudians for not joining the “movement” while simultaneously placing individuals into positions of power who have no qualms about spewing racial rhetoric and hatred throughout this island. For example, a few years back Minister Burch was on a talk show debating independence when a caller who was against the notion was asked by Minister Burch what color she was. That is just one example. I can easily delve into the numerous remarks by individuals such as Wentworth Christopher, Calvin Smith, Rolfe Commissiong Minister’s Blakeney, Burgess, Roban and Desilva, Senator’s Burch and Furbert. I won’t even get into the former Premier and his persistent digs at people that do no look like him.
The main thrust of the argument being that the PLP is a black party that does not need white support and thus don’t expect any olive branches or support. I can research these numerous quotes through several Bermuda blogs to provide evidence if needed. But my favorite one is where she states numerous times that she is not interested in debating with a certain person’s “ilk.” A hero for sure.
I just wish that the current powers that be just be true and state the obvious instead of playing the role of the “oh so innocent party” that seeks unity and is surprised and upset that more white Bermudians don’t join. I find it hilarious. Like a serious case of schizophrenia.
Hopefully there will be a change within the Party (as they will not lose power anytime soon) which seeks unity instead of divisiveness. Larry Burchall wrote an article way back that Bermuda has been and still is only operating on 4 or 5 cylinders instead of 8 in light of the exclusion of one group from participating in political decisions that affect all of Bermuda and not just one support base. However I believe this will only come with the ascension of the younger and less bitter generation, to power who does not hold these past grudges and realize that as times change so do people and attitudes.
Disregard the above post as it has been edited beyond recognition just about.
I understand why Bernews edited and can’t fault them as they are looking out for their own wellbeing, but the events and examples I provided in the original post occurred.
I still can’t understand how certain individuals are allowed to spew hatred with impunity and when others try and call them out on it, it becomes censured or the individuals try to sue. Backwards for sure..
It sounds like Kim Wilson wants people to support the UBP simply because we don’t support the PLP which is exactly why BDA was created. Young people who disagree with the current government yet no longer want to be associated with the negative legacy of the UBP need a voice too. I think that UBP’s decision to put forth Devrae as a candidate was a sign that they, as a political party, are suicidal.
Whoops… I meant Kim Swan. Sorry Kim Wilson. lol
Whoops- I meant Kim Swan- Sorry Kim Wilson… lol
So if the BDA MP’s and the UBP MP’S just walk away leaving the existing PLP MP’s in control, what happens to the constituenies and the voters.
Does this not leave people/s unrepresented? What does the Constitution say about this. Who/whom/what will take up the slack.
Interesting! If everyone walks away from any form of opposition and decides to run as an independent and wins you only run the risk of having different opinions in the house. This may or may not benefit the current Government, however for arguments sake, let’s say that the Indepedents actually form the Government, then the power to select a leader of the Country shifts to the people of Bermuda and in this case maybe the Governor will have to appoint Ministries, unless we have public voting which could take forever. Obviously this has to be thought out but potentially can work if viable independents step forward. I don’t think Bermuda is ready for this type of move but I kind of like it as one does not have to tow party lines.
Can’t be any worse than what we have now, can it?
Lol not the arguing in the house. Big difference will be that the independent is truly there to represent the voters and cannot be swayed by party pressure. All we need now is more viable independents. They all can get together without forming a party and inform the public that a vote for them will be a vote of the people and that the people can vote the leader into power if the independents form the Govt. Very similiar to the US. I think this makes sense??
I’m thinking ANYTHING that sends a message that the Party system, as it’s being used, or misused, isn’t working for us is a good thing, even if it doesn’t get the seats for the independents.
At this point, the PLP are going to win any election.
I think that’s something that we all need to wrap our heads around and accept.
The key, I think, is to get the best Government that we can, and to do that, we, the people of Bermuda, have to make our voice heard and, sadly, the only way to do that, at the moment, is with our votes, or an active refusal to vote.
@Elvis, why not join the PLP the way that John Swan, Irving Pearman, Max Burgess, Dr. James, CV Woolridge and Qunton Edness joined the UBP as a Black caucus and changed it from the inside?
But you and the PLP have been telling me that the UBP has not changed and that it’s ultimate goal remains to ensure that the white man is taking care of while placing the black man a distant second.
I don’t understand.
Because I choose not to join ANY party, as I think that the party system has become completely and utterly flawed in Bermuda.
It’s not working any more.
This would be why I’m talking about the alternatives that I’m talking about.
Did you miss the part where I was talking about supporting alternatives to the parties?
In addition, there are a LOT of good people already IN the PLP that are trying to change it for the better and have been for years… to no avail. I just don’t think it’s possible, sadly.
Were not these people recruted by the UBP your know the UBP race card some talk about, “crayons in a white box”? Personally I tried joining the PLP and after the 20th or so person started by saying “I do not mean to offend the white guy in the room…” I new I would not be taken as an equal member like the rest of the “real Bermudians”.
LOL
Many years ago there was talk of a Bermuda without political partys again. IMO, with a population less than 70,000 (if the census is ever completed), we are way too small for political partys.
Also a good time back there was talk of proportional representation. Independent proportional representation. Worth further thought? What we have simply is not working. In a couple of decades we have gone from being the envy of the rest of the micro states in the world to the laughing stock of them.
So knowone votes. The Government would remain the same, unchallenged and returned. The Constitution is such.