BEST Calls For “Peaceful Demonstration”
The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce [BEST] has invited members of the public to join them in a “peaceful demonstration” at the Cabinet grounds tomorrow [Mar.18].
BEST has been at the forefront of the objections against the the Tucker’s Point SDO, and was one of the first entities to speak about against it, saying five months ago that a “major development is being negotiated in secret,” and that the issuance of an SDO to Tucker’s Point “may be imminent.”
BEST has provided over 70 reasons why they feel the SDO should not be granted, and yesterday said that approximately 90% of the common shares of Tucker’s Point parent company are owned by non-Bermudians, which “strongly suggests that the SDO is a bailout of non-Bermudians at the expense of the Bermuda public.”
A BEST spokesperson said, “A group of environmental and social-historic organizations invites members of the public to join them in a peaceful demonstration on the Cabinet grounds on Friday, 18th March, 2011.”
“This gathering is to show support for the opposition to the Tucker’s Point Special Development Order (SDO) that would allow development on pristine and protected woodland, cave and coastal reserves.”
“Your presence is desired at the Cabinet grounds in the morning, at noon and/or after working hours. Wearing green will indicate your support for protecting the environment. You can help to make a difference and so we hope to see you there. We are not permitted to set up chairs and, therefore, supporters are encouraged to bring blankets to sit on.”
Schedule Provided by BEST:
- 9 – 10 a.m. Senators arrive at the Senate
- 12 – 2:15 p.m. Various speakers will discuss the concerns
- 5 p.m. [approx] Broadcast of the SDO debate to supporters gathered on the Cabinet grounds [when it commences]
In addition to BEST, Citizens Uprooting Racism In Bermuda [CURB], previously called for concerned residents to come to the Cabinet Building grounds to “quietly protest the Tuckers Point SDO.” CURB has also strongly objected to the SDO, with most of their objections centered around historical aspects.
The SDO has already passed in the House, and will go before the Senate tomorrow, where the eleven Senators [5 PLP, 3 UBP, 3 Independent] will debate the bill, with a total of 6 votes needed for it to pass.
The vote is projected to follow the same lines as that of the MPs in the House of Assembly, with the PLP Senators widely expected to support the bill, while the UBP Senators are expected to vote against it, leaving the three independent Senators as key.
The position of the three independents — Senate President Carol Ann Bassett, Dr. Walwyn Hughes, and Joan Dillas-Wright — is not widely known. Assuming the PLP and UBP votes go as predicted, the SDO needs the support of one independent Senator to pass.
The full Tucker’s Point SDO as tabled in the House of Assembly is below, click ‘Full Screen’ for greater clarity:
Update 9:14am: CURB has also asked for concerned citizens to turn out tomorrow saying, “We need you to express your concerns, worries and hopes by turning up in the grounds of the Cabinet building…”
“…This debate is crucial to you, your children and future generations. We must save this pristine landscape, once a vibrant community and home to Black Bermudian ancestors, as a tribute and memorial to their loss, their sacrifice and their memory.
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Regardless , It’ll still be referred to as a lynch mob comprised of irrelevant people.
JMO, but as long as the protestors are going to be labeled a lynch mob they might as well make their objections heard as well as being seen on Cabinet grounds.
The Senators can close curtains to keep the sight of protestors out but they cannot keep chanting, as per US style, out. They can’t keep car horns as they go by out.
“THE SKY IS FALLING, IF YOU DON’T SUPPORT THIS BILL THE END OF BERMUDA WILL BE UPON US”.
“ECONOMIC CRISIS”, “HOTEL INDUSTRY DOOMED”, “INVESTMENT INFRASTRUCTURE WILL DRY UP”
These are the cries of those that invested money for their own gain, now they are begging at the gates of the tax payers of Bermuda for Bermuda’s most precious gem…. LAND DEVELOPMENT.
Politicians are using this SDO, to distract from the mismanagement of the economy.!”
I’d really like to see someone research where the money went?!.
WHERE DID OVER A BILLION GO????
To B.E.S.T.
“12 – 2:15 p.m. Various speakers will discuss the concerns,”
1. Let’s have some transparency in this set-up.
2. Name your speakers in advance.
3. Why the secrecy?
4. Are they the same?
Triangle Drifter,
I will show my colors tomorrow and you will know my indentity if you read my placard.
The placard will be saying “Down with the Senate and Up with B.E.S.T.
“Down with the Cox Regime and Up with B.E.S.T.
What will you be wearing.
Drag
BEST is being secret??? You make me laugh! Thanks for the chuckle, I needed that after being depressed about the nuclear disaster the world could be facing.
Secrecy is when TP and government tell the public two eeks before its deabted that they are deabting an SDO for TP.
Secrecy my friend is NOT telling WHO the TP group is, which we now know is 90% FOREIGNERS!!
This is a bailout, and the dangling carrot from TP group is 200 Bermudian jobs.
This is appalling Drag just appalling and I know you have alternative reasons for hating on a volunteer group.
My two cents,
2. Name your speakers in advance.
3. Why the secrecy?
You call the above request: “This is appalling Drag just appalling and I know you have alternative areasons for hating on a volunteer group.”
My two cents, is an appropriate name. No real thought process to tell the difference the forest and the trees. Don’t be such a suck-r. Ha Ha Ha
Cheers
Drag
Are you worried about speakers? Is government worried about speakers? What are your fears and worries about speakers?
My two cents,
Why in the world The accomplished Mr. Lure would be worried and fearful about the secret speakers that B.E.S.T. has on it’s program? Don’t be so daft. You still can’t tell the difference between the forest and the trees. Also don’t forget to wear your green and make sure that the garments was not produced by exploited workers in a not so friendly country that damages their environment on a daily basis.
Hip-per-crites really suck.
Cheers
Drag
Daft? Ha, you are chowing your “old school” age with that expression! No wonder you don’t care about the environment!
It is common for older generations not to see the value in saving open spaces and to put making money over anything else.
I am glad my generation is a lot smarter than that! Thank god!
Not sure why you guys are responding to “Dragging”, when he’s admitted, repeatedly, that he has nothing of value to add and is only here to troll and disrupt conversation on behalf of the PLP.
He’s already said that he’s not interested in conversation, only in using whatever means possible, including lying, to put a stop to decent discussion.
Not worth wasting your time engaging him.
Just because you’re too ignorant to know that a share register is public information doesn’t make those of us who do secretive.
Protester… your calling a group of concerned and committed citizens a ‘lynch mob’ says more about you than about them! Come on, these times call out for a raising of the consciousness not lame name-calling!
Your response shows you’re not very ‘local chat board’ savvy .. Or have a poor degree of comprehension.
My remark was based on historical past events ! ! !
And I’m against the SDO if you need to know .
Please wear green tomorrow even if you won’t be able to come to the Cabinet grounds. Well done to all the objectors who wrote to the Senators – Senator Hughes said in his 16 years of being in the Senate he couldn’t remember any other issue for which he had received as much mail!
PLP appointed senators will tow the party line and vote yes to the SDO. All of the UBP will vote no. 2 Independents will vote No as well. 1 Independent will vote yes. Leaving the SDO passed.
Well, half of you just outed yourself. Now go back to BIAW….
According to polls 86% are against this whilst 14% agree with the SDO.
Tomorrow, will be a defining moment in Bermudas history with regards to Senate votes and the makeup of those who use the internet to say they will be there.
March 18th 2011, a day that will live in infamy. A drastic and new turning point but will the annonamous and motor mouths show up?
Triminghams are selling handbaskets and whatever that bank is called is in the collection business.
A great day too all.
This whole SDO thing is a laugh!!
“This land should be left for future generations of Bermudians” is what I believe I read somewhere recently.
I am in my early sixties and the very first time I even set foot on the Tucker’s Town area I was in my fifties, and that was because I was invited to play golf by a co-worker (a foreigner). I would guess that even today, if a black Bermudian where spotted in certain areas someone might be tempted to call 911.
Let’s get real, the only future generations of Bermudians who will ever enjoy the property are the rich and the elite. As such, I couldn’t care less what they do down there
It is common for people uneducated in biology and science to think so microscopic.
I will repeat, when something happens to the environment on a 22 square mile island, it will most certainly affect the whole island. Trees sir, produce oxygen for all of us. The island is 22 square miles, and I think people who have never lived outside of Bermuda tend to think like this
“Tucker’s Point of No Return”, a new Bermuda landmark…
Vaclav, thanks for the new “Quo Fata Furunt”.
There’s irony in that.
Sheppards watch their flocks by night. It’s the sheeple that worry me.
Vell, like I predicted days ago here comes the rain again wiff de thunder;just waitin for de wind to come up and de temperature to drop.Don,t be suprised if it hails Tuckers Point golf balls !!!!!