‘Personal Explanation’ From UBP’s Kim Swan
[Updated with video] Ex-Opposition Leader Kim Swan today [May 20] provided a ‘personal explanation’ in the House of Assembly, saying that he and Charles Swan “remain under the United Bermuda Party banner,” and pledged to continue to work hard on the behalf of the people of Bermuda.
On May 3, members of the UBP voted to dissolve the party and merge with the BDA to form the One Bermuda Alliance [OBA].
On May 10, UBP leader Kim Swan, MP Charles Swan and others launched legal action seeking to stop the UBP from dissolving. However seven UBP MPs resigned from the party to join the OBA, leaving Kim Swan and Charles Swan as the only two UBP MPs.
The UBP once dominated the political scene, winning eight back-to-back General Elections between 1968 and 1993.
They held 14 seats in the House of Assembly in the beginning of 2008, but by late 2009 they were down to 9 seats – having lost 5 seats in total – after the three MPs split to form the BDA, and both Wayne Furbert and Darius Tucker quit the party to sit as independents. As of May 2011, the party holds just two seats in the house, the lowest in their 47-year history.
Mr Swan’s full statement follows below:
Good Morning Mr. Speaker,
Today I rise to provide to you a Personal Explanation.
First allow me to offer my congratulations to the Honourable and Learned Member Mr. John Barritt on assuming the constitutional role as Leader of the Opposition.
Notwithstanding our political differences of late, let me state for the record, that I have been helpful in the smooth transition for the new Opposition Leader taking over the office and remain available should my advice be required.
Mr. Speaker,
The Members of Parliament for the One Bermuda Alliance share a common heritage with us in that we were all elected under the United Bermuda Party banner and we shared common values. Ironically I have an affinity to the name as it most familiar to me and ties in to our United Bermuda Party origins.
But the real beauty of “One Bermuda” lies inside of us and I pray to God that the spirit of the name “One Bermuda” can mean for others what it means for me.
Mr. Speaker,
Our difference with our former colleagues was with procedural matters pertaining to the United Bermuda Party constitution.
Our former colleagues all have – at some point or another – stood on principal against a wrong. The adherence of the United Bermuda Party constitution was one such occasion for us (the Hon. Member Mr. Charles Swan and I).
We were left no alternative but to take legal action to ensure the rights of our members were followed within our Party.
Politically, my colleague Mr. Charles Swan and I will work responsibly on issues and with colleagues in this House as we have done in the past and that includes:
The Official Opposition;
The Independent;
Backbenchers; and
Government MinisterAs required.
We hold no animosity but stand on principle.
In the meantime, we remain under the United Bermuda Party banner and will undertake to facilitate the outreach required to our members and supporters.
We pledge to the people of St. George’s West #2 and Southampton West Central #31 that we will continue to work hard on the behalf of the people of Bermuda
Update 6:15pm: We spoke with Mr Swan today at the House of Assembly, video below:
Just let it go Kim please…..just let it go.
@SM – Why should he not stand on the same principals the others said they stood 4? You are the first to annihilate the PLP but when the olde boys association does same and men of integrity stand up, they should go?
Kim Swan is just fighting for a job. Stop this drivel of “principles”.
He Resigned. What JOB? A thankless JOB? He’s more principal than all the OBA membership
@SM – - he clearly stated that he will continue to represent the people who voted him in the position (from St. George’s #2). Until they don’t vote him back, he SHOULD continue to represent them in the House – it is about the voters – - forget party here – that’s what he is saying. His explanation was more about that point then the “saving” of the UBP.
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
As someone who voted in Southampton West Central #31….it’s time, Charlie.
For someone that supported Mr. Charlie Swan, He needs to stay! Can’t support political opportunists, they made fun of Jamal Simmons party hoping but now who’s laughing.
I agree with Kim. It’s about principle.
Yes the UBP is washed up. BUT Messrs Pettingill, Hunt & Crockwell have NO credibility.
UBP, IND, BDA, now OBA. Where will it end?
If this is how we feel about those that left to form the BDA as MP’s, we need to also include Wayne Furbert and Darius Tucker on that list. They too were voted in as UPB candidates and left for reasons. If they were being true to their constitutants they would have asked for a bi-election.
One of the people you mentioned is my representative in the house. I have to say i was proud of what he did and why he did. So are the majority of my neighbours.
@In General – - I agree that Wayne and Darius should have given their seats up and had a bi-election. This is not about party for me – - it is about principle – none of them right now have any credibility in my eyes – - the OBA has been formed on “closet” politics and deceit – they need to clean up this mess first before I will be willing to hear their ideas.
Acknowledge – One Bermuda was the idea and concept of Kim Swan (UBP)
Acknowledge – You did not go to get the consent of the majority of UBP members to kill the party because you knew that they wouldn’t have supported the move
Acknowledge – You formed the OBA simply to WIN THE GOVERNMENT because you knew that without a unified opposition you WOULD NEVER WIN AGAIN.
If you can acknowledge these points, then I will be in a position to hear your position on issues. I will wait and see
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
I actually was just making the point based on “haha”s comments. To be honest with you i am not sure where i stand with all the party upheavel the last few years (and maybe even before). I see your points, but can tell you my point was simply that we cannot just expect those that joined the BDA orginally should be targeted we should look at all the members that were voted in and changed.
The only reason why i am proud of my MP was that he did consult his constituence prior to moving. It may not have been in the public nature, but he talked to us to get our views. I also like what he says and how i feel through his work as an MP. He seems to have the good of Bermuda at the core of what he is doing. I voted for this person because i knew what he stood for, because he came to my house and talked to me about it. If at the next election there is another candidate that comes along, that i feel would be more effective, i will have no problem voting for them too.
So Yng Black Mind i think both you and i are on the same page, but we are just saying it differently.
Cosigned
@ Yng Black Mind- Out of curiosity, why are those acknowledgements important to you? Surely, Your first acknowledgement wish- Are you saying that Kim Swan thought of the name “One Bermuda Alliance” ? If so, is it really material enough for you to reject all political points that emanate from the OBA?
Your sencond acknowledgement wish- If they knew (as you state) that their voters wouldn’t support the move to kill the UBP, why go through the exercise of canvassing? It would be nothing more than an expty exercise. Having said that, I think that the majority of the UBP voters will still support the OBA in spite of how the transition was made. One thing is painfully clear, the UBP would have never won another election in its current form.
Your 3rd acknowledgement wish- Of course they joined to win the Government. That is no secret. Why else would they have merged? No opposition desires to be the opposition. They strive to be the Government. That’s normal. Besides, they have acknowledged that point verbally and physically (the merger of the parties) already.
@truth – the concept is that the OBA have begun their “new, changed” party with a layer of deceit and mistrust – the same ideals that they admonish the PLP and the then BDA for doing.
If they acknowledge those “truths”, I will be willing to hear their points.
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
How then is that different from the PLP criticizing the UBP for cronyism and getting rich off of the public purse and doing business in spite of clear conflicts of interest but then turning around and doing the exact same thing themselves?
Do you have no requirement for PLP to “come clean” as well before you hear their points?
Point being, no system or party is perfect but it is on the hypocritical side to hold one to a standard and not the other. I am just trying to understand why you would hear the PLP and not the OBA.
@Truth – sorry for the late response – - didn’t see this one for a few days – - the honest truth is I don’t hear the PLP at this point either – - I believe they are as guilty of all the issues you wonderfully described as the OBA – maybe more.
I am not pro-PLP – - I am pro common sense and betterment of Bermuda as a country. Believe what you will – The government of the day isn’t working fully for the people of Bermuda and I do not see how this new opposition will be any better – and this is based on how they operate. “Show me a man and I will show you who is he but his deeds and words.”
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
@in General – guess what,a few weeks ago the ubp 7 disrespectors & 3 senators called for the same from Darius and Wayne but called them back then “opportunists, traitors, backstabbers, not be trusted dogs, etc etc etc. the weather girl will not get my vote.
FLP – Foreigners Libration Party
and drum roll – rolling out the FLP, Foreingers Libration Party
It’s a time honored tradition that the captain goes down with the ship.
Especially when everybody else abandoned ship for a semi-inflated rubber dinghy!
how come guyz got 2 be mug? OBA is a terrble name for de new party…guyz should have calld it BBP (bermuda Budmon party), cuz then theyd get de youth vote, true talk my auntie Prugness wuz a junior senator wif de PLP back in de day, and guyz would always have family dinner up her yard on sundays, talkin bout how de ubP is just a bunch of mug white guyz who wear too many suit n ties. I dont nesisarly feel de same way now, cuz um done a lot of growin up, but if dey wunt even de smallest chance of winning an election, dey need to step up there game. um still PLP 4 life, just sayin, i respec democracy 2 much 2 feel comfortable in what has become a 1 party system.
WAKE UP PPL, WE NEED 2 BRING DIGNITY BACk 2 THIS ISLAND
You are far more intelligent than your facade lets on. But it is very funny! Keep it up! In reality if you want the youth vote, Free up the Erb and end Conscription.
Wake up , People, we need to bring the ability to spell and use correct grammar back to our island. This perpetual use of ‘text talk’ makes us look ignorant and undereducated.
As I said once before, it is all about principal…so I understand Kim point, the people put him there and until they remove him, he should continue to represent them. if the peopel don’t want him, then simply vote him out. Simple as that!
It’s like saying PLP should leave Government, whether they are doing a good job or not regardless of who put them there, without a say from the people that vote them in. How can the electoral process be seen as fair if the “people” have no say in what elected officals do? I just don’t get it!
Thought that only happens where there is Dictatorship, but oh well what do I know. I guess any change is good whether it was done in the wrong way or not. *Shrugs*
Flat Lined
Guys don’t you get it – it is about principal. Hunte, Mark and Crockwell wanted to get rid of Gibbons, Pamplin, Jackson, Swans and others – Swan wouldn’t have it so they left. Richards, John B and Dunkley brokered a deal with BDA (without the general UBP voters) the only real MEN with morals and transparency is Charlie Swan and Kim Swan. I can trust politicians that can not be bought. ET Richards slams the government and Island Construction, but does he reveals his government million dollar contract. The OBA = the OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION = $$$$$$ 1ST country 2nd!
@lmao “$$$$$$ 1ST country 2nd!” This accurately captures the current situation we are in with the PLP. Do you realize that the things that people accused the UBP of being guilty of (and I believe that they were guilty) the PLP is just as guilty? In my opinion, I think it is worse when your own people, who come from your own ranks, oppress you. What say ye?
@Truth say: The PLP in your words are the oppressors and our own people. Who are your people? This new OBA? and who are They? They came from my ranks and your ranks, my race and your race but because they are not PLP they don’t need to be truthful eh?
Down south we say “No swap Black Dog fi Monkey”
By ” your people”‘ I am not referring to race, I mean the grass roots. They (the PLP) came from very little and now they steal from those who have very little. That is pathetic because they know firsthand, the suffering, yet they piss on you and tell you it’s rain.
Not disputing but the OBA/UBP past members piss on its entire membership and its golden rain? Follow the rules. Looked at VSB news last night and all the man is saying is that the constitution was NOT FOLLOWED?
It seems to me that his gripe is the process, i.e. how it was carried out. To me, it is a moot point as the party is unelectable. So, you can’t win an election but you will fight to the death about how the party dissolves? Seems to be a pointless waste of energy to me.
Pop loss how many times and didn’t fold? But oba members are opportunists.
OK Paul Cox knew first hand suffering really? I think you need to look at the PLP’s MP’s not what their grandpa’s might have gone through.
N. Butterfield I don’t include in this as I know she has had a few moments of suffering (I think a bad Fire?)
LOL
That’s the problem with OBA supporters, when it comes to “what their grandpa’s might have gone through” whether it was suffering for PLP supporters or mass monetary gains for UBP grandparents.
I’m so tired of hearing people sh!t on the OBA… Can you give them some time dang they only just got established. And so what if its the same faces from the UBP… its the same faces who have been fighting for change (with in the UBP) for the last 5-6 years!
You don’t think these guys did their homework before they decided to start a new party– Surprise- They DID! The UBP has a “white surpremacy” legacy, was NOT an Opposition and they were NOT electable… and SO What if thats one of the reasons they decided to form a new party… ITS A DAMN GOOD REASON dont you think!? If the opposition is not electable then the current government holds no accountablity.
Anyway Best wishes for the OBA cant wait to see what you guys do. Hopfully Bermuda will wake up and see that the PLP is a modern day UBP…
So the “white supremacy” your words, have left with legacy to join the OBA and 2 black men are holding true to the their electorates. Bermuda who should you trust with your “X”? Definitely not the new white supremacies in the OBA, I would say. Bermuda has already awaked to modern day 40 thieves and sons.
You must be talking bout the PLP and how they raped the country for its money for the last 6 years at least and how som of them left the island as they set up over sieze houses so they can retire living large while most Bermudian struggle in these times of financial need.” to modern day 40 thieves ” none better than the other in anyway with the exception of fooling the voters.
LOL
They could of been electable if the opportunist egos didn’t get involved. Dunkley wants to be leader. Barritt what he wants he has not decided as of yet. Richards wants to be leader. Jeanne thinks she should get a safe seat. Pamplin just thinks she is the best since slice bread. Gibbons needs to be involved so he can progress with his billion dollar businesses, Crockwell and Pettingill feels they can lead… egos, egos, egos. Then you had Swan who felt he could preach to them to love thy neighbor as oneself and show them what a ONE BERMUDA should look like.
I don’t care what Kim Swan does.
I know our island’s economy is gradually collapsing and the PLP seem unable or unwilling to arrest the slide. Any change must be change for the good; we know where we are heading, yet we are still not prepared to go to the polls on the issues facing us. Who honestly believes his life is getting better?
No, it’s not about Kim Swan. It’s about the rest of us and how little we want in our future.
@joe – its not about Kim Swan its about tranparency and upholding with the constitution they all got elected under. Why is it you only hold the PLP to this and not the otherS?
@Truth…the mirror. Reflection. Deeds.
@Terry the mirror = transparency = True Reflections = good deeds = Kim Swan
This is not about principals and has EVRYTHING To do with Kim’s HUGE ego which he is dressing to be about principals!!! He was watchin these ongoing negotiations for weeks – as we all know – saying little. And he waited until the 11th hour to raise his “issue” of propriety. His timing is damning of his so called principals. UBP are sticklers for process and we all know how resistant to change they are and they had various meetings with our membership (I heard it was even upsetting those in favour of the merger because it was delaying everything). And in the background of all this – you now have Kim talking about wanting more time for consultation w/ members, but it’s reported he wants to start his own party or that he’s not against joining OBA (hedging his bets?). The injunction was all about Kim not wanting to loose his role as leader. A few of those listed on the injunction didn’t even support it or know about it – Kim used their names to support his means. They won’t speak either because they are in a bad position of having to hurt a so-called “friend”. I heard Currin was fully supporting of the OBA – was just invited onto the OBA executive and was totally surprised his name was on the injunction. Kim’s “principled position”??. LMAO! I’m backin OBA!
Love or hate Swan it’s about the point he raised. Did I miss a member or any of the 36 constituency
general meeting? Justice kawaley said they had a case? You are absolutely right it’s not about Swan, it is about if the constitution was followed. Stop shooting the messenger!
@croc. You seems to not know Kim Swan. He leaves his ego at the door. Now your mps are the ones with huge mancho unnecessary egos. Which of your mp can win a marginal or PLp seat? None. But that is what Swan can do because people believe him and now will jump on any band wagon he steers because he has proven that he stands on principal. I heard his tribute to The late Mr. Thomas and it was a breath of fresh air and I can tell you all in the service felt compassion for him and what his own not the PLp but his own has put this man thru from the time he took up the leadership position that Baritt nor Richards wanted because they felt the need to use a humble man to go out and pay off the large election debt that Michael accumalated and left for that poor man to scratch to keep the ubp office open. When they refused to pay the writer and office workers he went out and found jobs for them to do in the opposition office so they would be employed But that money carrot was dangled by Gibbons Richards Dunkley and now the funds are just a flowing. In a way I don’t blame you croc why eat mud when you can have steak.
@croc. Who we all need to question is Jeanne attherden? She remains and won’t resign as ubp chairman and is on the oba executive. This is what Swan had to deal with. Snakes all around. How can she a nobody whom he felt was a confident and she portrayed herself as one and hold meetings with the major bob telling swan he was not to get the list of members they were speaking to about the merger. Keep posted. She has traded her soul for a safe seat.
What everyone needs to consider is the power brokers who actually ran the UBP from the back room ‘the old gaurd’. The real question is which party are they going to channel their funds to in order to call the shots. I bet it won’t be going to Alaska Hall.
Note that I’m not saying the PLP is perfect – no one is. But how is OBA going to represent change? Their 1st step should have been a wholesale change in the shadow cabinet. Richards, Dunkley, Gibbons are basically the same as before.
Exactly! They ran their own program whilst Using Swan to pay off their election bills. Same old Same Old users. Look at the only one to get a promotion – Dunkley back as leader of the Senate? no surprises there.
Hot off the press. SIR DAVID GIBBONS joins OBA. Yes the former premier sir david gibbons. What does this show us? An earlier blog said they are the old boys association. Sir David membership and money show us just that. Watch out aunt Hattiesburg children. Your mortgages with cap better switch to hsbc now before it gets pulled ask max n Wayne.
kim swan is a plp troll thats why hes where hes at
People have been crisscrossing between parties since their inception for a number of reasons, not all good. Some see it as a vehicle to greater business opportunities,others cannot have their way in their party,etc. It must be remembered that the NLP was formed basically from ex PLP members who disagreed with a number of policies, amongst other matters. I could go on, but the point is made.
How many of these “crossovers” actually held meetings in their respective constituencies to discuss their intent to join another party.
Mine didn’t!!—-No principle = no respect.
Rockfish..know your history…The PLP members that formed the NLP, were expelled from the PLP without a fair hearing, for not backing a statement from the PLP backing a mob attack of a Police officer in his own home.The NLP still exists but has not been active^^
In the same manner as the formation of the original UBP, the OBA have not given their membership or voters a say in the future of their party. The present OBA MPS should all resign and run in new by elections but this is a new party like the OLD UBP that believes in taking power and be Dammed with democracy!^^
47% of last electoral votes went to ubp. If Dunkly and others worked diligently together instead of working against the party they would only of needed 3 % to win government