UBP Welcomes New Governor

February 1, 2012

The United Bermuda Party issued a statement welcoming  incoming Governor George Fergusson, and thanking outgoing Governor Sir Richard Gozney for his service.

Government House announced yesterday [Jan.31] that Sir Richard Gozney will leave in May 2012, and Mr Fergusson will take up his appointment in the same month.

UBP Interim Leader Kim Swan said, “Considering the division of political power in Britain – with the Conservative / Liberal Democrat Coalition Government, a Labour Government (PLP) in Bermuda and the pending general election in Bermuda due by March 2013 – we feel that the appointment of a seasoned diplomat at this juncture in Bermuda’s development makes imminent good sense.

“We take this time to also say thank you to Sir Richard Gozney for his tenure as Commander in Chief of Bermuda. Whilst Sir Richard still has work to do in the remaining four months, we nonetheless would like to register our appreciation for his service.

“Personally, it is a pleasure for me to offer comments on the formal announcement by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the retirement of Sir Richard Gozney as Governor of Bermuda.

“A great deal of Sir Richard’s four and a half (4 1/2) year tenure ran parallel to my 3 year role as Opposition Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition, as he swore me in within a month of his arrival following the December 2007 General Election.

“Sir Richard’s open door policy, measured approach and the consideration shown in the discharge of our role as the constitutional opposition of Bermuda was noted and appreciated. Sir Richard provided good stewardship through his role as Governor of Bermuda, during an extremely challenging economic and social period in Bermuda.

“From our vantage point through the working relationship we developed, his professionalism and the respect shown to me and my colleagues in the discharge of our duties as Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, to us serves as a good indication of how he handled others as well.

“Notwithstanding, it has been the continued good working relationship, respect and courtesy extended during the past 8 months in my new role as the Interim Leader of the greatly diminished but reforming United Bermuda Party following our constitutional malaise in May 2011, that demonstrated his depth of understanding and sensitivity for complex internal politics of our island.

“We also say thank you to Sir Richard’s wife Lady Diana Gozney and their two sons James and Alexander who have assimilated into the Bermuda community and made many friends. We expect the good relationship between the Gozney’s and Bermuda to continue well beyond retirement,” concluded Mr Swan.

In conclusion Charlie Swan MP added, “That I found Sir Richard to be an extremely approachable and responsive Governor and I wish him well during his planned retirement. “

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Comments (15)

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  1. Haha says:

    Nothing but brown nosing. Please state one positive thing Governor Gozney has done for Bermuda…

    • White Christ says:

      Yeah it’s nauseating actually! And to call him “commander in chief” is just reeks of colonial obsequiousness. What’s with preempting the legitimate government in greeting and faring officials well? brown nosing indeed.

  2. pebblebeach says:

    UBP…I thought this party was dead…Kim, let’s go play some golf and leave this UBP stuff alone…it is not a good fot at all…

    • green jacket masters says:

      Kim pay them no mind, where ever you choose to run, Bermudians will vote for you and thank God only the Bermudians can vote! Keep the UBP flag flying, after all the OBA has the old UBP bag of bad baggage you and Charlie are the true troopers, keep on truckin.

  3. White Bermudian male says:

    Kim stop making a fool of yourself my good friend, the majority of people in this Island know that this Governor as been MIA. Now the Deputy Governor he’s a people person real good fellow.

  4. manners not says:

    The only person axing the governor and is up there every opportunity eating on the government food budget is Michael Dunkley.

  5. Black Bermudian Male says:

    This governor is back a town kinda man, supports arts and all – what have the oba supporters done other than beat down the government? He and his lovely wife will be a miss – as the girls guides, ask the charities, ask them all. make up your mind. the privillaged don’t appreciate him. we the grass roots appreciate him.

  6. just asking? says:

    @White Bermudian, I, 2 heard of his open door policy, why don’t you try to get an audience with him and share your experience with us on Bernews? these jokers really makes me smile. Loads of hot air. Good Luck Gov – we get our hair cut on court street, those jokers hide from court street and teach their children to lock their doors when they pass us much less have an open door policy for us in the front and reid street offices.

  7. White Christ says:

    Bermuda won’t realize it’s destiny until she can see her premier in that house on the hill instead of a colonial master

  8. Christ Follower says:

    Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s … is the message I read from Mr. Kim and Charlie Swan, and yes my family will support those men, because they have the Integrity lacking from the PLP and OBA combined.

    • White Christ says:

      Rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar’s is also a prohibition on engaging in politics with your religion. So I guess that means you shouldn’t be commenting if you interpret it that way. Besides, that is in reference to Jew citizens paying tax to the government and not one government or nation’s requirement to accept anything less than their own sovereignity in favor of another’s. You see, this whole issue is about Caesar’s business, so leave your religion out of it if you truly follow that type of Christ. There is a tremendous difference between one government official (Caesar Bermuda) addressing another government official (Caesar UK) and an ordinary citizen (you) addressing the government. Snap out of it. Render unto Caesar what is his, not EVERYTHING!

  9. Cleancut says:

    WOW!!! I got this one wrong, i thought the UK were going to send over a Black Governor. Obviously the British Government haven’t been doing their Homework!!!

  10. navin johnson says:

    this one will be as invisible as the last one

  11. Cancer says:

    @black Bermuda. What has the OBA done for the back of town ? Well let me answer that question. For the short time we have been formed as a polical party we on a few occasions have gone to St marks church on Curving avenue on a Friday night and given away groceries and assisted meals on wheels with feeding the needy. Of couse you may not know or have heard about our good deeds because we do them from our hearts and not for polical gain. More of these events are planned in the future to assist the more unfortunate. So the question you shud be asking is… What has your goverent – the PLP done in the back of town area to help the needy and less fortunate! I answered your question … And I hope satisfactory

    • really? says:

      If you are feeding the needy out of the goodness of your hearts and not political gain why are you mentioning it now, within a political context, as evidence of your superiority to the PLP?