Derrick Burgess Resigns As Transport Minister
[Updated - New Transport Minister to be sworn in this morning] Derrick Burgess issued a statement this evening [June 6] saying he has resigned from his position as Transport Minister.
Mr Burgess was recently reported to have been involved in an “angry physical altercation inside the House of Assembly building” with Minister Michael Scott, after Minister Scott allegedly accused Mr Burgess of trying to oust Premier Paula Cox.
Speaking on that report, Mr Burgess said, “Most recently I was involved in a discussion with a colleague. The aforementioned discussion has been reported in the press. I can say that most of the media reports of the event are embellished and have very little resemblance as to what actually transpired.”
“Having said that, it is my belief that the Progressive Labour Party Government has a mighty work to do. I will not allow anything to distract from our Party’s effort to serve the people of Bermuda. I have offered and the Premier has accepted my resignation as the Minister of Transport,” continued Mr Burgess.
Mr Burgess was appointed Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety in 2006, and was appointed Minister of Works and Engineering in 2007. He was elected Deputy Leader of the PLP in 2010, and named Minister of Public Works. In November 2011, he was named Minister of Transport.
Looking at possible replacements for the Transport Minister, the list of PLP backbenchers includes Lovitta Foggo, Randy Horton, Dale Butler, Dennis Lister, Darius Tucker, Ashfield DeVent, Terry Lister, Elvin James, Alex Scott, Walter Lister, Neletha Butterfield and Walter Roban.
Ashfield DeVent, Neletha Butterfield, Alex Scott, Elvin James and Walter Lister will not be standing again in the upcoming General Election. Darius Tucker will stand, however he is running in Paget and not expected to win the seat. Both Terry Lister and Neletha Butterfield were removed from Cabinet by the Premier last year, while Walter Roban resigned from Cabinet after a planning controversy last year.
The Premier could also combine portfolios, or look to the Senate for a replacement Transport Minister. It is understood that a new Cabinet Minister may be sworn in tomorrow.
Update June 7, 9.51am: A new Minister of Transport will be sworn in at Government House this morning at 11:30am.
Update 12.05pm: Seven months after stepping down Walter Roban has returned to Cabinet, having been sworn in at Government House as the new Minister of Transport.
The full statement from Mr Burgess follows below:
No public servant is bigger than the cause we serve. I am very grateful for every opportunity I have had to serve the people of Bermuda, either in my capacity as a trade unionist and more recently as a Cabinet Minister.
In both positions I have conducted myself in a manner worthy of the trust of the people that I have served.
Most recently I was involved in a discussion with a colleague. The aforementioned discussion has been reported in the press.
I can say that most of the media reports of the event are embellished and have very little resemblance as to what actually transpired.
Having said that, it is my belief that the Progressive Labour Party Government has a mighty work to do. I will not allow anything to distract from our Party’s effort to serve the people of Bermuda.
I have offered and the Premier has accepted my resignation as the Minister of Transport.
I remain committed to the people of Hamilton East, the ideals of the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party and to the people of Bermuda.
This Government continues to represent the best choice for improving the lives of Bermudians and I intend to continue doing my part in that important work.
someone opened a big can of worms.
hopefully the rest will follow real quick.
You lay down long enough, I bet you’d be full of worms too…
This is only round one of a 12 round fight.
Good Job now we will se Government money go back in there fund keep cleaning out…. Go Bermuda.This is a sign of recovery.
It’s about time!!!!!!! One MP down, several more to go!!!!
This is the right thing to do…….
Somebody obviously grew a pair of testicles somewhere. This is way past due and proof positive that there is something more to this story.
Congratulation to whomever forced this person out.
I guess you lost your light getting to excited in your cave. If only you could hear I’d tell you what it read… It says the he resigned… Does it get any more crystal then that?
They are usually asked to “resign” as a professional courtesy to them and it looks better for the Party than the premier firing her deputy.
Translation: If you are asked to tender your resignation….. You are being fired.
You obviously haven’t had any high level jobs..resigned and with the Premier accepting the resignation normally means Fired, Pink Slip, let go. Resigned is to keep face.
It’s about time! Now if only Zane DeSilva would resign also.
Now let’s wait and see how the Defender/8 votes and others of her ilk spin this!
That’s right! Get rid of Zane DeSilva and the entire OBA would have a better chance at hitting what they throw… hahahaha!!!
feel you on this one he is the only one doing work around the Island and poor work in for the money only. Give someone else a chance you have been ripping this country off to much.
I think Zane DeSilva is just waiting in the tide to put the knife in Paula’s back. Watch that NASTY Zane go to work
The Ministers that should GO are still there!!
I will miss Minister Burgess. If he said he was going to do something he did it!
It truly amazes me who the clicks are in PLP…
I know one Minister that needs to completely GO!! #GB!
Dr. Brown resigned just before challenging and winning the leadership role and subsequently the 2007 election.
Miss Tee you are so correct and this is very scary!!! If he can pull something like that – we are in serious trouble.
the knife is sharpened… Paula better watch her back!!
Yes, but the resignation of burgess wasn’t optional
patrice you are next
mr Burgess is also Deputy Premier. It is clear that he did not resign from that post.
The PlP Constitution states that the only way he can be removed os by a special sitting of the Delegates. The Premier does not want to allow this to 1) be a distraction so close to an Election 2) to ignite the Trade Unionist (loyal supporters of Mr Burgess) 3) further galvanize a disgruntled Backbench
Interesting Times
Bermuda Constitution Order 1968
Section 57 Clause (2) sub clause (a) reads:
a) the appointment and removal from office of Ministers and Junior Ministers, the charging of a Minister under section 61 of this Constitution with responsibility for the conduct of any business of the Government, or the authorisation of another Minister to perform the functions of the Premier during absence or illness;”
It seems as though the Deputy Premier must be a member of Cabinet. It follows, therefore, that Mr Burgess resigned both roles when he resigned from Cabinet.
Unless I missed something he didn’t resign from Cabinet. He resigned as Minister of Transport. As Deputy Premier he’s still a member of Cabinet.
There is nothing in the Constitution that speaks to a position of Deputy Premier. It’s all a creation of the sitting Premier as to who they appoint to take over if they are out of the country or otherwise unable to perform their duties. You have to be a Minister to act as Premier. It follows that since Mr Burgess resigned as Minister for Transport, and has not been appointed to a role as Minister without Portfolio, he is no longer a Minister of the Govt. He can thus not serve as acting Premier when the Premier is off island.
And to add, the Cabinet is the group of MPs that are Ministers of the Govt. If he is no longer a Minister, he cannot be considered to be a member of the Cabinet.
Ah…reveal all of it not some!
Like my boy smokey says, You got knocked the #@(K out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGXEsaRSAYM
Hopefully the next one has enough kojones to stand up to furbert.
Whoops, must be some truth to that lil’ altercation up on de hill as after all didn’t Paula make comment that she trusted no one? Bring on the election!
What! Wait-A-Minute!….
I thought I am watching Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa with the family on the tele – why did I have to pop open the iPad when I knew I should have went into the kitchen to make some pop corn during commercial break!
Wait…Pop! Pop! Pop! Ok,… snacks,… drinks, … Sit back down…. Slurp, slurp, crunch, smack…Read it again….
Now, what happened during the commercial break?! Who, what, what….did what…!!!
Election is in the air! Fasten your seatbelts, Bermuda….
Sorry, but I just had to add this scene!
” …this is your Captain speaking!
I have good news, …and I have bad news…
the good news is, we’re landing immediately, …
the bad news is…we’re crash landing!….”
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
And guess who’s snoring (um, sleeping) on the descending plane!….this is so funny watching this movie while reading this…. ! No insults intended, just funny….
Sorry, but I just had to have a funny moment through all of this…
Lets be real about this black Bermudians!
People such as Mr. Derrick Burgess helped pave the way to give us the rights that we have today. When the white companies that belong to the UBP members cast us to the side like dogs on the streets. It was people like Mr. Burgess and many other members of the BIU that were white & black that gave us the rights we have today. I will not cast my brother to the side like some wounded dog.
Mr. Burgess you place party before yourself and I salute you. I wish you the very best.
BWAAHHHHAAAAAAAHAHAHAAHAA!
You’d give any top-shelf comedian a run for their money. PRICELESS!!!!
Sounds like you’ve been hittin the ‘ole Sheep Dip fairly hard now. Don’t be drinkin too much of it in one go. Moderation is the key.
Oh.. If my skin is white in color, then how can I switch sides? Is there anyway I can darken it? I want to be apart of the black Bermudians club too. Curse the maker for bringing me into this world where we differentiate human beings by the color of their skin.
@Brown Paint?
If the only way to “switch sides” is to alter the colour of your skin then the pale folk could make use of some bottled tan and a sun bed. The brown folk could take a page out of the Indian’s book [ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18268914 ] and lighten up a bit. LOL!
Ride
You should check your social studies books again because it was a Bahamian mediator sent to Bermuda by England who sorted out the inequalities in Bermuda. All some locals did was get citizens so hyped up they started throwing rocks & molotov cocktails. These violent actions didn’t solve anything they just brought problems to the attention of England that most likely could have been conveyed in a more civilized manner across the ocean.
Injustices also existed in Bermuda at the same extent as it did for African descendants towards the Portuguese so your racial rant has no basis. You need to wake up & realize that inequality has nothing to do with race & is spawned from having certain groups of people in an ensconced caste system. Once you & all with your mindset come to the realization of that you will know that plp has created a caste system like this that has caused an upheaval in inequalities that had been dead & buried during the time ubp was in government.
Well said!
This is the type of comment (and person) who keeps racism alive and well in Bermuda.
Still drinking that Kool-Aid I gather…
Mr. Burgess I wish that you would have taken more time, before acting. However, this was your wish to do so, and so let it be. We will miss you as the hardworking Minister and straight talker. I know you will still remain active within the party. It is no doubt that you years given to the party have been well served. Sorry to see you go…but this was your decision, as the party would have stood beside you. We will push forward towards to do the people business.
hahahahahahahahhaahahahahahah
So it did happen then Betty.
Special girl, you, betty and laverne sound like abused women. Get some help!
An insightful comment by SpecialGirl4You. She says: “Sorry to see you go…but this was your decision, as the party would have stood beside you”. By implication, this means the Party would have gone against the Premier. If the split within the PLP wasn’t clear before, it’s getting clearer now.
It’s about time. He was useless as the Minister of Transportation(deer in the headlights clueless), but unfortunately he is still the Deputy Premier. They all need to resign and make way for people who give a darn about we the people. He needs to take Chris Furbert and all the other useless people with him… And as for Paula and those so-called “cojones”..too little too late, chica! @Laverne, or whatever pseudonym you are choosing to go under in this forum, how does that make you feel? Go ahead, express yourself..lol…at this point, I don’t care if the pack of Flamingoes down at the Aquarium are voted in. They would do a far better job than these jokesters that are running our country into the ground… Who’s next? Queue up and resign, the rest of you…
Just freeing up some time to plan the coup d’état…
He resigned as Minister. Did he also resign as Deputy Premier?
maybe now it may be time to bring back the butler
What took so long? Well the nicest thing I can say to this is Good Riddance!!
Now resign as Deputy Premiere and make it a nice double, hopefully the People of Bermuda have awoken from their Slumber and in the next election show the PLP the door as well, their tenure has been an epic Failure!!
Bermuda Constitution Order 1968:
“Performance of functions of Premier in certain events 60 (1) Whenever the Premier is absent from Bermuda or is unable by reason of illness to perform the functions conferred upon him by this Constitution, the Governor may, by directions in writing, authorise any other Minister who was appointed from among the members of the House of Assembly to perform those functions (other than the functions conferred on the Premier by subsection (2) of this section) and that Minister may perform those functions until his authority is revoked by the Governor.”
It seems that, having resigned from Cabinet, Mr Burgess cannot serve as Deputy Premier.
Um..er..gee..hob nobbing in London one minute..must be more to this..still Deputy Premier (??)..deja vu and a coup perhaps? Who and what is next?
Oh..and didn’t those ‘white’ companies employ Bermudians, support our charities, fund our scholarships, grow our economy, and have expat workers who paid taxes, rent, ate out at restaurants, etc. etc. Those same Bermies are now out of work, begging on the food line, losing their homes, cars, etc. while the expats are outtahere. Ya gotta love the logic of peeps like ‘thank you mr burgess’.
Lister, Roban, Burgess … who will be caught with the hot potato next? The only backbenchers to choose from that haven’t resigned (i.e. fired) and will be running in the next election are Foggo, Horton, Butler, and Lister (Dennis).
You have an awfully thin front bench Ms. Cox and an even thinner (or non-existent) back bench. It may be time to pack up and roll away on your cog.
VOTE OBA! VOTE OBA! VOtE OBA!
WHY? What great ideas have OBA come up with? OBA just do a terrific job opposing the Government without putting forward any real solutions especially Dunkley. Just because you change the Government it doesn’t mean it’s going to be any better. People keep saying vote OBA, OBA – they want change but what REAL CHANGE SOLUTIONS are they presenting to us! Hmmm, can’t think of any. I won’t be wasting my time going to the polling station.
Patience, my friend… call the election and you’ll find out! Part of the OBA Platform was released tonight on tv….
As the Minister of Transport ,I think I’ll take the first thing smoking ,but guess what ? I’ll be back !
Burgess wanted to oust Cox in some attempt to be the hero of the PLP. Cox just ain’t cuttin’ it these days.
Scott found out and words were exchanged. Words transformed into emotion.
Cox finds out. In a private meeting, pulls the old “resign or we’ll fire you” line.
Burgess resigns.
“Words were exchanged”?
Are those the insider PLP codewords for “blows were exchanged and one nearly strangled the other”?
You mean not only did Burgess get his @$$ cut then handed to him, but now the door gets to hit him where the good Lord split him as well!!!
You couldn’t make this sh$#t up if you tried!!!!
l love this! his career in politics is over people, thank god!
the cog has gotton strong only because they look so stupid with all the monisters changing jobs every six months….only the most ignorant of peoples would vote these fools in for another 5 years of decline, in-fighting, posturing, stupid laws passing, ridiculous statements
Amateur hour could be coming to an end, please lets get back to making money the only way….hard work and not just saying your working hard!
One down plenty more to go, just one dreamer in a long list of do nothing folks draining the coffers.
Beware though, Ewart has a plan, and it involves this puppet.
Why are you hating on the message it was the UBP boys that didn’t care about the blacks on this Island. If it wasn’t true why did you all change the name, “YOU WHITES ARE NOT FOOLING ANYONE”……Star Man I read your write up’s on here you sound like a UBP puppet! After this election what you going to do?
LEAVE! Like the rest of the intelligent people, dummy.
How come it is only racism when a white person types?
And you PLP West Indians are not fooling anyone either!
“When the white companies that belong to the UBP members cast us to the side like dogs on the streets.” That is a really nasty racist statement to make, IMO… particularly when it is pure PLP propaganda. There is no truth at all to it… and you know it. It is only meant to inflame the ignorant.
You’re a real sickie if you believe that kind ignorance, IMO… And that’s why we will never get ahead with the PLP continuing to occupy our Island.
Why are you hating on the message it was the UBP boys that didn’t care about the blacks on this Island. If it wasn’t true why did you all change the name, “YOU WHITES ARE NOT FOOLING ANYONE”……Star Man I read your write up’s on here you sound like a UBP puppet! After this election what you going to do?
Wake up & realize that inequality has nothing to do with race & is spawned from having certain groups of people in an ensconced caste system. Once you & all with your mindset come to the realization of that you will know that plp has created a caste system like this that has caused an upheaval in inequalities that had been dead & buried during the time ubp was in government.
YOU ARE ALREADY FOOLED, FOOL!
Laugh my a** off at YOU!
News Flash! The PLP don’t care about the blacks either. They all have a personal agenda. Wake the f up and get real. Our island is going down the tubes and all we can do is scream about race. Disgusting.
A joyful day for Bermuda! Or has the takeover started ?
It has started. Burgess will be Premier by this time next year. Just watch and EB will be back as a Minister!!!
Thinking the same thing myself. Once EB made the statement that he is still involved but from behind the scenes the writing was on the wall.
After all, we have seen this play already, same script different cast.
Game 1: Jennifer – check mate
Game 2: Alex – check mate
Game 3: Ewart wins!
Game 4: Paula – fate is alreay on the wall! Be very very careful!!!!
Your next few moves will determine your destiny with your party! Derick is setting his field, I sure as hell hope you are setting yours!
One of those chaps you mention has their eye on the Corporation of Hamilton and that proposed new hotel development in the City of Hamilton….I”m Just Saying…
No hotels will be built here until the PLP/BIU are overthrown. There are billion$ waiting to be invested here! But the PLP/BIU occupation of our Island must end first if you want to see any progress. And that is a FACT. So, go ahead SpecialNeedsGirl and the rest of the sheep-dippers, re-elect them and see what you get. Nothing will change until something changes. And THAT is another FACT.
Such is the nature of the Beast. Burgess is not done.
Yup.
Power play here we come.
I see Ewart is back. Never far away.
Paula’s best bet is to get rid of all the Brown disciples. Even if it means reducing the size of the Cabinet.
Surely there must be a few loyal people sitting on the back bench waiting for the opportunity to serve Bermuda.
I wonder if it was either Derrick Burgess resign his post as Minister or Michael Scott was going to press police charges. Go figure.
Can someone help clarify something for me?
If he has resigned as Minister of Transport..
..and he is still the Deputy Premier,
Assuming that he wasn’t getting paid 2 salaries..
Has he effectively given up a Ministry and is still getting paid the same salary for less work?
If so, sounds like a sweet deal to me.
now that Derrick is gone, guess what, there will be a recycled person from the back bench…………the pool is very shallow. Randy or Roban……….. who is the lesser evil.
they could take from the Senate. Smith, or Igham, but they are both doing such good work where they are to move them now will be good.
my vote is with Raban…………Randy has too much baggage and bad Knees (lol)
the plot thickens
Jonathan Smith is forever making statements to the press, clearly he is after Wayne’s job!
“Having said that, it is my belief that the Progressive Labour Party Government has a mighty work to do. I will not allow anything to distract from our Party’s effort to serve the people of Bermuda. I have offered and the Premier has accepted my resignation as the Minister of Transport,” continued Mr Burgess.
A bull$#*t way of saying I got fired because I got into a scrap with one of my bredrens, and its election time so need to keep fooling naive voters.
Next up. Who wants to ‘play’ Miniter of Transport for 15 mins.
AMATEURS! flipflop flipflop.
This is crazy news. I am surprised because we don’t even know what the fight was about, we can only go on rumor and hearsay at this point. I really hope the PLP doesn’t do another ousting as it just makes the party look divided and weak within. I wish they would just call the election so we can know how to plan our futures properly. The fact that it could anytime between now and May of next year sucks, I wish it would just happen already.
“I really hope the PLP doesn’t do another ousting as it just makes the party look divided and weak within. I wish they would just call the election so we can know how to plan our futures properly.”
Very telling
LOL
the smack down in the kitchen has caused a lot of drama what a mess!
You can learn all that you need to know about Derrick Burgess by his actions.
He resigns from his Misnistry but not before jetting off to the UK first class to attend the Diamond Jubilee, at our expense.
The Deputy dog is no longer in the pound. But is he still in the dollars?
The doorman got shown the door!
Mr. Burgess Needs To Resign from Parliment PERIOD.
One only hans to see the decline of the BIU as an example,
of his mismanagement, Now the country over these years>
And his replacement no BETTER, the same old circle ???