CURB Release ‘Racial Justice Platform’
Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda [CURB] released their Racial Justice Platform which suggests a number of things including mandatory reporting of wealth by race, decriminalization of marijuana, voting rights for prisoners and support for a reconciliation process.
A CURB spokesperson said: “With an election approaching, we feel it is important to address the issue of race in a constructive and proactive way.
“To this end, CURB has developed a Racial Justice platform which outlines both the importance of racial justice to the Bermuda community, and specific policies which will bring about a fair and just society.”
The platform suggests:
- Support for a reconciliation process
- Guaranteed scholarships for public high school students who graduate from the Bermuda College
- Revival of a Workforce Equity Bill as affirmative action may be necessary
- 1% mortgages through the Bermuda Housing Corporation and 3.5% mortgages for expanding families
- Capital gains tax on houses over a determined annual rental value
- Mandatory reporting of wealth by race
- Decriminalization of marijuana
- Voting rights for prisoners
- Racial Equity Index
- Equality Impact Assessments
- A Complete Review of the Criminal Justice System
- Greater use of Restorative Practices in the Criminal Justice System
- Repeal of Section 315F of the 2005 Amendment to the Criminal Code
- Establishment of a Necessity Goods Depot
- No claims discount, home owner insurance
CURB’s full Racial Justice platform is below [PDF here]:
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Articles that link to this one:
- CURB: “Not Moved Into A Post-Racial Era” | Bernews.com | December 22, 2012
Great work and this is a start in the right direction. Both sides of the political table should really take a close look at the items listed here. It’s time to come online with the 21st century Bermuda or else get left behind.
How long has CURB been an advocate for decriminalization for weed?
LOL
Ganja Fix Everyting!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T2LeYdA52U&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Interesting – but a few things are missing:
No mention of Gay, Lesbian and Transsexual rights, a glaring absence especially when it comes to marriage.
With regard to the wealth index, it should also highlight the spread within racial groups, i.e is it just a very few of any particular group who are very, very well off or is it the many – just doing an average will never indicate this.
No mention either of self-criticism and reeducation camps for capitalist hoarders who actually pay the bills and taxes that make it possible for pseudo intellectual pipsqueaks to pose and ramble on whereas they could be out actually producing something tangible.
@ Vulpes: How are Gay, Lesbian and Transsexual rights a racial issue? I can understand decriminalization of marijuana and voting rights, etc., for prisoners, but there are GLBT folk all across the racial divide(s) and all are discriminated against.
I should say, subject to being discriminated against. Sorry
Pastor,
Sorry about that – I guess I missed the point that CURB may only be interested in Bermuda’s racially oppressed and not necessarily in other oppressed groups such as those I mentioned. My own view follows that of our Good Lord and Saviour and that we should be on the lookout for all the Oppressed, not forgetting that it is the Meek who shall inherit the Earth (and that the way things are going that may be sooner rather than later).
lol No mention of Gay, Lesbian and Transsexual rights
how do u explain 2 a little child wen they see men 2 men hold hands
a disgrace no wonder de world goin its way
who ever supports dat crap is a clown
Reporting of wealth by race?
They can go f$%c themselves.
Exactly.
Report wealth by race??
Maybe report wealth derived from corruption first.
Funny all your life they tell you to get a good education, work hard,save for the future, don’t be a spendthrift, invest wisely, put your money into your home and family etc. THEN when they see you get ahead while they sit off watching traffic all day, oh lawd!! Look what they got,all that fancy house and kids in private school, who they think they are? It aint right, they aint grass roots no more like webyes, we best just knock ‘em back a little, tax their house and teach ‘em! Gettin all successful, maybe even report them to CURB for some admonishment.
You can take your socialist agenda and….
What the f$&k has weed got to do with anything?
Is CURB a political party? ASre they presenting any candidates?
Are these things the PLP 10-point plan?
They want you to tell them how much money you’ve got so they can come and tax it.
They’ve been trying to hide it but these are the things they plan to do after the election.
They want to give votes to prisoners, but no mention of absentee voting. Disgusting.
no this is a 15 point plan so its 50% better….all the PLP would have to do is start nosing around people’s private funds….not that many people keep their money here any longer
Nobody would.
Typical. They pretend it’s about ‘equality’, a word they don’t know the meaning of, but really it’s all about marijuana, getting votes for criminals, and having us all pay for guaranteed scholarships for people that can’t be bothered to get off their fat a__ and work for a scholarship like every kid up until now has had to do.
Had the PLP not been in power for the last 12 years, some of this might make sense.
Some interesting ideas, but some of them are overly simplistic, invasive and will be easily circumvented. My concerns are around the financial realities of these proposals.
For example: Capital Gains on high ARV houses. Put house into family trust, house is then not sold when passing from one generation to the next. This is basic tax planning that happens in many places where house sales are subject to Capital Gains tax.
Require Financial Institutions to report Net Worth by Race: Move bulk of assets to Non-Bermuda Financial Institutions (if not already there!) This works in reverse for high net worth individuals in other locations who place assets here!
Guaranteed Scholarships: How Funded? The government’s copious financial reserves? Same category as free tuition at Bermuda College recently recinded.
Same with 1% / 3.5% Mortgages – where does this capital come from? Add in the proposed insurance scheme to that! Public/Private does not mean the Public part does not want to make a profit, in fact they INSIST on it! It’s just a way to move capital costs off the government balance sheet and replace them with “operating costs”. Essentially more off-balancesheet borrowning. Winds up be MORE expensive for the government in the long run unless the “private” part is much more efficient that the government could be running the thing. Thing is that the Banks and Insurance companies are already doing these things (not that those rates of course) pretty efficiently. Therefore the government would have to subsidise them, requiring more taxes!
Necessity Goods Depot. Yes, by all means, go into competition with the local retailers. They really need that. I’m sure that only a few more of them would go out of business and add to the current unemployment levels. Instead how about just a Necessity Goods charge card that can only be used on a specified list of goods at the local retailers? Negotiate discounts with them!
Decriminalise MJ, sure. Just make sure that you explain to the Americans the difference between decriminalised (i.e. a fine for possession like a speeding ticket) vs. legalise. If you mean legalise then I’d wait to see if the US can deal with it’s own internal issues of Fed vs. States on that! If the legalise states lose, then that might not be such a good idea unless you want to lose US pre-clear etc.
EDUCATION… THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY LEVEL THE PLAYINGFIELD. GIVING ACCESS TO HIGHER-LEVEL INSTITUTIONS BY WAY OF LOWER TUITION AND/OR SCHOLARSHIPS IS, IMHO, THE BEST WAY TO MOVE EVERYBODY TOWARDS ‘EQUALITY’… BE THEM BLACK OR POOR (AFTERALL, NOT JUST ONE GROUP HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN DISENFRANCHISED…THIS IS BOTH A RACE AND CLASS ISSUE). WHETHER THESE GROUPS MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE UP TO THEM BUT I THINK EQUALITY THROUGH (ACCESS TO) EDUCATION IS AN INITIATIVE THAT MOST WHITES WOULD EMBRACE.
It’s the only way that Bermuda can hope to survive as an offshore financial center. We need to increase the standards in our public schools if we hope to be an attractive jurisdiction to international business.
But the continued failings of our public school system are nowhere near as attractive as pointing a finger at whites for an organisation that needs the spectre of racism at the forefront to remain relevant.
Sadly the PLP have had 14 years to deliver in Education, and they have failed. Kudos to those kids that excelled as it is not 100% bad news.
Decriminalize the herb, the gangs need more business. Full foolish! Just legalize it altogether Bermy. Wake up and smell the ganga . . .
This really makes me angry. While I am all for racial equality this is NOT the way to go about it. Who do you guys over at CURB think you are?
Are you folk at CURB formally trained in this area? It is such a complex and potentially hugely inflamable and sensitive area that it just galls me that you lot over there at CURB are sitting in some room, a bunch of untrained lay-people, dreaming up ideas of “what shall we do next?”. Bermuda has enough going on right now and it does NOT need you adding fuel to the fire.
You are NOT a government body or a national body appointed to be Bermuda’s race policeman, nor are you even you a party standing for office – you are lay-people dabbling in a hugely complicated and emotion filled topic and you have no idea it seems what you are doing, the inflamatory way you are going about it, all in the name of uprooting racism!!
This is totally out of line, totally out of your realm of knowledge or training, a totally unsuitabile way to conduct or futher your cause, and totally OUT OF THE SCOPE FOR WHICH YOU PROFESS to have formed an organisation for.
Trained by who exactly?
As if we live in one of the most repressive regimes on earth (whoa! I had a flashback there for a moment) what a spoilt bunch of bureaucratic
bumblers. You think there aren’t already enough damn laws and rules in this small society of the overfed and overindulged?
You cant leave home in your vehicle without breaking at least one law on the way to work. Why dont you all direct your attention to the theft of your country’s economy and honour? Why do you see villains in all the wrong places? Is this the ruse? Redirect the people’s attention from the real problems? Ewart must be back.
As an Independent candidate for Constituency 20, I welcome CURB’s contributions to the political discourse. I will read over their platform closely now.
I do notice a number of similarities with my platform however, and will particularly review these! In particular these are:
Revival of Workforce Equity legislation to address gender and racial inequalities in the workplace.
Decriminalisation of marijuana – I support this in terms of amounts up to one ounce for personal possession.
I support the implementation of Equality Impact Assessments.
I support revising the criminal justice system with an emphasis on incorporating principles of restorative justice when and where possible.
As to the other issues, I will have to review the proposals in greater detail!
Is this another new political party? May be they know how to pay back all the Govt debt.
Up in the sky….it’s a bird….it’s a plane….it’s…..Income Tax. Coming soon to an island near you.
Oh and by the way, what the hell has decriminalisation of weed, establishing a necessity goods depot (whatever that is), discounts on home insurances and no claims discount all have to do with uprooting racism???? Since when has CURB been in the insurance, mortgage, ‘necessity’ goods depot, or even the weed business????????????????
Totally out of line and off the radar screen with this one.
Signed
One Less CURB supporter as a vehicle to raise social awareness NOT a next Political Party looking to change laws.
ok – so i have a few thoughts on these ideas… shared them below:
Guaranteed scholarships for public high school students who graduate from the Bermuda College – WHO PAYS FOR THIS?
Revival of a Workforce Equity Bill as affirmative action may be necessary – DO YOU WANT IB TO PAY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS? AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN IF THEY CAN’T HIRE THE TALENT THEY NEED AND HAVE TO HIRE BASED UPON SKIN COLOUR. WAIT,ISN’T THAT VERY IDEA RACIST? OR NO, BECAUSE IT ONLY AFFECTS NON-BLACK AND THEREFORE IS OK?
1% mortgages through the Bermuda Housing Corporation and 3.5% mortgages for expanding families – SOUNDS LIKE A SUB-PRIME BUBBLE WAITING TO HAPPEN…
Capital gains tax on houses over a determined annual rental value – ON SECOND HOMES I WOULD AGREE… NOT PRIMARY RESIDENCE OR THE PEOPLE YOU ARE TRYING TO HELP, CAN’T EVER GET AHEAD…
Mandatory reporting of wealth by race – THAT IS RACIST. WHY? HOW WILL THAT HELP ACHIEVE ANY OF THE STATED OBJECTIVES OF CURB AND THESE POLICIES?
Decriminalization of marijuana – WTF DOES WEED HAVE TO DO WITH RACISM? OH, I SEE, DECRIMINALISE BECAUSE BASED ON SKIN COLOUR CERTAIN PEOPLE CAN’T ABIDE BY TEH LAW?? GIVE ME A BREAK!
Voting rights for prisoners – YUP AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS TOO. OH, AND AMEND THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT TO INCLUDE AGE AND SEXUALITY TOO.
Racial Equity Index – WTF?
Equality Impact Assessments – CAN’T WAIT TO READ THAT…
A Complete Review of the Criminal Justice System OK.
Greater use of Restorative Practices in the Criminal Justice System – OK
Repeal of Section 315F of the 2005 Amendment to the Criminal Code – NO IDEA WHAT THIS IS ABOUT SO NO COMMENT.
Establishment of a Necessity Goods Depot
No claims discount, home owner insurance – WOULD BE NICE! BUT HOW DOES THAT HELP ACHIEVE RACIAL EQUALITY?
CURB, and the people behind it, have their heads in the clouds! You want to end racism? Do something. Study, go to school, work hard, work through lunch, go to the theatre, library and parks. Play with your kids, get involved in teh community. Volunteer! Say Hello to the person standing next to you in the line. Be thankful for what we have. Admit that we are different. Accept that we are different and move on – whining isn’t going to help a thing only make it worse. Rant over.
Very interesting sort of pseudo-communist tax the rich, give to the poor party platform that almost all countries have abandoned due to the economic shrinkage it creates because all the rich leave with their companies. I don’t think they’ll get my vote because I don’t want to live a poor country with bad roads, no trash collection, schools falling apart and all that kind of not so good stuff. What the rest of you think?
I gave up after the wealth by race thing.
CURB is part of Government and funded.
Lemmings all of you.
CURE, I think you might be mixing them up with CURB.
This has the distinct smell of politics; nothing to do with achieving racial equality.
Another transparent PLP move. Jokers!
My thoughts too. A big spoon to stir up emotions in those who cannot think for themselves to vote on real issues. The depths that the PLP can go never ceases to amaze.
Looks to me like a very expensive project to be proposing in the middle of a recession. As if we’re not all stressed out to the limit already over money and racial pot stirring.
I’m curious about why “Repeal of Section 315F of the 2005 Amendment to the Criminal Code” was included. It’s just a clause about police searches. What might that have to do with racial equality?
Being a stats man Mr. Riley demonstrates those pulled over and searched are disproportionately black and that this results in negativity towards the police and low self esteem, as well a reduction of life opportunities resulting from associated convictions. His statistics do not include details on times and locations of searches, among other things, so they are not entirely valid. Much like many of the other stats he provides…while not technically incorrect, they often fail to account for the entire picture in favour of strengthening the desired position. Many of the stats he presents are too out of date to be considered worthwhile. He consistently claims that the stats are open to interpretation, but certainly his interpretations are predicagble.
*predictable
“a reduction of life opportunities resulting from associated convictions”…ummm last I checked, if you get stopped and searched while doing nothing wrong, then you won’t have a conviction. So what is the suggestion that we should stop searches because it actually leads to people getting caught contravening the law???
It ties into things like the consequences of having a small amount of weed – which is why you see that as another of their points.
if every one watched this, marijuana would be legal right now…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnFJYxCx7zk&feature=fvwrel
Mandatory reporting of wealth by race or any other means is ridiculous. How do establish someone’s wealth? It is private – completely private. CURB can make it as mandatory as they want.
I am white, never inherited anything, had to pay for my own education, saved and saved and eventually paid my house off at age 50. I have nothing else. Am I rich? Is that because I am white, or because I didn’t piss all my money away on SUV’s, fancy wheels, trips, and bling?
CURB you have finally lost the plot.
So how do you get banks in the US, Canada, UK, Switzerland etc to divulge the “wealth” of Bermudians.
Do you really think that anyone with any sense (myself included) would keep their cash in Bermuda.
That is too funny ……
WHY DID IT TAKE THEM 12 YEARS TO THINK OF THIS IF THEY ARE SO SMART?
WHY DO IT JUST WEEKS BEFORE ELECTION?
WHY MAKE MORE EMPTY FAR-FETCHED PROMISES?
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO VOTE THEM IN HAVE NO COMMON SENSE.
As I’ve state elsewhere. This is why I consider CURB to be well meaning, but deeply misguided. There are a couple of items on their list that I think are good, however the rest I can not support. I rather hope that all candidates can tell the difference between the good and truly horrible items.
As a side thought, and something I’ve long wondered about. How exactly do we define White and Black when so many, including myself, are of a mixed racial background?
‘…where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of
producing and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the
confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.’
sound familiar?
everybody prepare for a race war because this nonsense is not going down in this country. it violates every moral code of humanity and is so racist it makes me sick.
The United Nations should be promptly called and brought in to action, before we have a race war on our hands.
i knew all this was coming years ago, I told people and they did not listen or believe me.
The PLP and their racist CURB and CURE cults will bring in an age of REVERSE-OPPRESSION.
It was their goal all along. It just took this long to sneak into place.
They want it like the 1800s, but with blacks oppressing whites. This is detailed in the above report by CURB. This is their form of “GETTING BACK AT THE WHITE MAN” Next will be reparations. They taking land.
It is a syndrome called “Mugabe Syndrome”.
You see it take place in Africa, where the Kings get in power and oppress and ruin their people for selfish greed, while rooting out the race that is the opposite colour to them.
Racism in all forms is BARBARIC. I call upon everyone to voice out, march, and rebel against this CALL TO OPPRESSION!
What next? In ten years, will whites be put to death or hung for petty crimes? When will they be satisfied?
THE WHITES TODAY DID NOT ENSLAVE YOUR PEOPLES!
BLACKS USED TO OWN SLAVES!
HALF OF THE SLAVES IN BERMUDA WERE WHITES!
WHITE SLAVES WERE TREATED WORSE THAN BLACK ONES!
BLACKS SOLD THEIR OWN PEOPLE INTO SLAVERY!
WHY DO YOU HATE THE WHITE RACE SO MUCH??
UNITED NATIONS GET OVER HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Relax mate, I’ve been informed by some on the Mackai Dickerson article that we’ll be able to change all that through the legislative process of our “democracy”.
@ Third eye open please relax you are mad at people who have no idea what they are talking about the majority of people just want to move on from this topic and grow together. As you can tell from the current election,
Secondly as someone stated above, who are these people? And are they qualified to even have this discussion and form their own groups they only have a platform and are talking very loudly, it doesnt mean they know what they’re talking about.
Once i read decriminilization of marijuana i no longer read the report.
To be taken seriosly they need to come forward and say who they are and what they know.
I am white. My wife is black. How do we report our respective ‘wealth’?
The majority of a person’r wealth could well be in the material objects they own – such as real estate. I own a house outright but have relatively little money. I am also white. What lengths will they go to to prove that I am rich and therefore need to pay some price to the black community. I guess if I’d been black and pissed my money away on bling, SUVs and chrome wheels, I’d be poor and therefore deserve some sort of reparation.
Clearly this is electioneering from our crooked racist Government,
CURB – bringing weed as a race issue is deplorable. Shame on you. We can and should keep weed banned but muddled thinking is another matter…
Clearly when the PLP leaves office on the 18th December CURB needs to go with them!
CURB actually owes Bermuda an apology for this one. They should be ashamed to produce such trash and try and package it for the betterment of race relations!
Yet another example of this failed government and their failed race relations.
For the first 20 years of my marriage my husband and I made lots of sacrifices, we worked long hours. Saved and saved while I watched some of my co-workers take 4 and 5 trips a year. We are just starting to travel. We paid our house off when we were 49 years old. So now my co-workers have nothing to show for their spending. But because I am white and have a house I have to probably pay more taxes. I will not be filling out any CURE Forms telling them how much money I have. Never inherited a penny from family. We worked hard. Now someone thinks we should have Mandatory reporting of wealth by race. Go ask each race how they have spent their money!!!!!!