Bean/Burt Matter Will Be “Government Lawsuit”
The legal action being taken by Premier Craig Cannonier against Opposition Leader Marc Bean and MP David Burt will be funded by the Government, a spokesperson confirmed this evening [Feb 19].
Today’s announcement about the legal action follows a tumultuous week which saw strong allegations made against the Premier, news that an MP secretly recorded a conversation with another MP with the conversation alleged to include “disgusting and disturbing” things, a Cabinet Minister caught dropping the “f-bomb” in Parliament, and numerous heated exchanges between members of the parties.
There is also an industrial dispute brewing with ferry workers not planning to provide service tomorrow, and the Finance Minister is due to deliver the budget on Friday.
The Premier called a press briefing today, and flanked by a number of Government MPs, said: “Over the past few days, the Island has witnessed a firestorm of headlines fueled by profoundly distorted claims and inflammatory comments.
“The impact of these attacks is undermining the national effort Bermuda needs to solve the big problems that confront all of us.
“While it has been troubling for us as individuals, what has been more alarming to me as your Premier is the potential damage to the Island’s reputation, which is something that must be preserved and strengthened.
“Bermuda, we are in a constant battle for survival with competing jurisdictions who are vying for the same investment that we need, but we are now being challenged to wage war amongst ourselves because of a series of orchestrated political attacks.”
The Premier added that in “view of the reckless allegations” which he finds to be “extremely dangerous and potentially damaging to the country, I see no other option, but to enforce my legal rights against both men and to seek full damages through the Courts for slander.”
The Premier did not take questions after the press briefing, saying he has no comment as it is now a legal matter. The PLP appear to be remaining steadfast, issuing a statement this evening calling for the Premier to step down.
When asked this evening who will be paying for the legal action, a Government spokesperson said, “As the accusations were made to the Premier in his official capacity, it will be a government lawsuit.”
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- Legal Costs Will Not Be Covered By Public Funds | Bernews.com | February 20, 2014
Hope the PLP are happy now. This lawsuit is going to be a waste of government funds, and this whole affair is only going to further undermine how seriously the govt. is taken as a whole. Disgusting infighting and bickering.
All PLP’s fault?
Yup where’s Beans/Burts PROOF. Seems to me like they don’t have any. Just useless allegations…but we shall see.
I think its both parties fault, not just the one.
To bad the PLP didn’t have Nandy on their team to wear a wire. At the rate she’s going she’s pass the pawn level.
So it is the PLP’s fault for asking questions about the premier’s association with this overseas developer.
Why doesn’t he just answer the questions that have been asked.
Asking questions is their job….making accusations with no prof is not…simple
Having a lawsuit makes it worse. It’s like making a small wound bigger. He should have just deflected the accusations. Having the lawsuit shows how far he’s willing to go to protect himself. If the allegations weren’t true, he wouldn’t go the depths of having a lawsuit. Now this will keep coming up in the media and the premier’s name will be tarnished similar to Dr. Brown’s.
How does a lawsuit make it worse?
It gives Bean and Burt the chance to make their proof public.
Assuming they have any.
1. How does the lawsuit make it worse?
It gives the argument credibility. The media will use the lawsuit to perpetuate the whole ordeal. This is bad publicity for the premier and the OBA.
2. It gives Bean and Burt the chance to make their proof public.
I understand your logic with regard to laws and the court. Just because someone isn’t proven guilty doesn’t mean their not guilty. They could simply have good lawyer or there may not be evidence.
Exactly. Look at how many guilty people have gotten away with murder even in our courts. The Premier just did the suit to stop all the talk. When it dies out and the Opposition Leader backs off he will withdraw the suit.
Yeah you’re right…there is no evidence. Bigger hands are at work here…
@ Your Joking………. how would the get proof; tape every conversation?
The whole point of defamation laws is that you can’t accuse someone of being a crook unless you can prove it. If you can’t prove it, you can’t say it. And if you repeat it several times, and insist on repeating it, you shouldn’t be surprised if results in legal action.
So a murderer who kills 10 people should walk away free just because the prosecution can’t prove the murderer’s guilt? I’m guessing you call that justice and a sound judicial system too right?
It’s amazing the logic people come up with to prove what they ‘believe’ in.
Um, yes. If you can’t prove guilt, the accused is innocent.
Suzie has the defamation laws right. You can’t just go around defaming people’s character. You need proof.
Whatever you “believe” in.
Not the “asking questions”. The unsubstantiated allegations.
Has Bean got a new phone yet, since he thinks his old one was bugged?
There would have been outrage if the PLP used monies to pay for legal defend. This is a BIG WASTE OF OUT TAXpayers monies. The UBPoba are very hypocritical if they see nothing wrong with the Premier’s actions here. The Premier merely had to address the issues on the table, but rather he choose to hide out behind lawyers…WHY?…..must indicate that he is not telling us everything, more so the truth.
WASTE OF OUR TAX PAYERS MONIES, nothing more and nothing less.
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AND OWN UP TO THE ACTIONS !! That would have been the smarter way out of this Premier.
Betty, the PLP DID use taxpayer money to pay for a defamation case.
Suzie YOu just showed the HYPOCTIRICAL BEHAVIOURS OF THE UBPoba FANS and MPs.
I recall how you all wanted to cut-off the heads of the PLP for using Tax payers monies. When Dr. Brown attempted to explain when such monies are used, you did not expect it, regardless of the fact it was protocol. Now you sit there and say nothing when the Premier is now wasting our TAX PAYERS MONIES. Yet you call this doing politics different? REally….I think NOT….
This is a difficult time, folks have taken pay-cuts…and the government is wasting monies on law sues. WHY is your Premier hiding out behind lawyers? Tell him to stand up, and be honest. Answer the Questions, and stop with his false attempts. His Minister Crockwell has already thrown him under the bus.
This is a government that is working towards their own undoings….
Betty, the PLP did use government money to pay for a defamation case.
Are you now saying they were wrong?
If Bean and Burt had decided to simply malign Craig Cannonier the person with out providing proof, the lawsuit would have not cost the taxpayers a dime.
Bean and Burt both leveled unsubstantiated allegations and Craig in his capacity as Premier of the Government of Bermuda, thus making it a Government legal action.
Betty-(or Laverne or whoever PLP fanatic you are)-you truly are an absolute idiot with a conveniently short memory!! Think back! Ewart Brown launched the same type of legal action -at TAXPAYER’S EXPENSE! Arrgh!
If you thought it was wrong than,what makes it right now…oooh the UBPOoba are doing it…I think the biggest fool is looking you in the mirror..WAKE UP
All this time PLp have told Craig to play the tape be transparent lets get the truth out there, but instead of speaking to the allegations Craig has chosen to use tax payers money to fight a battle that he can solve himself. Our premier is a coward.
The tape has nothing to do with the bribery accusations. Try and keep up.
the paper premier must just do the right thing and step down before the ubp old boys throw him under the bus
This is how it began – http://youtu.be/2Xrv3_raUPI
Hope the PLP are now happy??? It’s not the PLP who are taking this to court, give me a break.
And we know it wouldn’t even be headed to court if HE were paying, he’s out of gas!
It is the PLP (to be fair not the whole PLP) that are making slanderous statements. To which they should be held accountable. If anyone breaks the law they should be held accountable OBA, PLP, and everyone else.
By arguing that it is not the PLP’s fault that it is going to court, it is similar to arguing that it is the DPP’s fault for taking a murder to court.
Why? You are not many any sense. Why don’t the OBA rise above or just simply come clean. Show that they are better than the PLP. This is madness, the OBA say that there is no money, yet they are taking out a law suite. This is nonsense. How many times the poor man is crapped on? He has no money to right his wrongs as these types of civil actions are only for those who have money. This country is finished and the OBA is no better. Premier what you are doing is foolishness. For the leaders of a country to actually go before a court like little children will only further damage the country. What a sad day and I cannot believe there are people still supporting the OBA’ worst than childlike behaviour.
Question for you,
If you and I knew each other and start telling people that you told me you are sleeping with your boss to get better perks at work. How you rise above that or simply come clean with that?
He is crying victim to protect himself and the credibility of the OBA. He’s only having the lawsuit as a move to shift blame to Burt and Bean.
Of course he is doing to protect himself and the OBA that the whole point of the lawsuit cause if Mr. Bean and Mr. Burt were telling the truth they would have the proof to back it up
We the people of Bermuda, once again getting screwed by our MPs.Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule – and both commonly succeed, and are right. Take our politicians: they’re a bunch of yo-yos. The Priemership is now a cross between a popularity contest and a high school debate, with an encyclopedia of cliches the first prize. Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river. When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become Premier; I’m beginning to believe it.
Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.
fools
The OBA are full of hidden agendas. At least with the PLP free education was promoted, free transportation, and small business were supported. More small businesses are what we need to come out of this economic down-turn. The middle class can grow.
Very few people can live in this island by working a 9 to 5 for ‘the Man’. Sure he pays our bills and leaves with enough money to get a beer or two, but for us to get ahead. We need to take control of our economy.
…2014 THE YEAR OF A BERMUDIAN ECONOMY…
There is no such thing as a free lunch.
The free education,transport and small biz that you speak of was all paid for by the tapped out Bda taxpayer!
So if you pay land tax,duty,get paid wages,buy gas you paid for it.
like the free lunches, flights, accommodations, lawsuits etc…that we are paying for? on behalf of this clown, who apparently is ill prepared for the job?
LMAO…the PLP know more about dat than the OBA do…
If you think it’s the small businesses that will get us out of this, then perhaps you need some free education!
you need some FREE EDUCATION bra…LMFAO!
In all fairness, free transport and BerCol education weren’t well thought out or well-implemented… but yes, the constant of supporting small business should be a cornerstone of any government.
The BerCol ‘free education’ was only to get enough students to justify keeping it’s top heavy+ overpaid administrators on their gravy train!
Déjà vu
Where have we all seen this before??
Remember the hue and cry when Dr. Brown and MP Burgess used government funds to cover legal fees??
Oh yeah NO ONE made any noise about that.
Know why? Cuz it was the “Oligarchy” trying to stitch him up.
Complete rubbish from the PLp. How quickly they forget.
Unbelievable, that is not true and even if it was what the OBA is doing does not justify doing so. From your insane ideology all blacks should just rebel for the mistreatment of our forefathers. What are you and others who think like you teaching our children? I for one did not agree with a lot of things that the PLP did and that is why I voted for the OBA. Now it turns out the OBA is no different than the PLP. But people like you hate the PLP so much that you are blinded by the child like behavior of this now Government. I say get rid of them all and let the mother country run Bermuda.
How is this child like behavior? please explain cause as far as I can tell seems like the next step in dealing with this. How else can it be dealt with?
How’s that hopey, changy stuff working for ya?
New jobs, new investment, new companies, crime down. Not a bad start. Thanks for asking.
What new Jobs??? LMAO .. New Jobs.. you living in a fantasy world.
She’s living in a dream. Unemployment hasn’t changed. There are no new jobs.
OBA claimed 420 new jobs yet the unemployment rate stayed the same for the second year at 7%.
That’s called public deception.
You’re wrong.
The unemployment rate has changed.
It’s increased.
“New jobs” Unemployment numbers are over 2000 now. The 1% increase is from students coming back & getting jobs but this should be higher as there are many students who come back & don’t get a job in their degree because supposedly they need more “experience”.
“new investment” Only on the top tier which from world analysis reports doesn’t trickle down that far before it’s evaporated. On the bottom level the investments are loans which isn’t really considered a good investment till there’s a full return & then a substantial profit.
“new companies” Most of which were funded by government. There’s no guarantee these companies will survive.
“crime down” Only shootings are down & that’s because wanksters are running out of targets. There are still the odd gunshot reported going on luckily its either some fool showing off or someone non-shooter missing but still is a threat, there’s still break ins, violent crimes & other crimes happening.
PLP’s actions cannot possibly have a positive outcome. Very destructive. They are bad for Bermuda – much worse than the OBA – and right now that is saying something. Those 2 fools need to learn that you can’t go around saying stuff about people without consequence. I hope they are nervous, Expect the race card to be pulled at any moment. The pictures of slaves was a nice touch on Facebook stay strong page. Complete fools.
More like,
Those 2 fools need to learn that you can’t go around saying “The Truth” about people without consequence.
What was discussed should have remained private. It goes both ways. Nobody felt any remorse for Dr. Brown.
Well no, the taxpayer does not necessarily pay the costs. Two individuals are being sued. They lose. They pay. They pay their costs. They pay the Governments costs. They pay whatever awards there may be.
Since the action has been taken out in the Governments name any awards go into the Governments funds. A win for the taxpayer. What is wrong with that?
Triangle drifter, there’s nothing wrong with it simply because it’s not the PLP using Taxpayers funds. My bet is if it were people like you would see something wrong with it. Even if the Government win, it does not mean they will be awarded cost for sure. I just hope and pray that Burt and Bean stay the course and don’t let the taxpayers funds scare them into backing down. If they are right and encourage them to stay the course. As far as I am concerned the current Government is way out of their league.
And frankly…I don’t see how they can win. They said what they said and seem to be relying on “my word vs his”.
Let’s think about that for a moment.
Marc Bean was caught in the Spice Hill matter when he was the environment minister. The other accuser was recently investigated for selling liquor without a license.
Yet these characters are to be believed just because they “said” something happened?
LOL
I hope Mr. Bean earns a lot of revenue from his gambling den on Court Street….from the losses incurred by his people, the people he claims to love so much. I likewise hope Mr. Burt was able to sell lots of… They will need the cash.
We should have just held the damn referendum and saved a bit of money .. But now….oh I don’t know (sigh)oh gosh .
mmm mmmn, what a disgrace.
I hope all of the electorate realise that they have taken pay cuts, furlough days and other hard sacrifices in these hard economic times and now to have the very people that run the country to say that we now have to pay for them to settle a dispute was created by them. Well i say no and it is time for people to stand up and start really looking at what is going on and all the hidden agendas. The politicians have a power struggle going on and we the electorate are paying for there miss management.
They need not waste money that is not in the coffers on litigation.
Question the constitution and the rights of the leaders.
Now this is the most sensible comment I’ve read all week. This is what all taxpayers should be complaining about. As a matter of a fact, all taxpayers should refuse to work until both the OBA and PLP stop wasting taxpayers funds. People are suffering, people are having funds taken out of their pay as a result of this Government saying that there’s no money. This is what the BIU and all civil servants should be protesting against. I’ve always said it, the Government has money, they just don’t want the taxpayer living a comfortable life.
all those who keep supporting this deceiving thugs plp …keep it up and hope you can pay your mortgage,rents,food,bills ….tribalism is ruining BERMUDA big time!
More money wasted. Get rid of the Oba and PLP and get people in charge who are about change and not personal gain.
More of our money down the toilet.
At the end of the day,Bermuda has nothing to show for it,just enriched lawyers.
Bermuda will never be what it once was,in it’s hey day.
It’s time for Oba to get to stepping. Spending government funds on something that doesn’t benifiet anyone but Craig? Bye OBA Bye!
Hey speaking of something that doesn’t benefit anyone but one or two people, did Dr. Brown and Mr. Burgess ever pay back the money for their lawsuit?
The Premier of Bermuda LIED to us when he told us that his “business manager merely hitched a ride back”. It was revealed as fact that the said “business manager” sat in on the casino meetings with the government’s contact who for years has been at the center of a number of criminal investigations relevant to bribing government officials and his ties to the mob. The Premier blatantly lied to us. While I see nothing wrong really with the Manager, if he in fact introduced the contract or had some expertise to assist the business relationship, I do have a problem with the lie that was told that he was not in attendance. For this reason and this reason only, the Premier needs to step down. He is clearly in way over his head, and does not have the moral or ethic fortitude to lead us. His lack of technical and economic understanding clearly evident every time he opens his mouth and attempts to speak on any fiscal topic is further testament that he needs to step down. He is not qualified for the job at hand – as foreman of the reconstruction team tasked with Bermuda’s rebuild.
The information that was found about Landow on the internet, by a simple google search is mindboggling. Doesn’t the Premier and his aides conduct some due diligence on the people they consider doing business with? That meeting should never have been held with Landow. I hate the way Doc Brown is always pulled into such discussions, but if it was Doc Brown, DeSilva et al who had met with a man of this character and track record, the Country would have been in an uproar.
The silence of most of Mr. Bean’s PLP colleagues in Parliament is thus far deafening.
The same can be said about Craigs oba colleague’s
Gotham, I am not understanding you comment. There’s been silence on both sides. The more I read comments such as your the more I see I made a mistake voting for the OBA.
Well first of all it’s not anyone’s business but Craig and the three other ministeres involved, but what’s deafening is how silent the PLP minsters are to back up Bean and Burt because the allegations must be “true” right?!?! Right?!?! That’s what I though, everyone’s scared of Bean’s hatred, even in his own party. PATHETIC!
Wrong, its the business of the people. And it will be the business of the peoples as long as they are using our hard earned tax dollars my friend.
As much as I dislike the PLP, I’m certainly not about to be an apologist for this nonsense from the OBA: sorry, you can’t defame an office of State, you defame the individual who occupies that office. There is no reason for the taxpayer to be picking up the tab for this, and the Premier’s actions here make him no better than the likes of Burgess and Brown, who were slammed by the Auditor General for doing much the same thing. Fund the lawsuit out of your own pocket, Mr. Cannonier.
I am NOT AT ALL happy to hear that my tax dollars are going to pay for Craig’s civil suit. While I support Craig’s suit and feel strongly that he needs to defend his reputation, it is a PERSONAL matter, not a government matter.
Didn’t the previous (allegedly) corrupt government settle this issue already. We’ve been there, done that. Who is giving Craig legal advice? Pettingil? It is doomed to failure. (Which was probably the intent if the AG is behind it and Craig’s just too dumb to see it.)
Stop making the same stupid mistakes. I voted for change.
What was the suit brought in Canada by Derrick Burgess and Ewart Brown for.? Who paid for that? Whatever happened to that one?
So that makes it ok for the Premier to do the same thing??? If your answer is yes, then that’s part of the problem my friend.
Can you explain the difference between then and now?
If you can’t, you are part of the problem.
@ Premier CC:
By all means take legal action but NOT AT OUR expense.
Between this new legal action, and the ongoing circus called CoH and their legal action, the tax payer of Bermuda is being taken advantage of royally…..
Enough…….
-FWB Jr
All this he said she said nonsense!! This foolishness is going to carry on until someone runs out of “fuel”!))
Politricks!
This is a serious question, what happens if he wins the suit? Is this a suit in which monies will be rewarded for damages? If that is the case then he should not be allowed the monies and the funds should be assigned to the government Yes/No? I don’t know.
Well it should be such that any money awarded in a Government lawsuit goes into the Government coffer… somehow I highly doubt this will be the case!
If it is CRAIG’S character, why doesn’t CRAIG pay for the lawsuit?
If he was not Premier & if the alleged statements were not made to him as Premier over a Government matter, he would be liable for his own bills. Since it is CC the Premier not CC the private citizen we pay.
There will be a winner & a loser. If the Premier wins, Bean & Burt pay costs therefore no cost to the taxpayer.
Correct, but it is not the office of the Premier that was accused of these allegations, it was the Premier’s character that was brought into question.
Then again, I do remember the same thing stemming from then Premier Dr. Brown. Seems that both sides of the coin today were singing the tunes of the other side back then.
Bermuda politics is full of lies deceit and falsehoods.
Could you explain the differance as you see it when it comes to ‘Office of the Premier’ and ‘Premier’s character’?
This isn’t America & unlike American court system hardly ever does the magistrates here make those who lose the case liable to pay court expenses. Even when the court here does make the party found guilty pay most of the time those guilty will claim bankruptcy & that they only can pay a portion per month which can be as low as $10. When this happens the judges hammer comes down & that’s that it’s agreed & there’s nothing those who won the case can do about it. I assume the government funds used for this case are those burrowed since there was nothing to begin with. At the amount that the guilty will be liable to pay will probably not even cover the interest charge & the public will have to sacrifice more than they already have for years to come to cover this case.
Are you saying that Bean and Burt are likely to be claiming bankruptcy?
No, I’m saying whoever loses the case will which obviously you think will be Bean & Burt. This is common when it comes to monetary compensation in court. This is why it’s better to settle out of court when this is what is to be sought out because the judge isn’t going to let a case be drawn-out after a verdict is made just to argue whether the guilty party really has the funds or not. This would have to be argued in another case that allows evidence of assets which could go on for years & take more fees for investigation especially if assets are cleverly hidden.
It’s best for whoever is really the innocent one to urge their lawyer to subpoena Craig’s business manager so they can be questioned in court as they are the missing link in much of this. This testimony by the manager may put the jury on par with what really went on & giving a fairway to target-line who’s really the sandbagger in all of this. This is the only way the real bogey in this will come to the back nine & the jury can start heading in. There’s no use in listening to what one little birdie says another little birdie says when it could all be backspin.
By the way Tommy,
The USA does not have a ‘loser pays’ system. Don’t know where you got that idea.
The English and Bermudian legal system does in fact allow the court to award costs. But, as you say, if it turns out that Bean and Burt claim bankruptcy, that doesn’t help much. And you seem to think that would happen, interestingly.
What you’re referring to in the USA is a default rule that gets superseded many times by federal statutes & many state laws. It can also be superseded by agreement between both sides prior to trial that the loser pays.
In the UK they compensate legal costs but Bermudian courts don’t always do the same. It’s not mandatory in all cases here for the judge to award legal costs to the winner.
I never stated who would be the loser or winner of the case hence I never stated Bean & Burt would claim bankruptcy. Either way it goes I believe whoever is fund at fault will claim bankruptcy as this is common practice when things go pair shaped in court here.
You all crazy to think that this is about bribery & corruption, recorded tapes, and he said vs she said. Nothing that is happening right now makes no logical sense. Why did the PLP take so long to report anything? Why the OBA take so long to mention the tape? This is all part of a larger plan.
The budget comes out TOMORROW. There is something in the Budget that the PLP doesn’t like so they resort to these dirty tactics to defame the Premier and government. Even the OBA are questioning the Premier (re Minister Tourism comments).
This is how it will play out:
1. Budget released – OBA has plan to decrease deficit with very minimal loss to human capital (i.e. not a lot of lay offs). Meaning civil service happy. PLP not happy cause now they have no way to win next election.
2. Premier Steps down (or removed) call it what you like. PLP not happy cause no one left to defame (for now). OBA moves forward with a rebounding economy and ALL of the swing voters who don’t care about dirty politics. The care about the economy.
3. Marc Bean and Burt loss lawsuit. Possible removed from PLP leadership. Lister, Horton, Daniels, Ming or even Butler become new leadership. Plus all benefit from a rebounding economy.
All of this is speculation but it makes some sort of logical sense.
FYI – A bribe is a bribe whether accepted or not AND id not reported, you are just as guilty as the offering party.
Great attempt @THE FACTS, but your missing some key facts to make such an analyses. I do not agree with a few of your outlines.
It just keeps getting more embarrassing…for all involved
OBAubp government WASTING TAX PAYERS MONIES FOR MR PREMIER> this is a very serious thing, when others are having to take a cut in pay and suffer due to loss.
If money is so tight, why is the government wasting money to protect the Premier. The best step forward would have made him own up to his mis-doings and tell the truth. He is running scare, and he has already damage his entire self image. This recent action does not help nor save him. Folks have little if no respect for him now.
The UBPoba MPs are only standing now to hold onto power, after the dust settles down…out the door you go Premier…..REALLY…..a blind man can see that….
You’re up to four t’s now? How many of you are there, exactly? Is it the whole of the PLP politbureau?
The government has the entire legal staff of the ministry of Justice to defend the government and this legal action is a private matter and I expect the Auditor General to opine on the planned use of government funds BEFORE it happens!
This proves we can no longer govern ourselves, surely the UK
must step in now.
The inmates are running the asylum!
One thing it proves, Bermuda is nowhere near ready for independence, not with this constant childish behavior.
http://jeremydeacon.wordpress.com/2014/02/20/are-we-paying-for-this-slander-action/
soon you will many people losing their homes and fancy cars as the jobs dry up and the banks dont get their money.
The entirety of Bermuda government – both parties look like muppets.
First- how many ex- cons do we have there? Seems to be easy to be an MP if you’ve been involved with drugs before !! These are the people that are running Bermuda, mud slinging and acting like fools for personal gain.
MAKES ME SICK
Lois,
Agreed. But we also have a convicted bank robber sitting in Parliament!
The standards demanded by the Bermuda voter of their MPs is very low.
Don’t blame the politicians. You all put them in there. You got what you asked for, criminals & all.
This political bickering needs to cease! Truth needs to be revealed and my country needs to pull it together. What about our seniors who worked to contribute to a pension who get minimum funds at the end of the month to cover necessities like food, electricity, rent, and medicine? What about the middle class citizens who have been always suffering who always balanced to pay their way but now they can’t because of high priced necessities? What about the people who turned to financial assistance only to be told they make $500 to much…..what’s there procedures allow after after knowing ones business and that person really and truthfully can’t afford to live a basic lifestyle in our country? What about the single parents who receive child support $100 a week when a bag of groceries cost $75? What about our PEOPLE….Bermudians need to focus on the issues we face daily rather then this BS rivalry between PLP and OBA!!! Some people might ask what does this post have to do with the topic….I say I don’t care what topic is headed this real ness needs to be addressed. Everyone is hurting cause of the burdens and pressures of the economical times. It’s gonna take US to change our mind sets and move Bermuda forward in a whole new direction. Bermuda needs to wise up! One Bermuda and a Bermuda for ALL!!!!!!
What a weak Premier Bermuda has. He is sending other MPs to court for Slander!?! Really? You run for the hot seat and can’t take the heat. Yet, what other MPs are saying is potentially harmful to Bermuda? Sounds like its harmful to you, I don’t see other Bermudians sweating this thing but you. Oh and um, we the people don’t want to fund your ego fuel party by sending people to the courts. Use your money. Like I said…weak.
In your world he is not supposed to defend himself or the integrity of his position? He is supposed to take licks & say nothing. Is that the way it is supposed to be?
The have been numerous complaints from the PLP side that CC is invisible. He does not say anything. Well, now he is saying plenty. There is just so long that you can tolerate little ankle biting dogs nipping at you before you get tired of it & give a good kick back. That is what he has done.
Too much time has been spent listening to the distracting yap yap yap.
This is beyond bickering, it will be a legal suit when Cannonier authorises his legal team. So, we WAITING, Mr premier. File the writ(s)!
What really gets me angry is the way this man has found access to the public purse to siphon off funds, which will be in the hundreds of thousands – if this case is allowed to drag out – just like Dr Brown did. And his arrogance will see it all the way to the Supreme Court in London.
No English QC, Mr premier?
Best legal case scenario, case is thrown out and all litigants will have to pay their own legal costs and an equal share of court costs.
My questions is, why didn’t you spot this train wreck coming, OBA?
You are seasoned politicians, you know what is at stake here. You need to cut out the cancer and move on, that way you have a viable and credible chance with the public support.
London, England
“why didn’t you spot this train wreck coming, OBA?”
How exactly is one supposed to foresee another person accusing one of being a criminal? And how is one supposed to prevent that from happening? Aren’t you blaming the victim?
And who precisely is the victim here?
And the victim of what?
Please do NOT confuse domestic abuse with political abuse.
If your answer is Cannonier, he is a victim of his own arrogance, ignorance and lack of political ethics.
Cannonier needs to step down for the good of the country.
And this is NOT the PLP speaking.
London, England
The Premier is the ‘victim’ in as far as the alleged slander from both Mr. Burt and Mr. Bean. And this suit so far as nothing to do with the ‘jetgate’ questions and has to do with the alleged offering of a bribe. How is this Cannonier fault again?
I must convince you of the premier’s guilt or innocence, isn’t that’s what a court of law is for?
You must make up your own mind on the allegations.
The ‘victim’ will be determined by a Court of law, if Cannonier has enough self-respect and courage to take it into into Court.
Anyone can rumble out threats of a law suit, but the sooner it has been filed into Court, the sooner the Court will render its determination on the matter.
What I fund very ironic, the premier of the country will not answer questions from the media, but his supporters demand answers from the blogging public.
Aren’t you a tad confused as to whom you should be demanding answers from?
London, England
So how was the victim of the alleged defamation supposed to prevent the defamation from happening?
You appear to be avoiding the question.
If it’s an alleged defamation wouldn’t he be the alleged victim not just the victim.
@Sandy Bottom…
I think that you have me confused with the person who should be giving you answers to the question(s). It is the premier’s job to be accounable, transparent and responsible to the public and he slammed that door in the public’s face when he walked out of his own press conference.
By having his business partner at the overseas casino meetings without his business partner holding ANY official capacity within the Government of Bermuda, the premier comprimised his own integrity. Does that scenerio sound like a vitim to you? A victim of what, his own stupidity?
As time marshalls on, the only ‘victim’ left standing will be the public purse, and we all know how brutally victimised it has been by politicians.
London, England
You appear to be unaware of the allegations that are the subject of the lawsuit. Maybe the news hasn’t made it over to the UK quite as clearly.
Read my first post starting at 10:37am in the opening paragraph it mentions the law suit.
Don’t be angry and lash out with sarcastic remarks, it’s not the fault of the British or myself that he tripped over his feet.
If you want the public to be on the side of the premier try humility, it works better than sarcasm, especially when you are working yourself out of a hole of desperation.
And you might try reading the timestamp on remarks, before you lash out with your sarcastic remarks. And tuck your feet under.
London, England
Right is right n wrong is wrong please handle by getting to bottom of all this. The world is in a up roar so we join them?? Biggest Mafia in the world is Government!!!! Shake down the people for the little they have. Who scolds theses MP’s In theses situations??? It’s time for the strap to come out. Fine those involved n or ask them to resign. Let’s get back to basics food water n shelter is being held hostage by the prices that keep soaring! People are still losing their jobs! Our light bills matching our loan payments. We buying more but making nothing!!!!!! #lordplsbewiththesesleaders
My question to the Premier is why do we (Bermudian Tax Payers) have to pay for this when we have more important things that need funding. For example Palmatto Road, a main road that cannot be funded by government for repairs, as least it is still out for debate. Please as a tax payer take the funds from the court case and pay for the road.
Could someone refresher our memory, wasn’t there a whole lot of noise when Dr. Brown and Mr. Derrick Burgess were accused of being on the take based on forged cheques found in Government files and the decision was made to sue in his capacity as Premier and public funds were used?
So it is okay for the OBA Premier to use public money to sue for defamation but it was not acceptable for Dr. Brown & Mr. Burgess?
Someone needs to look at the financial instructions 3.5 & 10.4 unless they have changed.
What is good for the PLP government should be good for the OBA government.
“What is good for the PLP government should be good for the OBA government.”
Glad you think so.
The government paid the costs of the defamation suit brought by Ewart Brown and Derrick Burgess.
Can someone inform the Premier and the rest of the OBA what constitutes as a Press Conference please. The person calling the conference is suppose to entertain questions from the newspaper and television reporters- what makes him different from everyone else? even the President of the US takes questions from media attending his press conferences- the media here should be upset that protocol keeps being broken by this Premier. I think the next time the Premier calls for a press conference, the media should not attend! Because on one hand the premier wants them there but on the other hand he disrespects them by not even allowing them to ask questions.
@Suzie
you asked what is the difference between this Premier’s lawsuit and the previous one. This Premier and the Opposition leader created this mess themselves!! The former Premier did not manufacture the fake checks so the situations are not the same!
If the Auditor General thought that the use of public funds was not appropriate in the former case then I feel certain she will feel the same in this one. I only hope she intervenes before any public funds are spent!!
Then why is it that the former Premier lost the lawsuit that was brought using public funds?
The Premier did not “cause the mess”. The lawsuit is about the allegations made by Bean and Burt. Nobody forced them to make the allegations.
If Cannonier thinks he’s innocent of the allegations he has every right to sue them. And unlike Ewart and Burgess, he’s using his own money.
@Sandy Bottom…
At the time that this article appeared online, the update that the premier will be funding his own legal defence was not available to bloggers.
My understanding of the background to the allegations is that Messrs Bean and Burt strenuously deny that they were involved in ANY attempt to undermine the gaming referendum.
And if we go back to the premier’s remarks to the media, he accused the opposition of planning to undermine the referendum, and singled out Bean in particular for having that agenda.
Whether or not this is true, is not what I’m arguing here. It is the starting point of the contention and mayhem that has led to the allegations.
Please let’s NOT spin it…
London, England
One day, as a people, we will wake up and realize that we are on this 24 square mile Island together. I hope I am alive to see it, but I doubt it!
U know what makes me laugh there is a certain radio show that when allegations where made about the PLP all she said was if there is “no proof” or “substance” to the allegations u can’t just but stuff out there! Well sorry i think u have a double sided coin sweetheart! The PlP say that the royal gazette has selective journalism well well dont u have a selective radio show!? So whats worst selective air waves or newspaper PLP? U really can’t make this stuff up!
Correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t one usually sue after it is proven that the allegations are false and not before? I seem to remember Brown & co. doing this in their lawsuit re the false kickback checks of yester year.
If the allegations have been proven to be false then Cannonier has every right to sue. If not, then this appears suspicious – an attempt deflect from the very real possibility that there may a measure of corruption in the government. And also a implied threat to any with insider information of corruption or bad behavior to keep their mouths shut.
It is the Court that determines whether the allegation is true or false.
You can defame someone (make scandalous) remarks, but if the defamation is true then you have no legal recourse. In other words, you will not succeed in Court if the words that were spoken are the truth. The other two some common defences are justification and fair comment, all must be proven by the defendants (Bean & Burt).
The measures taken to prove slander can be very intricate. Essentially what is defaming must be precisely stated before the Court, such as, the premier denies the precise defaming allegations or part thereof, then Bean & Burt must defend their defaming statements with proof and that proof can be presented in various forms, i.e., emails, eye-witnesses, accounts of meetings, etc.
In the video that has been posted online by Bernews, the premier refers to the allegations as ‘reckless’ lies, so what he is attempting to establish is that the allegations were made with ‘malicious intent’ which, if proven, makes the allegations even more serious in terms of damages awarded.
Will this be criminal or civil defamation?
London, England
PS – And for those of you who blog regularly, you can libel someone by posting on a blog, just one other person needs to see it for you to be liable or subject to legal action.
It is the Court that determines whether the allegation is true or false.
You can defame someone (make scandalous) remarks, but if the defamation is true then you have no legal recourse. In other words, you will not succeed in Court if the words that were spoken are the truth. The two most common defences are justification and fair comment, all must be proven by the defendants (Bean & Burt).
The measures taken to prove slander can be very intricate. Essentially what is defaming must be precisely stated before the Court, such as, the premier denies the precise defaming allegations or part thereof, then Bean & Burt must defend their defaming statements with proof and that proof can be presented in various forms, i.e., emails, eye-witnesses, accounts of meetings, memoranda of understanding signed before the premier announced that the referendum would not take place, (if any exists), etc.
In the video that has been posted online by Bernews, the premier refers to the allegations as ‘reckless’ lies, so what he is attempting to establish is that the allegations were made with ‘malicious intent’ which, if proven, makes the allegations even more serious in terms of damages awarded.
Will this be criminal or civil defamation?
London, England