PLP Condemns “Vitriolic And Hateful Attacks”

August 27, 2014

[Updated] The PLP said they “condemns the vitriolic and hateful attacks that have been posted anonymously online by individuals claiming to be OBA supporters.”

“We say we believe in freedom of speech yet in some quarters, that freedom of speech is viewed as the sole privilege of those who by philosophy or by financial inducement, toe the OBA party line,” said PLP Chairman Maynard Dill.

Mr. Dill said, “Mr. Eron Hill is a young, intelligent and talented Bermudian who has chosen to step forward and speak his mind to advocate for Bermudians. Yet he was met with statements from OBA supporters such as

“If you don’t feel valued perhaps you should shut up and move somewhere else…Perhaps we should start marching to get all those lazy Bermudians off the wall and couches and into work.

“Already people identifying themselves as OBA supporters or perhaps financially induced to operate on their behalf have begun to turn their poison pens on to Kim Swan.

“Meanwhile those who claim to speak on behalf of the OBA, as they have for some time are allowed to attack, demean and denigrate the intellect, ability and choices of Bermudians while Premier Dunkley sits mute.

“We call on all Bermudians who believe in freedom, justice and equality and that stand in opposition to the marginalization of Bermudians to condemn these nefarious and despicable acts performed under a cloak of anonymity.

“The actions of this divisive few not only lowers the quality of political discourse, widen the political and racial divide but also marginalizes the contribution of our fellow Bermudians.”

Update: A One Bermuda Alliance spokesperson today commented on the online attacks directed towards Eron Hill, who published on opinion on Bernews.

The spokesman said: “The opposition claim that the OBA is behind the vitriolic attacks published in the commentary against Eron Hill’s opinion piece recently published on Bernews is incorrect. Nothing could be further from the truth. The OBA has no knowledge of, nor any involvement whatsoever with the commentary directed towards Mr. Hill.

“For the opposition to claim this is the work of paid OBA bloggers is ludicrous. The opposition’s continued use of false accusations is simply gutter politics at its worst.”

The OBA spokesperson added: “The OBA fully supports free speech, and we have made the call for responsible free speech. The OBA also calls on all news organisations to moderate their online comments and avoid posting poisonous personal attacks. We also call on the community to raise the level of discourse and engage in reasoned and rational debate.”

Read More About

Category: All

Comments (66)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Always Watching says:

    Jeepers you all are worse then babies…If you can’t stand the heat get your a** out the kitchen. The only reason people use pseudonyms is so that they don’t get personally attacked. We know how passionate those PLP supporters can be :)

  2. James Herald says:

    This is rich coming from the PLP.

    Pot? Kettle?

    • CBA says:

      Race always seems to make its way in with the PLP. They cite the comment of one blogger and immediately blame the OBA. Get real!

      • hmmm says:

        I’ve never seen that bloggers name before either …. do you think this was a set up ??????

      • Coffee says:

        Kinda reminds me of your reaction to that one little woman with that one little placard at the last march !

      • mj says:

        did you and the other bloggers call all your friends to dislike, or did you pay some people to dislike… Childish behaviour is what I call it and yes it borders on race, he who feels it knows it.. Everytime someone makes a comment depending on the ethnicity or lack thereof then comments differ… the sleeping GIANT is awakening, we actually can read between the lines!

      • X man says:

        But lets keep in our Minds that Race will play a big part in the next Election too.
        This is why the OBA supporters should be aware of what they say.

  3. sonso says:

    LOL

  4. Hmmm says:

    Wow, I guess folks were right. the PLP is using this guy to score politcal points. Whether that be the OBA or in this case the general public.

  5. Slim Pickens says:

    NOBODY…say nothin bad about me…even though we spent your monies and put you in debt up to your ears….plp …this right here is politics…you heard the people…all that are voicy to you are not either oba or plp…believe it or not a lot of people feel the way they do because of your actions.

  6. Sandgrownan says:

    Bwwahahaha….

  7. Toodle-oo says:

    ”Meanwhile those who claim to speak on behalf of the OBA, as they have for some time”

    Here we go again . Sounds like the claim the the OBA said the Grand Atlantic was going to fall into the sea.

    Let’s get it straight Mr Dill . Because someone might be an OBA supporter , or type a message ‘sounding’ like an OBA supporter does NOT mean they are speaking on behalf of the party.

    Got it ?

    And don’t pull that cr@p about them remaining silent so it must be an endorsement. Where’s the PLP outrage at the half dozen PLP trolls who are on here posting nasty garbage 24 hours a day ?

    • Coffee says:

      Yup and the half dozen you speak of have a tall order correcting and negating the blatant lies spewed out in rapid fire by the well trained army of OBA paid trolls patrolling Bernews . Did I mention the abject filth and foulness that they so readily bestow as gifts to anyone who doesn’t support their twisted ideas or views !

    • Changing Tide says:

      you do know that a half dozen equals to 6!!! Freakin 6!!! Out of how many supporters!! I can trust a supporter(troll as you call them) who are posting simply as a supporter,BUT I CANT TRUST A PARTY,WHOM WE NOW FIND OUT,PAID SO-CALLED SUPPORTERS TO POST NASTY GARBAGE 24 HOURS A DAY!! IF YOU ARE A SO-CALLED SUPPORTER,YOU COULD HAVE ATLEAST DONE IT FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR PARTY!!! Typical, let me get something out of it mentality!GREED,GREED,GREED! OBA in power for less than a year and involved in underhanded dealings that caused a Premiere to resign followed by an investigation that was carried out by the chairman resulting in him finding other questionable things(we may never find out)being the man of integrity, didn’t like what he discovered ending in him resigning! NEED I SAY MORE!!!!SMH

      • Creamy says:

        You’re now suggesting this person was paid to put up that post?

        Why couldn’t I just as easily allege it was a paid PLP supporter trying to make the other side look bad?

        Absurd.

        • Changing Tide says:

          its not absurd when Decosta,on the Sherri J show, told Bermuda that HE WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE OBA PAID PEOPLE TO POST! I DONT CARE WHAT THE OBA AND ITS SUPPORTERS SAY,YOU ALL ARE UNDERHANDED AND HAVE NO CREDIBILITY!!!! NONE WHAT SO EVER!!! THE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE FOOLED AGAIN I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT!! Many Blessings

    • Coffee says:

      Yup and the half dozen you speak of have a tall order correcting and negating the blatant lies spewed out in rapid fire by the well trained army of OBA paid trolls patrolling various Bermuda related blogs . Did I mention the abject filth and foulness that they so readily bestow as gifts to anyone who doesn’t support their twisted ideas or views !

  8. J.Jacobs says:

    Mr.Dill forget “These People” ……….the UBP/OBA has more cowards in their circus then clowns.

    • Sandgrownan says:

      Someone call a whaaaaaambulance….

    • Hmmm says:

      I guess, Mr Dill needs to apologise and condemn you J.Jacobs, for your vitriolic and hateful attack.

  9. James Herald says:

    The PLP can’t stand criticism plain and simple. They sure can dish it out though – but I guess that’s differnet cos its them doing it.

    Thsi is exactly why PLP is doomed to failure.

  10. Tolerate says:

    Wow,
    Not defending anyone (from either Party) but after ALL that I have to read from the PLP (members and representatives) and their bloggers… The PLP play the victim card?
    I’m Speechless…..
    ROFL

  11. Joonya says:

    Were they demonic?

  12. JR says:

    Meanwhile, operatives of the PLP and BIU are given free reign to make whatever comments they want.

    Like this gem by Alvin William today on Facebook:

    “Maybe it will really sink in when all black politicians see no option accept the the PLP or even better if whites begin to leave the herd mentality behind and really begin to vote on the issue.”

    I’m waiting for a press release from Maynard Dill condemning this “vitriolic” comment.

  13. 32n64w says:

    Perhaps the PLP can confirm exactly where the quoted poster (William) claimed to be an OBA supporter from the the post in question:

    “The answer Mr Hill is yes. If you don’t feel valued perhaps you should shut up and move somewhere else. I didn’t even have to read the article to see where it was going. The PLP messed this island up so don’t go blaming the OBA for causing and not fixing the problems. PRCs are welcome to stay, Expats more than welcome to stay and so is any other foreigner who is working hard here. Perhaps we should start marching to get all those lazy Bermudians off the wall and couches and into work. And yes there are jobs, just gotta look. And if you don’t like washing pots or cleaning then don’t complain that a foreigner is doing that job. if you don’t like foreigners here working then the solution is sooooo simple, educate yourself and take their job once you are qualified.”

    Amazing how far the PLP will go to conflate issues purely for their own political gain.

    They also conveniently cut out the entire middle section of the post where the author suggested the PLP were squarely to blame for our current economic crisis. Their unprofessional and selective editing skills reveal more about their own overt underhandedness than some random online remarks.

    “The actions of this divisive few not only lowers the quality of political discourse, widen the political and racial divide but also marginalizes the contribution of our fellow Bermudians.”

    Total hypocrisy. It seems the PLP appear to conveniently forget their own current and former Premier, MPs & Senators’ remarks. Their goal is to divide and conquer.

    PLP – party before country since 1998.

  14. Slim Pickens says:

    plp …you must look at your cruel actions as a govt. in order to move forward.

  15. Triangle Drifter says:

    11th Commandment: Thou shalt not criticise the PLP.

    • X man says:

      Lets not forget that what is said now can have an effect on the next election.
      Especially words like “Lazy Bermudians” that give many Bermudians that the impression that the OBA
      is a White ex Foreign Workers Political Party.—- it certinly doesn’t help.
      Let not forget that several thousand one time PLP supporters voted for the OBA and a lot of PLP supporters didn’t vote
      and even if the OBA manage to get 700 -800 PRC’s to vote that they still wouldn’t make up the numbers.
      Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh – what you say now could haunt you tomorrow.– the 12th commandment!

  16. Rumforbreakfast says:

    I just think it’s sad that so many people waste so much time being so hateful about everything in these forums. Anti-PLP, Anti-OBA, I don’t see the point (what does it achieve? nothing!). Why be like that! Use your energies to post solutions, not to stir the pot of blame and negativity. Please.

    Take your head out of your computer and go for a walk and look around you at our beautiful country. We are all so very lucky to be able to call ourselves Bermudian.

  17. Kim Smith says:

    I think it is quite something for either side to be criticising the other’s supporters of vitriolic and hateful attacks in the media comments. Both are equally guilty of that.

  18. Kim Smith says:

    I actually meant that I think it is quite something for ANY side to criticise the other’s supporters of vitriolic and hateful attacks in the media comments. Both are equally guilty of that.

  19. Coffee says:

    With BPAC giving away money to trolls , there really is a leash attached to the vicious voice of the minority in this country .

    • hmmm says:

      is it chaffing Coffee ?

      • Coffee says:

        The shocking news of the OBA leader and Premier of Bermuda Craig Cannonier resigning in disgrace and his connection to BPAC caused a lot of chaffing among the OBA diehards , you may not have got affected due to your leathery skin but I’m sure that the fleas are having one b**** of a party on you . So feel free to scratch , eventually you will also chaff . I have lovely Coffee colored skin ! Nice and smooth .

        • Creamy says:

          You’re being vitriolic and hateful. Watch out, Maynard will complain about you.

        • Unbelievable says:

          Calm down, TCF. You’re being hateful and vitriolic.

  20. Colourless says:

    Of course this is new territory for the PLP! No one in their camp has ever been vitriolic or hateful! How sweet it is that they are getting a taste of their own medicine.

    • hmmm says:

      There was one comment from a general public commentator. I wouldn’t describe it as vitriolic or hateful. It sounded like the person was fed up of the rehashing of the same already debunked PLP rhetoric.

      The wall sitter comment was totally uneccessary and IMHO incorrect on any level.

      Many folks who questioned the PLP in the reign of terror have been told, if you don’t like it , then leave. So to pick on that seems a little unfair.

      Please show me where people say they are OBA supporters????????

  21. PBanks says:

    But surely, the more vociferous OBA cheerleaders must realize that they’re giving the PLP ammunition every time they pile onto these kinds of articles?

    That every sneering, mocking phrase will be used to persuade others that the OBA support base is full of those kinds of characters?

    And no it doesn’t matter that there are nasty voices within the PLP; if they can successfully convince past-abstainers and undecideds that OBA voices are like they describe, then OBA members have more work to do.

  22. Governor Bruere says:

    “The people of these islands are lazy, stupid, obstinate, small minded and thoroughly objectionable”
    (Governor George James Bruere, 1763, on Bermuda)

  23. MB says:

    The PLP’s Laverne is the meanest of all.

  24. aceboy says:

    Too flipping funny.

    I never saw the PLP condemn the woman with the mental illness sign.

    Grow up PLP.

  25. Jeremy Deacon says:

    Sorry, but is there any proof? If so, can the PLP please post it?
    Thanks.

    • Ringmaster says:

      There is no proof, so the PLP’s position seems to be summed up by this quote from Dr. Brown on another Bernews news story:

      “Because some of your more rabid bloggers repeat lies does not mean that the lies will be transformed into TRUTH.”

      Rather like the scare story on the eve of the 2007 Election that the Opposition intends to give status to 8,000 non Bermudians.

  26. Unbelievable says:

    This was the case when the PLP was in power; if anyone had the nerve to criticise them they’d be banished. It was true of those inside and outside the PLP.

    • Cleancut says:

      Some had to sign an elegance to the King.

      • Hmmm says:

        Allegiance, but elegance sounds more apt in the case!

        • Coffee says:

          You wanna see elegance … Check out how premier Craig Cannonier resigned … Now that was a class act ! Oh and very elegant I must say .

  27. Keepin' it Real!...4Real! says:

    Life’s Hard!…Wear A Helmet! i can see you are not gonna survive what is yet to come.

  28. Oh please says:

    Why is is anybody against the PLP is hateful and vitriolic yet I have never seen a party spew forth more hate and prejudicial speech than they themselves?

  29. The Underground Movement says:

    The only thing I bothers me is the constant use of ” LAZY BERMUDIANS ” the people who constantly say such words
    cannot be Bermudians or they are Foreigners have formed another Bermuda.
    Most decent Bermudians I know are hard working people – infect many had a second job before 2009.
    I worked with a lot of Forien workers and many of them couldn’t even keep up with us Bermudians especialy when I
    was doing Construction – the Bermudian worker kept going even when it was 3 days before Cup Match in the blazining Sun
    while the Forien worker ducked in the shade.—- could it be the Forien workers who have become status Bermudians
    that are promoting this – and could we be developing a 3 way Bermuda or does it exist. – The Born Black Bermudian,the Born
    White Bermudian and the Forien Born Brmudian.
    A 3 way split Bermuda means Kaos in Bermuda that has developed into the hatred for each other.
    Beware when Bermudians lable foorien workers with and Insulting words.

  30. LiarLiar says:

    Interesting position from Mr. Dill to stereotype thousands of people over 1 comment in a thread which has almost 200 comments posted so far.

    What I find even more interesting is that the PLP have yet to condemn their former appointed spokerperon’s, Jahmal Simmons, tweets about shooting people in the heads, burning down Bermuda and going around slapping people who he thought might resemble Letters to the Editors authors

    Guess since they appointed this hateful person and did not condemn such hate speech that one must assume that this ignorant train of thought is rife throughout the Party. But in all honesty I dodn’t need Mr. Simmons to confirm that as some things never change.

  31. Sofia says:

    By suggesting that the Government is paying people to blog negative comments about the PLP, Mr. Dill obviously believes that people don’t have the intelligence or capability to think for themselves, thus insulting everyone, whether they be OBA supporters or not.

    I’d like to know where Mr. Dill thinks the money is coming from to pay people to sit at their computers, day in and day out, pounding out negative comments about the PLP. It certainly couldn’t be the government as THERE IS NO MONEY because the PLP left the country broke!

    People are posting comments against the PLP, its spokespersons and supporters because they don’t believe in or accept the PLP’s message or methods.

    • PBanks says:

      To be fair, I think the paid blogging was something contained in Steven DeCosta’s report on how their election campaign was set up.

  32. Raymond Ray says:

    I’m also one that spends a great deal of their time in front of a computer injecting my personal views. Yes, I also support the One Bermuda Alliance and it’s not the other way around.
    I believe the O.B.A. are Bermudas best hope. If it’s difficult for you to comprehend then just consider the previous decade, the one prior to the change in Government :-(

  33. PANGAEA says:

    YOU REAP WHAT YOU SEW.

    • Coffee says:

      @Pangaea …Stop wearing tight pants to avoid busting the crotch , then you wouldn’t have to sew anything .

  34. @ keepin it real…what was that ?Clarify your intonation …just go ahead n’say it…are you being scary???Perhaps you should put a scary face emoji with that…or …something.

  35. e says:

    Glad to see the Loyal Opposition has a firm grasp of its Parliamentary duties – keeping chippy comments off Bernews.

  36. Silence Do Good says:

    We call on all Bermudians who believe in freedom, justice and equality and that stand in opposition to the marginalization of Bermudians to condemn these nefarious and despicable acts.

    That is rich coming from the PLP who has marginalized me as a white unionized Bermudian female (a once PLP support by the way) with their racial insightful rhetoric over the last decade.

    I have never felt more disenfranchised or marginalized as a real Bermudian than when the PLP were spouting their racial call to arms at election time.