Premier On PAC: No Need For Race Card
Premier Dr Ewart Brown spoke today [July 2] in the House of Assembly in reference to the first public meeting of the Public Accounts Committee [PAC] yesterday, The meeting yesterday centered around the Tourism budget, and in particular the contract awarded to American advertising agency Global Hue [website here].
The Premier refuted allegations that Don Coleman, Chairman of Global Hue, was an “old buddy” of his, saying he met Mr Coleman in a professional capacity when “he was introduced to me as a major force in the advertising industry, as the owner of one of the largest, award-winning multi-cultural ad agencies in the world” in 2004/5.
The Premier specifically mentioned a comment made during the meeting by the UBP’s Bob “ET” Richards, which he said was to the effect that “you could have had the best advertising brains in the entire Madison Avenue. Why wasn’t that done?”. The Premier said it was “tragic” that Mr Richards “does not find it plausible that the best advertising brains can be found in a firm like Global Hue.”
Saying that he and others in the Government are “often accused of playing the race card”, the Premier said “there is no need toplay the race card – it is already in play and so are its devastating effects”, and that Mr. Richards’ comments are clear evidence of it.
The Premier’s full comments from the House of Assembly in reference to this matter are below:
Mr. Speaker, Honourable members are no doubt aware that on yesterday, the Public Accounts Committee of this Honourable House held its first public meeting. That is something about which we should all be proud.
However, as we use this public vehicle, we should be cautious that we tell truths – that we talk about things about Public Accounts Committee which we have facts, and not seek to injure, malign, or infer or state things about which we have no knowledge in order to make nefarious points.
I refer, Mr. Speaker, to comments made in today’s paper to the effect that Don Coleman is a longtime friend of mine, and to specific comments made by the Honourouble member Mr. Richards to the effect that Tourism went with my “old buddy” in awarding a contract.
Let me state clearly here that Mr. Coleman is not an old buddy of mine, or a longtime friend. I met Mr. Coleman because he was introduced to me as a major force in the advertising industry, as the owner of one of the largest, award-winning multi-cultural ad agencies in the world. This was only as recently as 2004 or 2005. I did not go to college with Mr. Coleman, and only met him in his professional capacity. However, since that time, I have come to admire him and his firm for the fine work that they do for us, and for others.
I was particularly chagrined to read a quote from my Honourable colleague, Mr. Richards, to the effect that “you could have had the best advertising brains in the entire Madison Avenue. Why wasn’t that done?” I take from that quote that the Honourable member does not find it plausible that the best advertising brains can be found in a firm like Global Hue. That is tragic, and probably goes to the heart of many matters here, Mr. Speaker.
If you are not the biggest known on Madison Avenue, you cannot have brains? Mr. Coleman happens to be a Black gentleman who owns a very successful ad agency that has done excellent work for Bermuda’s Department of Tourism.
I find it ironic, Mr. Speaker, that certain members of the Opposition never fail to malign companies doing business with this Government that are owned by Blacks or that are owned by Whites who are friends of this government. That is very tragic, Mr. Speaker.
I must state again that I am pleased that the Public Accounts Committee will now hold its meetings in public. However, we must be cautious with our Parliamentary privilege – we must speak the truth, and we must be careful not to stereotype what people can or cannot do based on their ethnicity or size.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I and others in the Government are often accused of “playing the race card”. Mr. Speaker, what is hardly ever discussed is the fact that there is no NEED to PLAY the race card – it is already in play and so are its devastating effects. The Honourable member Mr. Richards’ comments are clear evidence of it.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
