Rift Develops: Stand Up Bermuda Group
[Updated] A rift has developed in the newly formed anti-violence group Stand Up Bermuda between members of the committee and Jahma Gibbons — and the two sides will now be going their separate ways.
The entire committee had only met in person recently, as Mr. Gibbons had been in the US and only just returned to the island. Group organiser Shawnette Somner said Mr. Gibbons did not participate in the work over the weekend to build the float.
On Sunday night while the group was working on their float for the May 24th Bermuda Day parade, things became heated to the point where Police were called. The flare-up is said to have started over a minor issue related to where a flower was placed on the float which commemorated Bermuda’s murder victims.
The Stand Up Bermuda Facebook group, which is one of the newly structured ones allowing members to automatically add other members, has hit the 2,700 mark. Mr. Gibbons is said to have blocked most the committee members from the page, and posts from others on the steering group have disappeared from the social networking group. Various posts indicative of the internal issues were showing up on the Facebook group yesterday, and have since been deleted.
“Unfortunately, the committee has unanimously disassociated ourselves with the founder of that site for extremely serious reasons,” said Ms Somner. “As we aligned ourselves with him, he has done absolutely nothing for the organisation, but has taken every opportunity to be front and centre for the public.”
Members of the Stand Up Bermuda committee had included Mr. Gibbons, Gaynell Hayward, Jeff Sousa, Ms Somner, Ray Charlton, Deb Lewondowski, Juanita Leshore, Channing Seymour, Alexis Swan, Antonio Belvedere, and Scott Smith. At this time, only Jahma Gibbons and Deb Lewandowski remain from the original group .
The exiting committee members will form a new group, with details soon to be announced. Shawnette Somner has stressed that the group is not about the name — but the message — and that she and the other former Stand Up Bermuda executives all remain dedicated to stemming the rising tide of violence on the island.
The group entered a float in the Bermuda Day parade which displayed the names of the island’s murder victims from recent years, and garnered a third place award in the Best Community/Volunteer/Political Division of the Bermuda Day Float contest. After the parade, Bernews understands that words were exchanged between Mr. Gibbons and other members of the group.
The group had planned to hold the ‘Stand Up For Change Peace Rally‘ on June 26. The event plans included two groups marching from both Dockyard and St.George’s starting at noon. The marches were to end at City Hall, where the group was to address Government on anti-violence initiatives, motivational speakers were to deliver addresses and local musicians were to perform.
It is unclear whether that event will still go on previously planned, however there may be a peace rally planned for Fathers Day.
Update 1:44pm: The ex-Stand Up Bermuda members have started a new group ‘Together For Bermuda’ and launched a new Facebook group a short while ago.
Update 3:11pm: A statement from Jahma Gibbons is below:
The turn of events in relation to Stand Up Bermuda is unfortunate. This group was founded solely for the purposes of bringing Bermudians together to stop the gun violence that is plaguing our beautiful and once peaceful Island.
I chose a committee because I could not do this alone. A movement like Stand Up Bermuda needs each and every one of us to be willing and active participants in order to reach the goal of peace.
I refuse to say negative words about my former committee, nor do I wish to say anything further on this matter in the future at the conclusion of this statement.
What I will say however, is this… Stand Up Bermuda is not about me. It is not about the glory or the notoriety that comes with publicity. It is about making sure that our people return to living alongside one another peacefully. It’s about hope. It’s about Bermuda’s future.
Now all we can do is move forward and continue with what many anti-gun violence groups past and present have started. It would be a great shift towards a positive and peaceful Bermuda if all of the anti-violence groups amalgamate and work towards peace as one entity.
bunch of muppets
its about jeff sousa, davies and belevedre of OBA wanting recognition for OBA and not working for it
cAN’T TRUST ANY OBA MEMBER
Can’t people see that whenever something constructive is created…the powers that be quickly place their agents of destruction to marginalize and neutralize it’s effectiveness! SMH! Read the Bible and study history it has happened for centuries!
Read about Judas – they are the OBA mps sold out for 30 pieces of silver
Hey do you know David????
LOL
Typical.
ONLY WAY TO SOLVE THIS IS WITH VIOLENCE I SAY
its a shame on all levels
not surprised!
why cant we all just get along????
DRAMA,DRAMA AND MORE DRAMA…
The United Bermuda Party are no longer ‘united’;
Stand Up Bermuda have fallen out;
What’s next? Can’t you all just learn to get along?
This proves what I have been saying all along!!! EVERYONE wants to be the HERO and BE THE ONE to have solved the problems and bring peace to the island!!! There is no “I” in the word TEAM…Together Everyone Achieves More………..
There is no I in team… but there is a ME
And thats what the problem is..me, msyelf and I are not going to do it….
Exactly. So true. Unfortunate . But why should we dump or remove him. Isn’t that what the gun men are doing?
Wow, they have managed to set a really bad example. FAIL.
Indicative of the bigger issue on this Island. Very sad statement.
People need to realize that it’s NOT about them but it’s about those who have been affected by this violence.
Too many Chiefs and not enough Indans
How many of them are parasites asking what the group can do for them; and just how many are zealous ones asking what good they can do for this Island?
LOL.. priceless!!
This is terrible. Even our peace parties are fighting to the point where the police need to be called. SMH. All you lot should be ashamed. I’m not going to believe all I read because I’m sure there is a much stronger underlying detail. However if this is supposed to be the mature and peace loving crowd that’s not a good sign. I hope it works out and we can all unite for the sake of Bermuda and its young children. CHEESHUMS
This is so sad, As I look at the names of this committee, some I know and some I don’t, those that I know all have a take charge mentality. If the committee can’t get along, how are they suppose to bring the rest of us together. I had an encounter with one of the committee executives (not Mr. Gibbons) at an event and they were told they couldn’t speak and they still manipulated a way into getting there voice heard. so I can see why there are problems
sad, sad, sad, sad, sad
All of this really breaks my heart! Can we please remember the feeling we experienced as we walked the streets on Tuesday singing Proud to be Bermudian!
How about we all go back to the Rise Above, Bermuda group and help out there (although I was left out of that loop when trying to help in any way with their cause, didn’t know they were still around but am still willing to help).
Absolutely lost for words and answers………………………………………
Yes. where are they.
sorry it sounds good to march from St. George’s and from somerset.
The real core issues are being ignored:
And what are they:
1. How we raise our children
2. Too much emphasis on the outside of our children and little effort developing the inside
3. Lack of good parenting
4. Lack of male role models.
Do you want more
Tough and hard to do but we used to be able to do it before. Now we want the Ipad to do it for us. aint going to happen.
Yep, Bubba seems to understands what I believe I understand. Well stated. We all could do well to take a step back and look at family values, moralistic teachings, and ethical behavior. Too much technology at our fingertips leads us astray of our hearts and souls.
Ironically ‘Iron Lion Zion’ came on when I was reading this. The lyrics seemed relevant:
“See they want to be the star. So they fighting tribal war.”
All about false respect and ‘Cheifs and Indians’ and too little about understanding and citizens in both the gangs and the anti-gangs gangs…
You can not do this on your own. Seek some advice from some church leaders. Jesus is the only solution to this problem. I will pray for unity in this group.
Hopefully whoever has assumed his position has a better grasp of the English language, ngl.
If anyone knows Somner, I bet she is part to blame for this mess..
With that said, Way to go Peacemakers..Great example for the youth !!!
“Black Pride” I know her very well on a personal level and I’m aware of all the positive things she has done for youth and the community. For comments such as yours there are hundreds of others in her favor. Sad thing is we both know who you are despite your fake name. So sad.
“On Sunday night while the group was working on their float for the May 24th Bermuda Day parade, things became heated to the point where Police were called. The flare-up is said to have started over a minor issue related to where a flower was placed on the float which commemorated Bermuda’s murder victims.”
bbwwwahahahahahaha. Twits.
- Mr Gibbons said the incident had occurred, but described it as “a disagreement on protocol”.
- Mr Gibbons added: “The committee members have done an excellent job, and I give it all to them. But they can’t forget the Lord has chosen me to be the leader.
Hmmm… why does this sound so familiar? Oh, that’s right: http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20110429/NEWS01/704299981
Wow. Just wow.
WOW ON YOU
It’s all about control. Now if he had been born white…….no problem.
omg we really don’t have much hope……………….. whereth did race come into the situation?????!
Mr. Gibbons needs to realize it is not about him, yes, it was his idea but was it his idea to have the float, NO, did he buy the T-Shirts, NO, did he help decorate the float or bring people to help, NO, that is why you have a committee to help make things happen. Don’t stand around texting and sitting the whole time and than complain that someone is trying to steal your idea, these people worked very hard and put in many hours in 3 days to get this float ready for the parade. It seems he wants all the glory and forget about the committee who helped make it all happen.
don’t forget smoking too!
Ahh…now I get it. Its all about showboating, or in this case show-floating. Real issues be damned, huh?
Jenny, I am afraid that you need to get your facts right because I was one of the people that Jahma asked to come and help with the float, I showed up there with a friend that also assisted in decorating that float. So that statement that you made about Jahma NOT bringing people to help is NOT TRUE! We stayed and worked for approx 2 hours then left, and I know that he had others that showed up to assist, not everyone partisapated that was their choice, but people was working and showing their support for Jahma and the group. He was there in the flash the a good portion of the time. I can not speak for anything else that happened there because we were to busy working on the float. I don’t want to take sides in this matter, but I do believe in what is right,and I support Jahma and his group. You also said that Jahma was sitting and texting the whole time, well if he was, I am sure that he was making arrangements for the group and the walk. From the time Jahma arrived on the island he has been busy making arrangements and working 24/7 towards the success of this group, he may not be perfect, but who is? He has also worked very hard towards this cause to bring about change and a solution to this delima that this country is faceing with the violence on this island. From what I understand, he has acknowedged the hard work of the group and made it public knowledge. You also indicated that he wanted all the glory, Jahma did not need glory he was living his life else where and had other plan with his life, before this happened, but he turned around and came back to bermuda because he loved bermuda and wants to help to make a difference for his children and our children. We have a brother’s that is stepping up to the plate to be a man. It’s women like you that turn men into boys by trying bring them down. Why can’t we as women support our young men and communicate with them and reaching a mutural understanding for the good of this country, instead of this type of publisity.
Women like me, what do you mean? You don’t know me, I am from the old school when it comes to discipline, just ask my son, you would not make such a stupid comment and further more he was the one that started all this. Why would he feel people are tryig to steal his idea when everybody came together, you don’t hear the person who sugggested to have a float saying it was my idea, or the person who designed the flyers saying it was my idea, they all came together. My facts are straight, maybe he bought 2 people to help one being his friend but the real issue is after these people gave up their time to form a committee and put work into getting things done, why was there such a big flare up, makes you wonder what is really going on here. After all, he is the one who stated they are trying to steal his idea…. just saying
@Sylvia – can’t you see the old UBP attitude for the now OBA supporters? You start a project, we take over and squeeze you out completely. Wake up Bermuda this is what the OBA members call alliance.
I am amazed at the people who turn this into a political party thing. I have no clue what political affiliation anyone had other than Jeff and I am sure he did not know that I am a card carrying PLP member…dues paid. Who has worked with PLP committees.
It made no difference what political party anyone was involved with for this project…it was for Bermuda. Only the asinine would make it political. It was not Black, it was not White…it was Bermudian.
It was also Bermudian working on a non-violent issue, with someone who had no respect for the people participating.
where did politics come into this?????
You may have been one of the two people that Jahma brought and you yourself said you stayed for TWO HOURS. People began building the float at 9:30 on Saturday and remained until 9 that night. They began at 10 on Sunday and ended after 9. One woman took off on Monday and stayed all day to finish the unfinished and others showed up after work to finish off the details. Yes, your two hours helped, I think I saw another lady that came with him, she brought family and friends and they worked…I was a walk on…saw it going on…stopped in and stayed to assist all three days…met some lovely people…who did not deserve to be talked to the way Jahma spoke to that grown woman. We can support young men, but rudeness and disrespect should never be supported, especially if they fail to listen to sage advice. Had he been my son, he would have gotten a stern lesson on respect and how to treat adults…If he is stepping up to be a man, then maybe, like all boys, he should listen to people who have walked the path before. He wants people to know who he is, did he ask who anyone else was…educators, business owners, consultants, And guess what, there were three young man there, who worked very hard, who helped build the membership of the group…who were extremely respectful to everyone. The only person who was disrespectful on a whole was “The Chief” by his own words in the RG, The Overseer. If he really wants a following, he needs to learn that leaders set example…and if what I saw is the example he wants people to follow…then what happened happened and if he ever has intelligent people working with him, will happen again, for no one will put up with his nonsense…past the project they are currently working on. So I do wish him luck. I hope he gets it together, for his idea is needed, but he needs to understand, HE HAS TO WORK HIS IDEA AND EXPECT NOTHING OTHER THAN FOR IT TO WORK. If he leads by watching, then he will watch each project fall apart. I don’t wish that for him. I wish him success…however, it will not happen if he does not learn from his mistakes.
The oppertunity for setting the example has not been lost ? This situation however has reflected the similar mindset of whats happening on the streets ? Someone feeling disrespected and not putting forgiveness in their hearts. Getting friends to join sides ? JUSTIFING there lack of being the bigger person and keeping the objective first and formost the most important thing ? We in these times have an overinflated opinion of ourselves and are to quick to “pull the trigger” when we feel hurt or disrespected ? Like a marridge there will be times things will not be pretty , you will not win all youur races and no not eyeryone will always know the hard work you have done . However when one decided to voice their concern about the lack of unity in the community there should and has to be a greather degree of accountability and maturity in dealing with disagreements ? Other wise one looses ground and moral authority to assist in fulfilling their objective ? Be the example you want to see and never loose sight of the FACT, WE ALL FALL SHORT AT TIMES . onelove
Bang!
I figured that would happen sooner or later. If you know some of the members of that group you might know that some are what they call “ambulance chasers”. They just love the spotlight and attention. Who cares who’s idea it was and all that other stuff? That’s not that point. Why does it matter when the group was formed for such an important issue? An anti violence group that cant even get along.
I find all of this to be disturbing and disheartning. Regardless of their personalities, personal agendas or lack of capabilities this was a group that formed to address some of the issues that Bermuda has with guns and gang violence. Anytime there is this type of strife, nothing is accomplished and the bad guys win again. {smh}
Are you People’s Front of Judeah?
screw you Bernews !!! and your whack topics/ stories !
LMFAO!
‘TOGETHER’ in the new logo should have been SOLID and not fallin’ apart…IF it is their intention to make a good impression. Jus sayin’!
A group formed to end the violence and gun fire, then needs police to be called for a dispute among themselves… and we wonder why our island is getting so bad!
How many ‘stop the violence’ type groups are there now? And what are they accomplishing? Do they work with the authorities on anti violence or anti gang initiatives? What are they doing or are they just as aimless as our some of our young people?
Just asking.
We hear a lot of hoopla when a new group starts up, in what appears to be a passion filled knee jerk reaction to someone being shot or killed, but then nothing after that.
You know what they say, united we stand, divided we fall.
EPIC FAIL… did they say the Police had to be called… like aren’t they an anti violence group… and sooo your gonna start another group… cuzzzz people are gonna take you serious now… #confused
FAIL.
Come drink from the cup of destruction.
I commend Jahma for the statement he has had written (by someone else). It sounds very humble and professional and he showed neither of those attributes for the weekend of the decorating. But as someone who was there when the altercation broke out I can tell you it was totally unnecessary. And his continuous verbal attack on a woman who was old enough to be his mother had everyone concerned. She was frightened and he wouldn’t back down. Why does everything have to come down to politics. Had the group stayed with Jahma THEN the whole island would have had a lot to talk about in the weeks to come. I know most of the committee members and they are all good hard working honest people from all walks of life and both political parties. They made a wise choice to leave while it was early. A group of people have committed to do what the rest of us haven’t and rather than throwing support and offering to pitch in there’s criticism. The critizing and name calling that some people are doing on this site is what’s really holding this island back. Stand with the group and help to make a difference for BERMUDA!
United We Stand……………
In quick sand!
ceecee insluting Jahma is not right! He has every right to protect his ideology that he placed into action. Stop it NOW, stop talking him down. You guys made it political he didn’t!
I hadn’t planned to say anything, but I will tell the entire story. It all started with one blue flower.
I am not a committee member, but I was there assisting with the float.
I arrived at 12:30 and everyone was working. Later a tall fellow arrived, stood to the back, pulled out a cigarette, smoked, texted on the phone and ate chicken. Smoked, ate chicken, texted, left, returned etc. I left to go with a woman whom I met there to purchase some plywood. Came back, this person was still smoking, texting, talking on the phone. Everyone else was working.
Were we checking flowers because the glue was not sticking. At about 6 or so, this tall fellow who did nothing all day, made some comment about a flower that was coming off, and in fact pulled it off the float. So… the woman, old enough to be his mother, told him that he has done nothing all day to help and he should not be criticizing anything, he should lift a flower to help. Well, he began yelling…”Do you know who I am? I don’t have to do anything! This is my idea! All I have to do is oversee.” He was then asked oversee whom. Everyone was working but him. He continued to yell, asking if she knew who he was. Then he started to tell the volunteer that she could leave. He does not need her help.
Someone else told him that she was needed. (In fact, she purchased food on Monday for the volunteers. I saw her bring it in.) She told him that he did not invite her, so she isn’t going anywhere because she believes in the cause. He then said, “Do you know who I am. This is my damn idea!” He walked off, and she said to the man beside her, “I don’t care who anyone is, a man is judged by what he does and he has done nothing.” He came back and began yelling at the woman again.
In fact, the entire time, volunteers who did not know who he was complained about the man who ate the food and did not help.
To make matters worse, on the day of the parade, he cursed people out, took the banner, tried to take the t-Shirts that Jeff purchased for the group, and at the end of the parade cursed people out again.
Since I am not on the committee, I have no clue what happened in those meetings, but, there was a lot of yelling.
The dissolution of that group had very little to do with the committee as much as it had to do with someone who thinks that because they have an idea, they should just watch people work and OVERSEE.
I work in a business where my boss gets down and works just as hard as the rest of us, so who is this person who thinks he needs to oversee folks who know what they are doing.
This has nothing to do with anyone wanting glory…particularly Jeff, Antionio or Shawnette. What I saw with those folks, were people who wanted to work hard and they wanted to support him. Heck they tried to explain to him that what he did was wrong…he understood enough to apologize to the woman, but not enough to work…
I hope he does well with his newly named group…or same name group…as long as people working with him understand, they will work, they will finance and he will oversee…and be in the newspaper. He can pretend that he wants a better Bermuda, what he needs to do is work on being a better person first.
My boss told me years ago, never do anything that will cause people to question why you have your job.
I wish him luck, I wish him learning and I hope he finds someone whose truth he will listen to, because he cannot see beyond himself.
On another note, that piece he has in Bernews, looks nothing like his writing on his facebook page. In fact, the writing style is different…good to see he has a PR person to write for him.
Later that night, he was called to a committee meeting. Not sure what happened
I was am the person he yelled at. I was the one that told him he had not right to criticize if he was not working. I am not an ambulance chaser as described in one of the comments, nor do I like the spot light unless I am on stage.
Despite his apology, which I feel, he may have been told to do, and not something he felt he should do, I found him to be rude and if anyone was interested in the spot light, it was he. Who cares who he is. We had a lot of work to do and he was not helping…not one bit, at that time and all the volunteers were talking about it. You can rest assured, after that float was done, I had no intentions of working with that group because, for me, the character of the person I choose to align myself with, is important. That young man has a lot of maturing. Just the fact that he felt he had to oversee grown adults, was offensive to me. Grown adults who, were not only diligently working, but spending their money. Heck I was a volunteer and I purchased glue, gloves and food, not because I was asked or told, but because I saw a need. i only knew one person there…have no family involved in violence, and it wasn’t the idea that brought me there, but the fact that they needed help.
I don’t mind being an Indian, but I will not follow a chief who thinks his only role is to oversee…I have no clue what kind of mentality that is, but to me, it reeks of someone who does not trust the task to others and is afraid that their hands help, someone will take something. People like that don’t last long in their endeavors.
Go ahead, follow him if you desire, believe in the cause if you wish, I don’t need anyone watching me, because I honor my word.
I had a wonderful time, and will work with those people again, but I hope I never come across anyone like him again in life…and if I do, I hope I can run fast enough in the opposite direction.
HOLD UP WAIT A MINUTE! Jahma Gibbons has two posts above. Has anybody checked out the language and spelling he uses on his site Stand up 4 what’s rite or fall for what’s wrong and the language and spelling he’s used in the two posts above? So glad he got a press secretary because home boy can’t speak or write well……but he wants to be a leader! I hear he called himself the overseer to the committee who had the sense to leave him. Wow!
Thanks all, from an ex-patriot “pseudo-verbal volunteer” who now understands more of the difficulties involved with this important endeavor. Any leader who cannot lead by example needs to be replaced. A leader which uses the word “I” above “We” should be re-directed to participate in NON-COMMUNITY interests. The “Idea” I feel did not stem from one individual, but from the NEED for community action…for goodness sakes, I had the idea myself over 25 years ago, for that matter. Thank you to all who are working so hard for the betterment of this Island I call home for as many years as I am allowed by the respected government to stay.
Thank you!
“One Bermuda” is a GREAT concept; however, it should be driven toward humanity and survival of this beautiful place on the planet…and not be affiliated with a political party. The folks in opposition to the PLP would be wise to maintain a stable party moniker…UBP seems to have worked well in the past and could be a party to contend with if…and ONLY if…some UNITY is found, through stable leadership. Good luck in realizing that history isn’t a bad thing.
This is very late, but I just wanted to note that when the idea is bigger than the “I”, it flourishes. A case in point was/is the Women’s Resource Center, which started as the RAPE Crisis Center, an idea I developed and printed in the Royal Gazette Letters to the Editor. When it finally got Government funding, several years after I had been “in charge” (with an incredible group of women working together), I was not considered qualified to run the agency. No publicity, I went off to school to become qualified. When I came back and applied for the position of director, I was again not considered qualified or appropriate in some way. Again, no publicity. The main issue was that women (and men) in need of certain services be provided with those services, not WHO was providing the service.
This is not to toot my own horn. I am not important. The work is important. The service is important.