PLP & OBA: Race, Politics And Voting
After United Bermuda Party MP Kim Swan started the discussion on race and voting, both Opposition Leader Craig Cannonier and the Progressive Labour Party have weighed in on the topic.
Opposition Leader Craig Cannonier said the OBA will never have a problem with the way people vote as people must vote for whichever party they believe will best support their interests.
He also said the OBA is a ”new party that has not yet fought an election, so it is premature to say who they will draw support from – regardless of what recent polls say.”
Speaking on the PLP, Mr Cannonier said, “It is our view that race-based voting is a party problem, not a people problem. For example, it is very possible that white people have not supported the PLP in the past because the PLP has never made them feel welcome. That, it seems to us, is the PLP challenge.”
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The PLP took “great exception” to Mr Cannonier’s remarks saying: “It is obvious that Mr. Cannonier’s historic perspective of politics in Bermuda generally and the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party specifically is lacking.”
Senator Jonathan Smith said, “As a white Bermudian who broke tradition and joined the PLP, I find Mr. Cannonier’s comments insulting. He claims that the PLP has no white support and that whites aren’t welcome. That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Saying their members represent all walks of life, the PLP stated they believe that more middle class white Bermudians are becoming “increasingly disenchanted with an ineffective opposition,” and the next election we will see a “record number of working and middle class white Bermudians choosing the party that stands up for their economic interests – the PLP.”
Last week Mr Swan had cited a recent poll which said nearly 90% of Whites in Bermuda would vote for one political party while Blacks would divide their support, saying that revealed that racial polarisation “continues to exist and is greatest amongst the white community in Bermuda.”
Mr Cannonier’s full statement follows below:
We have no problem, and will never have a problem with the way people vote. People must vote for whichever party they believe will best protect and support their individual interests. Convincing people to vote for one party over another is what democratic politics is all about.
It is our view that race-based voting is a party problem, not a people problem. For example, it is very possible that white people have not supported the PLP in the past because the PLP has never made them feel welcome. That, it seems to us, is the PLP challenge.
The OBA is a new party that has not yet fought an election, so it is premature to describe who they will ultimately draw support from – regardless of what recent polls say.
We are a party committed to getting this Island working again for everyone. Our message to all Bermuda is very straightforward: We will better protect you and your family going forward – through policies that promote jobs and economic growth, strong action to reduce violent crime, responsible management of the public purse and real education reform, not smoke and mirrors.
Ultimately we want to create a Bermuda where people feel a common destiny and don’t believe their ‘group’ has to be in power to be safe or to thrive. We are, in other words, a party committed to serving all of Bermuda and we look forward to doing just that.
The PLP’s full statement follows below:
The Progressive Labour Party takes great exception to recent remarks by OBA Leader, Craig Cannonier when he stated that “…It is very possible that white people have not supported the PLP in the past because the PLP has never made them feel welcome”,
It is obvious that Mr. Cannonier’s historic perspective of politics in Bermuda generally and the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party specifically is lacking.
Contrary to what Mr. Cannonier has stated, it is a fact that from its inception in 1963, membership in the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party has been open to all Bermudians. However, history has recorded that those whites who have openly supported the PLP have been ostracised by the white community.
While we find it inappropriate and unnecessary to name each and every white Bermudian who has been welcomed into the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party since it’s inception, we believe that it is important that we pause and recognise members like Mrs. Dorothy Thompson, Mrs. Doreen Lightbourn, former Tourism Minister, the late Mr.David Allen and certainly the late Dr. Barbara Ball who devoted her life to improving the lives of working class Bermudians.
The PLP believes that Senator Jonathan Smith says it best in response to the leader of the OBA when he remarks “As a white Bermudian who broke tradition and joined the PLP, I find Mr. Cannonier’s comments insulting. He claims that the PLP has no white support and that whites aren’t welcome. That couldn’t be further from the truth!
“Throughout Bermuda’s history, white Bermudians who were committed to social justice always gravitated to the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party. They have far more battle scars to show than I do, but I can say this: there is a sense of welcome and a sense of warmth. It is a liberating experience not to be shackled by the past and it is a privilege to be treated as an equal in the only Party with a track record of truly understanding what a social contract with the people really means.”
The PLP also believes that more and more, working and middle class white Bermudians are becoming increasingly disenchanted with an ineffective opposition who seem more interested in representing the interests of foreigners than standing up for Bermudian jobs.
In the next election, the Party believes, that we’re going to see a record number of working and middle class white Bermudians choosing the party that stands up for their economic interests – the Progressive Labour Party.
The Progressive Labour Party membership list consists of persons representing all walks of life in Bermuda. Our membership extends to all members of the public that would like to join our Party and work towards equality and social justice for all.
Oh, this is so pointless.
Indeed….
@Jonathan Smith. How can you say with a straight face that PLP welcomes white people. PLP is the party which wants to remind all Bermudians that whites want to place blacks back on the plantation. And I look fwd to your appology Mr. Smith when the election is called and PLP screem race, race, race. You are full of it JS. And I have proof. Where are you when PLP use the race card. You are nowhere. You just hide behind PLP and smile.
Of course they like white people! White people that give them money like Zane Desilva & John Deuss.
PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP
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PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP
PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP
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PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP
To Jonathon Smith – the PLP have only ever had their own economic interests at heart. It’s clear from their record.
So Rolfe is at it again. He says today (reported in another publication) that since 27% of voters are white, and the UBP got 48% of votes, there is “no way that could happen unless all whites voted UBP”. He says it’s “mathematically impossible” to say anything else.
What an absolute moron that guy is.
He might want to go back to school and re-examine some simple maths problems. Perhaps an 8-year-old could explain to him what it takes for something to be “mathematically impossible”.
The truth is the truth no matter how you feel about it.
What truth would that be?
The truth that the PLP are openly hostile to whites? The truth that the PLP have driven the island into the ground economically? The truth that crime, especially violent crime, is spiraling out of control? The truth that after 13 years, the PLP have failed with education and tourism? The truth that the PLP destroyed the real estate market? The truth that we’re paying huge amounts in interest each day to service the PLP created debt?
The truth is, people don’t vote PLP because of race, but because the PLP are failures. Rolfe, Laverne and god know who else need to get that into their thick skulls. The PLP are failures.
Sandgrownan – how has the PLP been openly hostile to whites? Isn’t the world in an economic downward spiral – how is this solely the PLP fault? How are the PLP at fault for crime – actually crime figures are at their lowest in a decade.
Your bias is so obvious you cannot see the forest for the trees.
What you and Smith, Rolfe and Laverne fail to understand, is that this is a PLP issue. Whites don’t vote vote PLP because the PLP are failures.
Get off your meds for one day and you will see everything you stated was caused by the UBP only for the PLP to have to fix and take blame.
Tourism was killed by the UBP in the 80′s, Education was put to the waist side by closing Robert Crawford and opening CBA some 15 yrs later. Because of the failure of CBA, mega High schools, gang mentality spawned into this new era of crime. This was a calculated plan by the UBP. You are way too biased to realize anything other then blaming the PLP. what a fool
I don’t know how this conversation can be attributed to PLP bringing race up. This came up from Kim Swan. The PLP and OBA were asked to comment.
That being said even Stevie Wonder can see that whites in Bermuda supported the UBP and will now vote for OBA simply because they are the anti-PLP. They can say all they want that it is about the PLP’s lack of integrity and lack of competence, but even IF that is true, then where was the support in 89, 93 and 98? These are merely excuses that the white community is latching onto to rationalize and support their decision virtually en masse to support the UBP and now the OBA.
I wouldn’t vote for the PLP even if you paid me. They are totally useless and have a tendency to scapegoat and ridicule whites. This is a PLP issue, not an OBA issue.
“white people have not supported the PLP in the past because the PLP has never made them feel welcome”?!?!?!????????!?!?!?
WOW! ok that shows me exactly what kind of governance I can expect from the OBA – One which will deny reality and place blame on blacks alone for the state of race relations in Bermuda. You wont be getting my vote OBA because you’re lukewarm puppets.
No.
Not ‘deny reality’, but see it for what it is.
Not ‘blame blacks alone’, but blame the PLP government.
The OBA has broad support among all races. The PLP does not. The PLP has taken no intetrest at all in getting support from white people until now (just before the election).
Yes because if only they just asked kindly whites would have had a change of heart and voted for a non-white supremist party.
Yeah right!
You just keep spreading that bat$#!T on your cornflakes.
The UBP “cough” I mean OBA has always enjoyed support from blacks, was that because they made efforts to “welcome” blacks? HELL NO! Whites who joined the PLP utterly refute the sewage Mr. Cannonier spewed. The fact that OBA enjoys support amongst whites AND blacks is an indicment against the white voting block, not the PLP.
Typical convoluted logic. Go get a degree.
Screw race, and vote for whoever has plans/ideologies that you agree with. If they happen to be the same race as you, oh well.
Jonathan Smith – isn’t your best kept secret is that you were a chairman for the UBP? – now your so into PLP – Once again the PLP have more UBP than the UBP.. If you want white voters PLP shud stop talking silly rhetoric! OBA will have black and white voters so the problem is not theirs. Get over it….
Yet again OBA/UBP does not get what Swan is saying. You’ll stay in opposition until you understand what Swan is saying. Whites need to stop talking about party lines until they in more numbers support other than UBE/OBA!
BTW at the next election the OBA will get 55% of the publics vote will the PLP will get 45% .. The premier knows this and that’s why she’s scared to call an election! PLP has performed worthless under her leadership
Please UBP will get 55%? Never Lol
You better hope that the premier don’t call a election, because the OBA DON’T HAVE PEOPLE IN PLACE YET, IT WOULD BE DISASTROUS AND EMBARRASSING FOR THE OBA SO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR.
I guess Sandgrownan and others don’t consider those whites who were named (Dr. Ball and others) as being white. Although the PLP didn’t mention him in their statement, none of us should forget what happened to Alex Outerbridge when he was welcomed by the PLP into their ranks. He was fired from his job and later left Bermuda. Or was he chased out of Bermuda.
Rather like you tried to chase Limey out of Bermuda?
Oh Laverne, how little you know about Alex Outerbridge, what he did & why he did it.
But, go right ahead. Chirp that same song over & over. Repeat often enough & it must be so. The PLP propogander method.
Oh & no I will not publicise Alex’s personal business in his life of 40 years ago.
Laverne, sweety, if white people don’t vote for black people, how is it that they voted for the UBP and why would they vote for the OBA?
Thanks sweety.
Mad Dawg, sweety, I never said white people don’t vote for black people. We all know that. They voted en-masse for Craig Cannonier just the other day and they will vote for every black candidate put forward by the OBA/UBP in the next election. That’s they only way the UBP won for 30 years, but times have changed, sweety.
@mad dawg. Pls do not call Laverne sweety. There is nothing sweet about this woman. She is as sour as a lemon….all she knows is race and that’s why Mrs Cox kicked her out LOL.
In the interest of fairness and truth, my experience of the PLP members has been that they are welcoming to anyone who wants to join them, black, white or indifferent. They didn’t set out to be a ‘black’ party, but a Labour party. However, the backlash from the white community towards whites who joined or who contemplated joining made them a black party by default.
Although the lines were not originally drawn by them, they have adapted and now, they appear to be very much a “if you are not for me, you are against me” type of party. There doesn’t seem to be much of a middle ground.
Of course, all that is beside the point that their record on finances and services for the underserved (that used to be their primary base of support) has been abysmal. It is difficult to weigh free bus passes for school children and no TCD charges for seniors (across the board, even if you can afford to pay)against the loss of Sunshine League, and cutbacks in funding to every other agency, from Teen Services and Mirrors to Focus and MAWI, except the prisons (which tells a story in itself!)
Exactly. It’s not about race, it’s about competence. And the PLP are incompetent. But I guess we now know the “race angle” for the upcoming election.
They can’t guilt me into voting PLP, they need to give me a reason.
Come on man, all you do is spew hatered and negativeness. Everyone of your posts about PLP has name calling and insults. How do you expect anyone to take you serious?
If there is one thing I have learned in my life, is that when a person resorts to name calling they have no depth to their argument what so ever.
Pastor Syl, you should know that the closure of the Sunshine League is not the fault of the Government. You and the rest of your fellow posters can’t have it both ways. On one hand you all complain that Government was spending too much money and now you’re complaining that they are not spending enough.
When Dr. Brown first introduced Mirrors you all complained that it cost too much to the taxpayer, now you want it back.
You should know that the rain falls on the just and the unjust, hence the free bus passes for all children and no TCD charges for for seniors. Let’s see how you’ll be talking if those benefits are rolled back during the next budget. You’ll start complaining again.
Why don’t you join the PLP and correct all of the wrong that is within the Party rather than sitting on the sidelines and bashing Bermuda oldest political party.
I think what Pastor Syl is trying to get at, is that while race continues to be a deep rooted issue. The issue that remains is that the PLP are incompetent. I really find it unfortunate that people on this island will still remain blind to that and vote “because they look like me”.
I had very high hopes when Paula Cox became Premier- I thought for once I can be proud of this Gov’t. But nothing has changed… from the Auditor General problems, to Ministerial planning favours, to lighting scandals, TCD issues, Union BS, Budget over runs. I’m tired of it… Hurray for Good Governance- Guess what that law is not enforced yet- NOBODY in Gov’t is held accountable for their actions. The more things change the more they stay the same. This Gov’t takes two steps forward and three steps back.
Jonathan Smith- Get a life your insulted? The OBA actually recognizes that FOREIGNERS provide JOBS you will notice over the past 2 years a significant number for foreigners left the island with their international businesses (or large parts of them) leaving Bermudians without jobs. Hence the reason YOUR Premier has amended work permit limits for certain industries, although the damage has already been done- This Gov’t will have to think of new ways to attract business to the island as the current model, in its form, is no longer productive. The PLP need to recognize that the General Public are becoming increasingly disenchanted with an ineffective Government who seem more interested in representing the interests of Themselves than standing up for Publics best interest.
I personally do not have faith that the current gov’t can handle such responsibilities given their track record. I will be voting OBA- not because I am white… but because I believe they have the ability and competency to run Bermuda effectively.
Laverne,
You know full well the complaint has been the waste of resources, the lack of fiscal discipline, the covering up / lack of audits, the overspends, the no-bid contracts, the special favours to friends & family, the lack of accountability, the tens of millions of $ spent on worthless overseas consultants, the expensive parties, the lavish travel, the luxury cars, the 40% increase in the size of the civil service, lack of success in improving education or tourism, the diminishing of the tax base, the additional $1,000,000,000 in public debt.
@ LaVerne: I admit I do not know all the ins and outs of the closing of Sunshine League, but I am convinced that the systematic reduction over several years of their grant from government had a huge impact in their ability to function effectively. I remember reading that their grant had been reduced by $100,000 for each year for at least 2 years running, and thinking “that’s how much they are paying just one of those consultants! I guess they must be more important/valuable than our already vulnerable children.”
Re the Mirrors program: People may have initially complained about the cost, but the program proved its worth. Surely you are not justifying the closure of such an effective program by the fact that there was complaint about the cost at its inception?!? That’s truly cutting off your nose to spite your face!!
We are not complaining that government is not spending enough money, we are saying they are, and have been, spending it on the wrong things.
Face it, the race card is all the PLP have left to play.
Their record as a governing party speaks for irself. It is abysmal.
For the most part whites don’t care what you look like. They want MPs with integrity & ability, two words which cannot describe your average PLP MP even though they are trying to UBP themselves these days.
Whites not voting on race does not fit the PLP agenda hence from now until the election that is all we will hear from them. Race, race, race.
so drifter if the PLP is trying to UBP themselves, corruption, lack of intergrity lack of chararter was a big part of the UBP success.
Facts speak for themselves and a fact is that White people vote for race. Stats show this over and over again in the Polls. As much as white people deny this and say black Bermudians vote race, its because they are in denial and dont want blacks to vote for race. They will lose again and again if black people voted how they do.
PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP
United we stand, Divided we Fall !!! IF they get back in power we will be pushed back into back of Town. Lets keep the Power of the Country and keep the Money spread out and not just in South Shower and Tuckers Town
PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP
PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP
PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP
If white people won’t vote for a black person, why did they vote UBP? And why would they vote OBA?
what a typo…*shore
We’re voting for PARTIES and NOT “persons” so your argument is slick but not slick enough. PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP
So, White Christ or Ganja Mon or whoever…
You agree that white people don’t vote based on race. They vote based on the party they prefer, not based on race. You agree that, right?
Let me spell it out for those that are finding it hard to understand…OBA=white voters….a black dog could sign up for the OBA and whites will vote for it….nothing to do with the dog it’s the OBA part they like. great paws….
If the PLP lose the next election and the OBA don’t do a good job, then the PLP will be in at the following election, stronger, more experienced and with visions that could work. I don’t understand why these PLP fans are so desperate to keep the current PLP in power. The current PLP have failed and the PLP supporters need to know that if they lose this election, iit is not game over in the slightest. Blind support whatever, is not a recipie for a successful country. It never has been and never will.
How much did you smoke bye ? can you imagine the P.L.P. having people like you voting for them ?
PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP PLP
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Whats funny is that when STATS are in favor of a persons party and against the opposing party they are all for them………..HOWEVER, when the stats are reversed those same people are quick to say either so what or that they are meaningless and have no fruitation.
WAKE UP BERMUDA, DO YOU NOT WHAT IS GOING ON!!!!
Are you trying to say something. You have a big typo….
“For the most part whites don’t care what you look like. They want MPs with integrity & ability,” then why did white voters vote in ex heroin dealer Shawn Crockwell in that safe seat, what exactly is the integrity and ability that Crockwell possesses.
This really is pointless all on here are so biased on this site. Most of you probably vote for who your parents vote for any way. When it comes down to it no matter what you will all vote for who you are most comfortable with or to put it but who you believe will support your interests more. To be frank I’ll sum up with a quote that really says it all. “How can a white man know or represent me?” The quote came from a stanch PLP supporter but I think it applies to both races here in Bermuda. Oh and by the way I bet you can count the white support for the PLP on 1 hand.
LOL disclaimer I am undecided on who to vote for or even if I should vote.
Rolfe anyone is he not in a safe seat. Please do we really need to continue to bring up people’s past if we do we could make long lists I’m sure ..people who’ve spent jail time of shooting people robbery, drugs, simple breaches of employee rights so on and so forth. If they did the time and completed their debt let it go………..
LOL pot this is the kettle
I think the media need to stop asking the advice of Commisiong…Rolfe always wants to bring up the past….one day he should talk about his past !!!! and is he still a consultant to our premier ? and if so why ?
Oh boy, this again. Mr. Cannonier’s statement is the height of cultural and political nievity. Why is it the responsibility of the PLP, or any black organization, to make whites feel welcome? What does that mean? Like anyone else, whites must be attracted to the ideals and the goals, the aims and objectives. If they are not, then stay out. What Mr. Cannonier has to answer is why, for example, all those Brits and Canadians who came here in the 60s and 70s, having been staunch Labour Party supporters in their countries, naturally gravitated to the UBP. What made them exercise their scandalous award of the Commonwealth vote for a conservative Party in defiance of their Labour roots back home? Was that ideology, race or self interest? Probably two out of the three. The PLP is the Party of social justice, equal rights for all, empowerment of the ordinary man, rights for workers and for a Bermuda that benefits everyone. That has been their raison d’etre since inception. The UBP was formed as a direct response to the PLP and the history of this country will reflect that blacks were deliberately recruited to be in the frontline to win black votes.Sir Henry Tucker said so. That strategy was laid bare when the Hon. C.V. “Jim” Woolridge famously said “these white boys don’t mind a black man in charge as long as they can tell him what to do”. In the same vein, the modus operandi of the UBP and its masters was ironically set out by Sir John Swan, who after 13 years “in charge” lamented that he wasn’t “even invited for tea and cookies” at the end. You cannot transcend the issue of race by blackmailing (no pun intended) blacks into being “more welcoming”. And you cannot take race out of any election in this country until political miracles like Mr. Cannonier cease to exist. For the blacks in this country, the optics of Cannonier supposedly leading the likes of Grant Gibbons is a movie we have seen before. It really is that simple. For those who would try to minimize the relevance of this modern history,the strength of the old UBP is on public display within the OBA. Nothing else explains the punsihment of the UBP/BDA/OBA MPs who have each been sent on hopeless causes to fight for their political lives while making way for those who statyed true to the UBP cause through the lean years…..speaking of which, when and where is Fahy’s roll-out?
Brilliantly stated Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm……WOW great historical facts speaks volumes.
Yawn, that was in the very distant past. Time moves quickly, we have computers now you know. This is about the now and the future. Learn from the past and make decisions that benefit Bermuda for the future. The PLP seem incapable of moving forward. All their race baiting and UBP references are clear indications that they are mentally living in the past. We need a future, they are not iffering us one. You want to vote for people that live in the past and spew hatred then you must be past it.
The past will never change as much as thoughs people wish it could and the only ones people can change is them selves. Until then some blacks and some white will continue to talk at each other not with each other. The rest of us will be moving forward with our lives. Where do you all want to be moving forward or staying right where you are? As an old posters name on here read “Think about that”.
LOL
If I ran the island I would make it ILLEGAL to mention black or white, and make it punishable by IMPRISONMENT.
The SNAKES who always mention black and white are vermin who do nothing but perpetuate racial hatred.
By the way, WHITES were slaves alongside blacks, in every country including Bermuda. In Bermuda only HALF the slaves were black. The rest were white and native indians.
More commonly the whites were INDENTURED SERVANTS, which were treated WORSE than slaves. This is inarguable history.
The SNAKES who perpetuate the nonsensical, hallucinatory idea that only blacks were slaves, are retarded morons who should be educated IN REALITY and not fairy tales they heard from family members who have anger issues.
The whole racism problem in Bermuda stems from this misunderstanding and delusion of the REAL SLAVERY in Bermuda and overseas. When you think only blacks were slaves, you feel justified being angry at whites.
In reality, since we were all slaves, we should all be angry. But what is the sense? The people who enslaved others ARE DEAD AND GONE. Get over it.
In Africa today, where the famous African slaves were taken from, YOU STILL HAVE BLACK ON BLACK SLAVERY! You have rampant WHITE SLAVERY and CHILD SLAVERY in Africa! Do you see any slavery going on in the colonial islands or in European nations? NO!
Are the “evil europeans” enslaving anyone nowadays?
Why so much hatred towards whites? Why do members of the black community seem to perpetuate the idea that whites are not allowed to run our country anymore?
Why does everyone think the OBA is white, when it is clearly NOT white?
Why? Because the SNAKES are out there still, perpetuating the delusional idea that the “white european” is evil, and should not enjoy life equally with blacks.
This ignorance has to stop. When I was growing up, I was beaten up, punched, kicked, verbally abused for being white. I have NEVER EVER seen a white person harm a black person for racial purposes. All of this abuse stems from the hatred which grows in the minds of people who listen to NONSENSE and LIES and RACISM from their friends and family members.
STOP THE IGNORANCE. STOP BLACK AND WHITE. WE ARE PEOPLE – ALL OF US.
GET REAL. STOP LIVING A HATEFUL DELUSION.
When you tell the Jews to get over the Holocaust, the Americans to get over 9/11, the Japanese to get over Hiroshima and so on, I’ll let my slavery issues go. Until then, even your revisionist history cannot convince me of the true nature of slavery and its continuing effect on people of colour. Your anger at the fact that black people would assert the same rights over their history every other ethnic group in the world has done makes you worse than the racists you claim don’t exist.I too would like to live in a utopia where folk vote on the basis of who is best for the job; but unlike desegregation, this time all I have to say is ” you first”. I have seen the OBA’s model of equality for governance. Their equality means everything for business and nothing for the everyday man. Their equality means a great balance sheet and nothing for social services. Their equality means an end to a successful education system and the construction of CedarBridge to warehouse majority black children. I too have never seen a white person “physically” harm a black person for racial purposes; but belive you me, I have seen enough evil perpetrated in this country by a white power structure the effects of which will take generations to reverse.Try and convince someone else that this is manufactured. Having lived it and living it now, I can tell you that its real.
So here I go again—–please please tell me what you want from white people? The jews, americans, japanese ……….the list can go on and on. No one expects black people to “get over it” what we are saying is, life has gone on for all of us, yes the Americans, the Jews, the Japanese have moved on. What can we do to help heal? Black people have a right to be angered over historical wrongs but like the others you mention you have to heal and move on. Attempting to punish everyone accomplishes what? Voting for one party or the other helps you how? How does alienating business help the common man? I am no economist but it seems that without business, we are completely in the dumps. Forcing IB to leave by being nasty to them hurts all, black and white and all in between. I would love to understand ….how our charitable organizations that are feeding thousands will survice without those grants from IB. Our education system stinks but there are gems in those schools- I see them every day. All is not lost, but we do need to focus on basics- I want to hear an action plan from one party to fix it. I want my government to behave responsibilty. I don’t care about color, Paula is a bright bright woman and I cannot understand why she is allowing herself to be in a position where her integrity is in question. Maybe I am naive but Bermuda was another world and now we spew hatred at each other, we have people living in cars. Yes some of the is the world economy but honestly if I have to see Mr Desilva driving his fancy car to Riddell’s Bay Golf Course on a Sunday morning, I want to know there is food in the tummy of every school kid.
Good question, worthy of an honest answer. So, here goes. White people should act like the minority they are. It would help their psychosis surrounding the current state of affairs. When they finally come to grips with some mathematical and demographic realities their outrage will be curbed and they will then stop saying ridiculous things like “the PLP needs to be more welcoming” which is code for “I need to call the shots in there too”. African Americans comprise 13% of the US population and they act like it. They don’t march into the Democratic Party and demand to be in charge. They stake out their issues, lobby for their constituency and work the system and the party to get the best for their people. Why does a legitimately elected government representing the majority of the population have to still bow to your minority whims? Its not natural. The issue is that whites don’t view this Government as legitimate because they didn’t put it there.Its not theirs and so it cannot be legitimate. That’s that privilege thing again. The same way whites forgave all the UBP misdeeds is identical to why blacks forgive the PLP. We have so far to go in our political maturity. John Huntsman, Ray LaHood, Bob Gates, all republicans who serve(d) under President Obama. Why? Because he asked them to and irrespective of their political differences he is their President and when he asks you serve. They don’t question his legitimacy. Reading these posts and many others it wouldn’t matter what this Government did; to many of these people, election results mean nothing, they just don’t have a right to be there. The next thing i want from white people is to leave the black story alone. Its not your history and your writing of it is part of why there’s so much resentment towards white people. Its not enough that you own your history but you reserve the right to own mine too! So don’t tell me how blacks vote and why and how stupid we are for doing so. Besides being offensive, its arrogant. There’s more but that’s a start.
Do you consider African-Americans racist since the polls all indicate that the vast majority will only support the Democrats? If not, why? And why don’t you think that African-Americans will not support the Republicans en masse? Is it because the Republicans often spew rhetoric that can be interpreted as being somewhat against black Americans and their needs/desires? Sounds familiar now doesn’t it? That is a minority population voting en bloc against another political organization that has made it quite clear that they do not consider white people’s opinion or wants to be valid or at least secondary to their primary support base. Wow, change the names of the Parties and you have Bermuda.
And who said anything about wanting control or wanting you to bow down to our whims?
Sounds like once again you are fabricating controversies to justify your own hatred. If not then show me exactly where any white person said the PLP needs a white person in charge or them needing to bow down to our whims.
“The issue is that whites don’t view this Government as legitimate because they didn’t put it there.Its not theirs and so it cannot be legitimate”
That is your narrow opinion and nothing else. Just because you are happy with mediocre governance doesn’t mean we all have to be.
It has nothing to do with questioning your legitimacy. Unfortunately many PLP supporters have yet to come to grips with true democracy. True democracy will always have people who oppose and those individuals reserve the right to have their views heard. You all act like when the PLP was the Opposition they sat around and blew smoke up the ass of the ruling Party.
Now continue making up stories and passing them on as facts. Actually, I am curious how you know that the Brits that came to Bermuda in the 60s and 70s were primarily Labor supporters in their home country. Exactly how did you discover this “fact?”
You claim 13 years of being ignored and cast aside. I claim 400. That’s the difference.White people in this country are unfamiliar with where they find themselves now. That’s the issue. They are used to having their votes count for double, their views heeded and their voices heard. All without the struggle that goes with that position. Many have mistaken the term white privilege for riches and position. no sir. White privilege is as I have described it. It means never having to even contemplate behaving like a minority. Imagine, blacks in this country identify most closely with African Americans and embrace their struggle mentality politically and economically in spite of the fact that we are the majority. That’s the lasting effect of instituionalized racisim. Challenging the GOvernment when in Opposition is healthy and required. No problem there. The part of the narrative you’re missing is the Grant Gibbons pronouncement about something being in “their DNA”. That’s a level of entitlement reminiscent of another country and another time where the imbalance had to be sorted through virtual revolution, so entrenched was the thinking. As for Brits and their voting patterns, I know of what I speak. Having navigated the salons, bars, boardrooms, clubs and homes of more of them than I care to admit, I claim it as fact having heard it with my own ears.Surely you don’t think the UBP gave them all the vote so they could vote PLP back then?
We will just never agree unfortunately.
You have your opinions, which you attempt to pass off as fact, and simply generalize a whole race of people. Which of course would be frowned upon, if it wasn’t a negative stereotype of whitey of course.
So can African-Americans be considered racist as well as “retarding social progress” due to their en bloc voting patterns?
Of course not. An essential element of racism is power. African Americans might be termed prejudiced but they cannot be racists. They lack the power – economic and political – to be racists in the purest sense of the term. My opinion passing as fact must be viewed through the same prism as those who say on here “anyone who supports the PLP must be either uneducated, gullible or getting favours from them”. That is equally an opinion and not a fact. Can we at least agree on that? if we can’t then…..
Firstly I have never called anyone stupid or dumb for supporting a political party. It is not my place to pass judgment on others voting preferences. However, I do have a hard time understanding the sometimes blind loyalty afforded to a Party that has not acted in the best interests of the island and one where the governance has simply been below par for any right thinking democracy.
Just the economic position we found ourselves in nowadays is just unsustainable and unacceptable. The fact that approximately 60% of Govt revenue is going to pay civil servant salaries while another major chunk of the revenue is going to satisfy our debt is a major factor in what I term as being mediocre governance.
Now, I know you will argue that the less fortunate black Bermudians do not worry about such issues and that they have never had and that only the white man worries about a strong balance sheet. However, when the vast majority of Govt revenue (which is shrinking everyday) is immediately allocated to a bloated civil service and servicing out ever growing debt there must be cut backs. These cut backs have already been experienced and guess where they came from? As can be seen already they are from areas such as social assistance and programs (i.e. Mirrors, child day care allowance, college tuition etc.) aimed at benefitting the less fortunate. So in the end while you argue that economics is not a worry for the less fortunate Bermudian it will be in the near future due to the continuous need to cut back on such social programs as they are the biggest beneficiaries of such programs. Just because one doesn’t fully understand the ramifications of such issues doesn’t mean that it should be completely ignored.
Silence!
Thanks Trident
The only way that PLP stands a chance at staying in power is to play the race card and fool enough people to vote against logic and the best interest of Bermuda and instead vote on the basis of race. It is against the PLP’s best interest to have people vote on performance. As is painfully clear the only people that would support PLP are: gullible, uneducated/ignorant, or are getting some sort of “favors” from them. While people voting against are likely voting because they are not satisfied with the continued failures and what to see change. While there may be some voting on the basis of race both black and white. I think it would be more interesting to have a survey based upon education level. Indeed, I would highly doubt that the majority of those that have education beyond high school would likely not be voting PLP (especially if this education was in business, economics, finance, ethics, or law). An educated person voting PLP without receiving “favors” defies logic in the same manner that the PLP has defied laws, ethics, and economic sense. Although, I have seen numerous comments on numerous threads in support of PLP most of the reasons stated for the support are along the lines of not voting for a “white” party, or because of how UBP ran things before 1998 (more than a decade ago), or simply no reason is stated but rather just a dig at the opposition and their supporters.
Okay, this just makes me think not only are the PLPs members inadequate but they all suffer from memory loss. Yes the Ewart Brown regime was a disgrace to the PLP and im sure they want to forget it. However i am a white bermudian and cannot forget those words that Ewart Browns government said. “We are not here to help the white population, it is the Black populations turn to prosper”
Now if any one has anything to say back to me as to why i wouldnt vote for the PLP or any government which publically admitted these sort of racial bias then you to are in need of an awakening. If the OBA came out and said that they would be focused entirally on white people they would be labeled racist at the least.
I just really find it hard to understand why the PLP does not see how they have not welcomed the white vote. But not sure they really care because as mentioned the polling figures are greatly outweighed and it is almost impossible for there to be a chance to oust the PLP and let the OBA prove there points. Long live Bermuda until it sinks into a gloomy, delpatated rock in the middle of the ocean.
“However i am a white bermudian and cannot forget those words that Ewart Browns government said. “We are not here to help the white population, it is the Black
populations turn to prosper”
In what publication where these words written, or arena spoken…first I have heard of this…this might be the smoking guns…please tell
Apparently you did not hear the BBC interview he did then.
LOL
Really??
Freaking white people will never sponsor the liberation of Black people no matter how welcoming they (whites) may perceive us to be because, to do so, will spell death to them (whites). This is whites, who are the world’s MINORITY, greatest FEAR – ceasing to exist. What an absolute blessing it would be to the rest of earth’s inhabitants, especially Blacks.
Ganja mon has been smoking too much of that stuff. His thinking is blurred and he can see straight! He’s high while the majority of us are sufferring. Let’s see if he’ll be saying PLP PLP after they loose the election that Paula is scared to call!
finger pointing is getting so boring and tiresome ,makes us tune out, what we need are solutions solutions solutions!!!!
I see non from the PLP and none mentioned by the OBA. Guess we’re up the creek without a paddle and anarchy is the ruler of the day.
LOL
Many of the comments above truly reflect that we are faced with the issue of “Racism” in Bermuda. “Racism is alive and kicking”.
Dr. Hodgson has been a strong advocate of educating many on the issues of “racism within Bermuda” and the impact it has had upon the black race. Many would like to deny it or act as if does not exist, and everything will be okay. Racism is not an easy topic of conversation, and more difficult for white people to discuss or face up too. As Dr. Brown often said it is an “uncomfortable conversation that must be had”. This statement by Dr Brown was perceived by many whites as “stirring up the pot” and “decieveful”. He was hated by many for suggesting the “Big Conversation on Race”. Despite it been the truth.
It is often stated that anyone that discusses ‘race’ are ‘racist’ by many white people. This is often to avoid debating or discussing the issue. It is easier for many whites not to “examine racism and white privileged”. While there are different types of racism others react to the old adage “A persons convinced against their will is of the same opinion still”. Prejudice thus becomes the mental framework to protect from fear, thereby safeguarding a position of social advantage and privilege over others defined as different, and therefore, undeserving.
Whites often push aside race, and make generalizations that are maintained because of a shared belief receiving strong support from one’s own reference group. In its essence, racism is culturally sanctioned strategies that defend the advantages of power, privilege and prestige which “Whites have because of the subordinated position of racial minorities”. Dr. Hodgson is only indicating that this deliberate political, economical, religious and sociocultural structuring of privilege, does not take place in some moral vacuum. It has behind it the moral force of an ideology of supremacy, and ill-will that claims racial superiority and pride of position. By ideology, Dr Hodgson suggests that it is a system of ideas and beliefs about the universe, to which a people adhere in order to justify their attitudes and actions. Nevertheless the outcome is the same, where one group benefits and the other does not. Recently, the leader of the OBA also attempted to highlight some of the same findings as Dr. Hodgson, but it is apparent that by many of the comments posted it did not filter down to the members/supporters of the OBA.
There are three types of racism operating in a society; Individual, Institutional and Cultural. Institutional racism is the conscious manipulation of the structures of society’s institutions so as to systematically discriminate against black Bermudians by their prestructured practices, policies and power arrangements. Often such institutional expressions of privilege are not readily perceived by Whites as “privilege” but as the “normal” day –in and day-out opportunities of life, to which everyone has access. However, when, as a result of demographic and political changes, Whites see their status and the landscape of social power changing, this heretofore unseen privilege now becomes most visible. Whites become frighten and threaten by this change and therefore, will fight against any loss of privilege and therefore voting for a black government becomes less of an option for them. “It is not the performance of the black government (PLP), that determines their vote, it is the lost of white privilege that will keep the white population voting in en-bloc”. The idea that the PLP has failed to govern well, is not a strong enough argument, because the same can be said of the UBP/OBA. But despite all of the UBP’s faults and failures to govern. Mr Cannioner your comment appears to be clueless and not based upon historical facts of race and racist within Bermuda.
This has been a very interesting read and I am pleased to see that finally we get back to reality…the reality that we have serious challenges and require solutions. It does us no good to divide and conquer, although it might help a party stay in power. I really could not care who the governing party is as long as they get the job done. The PLP have clearly shown they are out of gas and it is time to change. Successive budgets and Throne Speeches have shown they were out of touch with world economic conditions and subsequent policy in Bermuda. There is no excuse for the debt to have reached such levels, there is no excuse for the on going squabble with the AG, there is no excuse that tourism remains in the dumps with little hotel development and many empty promises, there is no excuse that education is still a mess, that public safety is a concern from east to west and there is no excuse that thousands of Bermudians are unemployed with limited prospects of employment. The record of the PLP has handcuffed them now in dealing with these challenges , if we did not pay the huge interest payments we could help those in need. What is required now is a government that can budget and stick to the budget, live within it’s means, show fiscal responsibility, lead by example ( yes take a pay cut for Ministers) work with IB and build business going forward by attracting outside capital to our shores. We can rebuild tourism but it must be done with a sense of urgency, thus the need for winter marketing in our core airlift areas to prop up the winter months , like all our competitors are dong ! There are solutions, and I am sure many of you have good ideas as well but they will only happen with leaders who work for the people and have the experience, energy and enthusiasm to get the job done. The choice is ours at the next election…vote for the best person based on what they have done, a record of success and proven track record or vote on friendship or race. We are at a critical point in our history , it is time to take off he blinders , only we can help ourselves .
Michael, why would the OBA want to be in power !!!the debt that the present gov have put us in will never be paid off in my or your life time.
This year 2012 does not look good, can you give some hope ?
Michael, please, I beg you, get rid of Craig when you’re elected to government! We need you as our Premier! Ewart Brown did it (we had to deceive you). You said yourself we need leaders with a track record. You have a track record. Craig doesn’t. I don’t trust him. We need you as our Premier!
I agree Dunkley is are best bet to get us back on tract…there is something about Craig that I and others are not to sure about.
Dunkley stop being so disingenuous, the ‘debt’ of this country is not only due to PLP. The debt is also due to “worldwide recession”. (This reflects you are fighting hard for the votes). You and Mr. Richards & Mr. Burchall love to sell this “myth” to the public. But, the public are smart to facts that are impacting not only Bermuda, but he world.
Stop attempting to paint this government as having done everything correct. If you do that, please also point out what your government the UBP also did not do well. We cannot forget history of the past, as it was history that puts us where we are today. You were and are a part of the UBP/OBA, and the make-up of the OBA is no different from the UBP. Just merely a name change. There are no new Cabinet members that were a part of the UBP, except the black leader you had to choose in order to gain the “black swing votes”. One can ask what was the real reason for selecting Mr. Cannioner as the leader of the UBP/OBA? Let’s stay real to the issues. Go back and read the consultant report on the “Re-branding of the UBP”.
The PLP’s Throne speech was strong and “solution-focused” and provided “critical solutions and strategies” to address the real concerns of building the economy,training for educational opportunities in a changing global world,jobs for the people,and the social agenda. The OBA/UBP’s reply to the Throne Speech was weak at best, Mr. Cannioner spent most of the time trying to reach persons on the issue of “Racism”. He was aware that even with in his own party/MPs racism continued to exist. SO where in the world were the solutions to Bermuda in the OBA’s Reply to the Throne Speech????? The reply sounded more like a personal story of how I have arrived as leader of the OBA.
The PLP did spent money on rebuilding important projects for Bermuda’s “infrastructure and social agenda” of its people. The PLP addressed key factors in Bermuda’s overall society. The PLP are a government of the people, and so monies were spent on its people to benefit. I believe that if the UBP had address many of these issues during the 30 years they were in power, the PLP would not have had to spend as much.
Also, recall it is common practice worldwide for most governments to overspend on Capital Projects. UBP over the past 30 years also overspent on many capital projects, so be honest and do not forget the historical facts. Nevertheless, it is possible however, that governments are not the best agents to manage large capital projects, and in the future this may be best done by another agency.
Also let me recall a little history for you, since you seem to have short/long term memory challenges and love to forget what you like; Tourism died under the leadership of the UBP, Uncle Jim helped it die and the rush to bring in IB. The changing global economy, Tourism is now “global” and persons have a wider range of options. It will not be easy to rebuild, regardless of who is in power, as this changing and we are dealing with entirely new dynamics. Tourism will never be the same as in the past. Tourism will have to take on a new outlook on a smaller scale. Let’s be honest Dunkley.
LETS BE REAL…….Education also began to die under the UBP, as opening of CBA a mega high school, gang mentality spawned into new era of crime and failure of students to relate to larger learning environments. UBP was dead set on opening such a large facility, regardless if it would be successful or not. But, do not forget it did not really matter, as many of the UBP MPs children would not attend public school anyway. But, the Education has made some important steps towards improvement. Small as they may be, they are crucial steps towards great progress. The needs of the Black population were largely ignored by the UBP/OBA. This has put the PLP in a position to implement the social agenda. The PLP’s list of accomplishments are too many to list, it will consume my entire post, so I will not do so here.
Be careful to gain the real facts on various issues, and not what a MP wants you to hear only. Historical facts are important, as they set the tone for the reasons on many issues. This is a time for people to remain to the wicket, and work with the PLP to ensure that things are done for the people. The OBA are the UBP with just a different name. “Sheep in Wolf’s clothing”, as the old saying goes..
Michael go do something with your wife, and stop reading the blogs, I think something is wrong with you.
Why do Blacks always have to be the ones to “bow down” and ask the white population to for something? We have been doing that for years and now I would hope we have progressed a long way today. Why can white people stand up and do what is right? Blacks should not have to ask whites to join the PLP, nor be the reason as to why they do not want to join. Like anyone else, whites must be attracted to the ideals and the goals, the aims and objectives of the PLP party to join. It is always Blacks that have taken the first steps to apologizes and interact with the white populations. We have attended your schools, clubs, organizations, and churches. The reverse is not true for the white population.
Mr.Craig Cannioner is speaking in a “nice tone” as not to alienate his white support base. He knows better than this. He has to be careful how he speaks, as he is clearly aware that it was the white population that voted him in in #12 the UBP turned OBA supporters. This is nothing new. A Blind honest man would admit to such facts. “Whites vote in en-block”. Blacks are the swing voters. So stop playing the “pleasing game” and “politics”. He is pleasing his “white support”, if he does not he will be sent packing out of the door. This recent statement goes against everything he said in the throne speak reply. He is “talking double” one from his “heart”, the other to please his “white supporters”. He sounds out of touch with historical facts, and almost like an apology to the white race. Very Sad position to take as a Black man.
@specialgirl4you. Your name says it all….very sad.
I agree with you, Craig is being used….
You are a racist fueling rascism in bermuda. FACT
we all know racism is in the world and yes in Bermuda lots of folks telling us day in day out we even pay consultants to again tell us, we keep hearing this can anyone tell us how we fix it?
because this talk can go on forever ???????
Given the economic timebomb the PLP has created in the past few years (have a look at our debt, and more importantly our interest payments), I wouldn’t be surprised if Cox and co actually WANT to lose the next election.
Get out for 4 or 5 years. Watch the OBA/whoever fail to deal with the mess that the current public sector is in, then get back in power after regrouping and letting the OBA/ whoever be the fall guys.
Because you don’t need a degree in economics to see the only way Bermuda is going to remain solvent is to cut public sector expenditure. Which means cutting public sector jobs. And the PLP desperately do not want to be the party to do this. And worse, if it is the OBA/ whoever who are forced to make these job cuts, it’ll turn into a race war led by union/ PLP stalwarts. Can you imagine the rhetoric coming out of the BIU if a party with even 20% white representatives cut union jobs? It would all be about race, not economic reality.
Bermuda’s two party system is defined by race, and as such is fundamentally broken. Until we ditch the preposterous notion that there are enough capable Bermudians interested in politics to form ONE party much less multiple ones we’ll get nowhere. There should be a seat for each parish, and everyone should run on their own merits, independent of party. Then we might see one or two statesmen/women emerge, instead of the career politicians who have run our country into the ground.
@ Lostinflatts: I agree that this two party system has become defined only by race. It started as labour vs business, but with the institutionalized racism of that era, that automatically meant black vs white. The system is fundamentally flawed and divisive and should be discarded ASAP.
I don’t want to join any party to ‘fix’ things. I want to see a system that works for all.
Just as I thought silence
And around & around & around it goes. Race, race, race. Reminds me of an old dog that digs up his bone knaws on it all day then burys it only to dig it up & repeat day after day. Meanwhile, theives have picked the house that he is supposed to be guarding ckean.
Vote on perfomance. Nothing else matters – for all of us.
It is at this point I come to the conclusion this is a smokescreen and as someone said time to take of the blinders for real the life we have now and the truth we see before us and the actions of people we trust are all we have to make judgements on we are all paying the price for something or other there is only one way and that’s forward.
heey my beautiful people..Race, all are of human race …Politics mmm 2 Parties to vote for mm not much of a choice Vote.we all have right to vote for who we wish….. and on Racism as with any form of ism , people will believe what they wish , cant force people to change their beliefs,,how to change this ,dont be like what you feel is not right, let the goodness of your heart an spirit shine for all to see. Peace good health and happiness to ALL
Specialgirl4you,
You can not be serious about the debt being due to the world wide recession! Wake up and do some research for yourself. And as for you Maddog, leave my family out of it, if all you have is personal comments bring them at me. I am the one serving to make a difference and I fully expect it from those that have nothing real to offer.
I know we can solve our problems but only if we focus on them and do not get sidetracked . For example the PLP do not think our growing debt is a problem. We disagree. We must control it, reduce it and that all starts with being accountable to the public purse. Get a budget and stick to it! Businesses do it, families do it why shouldn’t the PLP do it?
Jt amen…vote on performance.
Well Michael it’s like they them selves have said the sign of a losing argument is when it results in name calling and personal pokes.
LOL
@Mr. Dunkley please ignore maddog he just wished he had wife and to special girl, there is a reason y she is named that and its not for being intelligent. Maybe they should get together, they can have specialmaddog kids LOL.
Seems to me that if 90% of white bermudians voters would vote for the OBA and 48% of black voters don’t support (wouldn’t vote for) the PLP ( royal gazette this week), you have a majority of the bermudian voting population that is not in favor of the current ruling party. The numbers speak for themselves.
@ dthtoo Speak for yourself it seems as if you have a personal issue with skin color we are all from the human race. Not all of us blacks have issues with other human beings take a look in the mirror maybe you come from another planet.