Deputy Premier: “It Was An Honour To Be Present”
On the invitation of Buckingham Palace and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Bermuda was represented at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in London. Bermuda joined a contingent of Heads of State and High Commissioners of the Commonwealth and Realms and Premiers, Chief Ministers and UK Representatives of the British Overseas Territories.
Representing Bermuda was Deputy Premier Derrick Burgess, accompanied by UK Representative, Ms. Kimberley Durrant within the London Office.
The weekend celebrations commenced with the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday, 3rd June. Despite the rainy weather, millions were present along the river banks to honour the Queen and to catch a glimpse of the Royal Barge and thousands of vessels which participated in the flotilla.
The Deputy Premier and Ms. Durrant were on board one of the FCO vessels, the Mercuria. The Mercuria travelled down the Thames River alongside the Sapelle, a boat decorated only with flags of the British Overseas Territories, to include Bermuda’s flag.
On Monday, 4th June they attended a reception at Buckingham Palace followed by the BBC Diamond Jubilee Concert. During the reception the Deputy Premier met and held conversations about Bermuda with HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales; The Rt Hon David Cameron MP, Prime Minister; Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Opposition; The Rt Hon Theresa May MP, Home Secretary and many other dignitaries of the UK Government and members of the Royal Family.
On Tuesday 5th June the Deputy Premier attended the National Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral. He was in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen, the Royal Family and UK Government Officials. The service was followed by a lunch at Guildhall, hosted by the Rt Hon William Hague, MP, Foreign Secretary.
The Deputy Premier said: ‘It was an honour to be present and share in the celebration of the 60 year reign of the Queen and her immense dedication to Britain and the Commonwealth. Throughout the entire weekend the Queen was gracious as always. We were grateful to the level of hospitality afforded to Bermuda. It was evident the Monarchy and the UK Coalition Government cherish its British Overseas Territories.’
Mr Deputy Premier, words like that can get you kicked out of the PLP…
The hypocrisy of these people is just unbelievable.
I guess it was his turn for a trip was it?
If you really believe Derek, I’ve got a bridge to sell you!!
………this is a man who I believe has always handled the truth recklessly!
So why are we, as a British Overseas Territory, not scheduled to get a visit from a member of the Royal family this year?
Possibly because the present government make members of the Royal Family as welcome as some dog mess on the bottom of their shoe?
That said they will gladly take all the opportunities to puff out their chests at ceremonious occasions and snatch up any title with both hands.
oh so true
Cuz we had the Queen last year.
I wonder if they know that Derek is a member of a party who’s former head and Premier of Bermuda has recently made verbal attacks on the former Governor an has accused Britain of fostering the Gang problem in Bermuda. I wonder if they know that the PLP government wants nothing more than an independent Island, where the Government can do what they want with no check or balance, at the same time cling to it’s false Caribbean Heritage. The present government are no friends of great Britain, all this guy wanted is to be at the party and feel important. But in reality he is a hypocrite for turning up in the first place. I am surprised that British M16 even allowed him to be there.
Deputy Prem is a regular ‘Benedict Arnold’! Just so unashamedly hypocritical. Probably more interested in the First Class travel and all the airmiles. Doubtful that Bermuda’s best interests were at the heart of the decision to attend.
Another flagon of dip for the Sheeple?
Thought you were all for Independence?? HYPOCRITES if I was Prince Charles would have kicked you out of my house…
I am shocked and dismayed that these self proclaimed anti royalist continue to revel in the titles and visits to the mother land.
Still recovering from Sir Rolfe’s acceptance of a honour from the Queen.
Dames and lames.. Pathetic…
oh so true yet again.
Maybe i should enter the kitchen of parliament and cause a scuffle, if this is the reward you get!!!
Haha we common folk would be jailed instantly, our rules don’t apply to royalty.
The money the deputy spent to go to the Queens Jubilee, could have paid for the repairs at Gibbs hill lighthouse …
Yup, that’s right, always thinking of the damn trip instead of working hard to help our country. Maybe he neede to get away after Scott beat his a–.
@ Derrick .. what happen with the fight? LOL
I know the protocol! But let’s face it, Minister Scott would have made a far better representative.
too true!
I figured it out! Many in the opposition party(pre-1998) simply wanted to get invited to the party. They weren’t interested in fighting colonialism but in fact were pissed because they were on the onside, face pressed against the glass, looking into the parties of the elite. They were simply looking to be accepted.
We are doomed as a people in Bermuda
Maybe Paula sent him, to get him off teh island, so she can quell any uprising or coup in the cabinet ranks!!
I think you have hit the nail firmly on the head!
They Better watch that Zane Desilva he is just waiting for a slip up to try and take Paula’s seat.
Indeed, tongue so sharp..cutting edge analysis..
Interesting how the PLP did not make mention of any kind of the Diamond Jubilee and also did not make any effort to celebrate it here, but they are happy to attend the functions (Royal Weddings etc) accept OBE, MBE et al in the annual Queen’s Honours.
What a bunch of two-faced hypocrites.
@ Mussel Pie. I could not agree more. Unbelievable that virtually nothing was made of this here – happy to celebrate lots of other historical moments in Bermuda, but not the people that actually founded the island! Another missed tourism opportunity … why not make this week-end the bank holiday to co-incide and and then skip the ‘heroes’ one (!?) and use it to promote the history of the island. 1/2 term in UK meant that several might have come to visit and the US visitors are always curious about our heritage. Oh no, that would be too smart.
Exactly! I cannot understand the missed tourism opportunity also! Not only with UK visitors but also if we had Jubilee Festivities here we could have done a Jubilee tourism package for East Coasters! Americans LOVE all the British pomp! As usual, this govt fails on so many levels.
@Mussel Pie….I concur….self serving “bisteges”
Amen, sack the lot of them. Royal Wedding invite – yes please, Jubilee trip, that would be nice and an MBE maybe – oh why not? Public holiday and a party for the rest of us – no way, we are Bermudian not British, and black folk don”t do that British stuff do they? You said it Mussel Pie – Burgess is a hypocrite.
Is he on the make to become Sir Derrick, son of a pun
Be it PLP, OBA, UBP, Sea Cadets, gombeys, students, the Garden Society, persons you love, persons you hate, persons you love to hate-whoever….accept that Bermuda as a British colony was represented for this series of special events. My goodness, isn’t it reasonable that Bermuda would be invited to attend?
More than reasonable that they would be invited, but given the open detest shown towards the Queen and her representatives why accept? Surely the Bda Gov London Office could have sent a rep and then it would have only been the cost of a Zone 1 tube fare.
At least he didn’t have to buy a funny hat!
Ohhh now we know what he and Mr Scott were fighting about…. who got the trip to London!!!! See that was easy wasn’t it!!!!
I am so fed up with with these gombeys…Black people wake up !!!! the present gov are are all about themslves… and to hell with you…
Not all black people are for this present Government. There are a lot more of us who can’t wait to get rid of the PLP rule, than you could ever imagine, so please stop saying that.
Great to see our government foste. Strong ties with britain
Delighted to see Bermuda represented at such a fine occasion by the Hon. Derrick Burgess. I see that he was accompanied by Kimberley Durrant of the London Office. Does she do anything else besides attend functions? Can someone tell the people of Bermuda what she has accomplished as the UK Representative, if anything?
Just asking?
Long Live the Queen!
pro-independence does not mean Anti-UK..no hypocrisy here…
Your statement is correct, but this government is anti-UK, unless they can get a title or a trip.
Wow, the fireworks and palace look amazing, the British do this pomp and circumstance better than anyone. Shame on our damp squib of a government – too busy spending our money in the bars of London to organize anything here.
Why is there so much fuss over a family that slaughtered, raped and plundered millions all in God’s name. Has an apology ever been issued by the reigning monarch? Has any effort been made to make amends? Instead of the billions wasted around the world in celebration of a 60 year reign of building her family’s wealth. Why did Her Majesty not suggest that those funds go towards subjects with needs?
So you forgot about how Lady Daina treaded people………….
LOL
So for the Jubilee all of the royal family have traveled to all the comonwealth countries. Why has no one visited Bermuda. Is it still in the works or are they feeling the love
This government has made it clear to them that we don’t want them to visit. Remember, on the Queen’s mother’s 100 birthday, we were one of the few countries in the world that did not send an official greeting to her.
this government is shameful
Did they play “Send in the Clowns” when Burgess arrived?
Paula still in Belgium? or in Peru with Kim? Patrice’s turn to be away? Dwayne in Puerto Rico? Bermuda Government seems to be making everyone else’s tourism numbers better…..hypocritical?
When he was chatting to the Queen and Prince Charles, did he boast at recently having got a “stranglehold” on Bermuda politics?
You all must have been real sick when the former Premier, Dr. Ewart Brown, “wined and dined” Her Majesty and her husband at Tuckers Point a couple of years ago.
Is that the best you’ve got?
Listeneing to that twit would be enough to make you lose your appetite.
you all hide behind pen names and bash the attendance of a royal event by our deputy leader. sounds to me as if you all are bitter; maybe because you wished you had the opportunity?
maybe if you all had something positive to offer this country, you would stand a better chance at being privy to such opportunities. your tone and posture clearly shows what you all stand for and who you support. keep up the good work at showing the true colours of our “opposition” (or lack thereof)
@MyPenName,
What’s your real name then?
my real name is just as relevant to this thread as yours is… how about i give you my email and we can meet and discuss our ‘realities’ in person? that’s if my real name really means that much to you… if not, carry on and have a great day!
I was there and it didn’t cost YOU a pretty penny honey.
And to think, if the PLP is re-elected Derrick Burgess is most likely our new leader. That would be a disgrace.
An ex-union leader as Premier…that would really appeal to all the IB company CEOs. NOT.
@Laverne Furbert: In the famous words of Archie Bunker on “All in The Family”.. “Stifle It”!… You just had to put your 2 cents in, didn’t you? You will never be relevant in any way, anywhere, do you realize that? Not to them. Keep defending these “clowns” actions. Do you realize that to them you are a nobody? The sooner you realize that the better. Keep on brown-nosing, chica! We are all entitled to our own opinion, that is true, but sometimes things are better left unsaid. And I am “not” hiding behind a pen name. I have nothing to hide. You, ewart,derrick,chris, all of you need to get yourselves a little rowboat, find a little remoote island somewhere, and go be “Independent” there; Bon Voyage!!!
Also, @ MyPenName: the same goes for you; there’s room on that boat for you as well.. Lol
Haha, thanks for the reminder. In the famous words of Freddie McGregor, “Big Ship sailing on the ocean…” (google it if you can’t sing the rest) In the meantime, we will continue to weather this storm.. In the famous words of Dr. Brown, “and this too shall pass..” Have a great day madam.
You can learn all you need to know about Burgess by the fact that he waited to resign until AFTER he got to go on his first class, all expense paid trip to see the festivities in London.
With this lot it’s all about the perks, the checks and the first class travel.