DeSilva Addresses Leadership Challenge Reports

June 20, 2012

At today’s [June 20] press conference about the post-fire water testing, Minister Zane Desilva answered questions about reports he is considering challenging for leadership of the Progressive Labour Party.

Last night ZBM reported that both Minister Desilva and Derrick Burgess — who recently left Cabinet amidst controversy — are both considering challenging the leadership of Premier Paula Cox.

The report said speculation exists that three camps have been formed within the PLP, with both Mr Desilva and Mr Burgess said to have support from factions within the party.

When asked today about the report Mr Desilva said, “There is no speculation on our behalf as the party. There may be speculation that is being spread by other parties. But certainly within the PLP there is no speculation, no doubt as to who our leader is.

When asked if he has ambitions to be Party Leader, Mr DeSilva said, “I would say at this particular point in time in my life, I do not have any ambitions to be leader of the Party.”

When asked about the reports recently, Premier Cox told ZBM: “Leadership plots…part of it I think is really trying to destabilize the PLP, and is being hatched by others.

“I think what you probably might want to follow up on is what is happening in some other camps, as opposed to the PLP, because I am standing long and strong for the foreseeable future. Have no fear whatsoever of that,” said the Premier.

The ZBM report also quoted Dr Eva Hodgson, whose comments originally appeared in the Royal Gazette, as saying if Mr DeSilva was made the leader of the PLP it would bother her from “the psychological point of view.”

Dr Hodgson said, “You have all these black men there who could be the leader, but it wouldn’t surprise me because that is a part of the impact of centuries of racism.

“Apparently, Zane DeSilva is a hard worker, but one thing that those against him have said is that he hasn’t been there long enough to pay his dues. He is still very new to the party to become the leader.”

Read More About

Category: All, News, Politics

Comments (38)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. street wise says:

    Ewart is lurking….

  2. Truth is killin' me... says:

    Dun…dun…dun…dun…dunnanaaa!!!!!

  3. navin johnson says:

    and if you believe him just remember the famous words…”We had to deceive you”

    • Rockfish #1and#2 says:

      Who would have believed there was a conspiracy being hatched to oust Jennifer Smith.

      The conspirators would have denied it also!

  4. Bermywan says:

    “He lying Maury, show him dah test results…..”

  5. What Next says:

    Zane DeSilva is such a F****en…. he knows he want to be the PLP leader.He would DIG the knife in Paula’s back so quick to get that leader ship he is just that NASTY.

  6. all clogged up says:

    It will never happen, too many people at the grass roots level that are still hung up on race….even if Zaney grew dreadslocks and spend several days at the tanning booth (like the lady in the states) he still won’t be ‘black’ enough to be leader…..then again, they didn’t listen to Lois and elder cox when warned not to give Ewart control, he’s got a personal agenda……hummmmmmm oh well

  7. Opressed says:

    And we should believe him because . . .

    • WinterSun says:

      Because, at this particular point time, in my life, I do not have any ambitions to having that slice of triple-layered chocolate cake that’s just sitting on my kitchen counter…at this particular point in time…

  8. Family Man says:

    Doesn’t Zane already think he’s the H#IC.

    Zane & Derrick; dumb and dumber.

    • pepper says:

      Well he said he was the head @#$$% in charge, and he is out to prove it .. and with his golf partner and mentor showing him how it is done how can he loose ?

  9. Never happen says:

    Really, the PLP having a white man as party leader! What will they do? I heard them now. The day this happens RUN!! It’s the end of the world.

  10. Rockfish #1and#2 says:

    This from the self appointed H#IC?

    “Trust no one”
    Paula Cox.

  11. M.P.Mountbatten JP says:

    It’s mine I tell you !

  12. Amazed says:

    Wet behind the ears! Lol

  13. Amazed says:

    Please come back we need you now?!?!

  14. terry says:

    The Cup Match Rising.

  15. An expat who is leaving... says:

    Hey Eva,

    You should stop worrying about the colour of someone’s skin and focus instead on the lack of future your grand-kids due to the fiscal state of Bermuda.

    This place is well on its way to imploding and yet your concerned about the skin colour of your leader (rather than character and intelligence). Real nice and a great example for Bermuda’s youth.

    For someone who always preaches to others and claims to know all the answers, it would be a good time for you (and those that share your opinions) to pull your head out of the sand and have a good look around—this is not the twilight zone.

    • GVT Mechanic says:

      Wish this had a like button! Spot on mate!

  16. Blop says:

    Eva Hodgson, shame on you, you are a dreadful hurful woman. Take the honour from the white man, cos it gets you a trip to London and a medal, then criticize DeSilva, who is a clown, but not because he is white, but because he is useless.

    There are good white people you know, lots of them, people who don’t live their lives by colour but by respect and family and ordinary nights in and out and school and nice dinners and cricket and football and tv and music and laughter and love. What a shame that you take you life out on these people. Retire please.

    • say it like it is says:

      I thought they stood for Labour, what has that got to do with black/white? We’re all in this together, no matter what our colour. DeSilva cannot be trusted, look out Paula, don;t trust him at all.

    • GVT Mechanic says:

      Agree with Blop!

  17. Reverend Pastor says:

    This is a ridiculous story. The PLP will not now or ever have a white person leading them. It goes against everything they stand for. PLP would have to be completely and utterly desperate to consider a white person as their leader. Oh yeah I forgot. CONGRATS ZANE!!!!!!

    • xfiles says:

      From another “guest worker” who is leaving.It’s people like this lady,Eva who have ruined this little rock in the middle of the ocean.The company I work for is sending 80% of the workforce to their US office as they believe there will be no infrastructure to support this country within the next 2 years.There will be general strikes,transportation system meltdown,airlines pulling out due to lack of security and food shortages.It’s going to be a miserable life for the young people of the country for generations to come.The white man is no longer your enemy.The enemy is you,Eva and anyone like you.

    • say it like it is says:

      @Pastor: What has black/white got to do with anything? The PLP are a labour party, not a black labour party. What’s your point? Paula, don’t trust anyone! Especially not this guy. Everyone knows about him, except you!

  18. I remember Derrick Burgess saying categorically to Everest that he has no intentions on becoming leader of the party

    Now I hear Zane saying he has no intentions either to become leader of the party. Who do these guys think their lying to?

    C’om on Paula call this dam election so the gombeys can be out of office

  19. Peace says:

    These comments are so immature. What are we teaching our sons and daughters of this country? Why does it matter if a leader is black , white or other? Is there so much hatred in Bermuda that our citizens have to resolve to this sort of communication with each other. I’m assuming none of these comments are made by persons with children who will follow their parents foot steps by name calling and other negative means of speaking about one another.

  20. Encyclopedia says:

    What’s wrong with challenges? Isn’t that democracy in its true spirit?

    “…long and strong for the foreseeable future…” that’s really a very arrogant statement.

  21. navin johnson says:

    But the PLP already have a white leader…Graeme Outerbridge….puppet in charge….

  22. Argosy says:

    Dr Hodgson said, “You have all these black men there who could be the leader, but it wouldn’t surprise me because that is a part of the impact of centuries of racism……….

    ……which she is committed to taking forward into future centuries.

    Pure, unadulterated racism. She only has one suit in her deck of cards.

    Pathetic.

  23. LOL says:

    Just the thought of either of them in the top spot makes me to hurl vomit at my computer screen.

  24. mrwiggin says:

    Eva, you should be ashamed of yourself. But you won’t be. Simply disgusting.

    • say it like it is says:

      That would be funny, What Next says, that company should be unionised. Why isn’t it? Aren;t the PLP and BIU in bed together? Why is his company not Unionized? Hey, Chris, another company for you to work on.

  25. What Next says:

    PLP Leader Paula you better watch that Zane DeSilva if you don’t believe me just ask his work staff or they might be afraid to talk they might get fired that is why he runs a non Union Company and if they think about going Union the Portuguese are so afraid they will be sent back home. I don’t bite my words i speed the truth and it hurts them.

    • GVT Mechanic says:

      @what next, I sympathise, keep strong!

  26. Rockfish #1 says:

    Where are the Defender/8 votes, Betty Trump,and the other sheeple?
    Would any of them support a white person as a potential leader of the PLP?

    @ What Next,

    Ditto.