Banquet Photos & Opposition Leader’s Speech
[Updated with photo gallery] The time the PLP spends in “political exile can be spent aimlessly wandering, senselessly infighting, and foolishly devoid of vision and purpose, or, we can move purposefully back to the values on which we were founded,” said Opposition Leader Marc Bean.
The Opposition Leader was speaking at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, where the Progressive Labour Party was hosting their 46th annual Banquet this evening [Oct 26].
Mr Bean said, “Tonight, we celebrate 50 years of struggle, tragedy, and triumph. From 30 years of wandering in the political wilderness, as what often seemed like Bermuda’s sole voice for freedom, justice and equality…to finally earning the trust and support of the masses in 1998, to serving as the first government in our history to stand for the poor, the downtrodden, and the homeless. The first government of, and for, all Bermudians.
“Yet, through our own actions, our own decisions, and our own behaviour, we lost touch with the people who put their faith in us, the people who hoped that the new Bermuda we offered in 1998, would represent empowerment and freedom.
Mr Bean [right] with entertainer Nadanja Bailey, who served as MC for the evening:
“It is from that failure that we have been cast into the political wilderness yet again. Yet, the time we spend in political exile, can be spent aimlessly wandering, senselessly infighting, and foolishly devoid of vision and purpose, or, we can move purposefully back to the values on which we were founded.
“At our best, the PLP has brought Bermudians together and moved Bermuda away from the darkness of injustice, oppression, and crony capitalism,” continued Mr Bean.
“Crony and vulture capitalism, practised by a wicked oligarchy determined to cling to their power and influence by any means necessary, was the Bermuda the PLP was born into, and there were consequences for standing up to them.
“Our founders faced economic terrorism in the form of pulled mortgages, being blackballed from jobs, and having their good names smeared. Yet they stood up for us, they fought for us, and yes, they founded the PLP for us.
“As a Party, our future depends on cultivating a spirit within the people that encourages a willingness to do for self. This ethos demands a shift in mentality from one that depends on government to provide for our every need, and towards a spirit of creativity, entrepreneurship, self improvement, and self knowledge.
“As a Party, we must be prepared to reduce the burden of government, and reduce our people’s dependency on government. Like it or not, we also must pursue policies that reduce our public debt, reduce government spending, and put Bermuda on a trajectory towards having a balanced budget in the future.”
Mr Bean’s full speech follows below:
Good evening
Friends, family colleagues, brothers and sisters. Protocol having been established, I hope that you have your dancing shoes on tonight, as we have much to give thanks for.
Tonight, we celebrate 50 years of struggle, tragedy, and triumph. From 30 years of wandering in the political wilderness, as what often seemed like Bermuda’s sole voice for freedom, justice and equality……to finally earning the trust and support of the masses in 1998, to serving as the first government in our history to stand for the poor, the downtrodden, and the homeless. The first government of, and for, all Bermudians.
Yet, through our own actions, our own decisions, and our own behaviour, we lost touch with the people who put their faith in us…. the people who hoped that the new Bermuda we offered in 1998, would represent empowerment and freedom.
It is from that failure that we have been cast into the political wilderness yet again……Yet, the time we spend in political exile, can be spent aimlessly wandering, senselessly infighting, and foolishly devoid of vision and purpose, OR, we can move purposefully back to the values on which we were founded.
At our best, the PLP has brought Bermudians together and moved Bermuda away from the darkness of injustice, oppression, and crony capitalism.
The Progressive Labour Party was born in a Bermuda where the people had grown, in the words of Martin Luther King, “tired of being trampled by the iron feet of oppression….tired of being plunged across the abyss of humiliation, where they experience the bleakness of nagging despair…tired of being pushed out of the glittering sunlight of life’s July, and left standing amid the piercing chill of an alpine November.”
Crony and vulture capitalism, practised by a wicked oligarchy determined to cling to their power and influence by any means necessary, was the Bermuda the PLP was born into, and there were consequences for standing up to them. Our founders faced economic terrorism in the form of pulled mortgages, being blackballed from jobs, and having their good names smeared. Yet they stood up for us, they fought for us, and yes, they founded the PLP for us.
They believed as we still believe today, that Bermudians are entitled to freedom, justice, and equality in their own country, and for that noble goal, no sacrifice is too great, no burden too heavy, and no opponent is too powerful.
Our founders had a very clear goal. They sought social and economic equality through the application of political power….beginning as a protest movement, shifting to power via democratic majority rule, and all culminating in victory at the polls on November 9th, 1998.
We stand on the shoulders of greatness. We honour them when we fight for the people who have no voice; when we stand up for capable, willing, qualified Bermudians, who are denied employment opportunities in our own country. We honour our founders when we continue to identify and tear down obstacles to opportunity, and when we stand against greed, injustice and inequity.
Today’s PLP, and tomorrow’s PLP, must never take for granted the real sacrifice that our fore parents have paid for us to celebrate 50 years, let alone to have the opportunities of education and employment, to which we now enjoy.
Having gained and now lost political power, we must ask ourselves; what grade would our founding fathers give us? What would they think of us? Have we met their expectations?
Some may feel that in losing political power, the movement towards social and economic equality has taken one step forward, and two steps backwards, with the last 50 years having come to nought.
Which leads to the very pressing question…what must we do to ensure that we celebrate the next 50 years as an institution, and what direction, what new objective, must be set in order for us to effectively serve our supreme interest, the Beautiful People of Bermuda?
My position is that there is no need for a new objective. The goal of our founding fathers was social and economic equality and justice, but that wasn’t their final objective!
Social and economic equality and justice was the goal, the means to an end, but their objective, the culmination point, the real ends, was the highest ideal and aspiration of man, that of Freedom and Liberty…. and by extension, the creation of a Free Society.
Today, the Free Society dreamed of by our founding fathers remains the objective, and as they did 50 years ago, we must overcome our doubts and our fears, adjust and adept to the conditions of today, and fulfill their dream.
The Free Society we seek is one where the vestiges of our history……of slavery… of colonialism…. of racism, classism, and discrimination, are eradicated. We must seek to usher in a period of stability, peace, material and spiritual progress, so that true social harmony may manifest in Bermuda.
Make no mistake, the attitudes that gave and continue to give life to these scars on our psyche, are equally destructive to all, regardless if you are black, white, Bermudian or foreign. Every society has among them, those who hold extremist beliefs, and who are a drag upon the well being of our country.
The rest of us, the overwhelming majority, regardless of race or history, desire the same things out of life. These desires today represent unlocked potential to create tangible cooperation, unity, and progress.
Today, after 50 years of existence, and 14 years of political power, we see a Bermuda in a downward spiral, our people out of work, our families and communities trapped in a cycle of dependency and hopelessness…..and our children locked into a fratricidal cycle of death and destruction.
Is this the legacy of our founder’s goal of social and economic equality and justice? I dare say not!
In order for us to give due respect to our founders and elders, and true regard for future generations, we are going to have to adjust our thinking, and our actions.
It is time to embrace the principles of freedom, and recognise that true cultural and economic empowerment is the path towards real freedom, with its ancillary benefits of peace, stability, and the elevation of our collective standard of living.
Political power has, and will continue, to fail to usher in this new day, as quite frankly, a good government should have its focus on benefiting all the people equally. It should not be directed by special interest in any shape or form.
Thus, it is informative to note, that the way forward has less to do with who wields political power, and more to do with how we, as individuals, relate to each other as people.
As I have stated previously, Governments can only cultivate the conditions where jobs can be created, and that can only happen when we face the truth, and take decisive action. It is the private sector, you and your neighbours, that can create jobs.
In fact, in order for the optimum conditions for job growth to occur, Government must get out of the way, and depart from the long held notion that politicians and the State, can manage an economy.
As a Party, our future depends on cultivating a spirit within the people that encourages a willingness to do for self. This ethos demands a shift in mentality from one that depends on government to provide for our every need, and towards a spirit of creativity, entrepreneurship, self improvement, and self knowledge.
This must have as its basis, the need for personal responsibility, and becoming the masters of our own destiny. In educating our children, we must re-educate ourselves to recognise our innate talents, in order to fulfil our life’s purpose.
No longer can we blame others for our conditions. We must learn anew, the value of savings, and living within our means. We must reverse the trend of becoming slaves to debt, and sacrifice current, frivolous consumption, while increasing savings and thrift…. the real way to create wealth and prosperity. Those of us who have savings must use part of it to invest in themselves, and more importantly, invest in others.
As a Party, we must be prepared to reduce the burden of government, and reduce our people’s dependency on government. Like it or not, we also must pursue policies that reduce our public debt, reduce government spending, and put Bermuda on a trajectory towards having a balanced budget in the future.
Fiscal responsibility applies to our public life, as it does to our private, individual lives. Those who inherit the Party in 50 years deserve nothing less. Those who reside in this country in 50 years, deserve nothing less.
As we are today, we are in danger of becoming an obsolete people of no use to business, no use to our society, and no use to ourselves. The business community is struggling to employ their own friends and families, so we can no longer look exclusively to them to solve our problems, provide employment for us, or give us a livelihood.
Now is the time for us to adjust our thinking, become innovative, and begin to look at ways to create opportunities for ourselves. We must change the consciousness of our people, from one that says “government must,” “IB must,” to one that says, “I must, and I will, do for self”!
Bermudians must become more productive, and more competitive, in order to be full participants in, and contributors to, the global economy. We cannot afford to be bystanders any longer. The feelings of complaint in the people, must be, like Alchemy, transmuted into the willingness to compete and cooperate with one another.
Co-operating and competing, reinforces the principal that a man respects you, when you respect yourself. Combine this with the golden rule of loving thy neighbour as thyself, long standing issues like race, which influence much in society, and are the stumbling blocks towards true social harmony and cooperation, will finally recede into the dustbin of history.
Not all of us want, or have it within us, to be entrepreneurs. But what we do have within us is the capacity to provide the highest level of service to those who have taken the risk, invested in themselves, and have created a job for you to fill. If you do not seek to employ yourself and others, than be someone worthy of being hired. Invest in yourself, educate yourself, and give your employer a full day’s work, for a full day’s pay.
These changes within minds, as individuals, and as a community of people who understand the power of doing for self, will transform Bermuda and Bermudians, irrevocably for the better.
We stand on a foundation bound together by the spirits of a group of average Bermudian men, sitting in a garage 50 years ago…..men seeking a way for all Bermudians to have a voice, a chance, and a role in the country of our birth.
We are bound together by the memory of Hon. Walter Robinson, the shaper of our island’s constitution.
We are bound together and inspired by the example of Dame Lois Browne Evans; first in law, first in leadership, and first in championing the rights of the people.
We are bound together and inspired by the legacy of Hon L.Frederick Wade, our political Moses, who led us through the political wilderness, but was unable to complete the journey to government with us.
We are bound together and inspired by the vision of Dame Jennifer Smith, who brought One Man, One Vote of Equal Value to our people.
We are bound together by the idea of Hon. William Alexander Scott, that Bermuda should be a place where the haves continue to have, and the have nots, have more.
We are bound together by the work of Dr Hon .Ewart F. Brown, the man who made the UBP change brands, and reminded us of the need to “just get it done”.
We are bound together by the legacy of Hon. Paula A. Cox, who called upon each of us to Stand Strong for Bermudians, and do it with class and dignity.
Now, the generation that our parents sacrificed to feed, clothe, and educate, must step up and contribute in the shaping of our island’s destiny. Instructed and mentored by our elders, respectful and knowledgeable of our history, our heritage, and of those who came before us, we owe our country so very much.
Let us give those who came before us the confidence that our island’s fate is in good hands. Let us give those who come behind us hope, that tomorrow will be filled with greater opportunity, success, and prosperity, than we have today.
May Almighty God, bless the Progressive Labour Party, and may he bless the people of Bermuda.
Thank you
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5 years can’t come soon enough.
Great speech!
Words. That is all they are. Words. No commitment. and that is what it was for 14 years as central themes of this “foundation” were never mentioned. The PLP is finished as it lacks leadership and has left the country with a legacy it will never forget. No chance of them ever getting back in power. Cannonier will call a snap election and their numbers will be REDUCED. Thank God.
I wish he would call a snap election. We’ll be watching him from the Cabinet Office
I wonder why Bernews and other media was not permitted to take photos at the One Bermuda Alliance annual Conference last week. Is it that they were afraid to show Bermuda who the real supporters of the party are or was it the color of everyones skin that attended. I thought the ubpoba finished with the smoke and mirrors show.
Anyway thanks for the photos PLP and thanks for not being afraid to show who you are.
The OBA had a conference, not a banquet and pictures were taken outside the conference (did you watch the news?). The real supporters of the OBA come in all colours and yes there were more white faces than black but there are more black supporters of the OBA than you may think. The OBA supporters are about getting this economy right so that we all may benefit from it.
When I look at the PLP pictures, I see persons (politicians) who gained our trust then let us down. The supporters, many of which I know personally, are stuck in a mindset that we are still slaves and that we must “get whitey” back for all he has done to us over the last 400 years even if its to the demise of blacks.
Sorry, that how I see it.
“more black supporters of the OBA than you may think”
You must be color blind because many blacks didn’t even come out to vote.
We will next time and I can tell you it will not be for some carbon copy of the UBP. I wish the group from the original BDA had not even merged with you losers. I’m pretty sure they can see how you treat them. Those who know KNOW!!!!
Just to make it clear I voted for the BDA party that still remains strong in the ranks of the UBP or OBA as it’s called now. It will not happen again.
Just because your biased brain thinks it doesn’t mean you should write it on a public forum… Using #s from the census (blacks approx 50% of population and whites 25%) (yes, this is overly simplistic for the simpleton above) and assuming that this breakdown applied evenly to the population that voted (approx 31,000) there would have been approx. 8,000 white voters for the OBA (if we are to believe that all whites vote for the OBA…haha). Because they received 16,000 votes that means there were just as many non-whites who voted for them as whites… So who exactly are their ‘real supporters’? Not who you want to think…
You shot yourself in the toe. It is true that Whites do vote as a solid block for the United One Bermuda Alliance Party UOBAP while blacks do not vote along racial lines. Make of it what you wish but these are just the facts
A voting bloc made up of a single race isn’t voting along racial lines? Huh? How does that work.
Just because EVERYONE in one group doesn’t vote like that doesn’t mean that members of the group don’t.
You can’t say “blacks don’t vote along racial lines”.
ALL blacks don’t vote that way, sure, but that’s not what was said.
Whites almost universally voted against the PLP for the simple reason that PLP made it abundantly clear that they were only for people of colour. Again and again they did this. Why would anyone vote for such a party?
If they hadn’t alienated whites so much, they actually might have been able to stay in power by getting a few votes. They unfortunately did it to themselves and they know it.
Any future quest for power from the PLP will have to be on something more substantial than the race ticket.
What is with all this white, Black, Black White NONSENSE….There is no black and white…there is only PEOPLE. UNTIL YOU GET PAST THIS SELF IMPOSED RESTRICTION YOU WILL BE A PRISONER OF YOUR OWN DOING.
Wake up people and be people not prisoners !!!!!
If the OBA would only wake up and place a white leader I would trust the hype. We all know why Craig is there. It is what it is, they know most black Bermudians would never vote for Gibbons even if he’s the smartest man in that party.
And why is that?
The majority black Bermudians will not vote in a white leader. The OBA boys in charge understand this and that is why they place my friend Craig there.
And why is that?
What is with all this white, Black, Black White NONSENSE….There is no black and white…there is only PEOPLE. UNTIL YOU GET PAST THIS SELF IMPOSED RESTRICTION YOU WILL BE A PRISONER OF YOUR OWN DOING.
Wake up people and be people not prisoners !!!!!
Why just because he’s white?! you must be retarded…
Take a good look at the photos folks, these are the people who tried to destroy our island and its economy and almost succeeded. Take a real good look!
“At our best, the PLP has brought Bermudians together and moved Bermuda away from the darkness of injustice, oppression, and crony capitalism”
When was that? The 1960s?
In this century Ewart Brown, Denis Correira and Zane Desilva were the very definition of crony capitalism
A challenge to everyone. Read the entire speech before you post.
MP Bean is saying all the right things. How do we move from speech to action??
Agree. I have certainly not been a PLP supporter over the last two elections but I have to say this is a great speech and a step in the right direction for the good of not only the PLP but all Bermudian residents. Now actions speak louder than words so we’ll sit back and see whether there will be more of the same or whether we will see some tangible change on the part of the party and its supporters.
Key wrod “speech”.
Mark Bean and Craig Cannonair on Gary (Mareno) one on one!!! Or that’s wishful thinking.
Bean is not saying all the right things….We as people need to spend in the Bermuda economy to generate business opportunities from our money.
The PLP were doing this with borrowed money and not on income generating infrasructure, meaning it cost us then, it cost us in the future and made us nothing in return. We now cannot even afford to cover the same programs….I hope you had a nice banquet in your finery.
So the way to solve the issue of PLP borrowing too much money is to borrow an unprecedented amount of money, two years before we need it???
Bermuda did not borrow it 2 years before it needed it. It secured the ability to borrow it, it’s called a line of credit. You know, just like a credit card; if you have a credit card in your pocket with an $800mil limit that does not mean that you have borrowed $800mil (yet). We are essentially borrowing $266mil per year over the next 3 years.
And no, it is not unprecedented, the former Government set that precedence when it accumulated the $1.5bln of debt within 5 years (a burn rate of $300mil per year) that we now have to service at a cost of $150mil per year.
How else are we going to pay the bills?
How else to pay debts that we already owe?
If you can figure that one out, I’ll elect YOU to run the place!
Well as Bermuda’s ratings fall the interest rates on borrowed money rise because we become more of a risk. So no it does not solve the issue but it was the best way to go about it, now having a fixed interest rate. I would say we needed it a bit sooner than 2 years since the government just about made payroll earlier this year. Without government workers being paid and then putting money back into the economy our economy would just get worse. The divisiveness needs to stop and we all need to work together to better our island. You do realize we’re all stuck on this rock together, whether we like it or not.
I’ll take a wild guess and say you have no understanding of finance or economics.
until they admit they messed up, etc I don’t trust em.
Who do you trust? All parties are n have been deceitful
“Yet, through our own actions, our own decisions, and our own behaviour, we lost touch with the people who put their faith in us”
Did you even read the speech?
Politicans are like Bankers…….Can’t trust either one……
You forget quickly I take it
@ S Smith
As leader of the Opposition it is a disgrace to state that it is a position of political exile.
It’s a metaphor
And why would it be a ‘disgrace’ instead of a poor choice of words? If you don’t know the story of Moses and the children of Israel who wondered in the wilderness then you won’t get it.
Besides, you’re dead wrong; you misunderstand ‘political exile’. You think it means ‘exile from politics’ with disregard to the duty of being an effective opposition. Wrong! It means an exile from the seat of government to opposition. Or are you suggesting that they are still the government? As a party, experientially and factually, they have been exiled, cast out.
Political exile indicates being banished from the politcal process. They are not exiled, they get to vote, participate in legislation and contribute to debate. What he is really saying , is that the PLP no longer have unchallenged Dictatorial power to do what they want. He has already cried that they have voted down some presented legislation, so Bean is very much wrong in saying political exile.
If it’s wrong it’s wrong…not a poor choice of words. Exile brings up emotional anger because of being cast out. He knew the word and his reasons for using it, or are you saying he doesn’t understand the word “exile”?
I swear Mark Bean steals phrases from postings to Bernews for his so-called speeches – included taken from my own posts “Crony Capitalism” and “Race Baiting” (this latter used about ten months ago, early on). Both times these phrases were used by me to describe Ewart Brown’ and pals – is Mr. Bean taking a page from his Maestro’s playbook and turning everything into the opposite of the truth?
Narcissistic much?
Narcissistic much?
Your grandiosity is pukeworthy
Your delusions of omnipresence is infantile.
N your statement has what value? I don’t think you are the first person to put those two words together…
Wow, yeah Bean read your post and took your words cause you know no one in history every has said those words until you said them… Something is wrong with you…
Regardless, the one obvious point is Beano is incapable of an original thought. I think I know who is telling him what to say…
Enlightened us my friend, tell us who is behind the curtain ?
If my knowledge of your living in terror of the Omnipresent Dr. Ewart Brown serves me correctly I’d say that’s who you are hallucinating about. Why do you guys fear him so much? Lol It’s pathetic really.
You have to feel sorry for the PLP. They once had the chance to make a difference. Instead they let it go to their heads and they lied, cheated and … from us.
A party in decline, who will never ever obtain our trust again. A political dinosaur.
Please shed a tear as you watch them fade into insignificance.
I particularly feel for Marc, like the captain of the Titanic. He will always be known as the guy in charge when they completely fell apart. How sad.
They had so much potential and could have been great. Instead they chose to ruin Bermuda. Where are those huge egos now?
Still, they had a nice dressup party.
Given the fact that the OBA won by only a slim margin in December’s election (because many PLP supporters stayed away, yet did not switch parties) I would hardly describe them as a “party in decline” and a “political dinosaur”. Quite the contrary – the OBA knows they are still a real threat. The OBA knows that many of the decisions taken this year have further alienated a large faction of Bermudians, and that many of those Bermudians are not buying the old mantras of “shared sacrifice” and “trickle down economics” and are likely to be rallied to vote them out again. Hence, the prospect of the next election or a by-election makes the OBA very uncomfortable.
Interestingly, there was a time when people thought the ex-UBP ministers would never be in power again – yet here they are. Seeing the UBP lose election after election gave many the impression that they were done.I remember when the UBP shut it doors and thinking “Wow, the end of an era.” Yet the ministers simply came back in another incarnation. When there are people (members of the public) who have too much to lose to see you fade away, you are never truly gone – just waiting in the sidelines. Such is the case with the PLP.
Well said Portia, I think your summary is well put, and your analysis is clear. There still exist a great fear by the OBAubp, as PLP still are in a very strong position.
Dressup party is what they do best…..feel sorry for all of Bermuda and what they did to us….they cannot fade into insignificance soon enough….anyone can have a speech written for them….hopefully they will never return to Government…
Meow! Laverne looking good
How much have you been drinking?
More than one big bottle of Burt’s Bliss Swizzle I reckon!
PATHETIC!
Mr Bean admitted plp “mistakes” on the news this week. First plp politician I have heard to do that. One has to give him credit for that.
You don’t listen well do you. Not the first time he or others in the PLP have done that. However if you don’t wish to hear then……
How about they list any identify all the mistakes.
Did he apologise too?
If the PLP can use that speech & model itself to be able to turn it into actual action then they are on the right track. All I can say is the next election should prove to be a very interesting one indeed. The OBA should be working very hard to swing those voters who abstained the last election because they are the ones who hold the key to who wins the next election.
Observation: Where’s the Caucasians that support PLP in the pics? Just saying….
They didn’t want to be on camera because they must know how their white brothers and sisters would treat them. It’s wrong but the truth.
No. They weren’t there. Not welcome?
Its a historical fact that when whites support black movements there’s reproach on them (Dr. Barbara Ball) is a perfect example, as black people its our nature to forgive that’s why the ratio of blacks supporting OBA/ubp is greater then whites supporting PLP OR BIU
You’re right. If this was the 70s and 80s… but it’s 2013.
It’s also an historical fact that the PLP has made it very clear – through the regular use of racially hostile language – that they are not only not interested, but are actively against support from white folks.
THAT is why the ratios are where they are at the moment.
And “as black people it’s our nature to forgive”?
You are ridiculous. Seriously. How racist are you?
How many black people that have supported white movements and then switched their support and were accepted compared to white people who supported black movements who were rejected by their own, what’s ridiculous is you are naïve to accept the fact that in 2013 you would still have the same effect with white people supporting black movements(I guess you want evidence)and as far as our nature is concerned how many people of color have tried to conquer lands inhabited by whites compared to whites conquering lands inhabited by people of color, forgiveness is part of our history.
And I’m tired of telling you I’m not a racist I’m an NEGROPHIL if you don’t know what it means look it up and if you already know then that’s just your way off justifying your feelings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I’m tired of telling you that, no matter how many times you say that (this makes two), YOU saying it doesn’t make you not a racist.
I’ve shown, time and again, how you are and why I say it.
You saying “No, no. I just admire black culture” doesn’t make it true.
As for the rest of it… you’re almost mind-numbingly ignorant of history, it’s amazing.
Evidence, you know very well not to make a blatant statement without proof.
I’ve shown evidence of your racism (as have you!) time and again.
And most of your posts about the past are so tainted BY that racism that it shows your ignorance of the subject.
You know very well that I don’t post anything I can’t back up. Unlike you.
Yet there are increasing numbers of interracial marriages. Speaking of which, didn’t see any interracial couples there either.
I think I saw one couple on lets talk but you definitely saw their offspring ,as a matter of fact most black people in Bermuda have traces of European blood.
And not a small number of white Bermudians have traces of African blood.
Are you asking me or telling me?
If a large number of whites had African blood in them YOU WOULD NOTICE IT.
“crony capitalism”
oh no, not in the 14 years when the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party was bermuda’s ruling party; afterall, there was never any proof of such
Time Shall Tell
Thousands of us abstained from voting at the previous election,and many of us will not be voting at the upcoming election.
You have many of us Bermudians that support and advocate independence.
Which “upcoming” election?
Well considering I have spoken with many who decided not to vote at the last election with many of them saying they wished they did vote. While others who also didn’t vote still saying they’re not sure what way they would of voted had they went in to cast their vote. It seems that it can swing either way come the next election if only the politicians on both sides can inspire everyone to come out to vote one way or the other.
Wow a lot of young ppl in attendance. Grooming them early for the next election!
These politicians will not get everyone out to vote and that is a fact.
We’re years away from the next election.
Elections aren’t important right now.
Running the country is. Both sides.
Exactly, the power hungry only seem hell bent on getting back in power to be “IN POWER”. Sad really, with what challenges Bermuda has right now. I just wish both parties will work on stabilizing this country and work to better it. Unfortunately I feel the PLP see this as making the OBA look good so it will not happen. What’s amazing is it was during their watch Bermuda has slumped to this low. I would think they owe us that at least; have they NO shame. Instead they only want to demean the current government for their own way of getting back IN POWER.
I see the PLP backers repeatedly say “where the jobs”…. I don’t get it? OK, the OBA ran on promises of increasing job opportunities, but after 10 month’s they obviously lied (forget the fact there are still 4 plus years left to the next election). Don’t worry PLP; they will NEVER get to 2,000 jobs so you’re safe. Feel happy, that with this it means there will remain Bermudians without jobs; but you would have been right. After all the OBA are a bunch of liars.
I’m not an OBA supporter and voted PLP for their first two terms in power. I based my vote on the change they promised and after one term, I gave them the opportunity to prove themselves with more time “IN POWER”…. But being IN POWER seems to be ALL that matters. It’s like sticking it to whitey, or the Wealthy? Hey look at us, we IN POWER so f*** y’all.
I want a Government that works for ALL Bermuda and sorry; after 10 months, I am positioned on giving the OBA another term as Government rather than I am inclined to go back to the PLP simply because I see no change or maturity in the PLP Party.
The PLP’s main goal to me is just be “IN POWER” and their backers are like soccer fans of a top team that has been dethroned; can’t move on from being number one. Humble yourselves and rebuild instead of blaming the new number one team for not doing it as you did. You had your turn, instead of being so nasty, work on getting back on top with a little bit of class.
This s*** is NO GAME, its peoples lives we talking about….
Did they give a time frame for the 2,000 jobs?
I don’t recall them doing that, but I could be wrong.
IF they didn’t, why is it a lie? They haven’t created them yet, maybe, but their term isn’t up.
I don’t understand this line of thinking.
I do believe they said in their first term they would create 2000 jobs. Which was the wrong thing to say since they dont create jobs they create the atmosphere for creating jobs. Still their first term is far from over and complaining about it doesnt get you a job.
It’s not the complaining that bugs… it’s the claim that they’ve lied because those 2000 jobs aren’t there yet.
It makes no sense.
It’s called desperation. Instead of working on positives, there’s the constant negative. I understand they are now OPPOSITION, but hell?
Why are the PLP folks so concerned about the next election….surely there is work to be done to rescue this country…the people and the country are more important than an ego trip and power.
To both political parties. Just remember there are many families out there of mixed race with both white and black parents. When you chastise the whites and paint white business ruining this island and you only try to gain the black populace votes, you do so at your peril!
Hay Naw you got to give the PLP another chance.We are “BILLIONS IN DEBT,
$10million dollars going out of Bermuda every MONTH to pay the “INTEREST” on the DEBT.14% unemployment that is (3500)persons out of 25,000 working Bermudians and (8,000)on the Government payroll at $750million dollars per year.
MAN we got to get them slaves back on de plantation.
Very good political speech. But actions speak louder than words. The PLP’s actions when they were Govt. were very questionable. Didn’t see Dale Butler
?
Dale, Jonathan smith, randy Horton, Leslie lowe neither neletha butterfield. Very interesting .
They made thier money, now they don’t have to stand strong.
Wow, not. what i was looking for, but thought provoking nontheless. Please qualify that statement ?
PLP need more young people , The existing membership need to recognize this and seriously do a membership drive for the future of the party and of course good opposition.
Don’t spend the next 4 years entertaining the old PLP recruit new young members .Hopefully next year there will a a mosciac of young and their readiness to lead the New PLP. God Bless
Well i cast my vote now to Ms L Furbert!!check my girl out there looking all that and some more!!!
At what point are we going to mature and be respectful of each other’s views and opinions? Many blame the PLP to the exclusion of the global recession, many want to ignore the fact that most of the debt Bermuda has was created after significant revenue fall offs.
The PLP lost he election and it had nothing to do with race, in my view, and everything to do with the stage of the economy, this is not a new phenomenon, Governments globally have lost elections based on economic conditions that are not of their own doing.
I fully understand and respect the views of those who do not support the PLP but remember the PLP lost the election by only 1 or 2 votes, which means that a sizable percentage of those who went to the polls voted PLP…..this means that whether you like it or not the PLP is still valid and still has a right to speak and serve as the Opposition. How about we get to the point where we simply express disagreement with what is said rather than attack, that would evidence a move toward political maturity. We all win when that maturing occurs.
#justmythoughts
PLP overheated an economy in Full Employment. Do some research on their economic blunder. It was naive. every dollar spent here = approx 30% reduction in money … Government spending and debt to make up the shortfall, without having income generation just kicks the can down the road. International business…pay wages into the Bermuda economy from international business, visitors bring 100% money here too. We make very little else here that does not require overseas expenditure and leaks %’s of money in the economy. The PLP failed with Tourism and made international business very uncomfortable…our two key money generators for economic survival.
For good reason many Bermudians lost their trust in the PLP as it had the nasty smell of an incompetent, slightly… regime. Mr. Bean was part of it. Mr. Daniels was not. If Mr. Daniels plays his cards right, he could lead the PLP back to power, but I would suggest that it needs to move to the centre and become a bit more inclusive and enlightened, because despite all the talk of social justice, at it’s current core the PLP is very conservative, regressive, xenophobic, and exclusive.
We must lower the cost of credit and get asset values growing.
Bermuda is in a depression.
The business and political leaders must address monetary and fiscal policy in order to stop the decline.
The cost of credit has historically seldom been lower.
As for “getting asset values growing”, the PLP took great delight in reducing the value of real estate. The biggest asset most middle-class people ever own, and the PLP government was doing all it could to ruin it. Successfully.
Well stated. I would also add that the last PLP Government begrudged success, especially that of white Bermudians and did their upmost to destroy it.
Mr. Bean, you say that your party stood for the poor, downtrotten and homeless. After 14 years, of PLP, we have more poor, more downtrotten anf look on the streets of Hamilton, there are more homeless. What did you do in 14 years? You did nothing but make things worse!!
I can’t believe people still follow you and your poor policies.
Laverne is wearing blue. Is she well? someone check her temperature.
“At our best, the PLP has brought Bermudians together and moved Bermuda away from the darkness of injustice, oppression, and crony capitalism.” And at it’s worst it divided Bermudians and moved Bermuda into the darkness of political cronyism, poor public education, uncontrolled spending, larges scale unemployment, increased taxes, massive debt, xenophobia, gang violence. The list is almost endless. Never mind building a new “acute” care hospital with only 90 rooms (all private) for $350M which will most likely complete the bankruptcy of Bermuda. The PLP Govt. couldn’t afford the first payment on the hospital so they formed a charity to raise the $42M needed.
You must be colour blind, Laverne is wearing hot pink…
Bean made what people think is a great speech but it is just talk and talk inundated with rhetoric and dogma. No doubt tomorrow Roban, Weeks et al will be back in the news with the usual PLP party line.
Someone explain to me why you PLP supporters continue to come on here and argue with these expats everyday…… They don’t care about Bermudians, only what type of Bermuda they can enjoy, but they just won’t leave . Cheesh!!!
What is your issue with expats? Xenophobic much?
Why don’t you now deny you are xenophobic, just to be a perfect example of a PLP supporter?
It’s not a matter of being Xenophobic it’s more historical that when SOME ex-pats come here they are given the undeserved privilege of over-lording Bermudians and it’s partly our fault because we allow it.
A race without authority and power is a race without respect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The same mind boggling issue you have with Bermudians. Only thing is WE are not in YOUR country telling you daily you suck whilst calling you Xenophobic(which happens to be y’all’s pet phrase since December 17). Are we xenophobic? Let’s ask the, Jamaicans, Bajans, Trinis, Americans, Africans, Acoreans and their offspring that reside on the island. Note who has been left from this list. The only group that does not interact with Bermudains in any real way are very persons that cry out XENOPHOBIC at very turn. Begs the question, don’t you think? Racist much?
I am encouraged by the Opposition Leader’s remarks – - I am encouraged that others see the value in his words and are somewhat willing to allow the leader and his team to work on making them a reality. . .
I will wait and see how it pans out – - and I am willing to allow the current government to work towards making Bermuda better – -
But both are on a limited leash and time frame – - both.
Q
I like that, well done. Hold both parties to account!
Looked like a Halloween party to me, those customers looked so real.
Is this where it ends for those of you voters out their? Marc Bean made an astounding speech. This speech was about your votes,so Before you vote for Marc or any other Politician ask for the evidence.Keep in mind that you should benefit directly .
TYPO-out there