CURB Call For Govt Immigration Policy Review
CURB is calling on the government to “urgently put on hold all status applications and carry out a comprehensive and bi-partisan immigration review” which should “take into account Bermuda’s oppressive and discriminatory history with regard to racialized immigration legislation and discriminatory voting rights.”
The statement from CURB follows a recent Court ruling which allowed for a pathway to status for Permanent Residence Certificate [PRC] holders.
The full statement from CURB is below:
CURB has reviewed the numerous articles, letters to the editor, and online media concerning the increasingly passionate and divisive debate around the awarding of Bermudian Status to Permanent Resident Certificate [PRC] holders, as a result of a loophole that has been confirmed by our Chief Justice, and that what we thought was in our legislation to protect the rights of Bermudians has turned out not to be the case.
We also have noted the differing estimates with regard to numbers of awards of status that might be given out immediately and in the near future to spouses and children of those with Permanent Resident Certificates.It is obvious that there is a great deal of confusion in the public sphere as to exactly what this all means and what impact it will have.
We note that government has put in an appeal against the decision, but we also need to know what are the government’s plans in the event the Supreme Court upholds the decision.
CURB has carried out a major review of Bermuda’s history with regard to immigration in order to understand the past so it can best inform our future decisions.
Our review has unearthed many examples of oppressive immigration policies, multiple examples of en masse banishment of all Free Blacks on the island prior to 1834, evidence of restrictions to voting, gerrymandering and population control.
Our research has involved the in depth review of well-respected, well-cited academic books and articles concerning Bermuda’s history and we are grateful for the research of Kenneth Robinson, Cyril Packwood, James Smith, Virginia Bernhard, Colwyn Burchall, Margot Maddison-MacFadyan, Duncan McDowall and Walton Brown, among others.
In doing this research we have come to more fully understand the absolute frustration and dismay that so many Black Bermudians express over this further marginalization and threat of disenfranchisement. CURB is developing a position paper on this issue, which we hope to release shortly.
Therefore, CURB calls on the government to urgently put on hold all status applications and carry out a comprehensive and bi-partisan immigration review, which should include the people’s input through public hearings, and take into account Bermuda’s oppressive and discriminatory history with regard to racialized immigration legislation and discriminatory voting rights.
We call on government to listen to the increasing concerns of further marginalization and disenfranchisement of the Black Bermudian community, and ensure that the process is transparent and fully participatory, and that the end result forms a community consensus on a national immigration plan for the 21st century.
So Curb is anti human rights; go figure.
Until this article, I thought CURB was against all racism etc. and fully supported their mission.
Apparently this isn’t the case though, it’s apparently fine to be racist towards other demographics on the island and CURB is fully in favour of discrimination.
Shame on CURB.
..so CURB website is a lot like the People’s Campaign website.
Lots of pretty pictures, no actual names of the people involved…..
Am I being blind or is it because these are PLP organisations established to create a nation of haters?
C’mon, do you expect anything less from CURB? Cordell Riley runs the place and Sherrie Simmons is involved in their “research”.
Thanks Curb for your statement and standing for all of Bermuda!
It doesn’t stand for all of Bermuda.
Just say no to PRC !
thanks for your confirmation that they do not stand for all of Bermuda Coffee.
Why?
Hold on, how are they being racist towards other demographics? First off, the PRC holders have for some reason come to believe that they are entitled to many advantages that born Bermudians have when they were specifically aware of the limits that their contracts stated! I am in no way against PRC holders, but in other countries they do not have the audacity to challenge their status and rights, if they did they would risk being deported, that is a fact! Why is it a problem, when people choose to stand up for Bermudians right? Only in Bermuda do people think like this and only in Bermuda do the people put foreigners first. You would never go to Jamaica, America, UK, or any where else and see them putting foreigners before the locals, its ludocrous to even think that we should! What we choose to not realize is that Bermuda is a tiny island, there is no way that we can just let everyone in to buy up the properties and take all the jobs. How are you ok with that happening? Clearly the people who are so against these initiatives are the wealthy and privaleged people who’s job are not in jeopardy and who probably own a significant piece of land. How about you look at things from another point of view for once and stop being so selfish, everything shouldn’t be about money, sometimes its the principal that need to take precedence. Bermudians should come first in their country!
so that is what you got from that article above, thats what you took from that?? really,, wow
Curb mission:
CURB is a non-Governmental organization of volunteers working to identify and dismantle racism in all its forms and to address the effects on our community.
Where is the racism in PRC holders. Are you saying PRC holders are racists?????????
CURB, CURE, HRC are all PAC’s for the PLP/BIU.
Go ask people what skin colour most PRCs have and see what answers you get.
That aside, there’s not a whole lot of difference between racism and xenophobia
I think they’re saying that PRC aren’t “real Bermudians”
Just heard Lynne Winfield on the radio reading her statement for CURB. So a white English woman who acquired status back in the day is demanding that no-one else(even though they’ve lived here for 30 years)get it?? The hyprocrasy is mind boggling! Maybe she should lead by example and hand hers back in if that’s the way she feels.
Mussel Pie,
I could not have said it better!
Hand hers back and get on British Airways.
Reading their overly simplistic press release reminds me of that old chesnut :- 2 wrongs do not make a Right!
It seems to me that since we are flooded by all the political hype during this crisis that all these groups acting as political advocates should be registering under the law as political organizations.
Same with groups that are receiving money and assistance from foreigners overseas.
Their board and leaders should declare their political affiliation as well as their political agenda.
These political groups should be regulated and held politically accountable.
Crisis? What crisis? You are unwittingly falling for the PLP’s “Manufcture a Crisis” plot.
I think Cromwell mean our economic crisis but listening to the news recently you’d hardly know it because of all the PLP background noise….but I think that’s their agenda
FFS! Yet another group the PLP have got to.
How on Earth can curb profess to do what they do whilst being as Xenophobic as the PLP/Unions/PlPeoples Campaign???!
Sounds like racism to me!
So to be clear…CURB would consider the granting of status to PRC holders a racist act….which they feel they are uuprootng?
A position paper using immigration practices from the 19th century as support is ridiculous but not surprising from CURB. I have sat in on three of their workplace presentations in the last 10 years. Tbeir use of outdated statistics and overt attempts to apply them to the present is consistent
..so CURB website is a lot like the People’s Campaign website.
Lots of pretty pictures, no actual names of the people involved…..
Am I being blind or is it because these are PLP organisations established to create a nation of haters?
The People’s Campaign I have doubts about, but I strongly believe that CURB is a good of well meaning volunteers with a very good cause at their heart even though, if you attend their meetings you’ll see a particular bias of perspective.
I believe, like so many others, they are simply guilty of not looking into all the facts before them, and/or are speaking from the perspective of some of their heirarchy and not considering their missions basic underlying need to remain out of politics.
CURB has been exposed this week as a quasi political tool of the PLP. Either that, or it is hopelessly incompetent.
This has always been suspected but now the pretense is over.
I don’t think, however, that immigration policy or specifically the granting of status to PRC holders falls under the remit of CURB. Unless of course, they are interested in the colour of the skin of the PRC holders?
why are you being so quick to attack and diminish the efforts of this group?
Oh that’s a simple question to answer. It’s because they are not siding with the OBA trolls on this question.
who is you?
No one on this Island was alive in 1834!? I understand that history is important but it is not relevant in this circumstance. This is not about the immigration policy of the Government. This is about the LAW and poorly written legislation from the previous PLP government.
Bermuda’s population is aging and shrinking, which means the GDP is shrinking. The contraction in GDP means the economy will continue to decline via decreases in spending by consumers, less taxes and decreased job opportunity. As this continues the increased cost of healthcare and underfunding of pensions means that the social security of the nation approaches a cliff.
Bermuda has 5,000 less people on the Island than it did 10 years ago. Without that GDP in our economy we will never achieve economic recovery. What organizations like CURB do not realize is that half the people who oppose PRC’s are second generation Bermudians who do not have a lineage that stretches even close to 1834. They are from the Caribbean Islands, they immigrated to take advantage of the better economic environment that Bermuda offered their ancestors at the time. That same thinking is now what they oppose?
We need good quality, skilled and financially stable individuals immigrating to this Island. If we do not, then we will NEVER be able to subsidize the size of the civil service and the majority of jobs held by Unionized workers.
These blind following PLP liberation front protesters do not realize how the food on the table gets to their mouths. This is a major issue! I understand the CURB feels they have a part to play, but if they continue to stoke the fires of emotion then Bermuda continues it’s journey towards a Cliff. What happened 170 odd years ago does not change the economic reality of what is today.
During this past month I am sure that one more person picked up the paper and read articles on the the many extreme reactions by the PLP/BIU and said I am no longer investing in this Island. Whether it be through property, business or even charity. This effect is snowballing by the day as one less house is purchased, one less business loan is taken out and one less potential investor considers this Island.
CONCENTRATE ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT!
It’s also curious that the CURB statement, in it’s very first paragraph, repeats the lie/untruth that Bermudians “rights” are not being protected or are at risk. This has been debunked many times and is political posturing of the worst kind.
CURB Is out of its depth and has no credibility at this stage.
Dear Members of the Human Rights Commission
Would you care to join the debate looking at this picture through the lens of the global quest for human rights of all human beings?
Thank you.
Are we living in the 21st century here in Bermuda?
Sadly Yes
Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda. The irony.
…that what CURB stands for.
It is ridiculous an island this size wants to create more divisions at ths time when we should be embracing each other to make Bermuds even better.
Pure Rolfe
Sadly, they don’t recognise bias.
I fail to see how granting PRCs status will disenfranchise Black Bermudians? or any Bermudian. Everyone will still have the right to vote. If CURB/PLP/BIU are worried that people might not vote for THEM then they should come up with decent policies which we can all get on board with. Instead, they march up and down yelling and screaming and not doing a thing to help this country. When will the plp-sheeple WAKE UP! Marc Bean and the PLP are doing NOTHING, repeat NOTHING, to give us job opportunities, rent our apartments, and pay our impending pensions. NOTHING.
Come on guys and gals.
All buy design and you know it.
Non political members being influenced by their affiliation.
RIP Bermuda.
1834 was of course 180 years ago – before electricity, steam engines, internal combustion engines, most vaccines (smallpox vaccine dates from 1798), suffrage was men only and limited to land owners here and in Great Britain, the US Civil War was yet to be fought – but for a bunch of begrudging busybodies who resent the concept of a multicultural, outward looking, embracing Bermuda, who would rather keep looking for a better past rather than a better future, this is one hell of an excuse to return this country to 1834, i.e a stagnant backwater nobody gives a damn about.
That’s the last time I fill in one of their stupid fekin forms. Bunch of racists.
so……… CURB says that because in the early 1800′s there was mass banishment of blacks, someone who has lived here for 30 years and is Jamaican or Trini shouldnt be able to vote? they are aware that a large percentage of PRC holders arent white arent they? or do they beleive all the PLP nonsense that all PRC holders are rich white people? uprooting racism ? really thats what this is going to do? please explain how?
I used to have a lot of respect for CURB and their mission.
Forget that now – they are obviously a Political cell and have sold out their credablity.
This sounds like a resonable plan. Good job CURB.
You sound like a National Front supporter. Anti-foreigner, anti-immigration, racist, supporter of violence against foreigners. Does your uniform involve a black shirt and some jackboots?
Within 48 hours Curb has come out with 2 statements supporting the same position on 2 PLP marches that just happen to be this week as well. Hope their funding dries up. They are obviously nothing more than another racist arm of the xenophobic PLP.
“disenfranchisement of the Black Bermudian community”
If you are Bermudian and 18 years old or over then you get a vote.
How can this be Disenfranchisement? Color/racisim does not come into it.
As more voters come off the Kool-Aid and start thinking for themselves then of course they will not vote for the party that caused our financial disaster and community division.
The PLP is not worried about disenfranchisement, they are worried about being seen as irrelavent and divisive and simply not worth voting for.
I should state, I think, that I don’t disagree that historically a great deal of ‘oppressive’ actions/laws have occured in Bermuda. I also think that studies should be made and the information brought to light, not just in general terms, but with supporting evidence so there can be no valid argument from those who might deny the events having occurred.
There is no country in the world that does not have a history of oppression of one group or another, to one degree or another.
The thing is, there is a right way to go about it and a wrong way, and I think the route that is presently being taken is not only the wrong way, but that the underlying intent is not to address wrongs of the past, but to revenge more recent perceived wrongs.
One should be able to look to organisations such as CURB for an unbiased, more intellectually based (not emotionally based) voice in the matter.
This is what I believe CURB has failed to provide, which negates their ability to address any and all emotionally volatile issues.
One question that nobody has answered is how many generations of PRC Bermudians (yes, they are all Bermudians in my book) will continue to be discriminated against as second class citizens and denied the most basic of rights, especially including the right to vote? Maybe their grand children? This scandalous situation must end and Bean, Walton Brown, the PLP hierarchy and even the blatant racists over at Curb must accept the inevitable.
Sooooo CURB are intenionally ignoring all the black west indian PRCs in Bermuda, and Portuguese PRCs, both of these demographics are mainly middle class, hard working people, and these two groups make up the majority of PRCs
In order to perpetuate this PLP myth that all PRCs are rich WASPS
So sad how stupid some people can be, but yet CURB claim to preach inclusiveness
How many PLP MP’s can tell us both sets of grandparents were born in Bermuda?
im sorry I just reread CURBs statement. Giving PRCs the vote will disenfranchise black Bermudians? How exactly does CURB think this will this work then? each time a PRC gets a vote a black Bermudian gets their vote taken away? really CURB do your research and think before you write this stuff otherwise all your credibility (and funding) will just disappear
Defund it now. It’s clearly a political organization, it can’t help itself.
On second thoughts, could you imagine the uproar!
We don’t always agree, but f*** it. If their intentions (not just CURB) aren’t pure, they will destroy themselves. To me, this sudden, not so thought through uproar is the implosion of the toxicity on this island. Let them carry on. I just hope the oba doesn’t take the bait and gets on with business. From what I understand, there’s a reason for all this commotion and I truly can’t wait for the facts to come out. Then there will be another uproar, but as long as they are held accountable, I’m ok with that.
Lynne Winfield got status through her husband.A British woman in a Bermuda telling present PRC holders that have been here over 25 yrs they have no right to status.
MS. WINFIELD,HOW LONG WERE YOU IN BERMUDA BEFORE YOU GOT YOUR STATUS?
Please let us know!
Surely if a person receives status through marriage, if there is a divorce why should that same person maintain status? Status after 10 years versus the 25+ years of a PRC unable to get status? Talk about multiple standards.
So C.U.R.B.? Did you listen to the House of Assembly almost a month ago? Or did you just listen to the HOTT Network?
During the debate, the Minister responsible STATED that all application within the system that had been received (roughly more than 115) were ON HOLD, and WOULD NOT BE PROCESSED until the court action, which is still underway, reaches a conclusion.
There is a bank account that is split between two countries.
Uighurs and ………
Gives a new meaning to consolidated funds.
$800 million missing and monies from the US for things made in China.
Operation Pressure Cooker is about to be replaced with phase 2.
Operation ‘BBB’.
Shalom.
With all due respect to CURB and other campaigners, I understand the hardships the black community has endured over the years but I will still be wearing blue in support of PRCs.
They have been demonised for no fault of their own. In fact, my wearing blue is more a protest of the PLP using PRCs and black Bermudians as pawns in their duplicitous attempt at regaining political power.
If CURB are going to support racist and xenophobic positions and try to enforce second class citizenship then they don’t deserve respect.
Indeed; I think it is plain who has no respect for democracy and it is clearly NOT the Governor nor the OBA.
On what grounds? Please explain.
should be spelt T U R D what a bunch of idiots
whatever ounce of respect i had for T U R D is gone now
This approach from a public organization is an affront to modern human rights and is hugely offensive.
PULL THIS ORGANIZATIONS FUNDING NOW!!!!
C’mon Ms.Winfield,tell us how long you were in Bermuda before you got status.
The PLP and CURB – so easy and quick to point out everyone else’s flaws but never ready to admit their own.
Can’t we all just get along for just ONE day….so many angry people. …lack of respect for others….not valuing others opinions because they are not the same as ours….name calling….put downs….rehashing…EVERY day “same old sameold”…
#canwecallatruece…#depressing
Tell that to the fools standing over the graves in Tuckers Town with a mike awaiting a response.
The saddest part is, if we did what you suggest, either the government or the opposition would use it to their advantage.
How does giving the vote to PRCs disenfranchise black Bermudians? They already work wherever they want and have property.
Ooooooh I get it……it’s cuz the PLP and CURB actually hate the OBA and they think they are responsible for all the damage done to black Bermudians. Ooooh.
That still has nothing to do with giving PRCs status.
Why do we always have to dictate to what the black bermudian always feels or doesnt have.this is getting a little boring
That’s because votes are colored according to the PLP and CURB. The PLP pushed and achieved, correctly, for “one man, one vote of equal value” but that doesn’t fit in with the scaremongering of today.
I am a white lower middlle class bermudian i have 2 jobs to make ends meet i never complain just get on with it
I feel you, I could SURVIVE off my full time job, I do my part time job because I’m trying to grow and make a better life down the road, but most of all because I love to help people. I worked and studied hard for this, and lower middle class would probably be an exaggeration for me.
Not to mention unfair and racist…
Say no to the granting of status to foreigners .
xenophobe
Do you really mean that? That will rule out the spouses of around 50% of PLP MPs plus people like Paula Cox who was born in Canada.
Unless being born to at least one Bermudian parent anywhere in the world , or marriage to a Bermudian and satisfying all prerequisite conditions …. There is no other way . You just can’t become a Bermudian because it’s convenient to your lifestyle .
How do you think we got here?
How many PLP MP”s can go back two generations without anyone being given status in their families? Or is it ok when certain people get status “convenient to their lifestyle”?
@Coffee. Your answer proves my point. You said “Say no to granting of status to foreigners”, yet agree that foreigners can get status by marrying a Bermudian. Which is it? No foreigners or select foreigners? How about boat people?
Why?
Wait a minute…..didn’t CURB criticise the PLP back in 2011 for not addressing the Tucker’s Town issue when the PLP granted SDOs to Tucker’s Point?
Didn’t even David Burt and Laverne Furbert say the PLP couldn’t do anything about it?
CURB: Committee to Unravel & Ruin Bermuda. Pathetic – just lost all its reputation by supporting something so silly.
Only in the eyes of the OBA supporters. It’s usually the case that anyone or any entity agreeing with the PLP on any issue gets the cold shoulder from the OBA. It takes guts to stand up for what you believe in. I applaud CURB and am in total agreement with their recommendation.
It’s not part of their remit.
I noticed quite a few white people in the march on Gov’t house, but to
read most of these posts, it’s very clear why some whites, usually keep their true feelings to themselves about the injustices, that has been and still is used to marginalize black Bermudians.
Now I understand the hatred towards people like Dr. Barbra Ball, and many other white people who stood up for justice. The attacks against
Lynn Whitfield and curb is just disgusting . I’m sure Ms. Whitfield probably knew that she would be attacked, and ostracized by many of her own people. In fact her position only revealed the true fact, that racism in Bermuda is not something of the past, but is very much alive here in Bermuda today.
I know the haters will react to my comments, Thanks Lynn for having the courage and integrity to tell the truth, regardless of the consequences .
No one is attacking Ms. Winfield. What she advocates for is fair and just. We all know the hard work she puts into the cause. And she is right about everything she tries to get out there.
What most of us ask is why is CURB siding with an organisation that is the perfect organisation to deal with this issue but one that never even touched it in 14 years of office. In fact, they turned away calls from “the people” to look into when it had the political power to do so. They had a massive majority in Parliament and never even went there. It’s all online to look up. Go ahead and please do so.
Seems to be there is some awful bias against the OBA on the part of CURB but no reflection on the PLP. Just saying’….
CURB should not even be involved in the PRC debate, it’s outside their remit.
Either they are stupid and have been hoodwinked into this debate or they are a political organisation that supports the PLP. Which is it?
Ms. Richardson, So it is OK for black people to say what is on their minds but not so for racial minorities such as whites, asians, etc? That is the logical extension of your post.
People are ignorant. prc holders are not taking Bermudian jobs. Count how many GUESS WORKERS are there?
First lets start with job categories as SALESPERSON , WAITER ……that should not required any degree.
So its ok for us as Bermudians to go to other countries, get jobs, rights and etc. We wanna treat others in Bermuda like crap. We must remember that this could come back ten fold, and I dont think a simple sorry would cut it. We are known for traveling!
We need to stand up for the rights of Bermudians and get rid of all non-Bermudian people and business from OUR island. Then get rid of British rule and oppression. It’s only when Bermuda is run by Bermudians, for Bermudians, without any foreigners influencing our lives or economy that the true Bermuda people can be free.
Finaly someone that speaks some sense! Bermuda will never be free while big businesses are decididng all of our decisions. How about make a decision for the Bermudian PEOPLE that were BORN and RAISED here instead of sucking up to some corporation! All um is there was noo economy problems and all bermudians had JOBS before big business and PRC people come in and ruin the country! OBA = ONLY BUSINESS ACTIONS. FREE BERMUDA
posted from an earlier story on CURB. The hypocrisy in there “selection” of racial issues they ‘stand against’ ruins their credibility.
Where was CURB in the last few weeks, when so nasty comments and articles were written about segments of the Bermuda population? Where was CURB speaking out against Bermudians being told go back home by other Bermudains because of skin colour?
Opinions Matters says:
July 17, 2014 at 10:49 am
where was CURB when all the xenophobic racist remarks were made against foreigner in the last couple of weeks
Wow you go to bed and wake up to this!
This was not the intent of the law, and as such it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the loophole is closed legislatively. However, we need to revisit our Immigration policy, it is clearly not working. Not disputing that the PRC issue should be revisited as part of the review. We are a small enough country that each applicant could be reviewed individually.
For those that believe CURB is funded by government the following is the facts. In 2005 the Commission for Unity & Racial equality received a Government grant back in 2005 given by the then Premier Alex Scott, in order to seek out the original members of CURB in order to help resurrect the then dormant organization. Since then we have not received anything in Government funding. We are a volunteer organization.
Allowing a 6% increase in our population over the next 5 to 10 years would never be allowed in any country. Thus the need first to completely re-evaluate our immigration policy, which hasn’t been done in depth for years. We need to ensure marginalization is not occurring. However, having the vote is something that is guarded carefully by countries worldwide, and it is not considered xenophobic.
PRCs were a special category created in 2001 to address the long term residents’ concerns and give them long-term security of tenure. The existence of PRCs were created originally by those racialized immigration policies of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Thus the need for sensitivity to these issues and a review of Bermuda’s immigration policies.
All countries in the world have strict immigration policies, I believe only approx 30 countries allow for babies born in the country to be automatically accepted as citizens. Bermuda is not unusual. This is not a human rights issue, however, the Government does have a responsibility to ensure PRCs are marginalized and to examine our current legislation to establish the best way forward. The back door route is not acceptable.
I have had status since the 1980s; I was one of the hundreds over that period that acquired it with such ease. I came here on a work permit, applied for jobs, was offered several, and in my naivety thought it was because I was the best applicant. I now understand the history of the 1970s and that I was given precedence over many Black Bermudians who had better qualifications than mine. Simply because of the colour of my skin.
Thank you to the blogger who remembered that CURB picketed the Senate with signs, and cars honking, a couple of years ago about the proposed passing of the SDO for Tuckers Point. CURB’s work is bound to get us in trouble with one party or the other at any point. We have to stay independent of any political influence.
CURB’s involvement in this issue is because it arises out of the affects of past prejudice, discrimination and racism. The term disenfranchise doesn’t only mean ‘taking away the vote’, it also means oppress, deprive, circumscribe, check, restrain, restrict, reduce. From the perspective of people of colour the past is being repeated, and this is just one more attempt to water down their vote. As such we all have a responsibility to ensure the past is not repeated, whilst being fair to those PRCs who are truly committed to this island.
Where was CURB in the last few weeks, when so nasty comments and articles were written about segments of the Bermuda population? Where was CURB speaking out against Bermudians being told go back home by other Bermudains because of skin colour?
Interesting Point: We are stretched thin. We are volunteers. We work full time and we even try to have a personal life. There are so many issues resulting from years of oppression, discrimination and prejudice that we simply have to prioritize in order to cope. That is the reality. We try to monitor the press and blogs, but things slip by. I would call on anyone who sees something in the press or blogs that needs addressing to email admin@uprootingracism.org with your concerns. We will do our best to respond.
Well, you could free up the load if you stayed out of this debate.
Ok.
Start with the ignroant rantings of the poster “Free Bermuda” above.
I imagine you will justify such hateful comments in some manner, however. Just like you did with the HRC case inthe paper last week.
Waiting with bated breath.
And one last thing.
How did you come up with the 6% increase in population when in your press release you noted that CURB is uncertain as to the number of PRCs that actually would be granted status.
Has CURB stooped to making up numbers to justify their arguments against human rights of people that have been here for at least quarter of a century and contributed to our island?
“we’re stretched thin”. So in other words, CURB will not lift a finger to protest about racism against any other racial or ethnic group. The ONLY group that CURB gives a damn about is black born Bermudians. No other racial group will get any help from CURB, because it will suddenly be “too stretched” that day.
So much for pretending to be ‘anti discrimination’.
CURB doesn’t view such instances as being racist. They fully endorse, via their silence, such actions. Until they address such hatred CURB is a simple special ineterst group that is not truly interested in eradicating racism, bigotry and hatred on these shores.
Lynne confirmed that the other day regarding the HRC’s case against the xenophobic and intolerant PLP secretary.
So Lynne, how else will others be ‘disenfranchised’ by granting long term PRCs status? You and yours have repeated that over and over but have not actually articulated.
“This was not the intent of the law, and as such it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the loophole is closed legislatively.”
Rubbish, actually. Who is to say it was not the intent? The way it works, Lynne Winfield, is that the law is what it is. You can’t pick out bits that you don’t like and say “ah, that’s not what we meant – that’s just a loophole”. This is why we write laws down. This is why we have courts and judges. Everybody is 100% entitled to have the law enforced exactly as it is written down. You can’t take away legal rights from a segment of the population based on some kind of ‘legislators remorse’, years later. “Oh I wish we had been clearer or said it differently when we passed that law”. Too late. The law is passed, and the people affected by it have every right to have it enforced exactly as it is written. That is what is meant by the rule of law. It is a basic and fundamental right we all have.
Enforcing the law as written is not oppressing or disenfranchising anybody. But what CURB wants is to take away the legal rights of a segment of the population. You are attempting to discriminate against a group of people. It’s disgusting, Lynne.
You said ” In 2005 the Commission for Unity & Racial equality received a Government grant back in 2005 given by the then Premier Alex Scott, in order to seek out the original members of CURB in order to help resurrect the then dormant organization” I take it then you recognize that your organization is a political entity with a political and racial agenda.
Why don’t you recognize racial quotas or do you not believe in a racially balanced immigration policy for Bermuda reflecting the status quo.
Is it not truce that the slaves brought to Bermuda one way or another were not born in Bermuda but there were already free black Bermudians before slavery.
If you or your supporters reject a “birth right” as born on Bermuda soil then it makes present born Bermudians lesser people than ones born elsewhere.
Maybe you don’t believe that the specific geographical location where one is born has an actual effect on who you are. But for some born Bermudians its in our blood.
And who are you with this self righteous preachy stuff?
One fact: it would not be six percent increase in the population – these folks are already here for good. This is about basic human and political rights and a major political party that (ironically given their own history) wants to prevent the granting of these rights. This is no place for CURB to spend its capital.
Sorry just reread by post, it should say ” Government does have a responsibility to ensure PRCs are NOT marginalized”
With respect. You are wrong. This has nothing to do with CURB. It’s about the basic human rights of PRC’s. If, in your words, the “people of colour” feel disenfranchised by this, why don’t you or CURB go out an educate them.
Unwittingly, you have also revealed your bias around “watering down their vote”. The obvious issue is the PLP fear that PRC’s will automatically vote OBA. Who knows? However, the solution is not to deny people the vote who have rightfully earned it because you fear them voting for someone else, perhaps the PLP should look internally about their message.
The message of division, discrimination and hate is on the wrong side of history, the call for independence is contrary to wishes of the vast majority and their proven incompetence, unethical behavior and pandering to the religious conservatives is a turn off and their lack of a clear economic plan is worrying.
But you know all of that already.
interestingly enough I didnt see one sticker anywhere in the city today and only saw three people in red shirts the whole of my lunch hour in the city centre. EPIC FAIL Rev Tweedledee
Dear Bermuda,
PLP is sooooo racists! CURB is sooooo racist! Peoples Campaign is soooo racist! BIU is soooo racist! Black Bermudians who support any of these groups are soooo racist… and xenophobic… and incompetent…. and uneducated… and uninformed… and nowhere near as intelligent as I am! And I can’t understand anything they’re communicated when I can point out a single grammatical error! And they need to just shut up and let my party do as they wish regardless of how blatantly obvious its ulterior motives are! Because it is for the best interest of Bermuda which I will always place blind faith in!
Sincerely,
‘Privileged Bermudian or PRC Holder That Likely Doesn’t Have a Single Genuine Friendship With a Black Person’
By “privileged Bermudian” are you referring to Lynne Winfield?
Where do you get this crap about “not having a single black friend”? Even if you have no white friends, don’t assume the rest of us are like you. We aren’t.
What the PRC population and their supporters must understand is that they will never win their cause unless they win over Bermudians. Judging by the comments that are posted on the blogs with it’s extreme vitriolic; vile and repugnant anti-Bermudian sentiment; it is only going to produce one thing; a deepening divide between Bermudians and non-Bermudians with the latter determine to repel this foreign entity that looks more and more like an enemy and threat to them and their children’s future well being in this country.
I don’t know what the OBA government expects to achieve by going down this path? They have already been warn that it’s silent acquiesce in not closing this immigration loop hole will gain them nothing politically but a country divided into two mutually hostile factions; which they can only count on the political support of one. And in that circumstance in a situation of growing social unrest; the man on the hill will be force to convene a commission of enquiry which will have to untangle something much more extreme than an examination of Bermuda’s past wrong doings.
A deepening between the Bermudian and the non-Bermudian should read the former determine to repel this foreign entity.