Full Videos/Text: Labour Day Banquet Speeches

Good Evening Brothers and Sisters,

I would like to thank the President of the BIU and his team for extending an invitation to me to speak this evening. I am both elated and grateful and consider this to be an honor and a privilege.

I have great admiration for the BIU as an organization and what its members and leadership have fought for in this country over the decades. And for your contribution, we applaud you.

This year’s Labour Day theme “Leading by Example” is powerful because it causes us to take a critical look at the actions of ourselves and the actions of others to determine if we are operating according to the expectations of others and the standards we as leaders set for ourselves.

It is also fitting and timely based on events that have transpired over the past year. There is a group of people that I would like to applaud for ‘leading by example’ and these are the workers that took part in the furlough dispute events of January 26th, 27th and 28‘“. These workers braved the cold and resisted threats from their employers to take a stand for what they believed in.

Brothers and Sisters, your stand was admirable and your actions will be remembered as a historic triumph for years to come. During and after the furlough dispute, 1 received many thanks and well wishes from public service workers as well as from other members of the public.

Bermuda: thanks for the kind words of support. Those words allow me to continue doing what I love to do and that is to fight on behalf of the people of Bermuda.

However, while there is a group of people that may love and support me, there is equally a group of individuals that detest what I represent and want to silence me. Brothers and Sister, don’t be alarmed; they can neither break me nor silence me.

Psalm 27:1

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

So this current legal conquest by the Government doesn’t bother me. This too shall pass. I am more concerned with the state of those struggling both socially and economically in this country. I appreciate the support from the community; many ask how I am doing. I am good. But what this Government is attempting to do to me and the Unions of this country is wrong.

Whether they like it or not Unions are here to stay. ‘ United We Stand, Divided We Fall’ and we shall move ‘Onward and Upward Together’.

Brothers and Sisters, this evening I will pick up where the former Premier Dr. Ewart Brown left off last year. In his BIU 2014 Labour Day Banquet speech, Dr. Brown called for functional unity; an all-out campaign by the Opposition, the Unions, the People’s Campaign and other community organizations to unite and reclaim the Government.

This alliance never happened and the Government is the only group that refers to these entities as a “combined opposition”.

The functional unity that Dr. Brown called for maybe did not occur because the intended vision may have been too shallow. Functional unity must transcends political power as it needs to include organizations working together to uplift the social and economic conditions of ALL in Bermuda.

While we can have a change in political power that does not necessarily translate into a change in a system that is structurally flawed and causes societal and economic inequalities in Bermuda. While a change in political power may be a crucial component, it can also provide persons with a false sense of hope and a continued dependence on the Government.

Our political system is structured in a way that creates a constant battle between the two parties. One party does all it can to remain in power while the other does all it can to regain power. This power struggle happens at the detriment of our people.

So, the current Government will have its judgement day! The People of Bermuda put Governments in Power; we allow them to become relevant. And if they don’t do by the People and for the People, we the People will make them irrelevant.

Bottom-line!

Vision

Brothers and Sisters, what we need is functional unity towards a greater vision.

A Vision that surpasses party politics.

A Vision that truly seeks to improve the social and economic conditions of those on the bottom half of society.

A Vision that truly aims for a better Bermuda.

If you follow basketball, you will know that the Golden State Warriors are the NBA champs. Some people didn’t even know they were a team prior to them winning the title. Some will ask how does an unheard of team like the Golden State Warriors win an NBA title? The answer may be based on how the league is structure.

The league’s structure allows the teams that finish on the bottom to have an opportunity to select high up in the draft. This process permits teams to utilize those draft picks to select new stars or trade them for existing stars. You see, the NBA realizes that the league is better when you allow weaker teams to strengthen themselves. This is opposed to the English Premier League were the teams with the most money always finish on top and the weaker teams always get relegated.

The other distinction between the two sporting leagues is that the NBA prides itself on home-grown superstars while the EPL imports its best players.

This example symbolizes the two realities of society: one where the persons at the bottom have an opportunity to achieve greater and one where there is no hope for those at the bottom.

Brothers and Sisters, I ask: Which Bermuda do you want?

Surely, it is the Bermuda where the bottom tier of society will be afforded the opportunity to progress. While easier said than done, this should be the Vision. Bermudians should never feel as though they are in a constant state of hopelessness. For those members in the society who are in a comfortable position, they should never feel like the plight of others in the community is not their problem.

(1) The Vision we set for ourselves should include the expectations of the People.

On May 15‘, 2014, over 3,000 people marched under the umbrella of the People’s Campaign and presented the Government with a manifesto based on the principles of Equality, Jobs and Justice.

Some persons in the community say the People’s Campaign does not represent them. And that is perfectly alright.

Who we DO represent is the People who have attended the People’s Campaign events and poured out their pain, frustrations and anguish.

The People who stood in front of hundreds, weeping as they shared the reality of their situations.

The People who expressed hopelessness in a country filled with so much promise.

The Young People who expressed feelings of displacement and abandonment due to living in a country where access to opportunity is limited.

The People whose hopes have become shattered because they cannot find employment which pays

a livable wage for them to provide for their family.

The People who feel disconnected from their birth place.

That’s who the People’s Campaign represents.

Those 12 points in the manifesto were as relevant then as they are now.

We must embrace that:

All people are equal and are entitled to equal treatment

1. Every Bermudian should have the opportunity for post-secondary education and should not be prevented from attaining education due to lack of funding.

2. The Government must implement an equitable taxation system that would structure taxation based upon levels of total income and the value to assets and holdings.

3. Quality healthcare must be accessible and affordable to all.

4. All Bermudians must have equal treatment under the law

Brothers and Sisters,

All people are entitled to a job with a livable wage

5. Every person should be entitled to a livable wage in proportion to the cost of living.

6. Full employment for Bermudians must be a national priority.

7. The Government must hold all employers accountable so that all workers will be respected and afforded the same standards and working conditions.

8. All workers must have the right to join Unions or associations to defend their rights.

Brothers and Sisters,

The Government is the servant of the people and the people of Bermuda entrust the Government to ensure that all of its people are treated equally, have equal opportunities, and must have equal protection under the law

9. The Government must implement a program specifically designed to provide true economic opportunities for persons who historically have been prevented access.

10. The Government must establish regulatory constraints over the market to ensure that the business community share the sacrifices and participate in practices that serve the common good recognizing that the economy must serve the people and not the other way around.

11. Equal rights must be the same for ALL citizens in Bermuda, as such, age cannot be a barrier for access to services, capital and employment.

12. The Government does not own public property but holds it in trust on behalf of the people and therefore should exercise proper stewardship that protects the assets of the people against privatization.

The people of Bermuda are entitled to expect that those who are entrusted to lead them will be guided by the will of the people, and make decisions based upon priorities that are consistent with the expectations, hopes and aspirations of All of the people.

(2) Additionally, Brothers and Sisters, the Vision must include getting Bermudians back to work. How is it possible that there are more jobs than there are Bermudians in the workforce and Bermudians still can’t find employment? Something is wrong with that picture!

We are either producing Bermudians that that don’t have the skillsets needed to enter the job market or employers are discriminating against our people. OR both. Either way, these are problems we actively need to fix.

Brothers and Sisters, we need to educate our way out of this job crisis. Bermuda is plagued with structural unemployment. Structural unemployment is joblessness that results from the mismatch between skills and qualifications that employers demand with the skills and qualifications that workers possess.

This form of unemployment cannot be easily overcome. However, I believe that through education, training and creating access to jobs, we can help solve our unemployment issue.

We, as a country, must commit to investing in the education and job training of our citizens. This investment will undoubtedly benefit both individuals and Bermuda at large as it will realign the skillsets and qualifications demanded by employers with those possessed by the unemployed.

I am calling on the Government to commit to providing adequate funding for post-secondary education and to correct the current problems with our education system at pre-college levels; namely problems associated with administration, finance, curriculum and quality of delivery.

On-the-job training must also become a national priority. While formal education may provide background skills and enhanced learning, much of the specific skills related to actual productivity are acquired on the shop floor.

Businesses must commit to apprenticeship programmes, professional development and workplace shadowing. This would enable Bermudians to acquire skillsets that are not gained through formal education but on-the-job training. These on-the-job training programs have become a standard in many developed countries throughout the world.

Initially, I was pleased to see the development of a National Training Plan which sought to remedy some of our structural unemployment problems. However, that joy has become disappointment as there has been no implementation strategy developed. Brothers and Sister, ‘a vision without action is merely a dream.

OBA, you promised the jobs. Now it is time for you to deliver.

You tell us the economy is improving. Kudos to you.

Now get our people back to work.

We are tired of broken promises!

Government must also commit to reducing barriers that exist for individuals accessing jobs.

I am calling on the Government to address the reported discriminatory practices by employers against Bermudians. The Government must tackle this issue head-on. For far too long, employers have been allowed to get away with setting rigorous qualifications and tests for new job openings primarily to discourage Bermudians. Some employers show a complete bias towards guest workers over Bermudians. This biasness needs to stop.

What type of message are we sending to our students when we continue to allow this? Our people go abroad, work hard to attain a qualification and return home to shut doors. It is disturbing to hear that many students have no desire to return home after graduating because they don’t believe there is opportunity on this Island for them. Brothers and Sister, this is wrong and must be addressed.

I realize the critical need for guest workers in Bermuda and I appreciate their contribution to society but our expatriate Brothers and Sisters should not be displacing qualified and abled Bermudians. Their service should only be utilized when there is a job demand that cannot be filled by a qualified Bermudian.

(3) Brothers and Sister, we need a Vision that forces structural changes which seeks to reduce income inequality in Bermuda. We should not settle for the notion that the rich will continue to get rich while the poor will continue to get poor. We can have an efficient economy where the rich remain rich while helping to uplift the poor.

It is evident that there are two Bermuda. We are divided racially. There is a Black Bermuda and a White Bermuda. It would be nice if all worked together for the betterment of ALL in society, however, history shows us that, that dream is farfetched.

We should all be concerned that:

• Black unemployment is substantially higher than White unemployment
• The medium income for Whites in Bermuda is substantially higher than medium income of Blacks.
• Blacks comprise the vast majority of persons on financial assistance
• Blacks are the vast majority of persons in our jails
• Blacks are losing our homes to banks
• Blacks are losing our men to the streets
• Black are struggling to survive upon retirement
• Blacks are the poor and working poor in this country

Brothers and Sisters, it is a flawed way of thinking to believe that the social ill and economic deterioration of the Black community are not the problems of all. It is equally flawed for the Black community to continue to rely on others to elevate us from our current position; these are our problems and we must take the bull-by-the-horns and collectively address them as a community. The days of dependency must stop. No longer can we continue down our current trajectory.

We must take active steps to better ourselves.

First, we need to take accountability for our own actions. Realizing the factors that have contributed to our current state, Brothers and Sister, we simply either want better for ourselves or we don’t. If we do want better, we need to take active steps to achieve our desired outcomes.

Brothers and Sister, we need take active steps to:

• Support our unions;
• Support and revitalize our community clubs;
• Develop our own financial institutions;
• Develop and support Black businesses;
• Invest in Cooperatives;
• Invest in the Education of our children and our people;
• Strengthen our families;
• Revitalize our spirituality; and
• Stop Being Our Own Worst Enemy

Brothers and Sisters, this needs to be done sooner rather than later. You see the White community in Bermuda have exhibited functional unity for centuries and, as a result, they have:

• the country’s Economic Power;
• the country’s Political Power;
• their own Businesses;
• their kids in first-class institutions;
• they seem to handle their affairs in a more discrete manner

We need to take note of what has been done in the White community and we need to empower ourselves. We have the capacity to do better and we shouldn’t settle for anything less. While I realize that we are entering the race at different locations, this race is not for us to finish; it is for the generations that come behind us to finish. Our aim should simply be to close the gap.

Leadership

Brothers and Sisters, we have outlined the Vision that includes equality, jobs, justice and a better Bermuda for all but many are looking for strong leaders in the community to step forward to get us there.

Brothers and Sisters, today’s leaders must be Grounded Spiritually as spirituality enables leaders to operate with a sense of purpose and based on the values of love whereby leaders have genuine care, concern, and appreciation for both self and others.

Today’s leaders must be Courageous as they need to be willing to take risks to achieve goals, be prepared to fight the battles on behalf of the people, be the voice for the voiceless, and, be an advocate for justice regardless of whatever challenges lie ahead.

Today’s leaders must have Foresight and have the ability to create and understand the Vision, and, chart a course, identifying where we need to go and how we intend to get there.

Today’s Leaders must have Integrity and possess a deep commitment to do the right thing for the right reason, regardless of the circumstances.

Today’s Leaders must be committed to Strive for Excellence. Our leaders not only need to maintain high standards but also must be proactive in raising the bar in order to achieve excellence in all areas.

If persons possess the ability and the willingness to lead, they should make it their priority to do so. This Country needs strong and vibrant new leaders:

• In our government;
• In our religious institutions;
• In our community clubs;
• In our business community; and
• In our families;

We should not just sit back and be satisfied with mediocre leadership; we Must demand that our leaders Operate at a standard of excellence.

I came across an article in Forbes Magazine titled: ‘15 Ways to Identify Bad Leaders’. The first line of the article read: “It’s important to realize that just because someone holds a position of leadership, doesn’t necessarily mean they should.

Three identifiers that resonated with me when I read the article included:

1. When Leaders Fail to Lead Themselves: A leader who lacks character or integrity will not endure the test of time.

2. Put-up or Shut-up: Nobody is perfect but leaders who consistently fail are not leaders no matter how much you wish they were.

3. Beware of the Know-It-All: The best leaders are acutely aware of how much they don’t know. They have no need to be the smartest person in the room but have the unyielding desire to learn from others.

Brothers and Sister, we must not be fooled or deceived by those who pose as leaders but clearly do not have the People’s best interest at heart. Many share a view that because people are successful in business that makes them qualified to run a country. I will follow a person that exhibits love for the people of Bermuda over any capitalist.

Many in the Country are dissatisfied with the Country’s current leadership. It seems as though they are not empathic to the needs and concerns of the People.

I am personally dissatisfied with the leadership of this country. The OBA rule with an iron fist with no regard for the people of this Country. Their business-driven agenda is distracting them from their principle purpose which is to serve the People.

I have heard cries from public sector workers, cries from private sector businesses and employees, cries from the opposition, cries from the unemployed and cries from our seniors.

It seems as though the whole country is crying out. OBA are you listening?

The leadership of this country has been no friend to labour; their attacks on the trade unions and the trade union leadership are unprecedented.

The People

Brothers and Sisters, we have identified the required Vision, we know we need strong leadership to get us to where we need to be. But a shepherd cannot lead sheep if they are not awake. It seems like many in Bermuda are walking Zombies; they have their eyes open but their minds are closed.

What is wrong with us as a People that we preoccupy ourselves with so many things that don’t matter, however, we have marginal or limited concern with things that will affect us and the generations to come.

Brothers and Sisters, I penned an article after Emancipation Day to provoke thought in the community titled: ‘What If’. I sent it to a media outlet, however, for some reason it was never published.

I decided I’ll share the article with you tonight.

Brothers and Sisters,

What If integration in Bermuda is a myth and segregation is intentionally subliminal and designed so that the White community continues to thrive at the expense of the Black community who is stricken with social ills and economic deterioration?

What If the Black community empowered themselves both socially and economically by working together as a community to achieve true liberation?

What If the public education system is designed specifically to channel our kids towards becoming employees rather than entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders in our community?

What If the removal of technical education was deliberately done to marginalize our males, ultimately leading them to unemployment and the participation in gang activity?

What If the entire community, young and old, Black and White, began to exercise their civic responsibility, raising their level of consciousness, becoming less tolerant of political decisions and conduct that seem undemocratic and have negative impacts on our individual and collective well-being?

What If we as a country suddenly woke up and realized party politics is not in the best interest and does nothing but further polarize the people, leading to bad policy decisions and bully governments?

What If the people of Bermuda began to vote not for the party but for the candidate, whether independent or not, with the best qualities, abilities and characteristics to lead this country?

What If prominent members of society are receiving economic benefit from gang activity and the distribution of drugs using our young men as casualties in their quest for increased wealth?

What If the erosion of moral values within our youth is a direct result of the deterioration of family structure in Bermuda and we realized that generations that have come before are actually failing today’s youth and not today’s youth failing us?

What If the Bermudian people collectively tapped into their innovative qualities and developed a second pillar in our economy which will allow us to be less reliant on international business?

Brothers and Sisters, What If these considerations are not real or realized, however, what if they are?

Brothers and Sisters, I now ask you: What are you prepared to do?

We must continue to fight for what we believe in.
We must continue to advocate for equality, jobs and justice.
We must continue to be a voice for persons who are not prepared to speak for themselves.
We must continue to protest when needed.
We must support freedom of speech.
We must support freedom of assembly.
We must continue to work to gather to achieve a better Bermuda.

And we must do it unapologetically.

Brothers and Sisters, the call will come and when it does I need you to:

Wake up,
Rise up, and,
‘Lead by example’.

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