CURB: ‘Legislation Will Affect Political Power’
The proposed legislative changes “ensures that there is an increasing white population on the island, and polls have shown that over 90% of white voters vote for the same party, as such the proposed legislation will affect political power in Bermuda for decades,” Citizens Uprooting Racism In Bermuda [CURB] said today.
This follows after the Minister announced they plan to amend the law, with changes to include any person who is ordinarily resident in Bermuda for 15 years becoming eligible to apply for permanent residency, and any permanent resident who is ordinarily resident in Bermuda for 20 years becoming eligible to apply for Bermudian status.
In response, CURB said, “Bermuda’s history of immigration is tragic and complex. The periodic forced exportation of free Black Bermudians throughout the centuries leading up to 1834; the post emancipation efforts to increase the white population codified in law and policy; the continual attempts to legislatively disenfranchise the majority of Black Bermudians from voting since 1834 to 1963; the efforts of birth control focused predominantly on the Black community; the racialized immigration policies of the 20th century; the favoritism involved in grants of discretionary status from 1956 to1989; and the contemporary attempts to water down the Black Bermudian vote, all too clearly point to ongoing attempts to reduce the Black population and increase the white population in order to retain political power.
“Following the Chief Justice’s ruling in 2014, the government’s subsequent decision to immediately make 1,500 PRC holders eligible for Status, without first going through major immigration reform, was perceived by many as a first step towards retaining political control through racialized immigration policies.
“Black Bermudians suspected that before long government would move to open the floodgates even wider, and on 5 February 2016 those fears were realized, with the proposed changes to the legislation also ensuring future residents of Bermuda can gain their PRC and eventually their Bermudian status. In effect providing Bermuda Status indefinitely with no time limits or quotas in place.
“Over the last 30 years over 50% of those granted Bermudian Status have been white, meanwhile the voting population is approximately 65% Black, 25% white and 10% other. So by the wholesale granting of status to PRCs, it will increase the share of white voters in Bermuda.
“Statistically the majority of guest workers that come to Bermuda continue to be white, the proposed legislative changes by default [and many would argue by intent] ensures that there is an increasing white population on the island, and polls have shown that over 90% of white voters vote for the same party, as such the proposed legislation will affect political power in Bermuda for decades.
“This decision by the Minister and the Cabinet, to refuse to go the route of immigration reform and community consultation towards a national immigration plan, and instead rush through blanket rights to Bermudian status to long-term residents, without quotas in place, is yet another example of Bermuda’s long history of racialized immigration policies used to ensure power and control stays with a certain group.
“In Bermuda we have seen seats won by a handful of votes. To state that the numbers are small and will have little impact is an oxymoron when looked at through the lens of political power, and this latest decision will be seen by many as one more attempt to retain political control and will only heighten the tensions in our community.
““The right thing to do” is to empower Bermudians and through a consultative process create a national immigration plan that fits Bermuda’s size and resources and brings a sense of fairness and justice to all. To continue to force feed policies that many Bermudians perceive to be a continuation of racist actions of the past is ill-advised at best, and can have serious consequences for the political stability of Bermuda.”
The full statement from CURB is below:
The announcement by Minister Fahy on 5 February 2016 will go down in the history books, but not for the reasons he provided in his press release, but for the clear and unmistakable link to past attempts to economically and politically discriminate against Black Bermudians, and through contemporary immigration policies to ensure a ‘whitening’ of the Bermudian population in order to ensure political control.
The heightened tensions in our community precipitated by the Chief Justice’s 2014 decision on the rights of PRC holders to apply for Bermudian Status under Section 20B [2][b] of the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act 1956, plunged our society into passionate and oppositional debate. The intent of the original PRC legislation was clear, and all parties, including Immigration, lawyers and the majority of PRC holders understood that intent. However, the subsequent successful challenge in the courts, and the discovery of the so-called ‘loophole’, allowed for a broader interpretation of the Act.
Bermuda’s history of immigration is tragic and complex. The periodic forced exportation of free Black Bermudians throughout the centuries leading up to 1834; the post emancipation efforts to increase the white population codified in law and policy; the continual attempts to legislatively disenfranchise the majority of Black Bermudians from voting since 1834 to 1963; the efforts of birth control focused predominantly on the Black community; the racialized immigration policies of the 20th century; the favoritism involved in grants of discretionary status from 1956 to1989; and the contemporary attempts to water down the Black Bermudian vote, all too clearly point to ongoing attempts to reduce the Black population and increase the white population in order to retain political power.
Following the Chief Justice’s ruling in 2014, the government’s subsequent decision to immediately make 1,500 PRC holders eligible for Status, without first going through major immigration reform, was perceived by many as a first step towards retaining political control through racialized immigration policies. Black Bermudians suspected that before long government would move to open the floodgates even wider, and on 5 February 2016 those fears were realized, with the proposed changes to the legislation also ensuring future residents of Bermuda can gain their PRC and eventually their Bermudian status. In effect providing Bermuda Status indefinitely with no time limits or quotas in place.
Over the last 30 years over 50% of those granted Bermudian Status have been white, meanwhile the voting population is approximately 65% Black, 25% white and 10% other. So by the wholesale granting of status to PRCs, it will increase the share of white voters in Bermuda. Statistically the majority of guest workers that come to Bermuda continue to be white, the proposed legislative changes by default [and many would argue by intent] ensures that there is an increasing white population on the island, and polls have shown that over 90% of white voters vote for the same party, as such the proposed legislation will affect political power in Bermuda for decades.
This decision by the Minister and the Cabinet, to refuse to go the route of immigration reform and community consultation towards a national immigration plan, and instead rush through blanket rights to Bermudian status to long-term residents, without quotas in place, is yet another example of Bermuda’s long history of racialized immigration policies used to ensure power and control stays with a certain group. Our history is riddled with economic violence committed against Black Bermudians, and today it continues with high numbers of Black Bermudians being reluctantly forced to emigrate in order to find employment. One recent estimate placed the number at 1,500. Our government’s continuing failure to monitor this exodus is a politically astute non-action, i.e. by not counting those who leave, the government can quietly ignore the fact that the majority of those leaving are Black, by default decreasing the Black vote.
In Bermuda we have seen seats won by a handful of votes. To state that the numbers are small and will have little impact is an oxymoron when looked at through the lens of political power, and this latest decision will be seen by many as one more attempt to retain political control and will only heighten the tensions in our community.
Minister Fahy quotes human rights as one of the reasons for his stance, but in doing so he fails to take into account society’s rights or the rights of Bermudians. The Minister states that the amendments will bring Bermuda in line with the European Convention on Human Rights and international standards, however, he fails to mention that every country has the right to set its own immigration standards, and that out of almost 200 countries only 30 grant citizenship at birth, with all democracies ensuring quotas are in place.
Black Bermudians feel under attack. Rampant unemployment, less employment opportunities, redundancies, loved ones reluctantly being forced to emigrate in order to support their families, and families living hand-to-mouth in order to survive. People’s backs are against the wall and there is no further room to retreat, so there are only two choices, to give up, or move forward and face what has backed you against the wall.
The very real fears and concerns of Black Bermudians must be listened to, a parliamentary review must occur, and a national plan on immigration commenced with full community consultation. To continue to amend legislation which detrimentally affects a large section of Bermuda’s population is political willfulness, and shows a complete disregard for the wishes of many Bermudians, and such actions will only continue to raise tensions within our community at a time when many are at a breaking point.
Why the haste to rush these piecemeal immigration proposals through? The only reason that makes sense is the urgent need to gain votes. The government is acting like the old Bermuda oligarchy desperate to protect their own interests. But in the process they are devastating the Black community and destabilizing the country with their rash, ill-considered plans.
Why not take the time to do the research, consult with the people, put together a well thought out national immigration plan which responds to both the needs of long term residents AND the needs of Bermudians?
Bermuda is not experiencing a human rights crisis, unlike the unfolding tragedy in Europe where millions of immigrants are traumatized, homeless, without resources, starving, vulnerable to exploitation and violence, desperately seeking refuge from countries broken by war.
The immigrants in Bermuda are not homeless, they are not traumatized, and they are not without resources. They have passports, they have jobs. How many of them could even be classified as working class? The vast majority are middle class; they are hard workers, and are good people. But their plight is one in which they have found a lovely place to live, and would like to stay. In fact the people who are desperate and hungry, the people who are losing their homes, the people who are becoming economic refugees, the people who are finding themselves increasingly without resources are Bermudians, those who already live here, those who have been living here for decades, generations. Where’s the care for their human rights?
“There is nothing anti-Bermudian about helping our family, friends and our neighbor.” If Minister Fahy believed this statement he would have helped our families, he would have helped our friends, he would have helped our neighbours, those who are truly desperate. It is easy to say a thing; it is easy to say you wish to help those in need. Minister Fahy’s actions are what reveal him however; rather, his lack of actions. Who are his friends, his neighbours? Not those in need in Bermuda.
“The right thing to do” is to empower Bermudians and through a consultative process create a national immigration plan that fits Bermuda’s size and resources and brings a sense of fairness and justice to all. To continue to force feed policies that many Bermudians perceive to be a continuation of racist actions of the past is ill-advised at best, and can have serious consequences for the political stability of Bermuda.
Who writes this drivel? It is so full of inaccuracies I couldn’t finish it.
Spot on CURB……BRILLIANT outline of tge historical context of our Immigration Policies…this provides a solid context of the possible repetition actions of the government on Bermuda Immigration Reform…..
Bermuda needs a Comprehensive Immigration Reform Plan that provides a full review moving forward. …..
Well said CuRB
According to CURB above, the voting population is 65% black, 25% white and 10% other. How then can white votes alone decide a Government? It is statistically impossible. How do they know PRC holders are white? How do they know those PRC holders obtaining status are white? What they should say is that if Bermuda is to mature politically then it needs political parties who appeal to all.
that will fly right over the heads of many especial;;y the pop blind faithful
If you (do what the PLP/CURB want to do and) allow race to decide immigration policy, then what you end up having is a RACIST POLICY. Every time the PLP/BIU/CURB/Peoples Campaign pipe up they just remind us what a bunch of racist they are.
@Ringmaster, because there is a very large % of those 65% that are House ……. and Surrogates !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wow… do you not like white people? or just everyone who doesn’t look like you?
Who speaks like this anymore???? And if they do, SHAME on them!!! This is 2016, and we are living in a very diverse (thank God!)mixed race, mixed nations, mixed WORLD, NO ONE can assume how people vote! CURB and their supporters are lost in the bad old days. And with all due respect to Mrs. Winfield,(and she is a dear friend) she needs to remember that she was an expat once, would she deny the same rights to others that she assumes for herself???
The world demands that we change and keep up…..time people!
You have to pity OJ, he is a follower of racial hatred and historical misrepresentation preached by those afflicted by delusions of grandeur and self righteousness like Irratated Genie. He would like nothing more than a race war on this island to justify his hatred for any who don’t think or look like him.
Wow, while I may agree that there are some good points made by CURB, there also are irresponsible assumptions and accusations. Similar to the nasty one you just made.
Your obvious dislike for certain segments of our community is understandable; but to name black Bermudians who do not share your political views as “House ……. and Surrogates” is a whole new low; even for you.
Grow up.
Onion Juice – very distasteful and hateful comment! I would hate to be a successful, educated black person in Bermuda…it must be difficult to hear comments like that from fellow Bermudians.
The elections held in Bermuda are done through a secret ballot. How are CURB able to make these claims and present them as fact. This immigration reform will not keep the PLP out of power, but rather it will be the PLP’S record in office and a failure to apologise to the voters for the fallout from their shambolic administration. To suggest that the PLP will be held out of office due to immigration reform is at best a highly politicised statement from a an ‘unbiased organisation ‘ and at worst an attempt to distort the factual reality of the dominance of the black vote. I would suggest that the simplistic voting loyalties suggested by curb do not reflect the aspirations of voters.
Just another tentacle (no offense to Octopuses) of the PLP. Surprised we haven’t heard from People’s Campaign yet. Early days yet.
These are the most racist bunch of bigots I have ever heard…
CURB Constitution:
3. Vision
“A Bermuda where skin colour favours no one.”
So you are saying immigration based on your assumption that most people are while means they should not be favoured with status. CONFLICT with your constitution it appears.
CURB constitution:
4. Mission Statement
“CURB is a non-governmental organization of volunteers working to identify and dismantle racism in all its forms and to address its effects on our community.”
So putting out divisive articles implying that people will vote based on the colour of their skin with ZERO information to support the skin colour of people and ZERO information on how an individual would decide to vote is dismantleing racism is it????…No it is not. It is divisive it assumes people will make inferior or superior voting decisions based on the colour of their skin. That right there is racist from CURB.
Kick racism out of Bermuda …Kick divisive CURB to the curb !!!! CURB is seemingly in breach of their constitution
CURB constitution:
5. Values
◾Racial Justice
We work to address the injustices and the impact of racism, past and present. We proactively reinforce policies and practices that produce equitable power, opportunities and outcomes for all.
CURB seems to be against these people of Bermuda having any kind of equity because of CURB’s perceived colour of their skin. CONFLICT : CURB once again appears to be in conflict with its constitution.
“I have a dream that little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
MLK would be ashamed of CURB
CURB you seeming have violated your constitution on a number of levels.
Please close your doors, your failed us. We needed a country brought together as one, not divided by race.
It’s headed up by whites so how does that work exactly. Btw, feel free to do some research into the not so distance past of this island the next time you try to convince yourself you even have a clue what it is to be on the receiving end of racism.
Thats how they talked about abolitionist, same S!@# different day.
I wonder where CURB was when the PLP made the decision to no longer import police officers, lawyers etc.. from the UK and start hire only from Caribbean countries. If CURB had voiced their opinion when ProActive was handed the Berkeley contract and the PLP government announced an added incentive / bonus for every black worker that was hired I would take a few minutes to read what they say and maybe even support what they say. Racism, is racism and is not a one sided topic that only affects black Bermudians. If you think otherwise you are either sheltered, ignorant or a racist yourself.
Well been that whites had a 400 year head start, I think its fair that Blacks have a lil hand up.
Mmmmm
Therein is the problem, you want a handout, a freebie.
This government has been giving opportunities to anyone who wanted to step up, the other day over 600K was allocated to tourism experience based new startups and businesses.
In this world you get nothing for nothing.
Stop with the Rhetoric !
Most people here were not alive a fifth of that 400 years. In the last 50 years the population of Bermuda has become a diverse multicultural melting pot of people. The few who had this legacy wealth are few and far between. Most have squandered it, or diluted it to little.
Most of the people here were not alive a fifth of that 400 years is correct however their descendants inherited the unjust wealth while Blacks inherited the struggle.
I know its hard for you to accept but this society will always benefit and favor whites.
Funny how you feel dignified saying that when your forefathers and race as a whole has thrived on the worst form of “freebies”. You’re people’s legacy is built on the rape and pillaging of lands/people world wide. And then as a people you sit there prospering off of stolen wealth/livelihood/culture, judging others for somehow being less ambitious and lazy and, most laughably, racist! How you sleep peacefully is beyond me.
Whether you want to admit it or not, you are exactly why there will be no true even playing field in Bermuda/elsewhere.
I came from nothing. I proved it is possible.
And you are still nothing.
LMFAO
Once again, distasteful comment, Onion Juice. If you have nothing constructive to add to the conversation please keep your comments to your walls!
So what other class of people are effected by Racism other then Blacks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thats right. Only blacks are victims of racism. Smh. Nobody else just your people. Lmao. Mercy this island is just full of stupid.
Prove me wrong.
Tic Toc
The Philipino’s, the Jamaicana’s the Portugeuse on this Island are all victims of racism, open your eyes and stop the tunnel vision
He cant stop! Hes a never ending victim. He really should change his name from Onion juice to Black supremacist and get it over with. The amount of hate he/she spews on a daily basis!
Thats not Racism FOOL, thats classism.
Its called exploitation of cheap labor, Black Bermudians have already built up the country and refused to be exploited and got organized, so the next best thing is to get cheap labor with no benefits so the employers get a bigger profit margin.
Sofisticated Slavery.
You called Blacks a “class of people.”
Come on, man.
to say nothing of the JEWS!
to say nothing of the JEWS! Where is the outrage over Syrian children, African women and children being killed, raped and countries being destroyed??!! Millions being displaced… There is plenty enough hatred and misery to go around since the beginning of time, to say nothing of the millions of people who have died for NOTHING, or RELIGION, we need to always REMEMBER and never repeat the past but WORK to create a better future. Bermudians are so very blessed, no one is saying it is ever perfect, but we are damn close!! WORK toward a better Bermuda and STOP complaining about the past!!
Anyone who has been subject to someone who believes someone elses race is inferior or superior to their own.
That can be black, white, Asian, or other.
“I have a dream that little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
MLK would be ashamed of how you judge people Onion Juice. Did you learn nothing from him and his sacrifice.
Yup that’s all it is a Dream and why is he not here today.
Mmmmmm
You learned nothing from him.
How DARE you belittle his legacy he left for all of us.
Ya, turn the other cheek while you’re being hung, murdered and treated unjustly.
Your ignorance is no excuse for your stupidity.
Remind me again Bettty, what is the racial makeup of our island at this time?
You couldn’t finish it? I couldn’t start it!
Truth hurts
@ family ox man, for the record it is good that curb has released this statement, but if you listen to the local talk show,several callers has been stating these facts for a very long time.
1998 was a serious wake up call for the white population in this country and the thought of having a majority black party come back into power, is a night mare for many of them, because it messes up their white supremacy.
with that said you have many whites and blacks alike who are not caught up with the color of ones skin, but sad to say many influential rich white folk that take like the idea of sharing the wealth with another race.
so in short O.B.A , had to rubber stamp all these new status Bermudian’s and PRC’S into place hoping to gain a greater number of white votes, but I hope the new status Bermudian’s and PRC’s are not fooled by this tactic.
Do those talk shows create a one Bermuda or a divided Bermuda?
what a load. many people, not just white Bdians, didn’t want to see the PLP in power because they didn’t trust them to run the country! guess what? they were CORRECT! can’t wait to find out who stole what. in the mean time…. CURB should be disbanned. It has no place make political or policy statements that it does not understand.
I think you are mistaking the reason so many fear a return of the PLP to the Govt benches in parliament. It is not because they are a majority black party. It is primarily because they are devoid of good policy when it comes to governing and leading this country. They had 14 years to show that they could govern well for the benefit of all of Bermuda and they failed to do that.
Their time in power left Bermuda with a legacy of debt that will take generations to repay, if we ever can, and division. If they put forth a platform of solid ideas that would advance the country and show some ideas on how to curb the fiscal disaster they set in motion and engendered some belief that they would follow these ideas, many wouldn’t be so fearful of their potential return. But they have not spent the last three years instilling any sense of confidence in those who voted for the OBA in 2012. All they have done is cement the views of those who believe the PLP, in their current guise and with their current slate of ideas, simply cannot be trusted to govern this island again.
Stop twisting facts! 690 people is not enough to effect anything
^^^ Exactly. This right here. Thank you BLIND SHEEP.
Curb is headed up by a white person. I’m guessing you feel they’re a racist xenophob too huh. The denial you people are in has crossed over to sad, pathetic and tragic a long time ago.
The head of CURB’s race is irrelevant as to whether they could be a xenophobe, racist or anything else Ian. Because they are White and the head of a so called anti-racism organisation doesn’t mean they are not capable of endorsing/making illogical, irrational statements as they are being accused of doing.
“Curb is headed up by a white person.”
SURROGATE!
Who said anything about that? Again delusional.
We will never be one if those that seek to identify difference are allowed to peddle their divisive propaganda.
CURB, these people are PEOPLE… labourers,hospital workers hospitality workers, unionized workers and international business workers. They are workers, they are PEOPLE.
CURB either wants them to continue their amazing work and contributions to BERMUDA or not.
This CURB release is full of hate. It implies people will vote for one party based on the colour of their skin….That is messed up, that is sick, that is disgusting and that is insulting the intelligence of those people.
Whoever wrote this CURB piece needs to RESIGN. They are perpetuating and promoting divisiveness BASED ON COLOUR OF SKIN.
One nation under a groove…not this divisiveness…Kick divisiveness to the curb !!!!!!!!!!!
Notice how no one took credit for that gem.
It’s funny how easy it is for you to place the interests of these PEOPLE before the COUNTRYMEN of this island. You’ve completely missed the obvious fact this government has no desire to acknowledge Bermudians rights as STAKEHOLDERS in this country to weigh in on something as significant and impactful as immigration policy. And why do you think that is? It’s so hilarious to more and more people how gullible OBA supporters pretend to be when it comes to their strategy for securing political power going forward. And you people think the rest of us will buy the pathetic, insulting attempts you make at spinning it around human rights. The masses on this island are growing wary of you and your legacy here.
The PLP created the ability for long term residents to become PRCs without consultation. Maybe if they had consulted the so called loophole would have been caught. Overnight and without consultation they stopped Bermudians married to non Bermudians from buying property unless they obtained a license and paid a fee. Where was the outcry from the PLP supporters to these changes? Where was CURB?
Funnily enough, and following on from their rubbish that 25% of the voters can impact who is elected, they also say over the last 30 years 50% of people getting status are white. The numbers don’t make sense if today 25% of voters are white and 65% black. The black vote decides elections, and in Bermuda that makes sense.
I’m sorry. But are you really trying to give the PLP crap now for addressing the UBPs stop on access / pathways to long term residency??? It’s like you people thrive on contradiction! Stop pretending like you too daft to see what the OBA is doing. Because as much as you don’t want it to be the case, the masses will see things for what they are despite your endless campaign of spin as deception. They already have plenty of experience dealing with it from you folk.
I merely referred to facts, something the PLP always sees as being anti PLP. You confirmed it.
Maybe, as you just demonstrated, too many people wouldn’t see the big picture and long term strategy, voting emotionally for instant gratification and personal / selfish reasons, rather than the in the general interest of Bermuda and all of her people.
Sometimes the leaders just have to lead.
Yawn…. I’m so sure.
These people are our fellow residents, those of whom that will be getting status will have lived, contributed and been a part of our community longer than most 1st time voters who were born here. They have made their home here, they have come from a diverse spectrum of cultures and what they bring can, and historically has, add to the evolution of ours as we continue to grow. An attempt to try and parallel this to the historic flaws of the past is just ignorance, this is a blanket policy that does not target any one demographic of people for application, the only narrowing stipulations that you have to be a Commonwealth citizen already, which embodies a huge demographic of people here. This statement, with its many emotional false assertions, does not sound like it comes from an organization that says it is out to promote the uprooting of racism, but of one that is out to maintain a culture of division by removing reasoning and understanding with blindly emotional falsities. There are so many illogical statements and attempts to draw paralleling with out the support of realities, that it almost argues against itself. These are our friends, neighbors, children’s friends, work colleagues who should have a right to say how our country unfolds, as they have committed their life here as much as the next Bermudian
Then if you feel so compassionately about them why would you integrate them into citizenship through controversial, self-serving, underhanded means that gives NO consideration to the desire of this islands CURRENT STAKEHOLDERS to weigh in. The approach you support to creating new “Bermudians” will have real Bermudians feeling nothing but contempt for them. And that’s dangerous.
I have no contempt for them, I have admiration for those I know, they have lived, worked and committed their lives here, for decades in some cases, with no real say in how their home is shaped around them. You keep throwing out this term ‘real Bermudians’ like you are the authority on it, as if you define who is a ‘real bermudian’. But as you trumpet it into some sort of grand meaning, filling it with some false sense of xenophobic superiority, all you are doing is demeaning our humanity and trying to make yourself feel more superior by placing others in some inferior caste to you. If you are the meaning of ‘real Bermudian’, I’m glad to just call myself human.
I just snapped a string on my violin reading that….
According to Walton on the radio today, it is thousands of people. When questioned, he stuck to his numbers. I don’t think it’s thousands.
Keep drinking the OBA kool aid. They’re the same, and descend from, the same people that pulled this crap back in the 60s and 70s. The only thing that changes is their doing it in this day under the guise of human rights. But it’s their actions that speak louder that any of that because frankly they place NO WEIGHT whatsoever on the masses (OF REAL BERMUDIANS) to weigh in on the OBAs commoditization of a status we’ve held and earned for generations upon generations. The OBAs immigration policies are forced on us as invasively as a cancer.
Ian
How could you compare a persons suffering, pain and death caused by Cancer to an immigration policy. You have no heart, you have no soul. Your parents would be ashamed of you.
MLK would be ashamed of you.
“I have a dream that little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Will you stop with the MLK stuff his issue was with folks like Fahy and those who support his actions not folks like me. You look ridiculous going there.
Walton and the PLP aren’t good with numbers and the PLP has outright lied in the past about the number of new Bermudians.
Kind of like the thousands of new Bermdians that the PLP loophole would create…. or the billion dollars out of our pockets the airport redevelopment is going to cost us… With the PLP’s continued failure to get numbers to dance to the tune they sing, it is no wonder our government finances and economy tanked so badly under their administration.
He’s probably double counting the 1,450 people post Carne and Correia.
@ blind sheep, you are as blind as a bat, if you really want to get the facts go back to the polling result during the last election and the election before, surely the P.L.P will really be put in the drivers seat if the newly status Bermudians and P.R.C holders vote in their favor.
I think it disgusting that people are concerned they way people will vote. I didn’t realize it was a prerequisite for status in my country.
20 years of commitment by these people is not good enough for you. You want to say no because the colour of their skin
Its really just that simple Bermuda…
Human Rights for All!!!
This is not a Human Rights issue. ….let’s not use a poor rationale as a way to promote this poorly thought out Immigration policy
You show your ignorance of the law whether Human Rights or Constitutional. Contribute something to the debate. What changes should be made? The PLP have said nothing as a Party, maybe you can help them.
The plp got this going, Betty just admitted that.
You’re another one of those PLP made me do it idiots. You must realize how stupid that sounds by now.
Where did I say that? I said, and it is a fact, the plp started this legislation. You are delusional.
How is it poorly thought out?
Sure it is, they are getting the right to have a say in how their future unfolds in a country they have committed most of their life to, only fair that they be given that chance as they will have been here longer than most first time born Bermudian voters
It is a very low blow that the OBA have appropriated the “human rights” argument for a this policy. The only thing that would allow this rhetoric to gain traction would be a long history of the white community being desensitized to the realities of Black Bermudians. Oh wait.
Most of the time the type of whites who are quick to support the likes of Fahys approach are completely oblivious the way the world process them and their desire to get what they want by any means and justification necessary.
It is amazingly hypocritical of you to make a statement as such, in the face of the like PLP government administration attitude that nearly sunk our country. Or is it OK for the PLP to get want they want at the cost of thousands of unemployed or underemployed on this island, most of whom were their supporters. Frankly, this policy will not create the tide of support at the polls to secure power for only the OBA, unless the PLP continue their policy of disenfranchising people with their anti foreigner rhetoric and policies and think that they deserve power and should only have to flog their supporters to the polls with their emotional whip to get it.
You still believe people are stupid to lay the blame on what happened here after 2008 (and around the world) on the PLP alone?
You still think the PLP did a good job handling the crisis as it hit our shores and that they kept all the business here that they could in the face of what was going on. In the face of the AG report, in the face of the business that left because other juristiction had been alowed to catch up to our game and beat us at it, in the face of a PLP finance minister that kept telling us it was getting better and that we had turned the corner… all the while our credit ratings was being dropped almost quarterly, the GDP kept falling, jobs kept leaving, government finances were let run wild, a culture of cronyism was at its worst in decades as big contracts were awarded and services were privatized without tender or against the recommendations of technical advisors, senior school education was allowed to reach meltdown, the government embraced a policy of paying debt with debt while running a deficit that was almost 50% of government revenues and growing, so many trains were sent down so many tracks with their engines at full throttle and no one minding the control, that the long term impacts of them will impact for generations… but you were fine with all that because your beloved PLP was in government. No nothing was their fault, they did all they could.
So why haven’t things gotten better since the OBA came into power? Job losses ongoing, while they bend over backwards for the industry largely responsible for it through its M&A activity. Dodgy awarding of massive development contracts without any tendering. No material improvements on the tourism front. No attempts / suggestions on regulating the local banking sector as they carry on merrily foreclosing on Bermudian homeowners. On the flip side proposing and enacting all sorts of creative ways for foreigners to gain access to more and more of the Bermuda housing market, including allowing PRCs to compete w Bermudians with no price restrictions and removing parish level caps on foreign ownership in turn paving the way for foreigners to literally own everything in the most attractive areas. Further ballooning the debt more within the first year of their tenure than he PLP did in 14. Guaranteeing 75m to Americas Cup sponsorship/endorsement drives while cutting education spends every 5 minutes. Focusing more on creating new Bermudians via piece meal legislative changes and proposals, without any consultation with BERMUDIANS, than on exploring creative ways to diversify our economy. Shall I go on?
It took the PLP 7 years to rack up $1.5bn in debt. Within 3 years the OBA has raised revenue and decreased spending. They had to borrow to feed the massive fixed expenditure that was created by the PLP, not the so called global recession. Revenues dropped in the later PLP years but not by much. It’s easy to max out a credit card, as the PLP did, but it takes much longer to pay it back.
If you think that if the PLP wins in 2017 things will suddenly get better you had better get ready for some large increases in tax. Tax payable by Bermudians for Bermudians. Non Bermudians will be out of Dodge very fast.
sorry ringmaster IAN wins that one…
I am black, this will impact me. My friend is black & so is her son, this will impact them. I know of several Filipino families, the children were born here, it will impact them. I know an Indian family, it will impact them. GET THE FACTS BEFORE YOU WRITE!
How will it impact you?
Sounds like he will get status.
Maybe the writer should go back to his comic books.
You really know how totals the easy way out huh. You people have learned all sorts of was to live with yourself and sleep better at night. I wonder how surprised you would be to learn the person heading up curb is white?
Whatever makes you feel good sport. I am fully aware that the leadership of curb is an expat and someone married to an expat who are both white. Feel better now? Thanks for asking, I slept pretty good last night.
The head of CURB is well known. She came to Bermuda and married a Bermudian, thereby obtaining status. Curiously, if she really believed in what she writes she would renounce her status and leave Bermuda. Whilst that would only reduce the 25% white voting population by 1 person, it’s a start.
And why would she renounce it if she married a Bermudian? Don’t think anyone has ever had an issue with that policy. Your government wants to give status to outright foreigners who have chosen to be here and enjoyed a better life as a result. Nobody is buying the victimization bs your people are spinning.
exactly Ian… what rights are people that came here with limits on their time allowed on island being deprived of exactly?
What you mean the white expat and the one married to the expat??
I slept great last night but you make me yawn……
I’m sure you did
Slept good last night too……
They’re still calling the PLP legislation a “loophole”.
No. It was the law passed by the PLP government.
Being government is for adults. It’s for people who make the best decisions they can, and then live with them.
Being government is not for children, who make stupid and immature decisions, pass laws that aren’t drafted correctly, and then years later complain and whine because the law they passed is followed to the letter by the court system.
It wasn’t a “loophole”. It was the law. Pretending it was something else makes them outright liars.
No it was in effect a loophole. The PLP legislation was very clear in its intent. If it were not in effect a loop hole then why are folks just now using it as a Blackfoot access to status under the OBA government?
No. Nonsense. Nobody is above the law. Every single person has the right to have the law read literally as it is written. otherwise it’s chaos…you’d have governments saying “oh no, I can see it SAYS that, but what we really MEANT is something completely different”.
The system we have is that the government passes laws that carefully state the law. And then everybody can understand what the law is because it is written down. And if there is a disagreement about what the words mean, the courts decide.
There is no such thing as a “loophole”.
Because it was only now that the courts issued their judgment interpreting the law as such. Evidently, it was not so clear in intent or in its wording, otherwise this would not have happened. Following the judgment we can only assume that either the PLP did intend it, or they were so sloppy in their drafting of the law that it could not be legally interpreted any other way but to allow the route to status.
So wait…CURB want to deny citizens their human rights because some of them happen to be white? CURB? Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda? Want to deny a group of humans their rights because of their race? You really couldn’t write this stuff.
hahah oh yeah….I never thought of that. It’s only because it’s the OBA. If this was the PLP, they wouldn’t say a word.
And why is that if the curb is headed up by white folk. One can only assume you’re tying the assumption of preferential treatment to race. As I aid before you folks will justify anything that serves your interest to sleep better even when you know you’re dead wrong. Hope you ready for the days ahead.
Rock, CURB made their position clear when it became clear that the law drafted by the PLP allowed PRC’s to obtain status. Their argument at the time was based entirely on the race of those PRC’s
But curb is headed up by white folk ……..
So, that makes it OK ???!!!???!!!???? Ouch, you are saying that white people can do as they want, say as they want and therefore it must be right because they are white!!!!!!!!
That is a nonsense Ian.
Wait what RIGHT are you talking about? What human RIGHTS are denied here? Are they deprived of life? Freedom of movements? Freedom of religion? Of Speech? Of assembly exactly how is this a humanitarian issue?
So what’s the problem if it really results in more white people here ?
Black Bermudians already outnumber white Bermudians by 3 to 1 . If curb was really concerned about racial equality as far as numbers were concerned they’d want to even things up in the white population’s favour by making the numbers 50/50
What fictional world are you living in? One without a 350 history of power differential. I’d love to live in that Bermuda.
CURB’s leadership is 50% black and 50% white. Maybe Bermuda should follow their example.
What, like the OBA?
Um ya.
So it’s power you crave? Look where that got us. Look where that got our world.
And there are thousands of people (lots who have already left im sure) that would love to be able to live in a Bermuda and not be discriminated against and marginalized for being White!! Yes that’s right- white people aren’t the only ones who are racist in this world! Just read some of the comments on this very website and that’s plain to see! Sad considering I’ve never heard one racist comment from one of my Bermudian friends/acquaintances in my LIFE! Really it wasn’t until I moved to the US that I heard racism more frequently! Disgusting!
You think giving my Bermuda status away to white foreigners to “balance things out” is sound judgment and policy? No wonder the OBA can rely on your support!
Do you think you lose your status?
@ Ian. Please provide the data, which CURB is unable to do, showing the racial make up and voting patterns of all people granted status in the past 25 years. You can’t and neither can CURB, in fact no one can, so you all rely on is to use the white bogeyman as your argument.
Remember on the eve of the 2008 General Election Dr Brown coming on television to say the UBP would be giving status to 8,000 people? A total lie but used for emotional and political reasons. Just like CURB.
CURB needs an injection of new personnel. The ‘best by’ date of the dynamic duo has long since passed.
You people are scary. And the universe will deal with you.
Ah. A threat.
No it wont. Lmao u stupid or somethin bie? Typical response tho
Change Will Come…… Results May Vary
Dear CURB spokespeople,
In your mission against racism in Bermuda, I believe you are overlooking the obvious problems that lie within your group.
Please look within before you attempt to judge others.
Best of luck.
Dear Rhonnje, take a walk through memory lane on this island, get back to present day, look at how blatant your government is in its practices and stop pretending to be so daft about what they’re doing just so you can sleep better at night.
Sincerely,
WakeTheHellUp
Is CURB really just a racist group cleverly disguised as an anti-racist group?
YES clearly by this piece it is.
Only to those who refuse to learn the definition of racism.
“The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.” (Oxford, 2016). So stating that all white residents are middle class, wealthy and well off isn’t a racist remark? But me stating all black people are poor is a racist statement, right?
Actually racism is rooted in the systematic oppression of a race of people. Something whites have never experienced as dignified as they feel these days calling others racists. P.S. It wasn’t black people that determined the Oxford position on things like racism…
exactly whites defining what racism is…joke…
Blue Bird, they look like they’ll have to learn the hard way…
I love that highlighting centuries of injustice make someone racist…This game has been played before, as a matter of fact, I would bet that many posters on this site are class of 1960, 70 status Bermudians… If curb asking Gov’t to engage the community is racist, then whatever floats your boat. But to not question this Gov’t's rush to reform this critical aspect of Bermuda (Immigration) considering the past 400 years would be foolish! So if you all don’t mind, we about to turn it up!
Oh, now you’re concerned about correcting “centuries of injustice”. Surprising how you haven’t mentioned your opposition to Preserve Marriage.
“Is CURB really just a racist group cleverly disguised as an anti-racist group?”
======================================
That much is clear although the disguise isn’t very effective.
Curb is run by white(s) so how exactly does that work genius??
One of the most revolting statements I’ve ever read. C.U.R.B. should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
“The immigrants in Bermuda are not homeless, they are not traumatized, and they are not without resources. They have passports, they have jobs. How many of them could even be classified as working class? The vast majority are middle class; they are hard workers, and are good people. But their plight is one in which they have found a lovely place to live, and would like to stay.”
This statement is so inaccurate and offensive. How many in the Portuguese community, who would be most benefitted by the change in legislation, are actually middle class? Most, in fact, are working class. And no, not all have passports. How many in the Filipino community are actually middle class? C.U.R.B. calls for research, but provides none in their own statement—instead, they rely on generalizations, assumptions, and stereotypes.
Shame on C.U.R.B. It’s no wonder they are so strapped for cash and had to recently wind down all their operations.
One of the most revolting statements?? LMAO!! You people really do live in bubbles! Go get a cup of tea, you’ll be fine.
I will tell you what is revolting though, a system, that from birth, continues to block any attempts for equality, it’s designed as such, and unless you come out of your bubble, I would continue to expect overly dramatic comments like yours.
I encourage you to spend sometime listening to this, maybe it’ll help
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AMY2Bvxuxc
Just more scare mongering. 99% vote PLP So what’s the problem.
when did the CURB become PLP spokespeople?? this so politically biased its is outrageous!! no wonder no one is willing to fund them anymore
I bet you feel anyone who calls you you’re can-do-no-wrong OBA is a PLP spokesperson huh
There’s a huge inaccuracy. The notion that Government ‘decided’ this:
“Following the Chief Justice’s ruling in 2014, the government’s subsequent decision to immediately make 1,500 PRC holders eligible for Status, without first going through major immigration reform, was perceived by many as a first step towards retaining political control through racialized immigration policies.”
True – the government did not decide this. What really happened was that the courts looked the law (as enacted by the PLP) and determined that those PRC holders were eligible for Status.
Yeah the government just decided not to bring the prc legislation in line with its true and obvious intent. They in effect exploited the loop hole as everyone expected they would.
It was the law passed by the PLP. Genius.
“Yeah the government just decided not to bring the prc legislation in line with its true and obvious intent.”
You do realise that the government challenged the entitlement of status by the Immigration Appeals Tribunal.
The Courts ruled against the government.
Or are you seriously arguing that the Chief Justice is [yet another] “surrogate?”
Isn’t CURB really just a group for white liberals with a massive guilt complex to sit around a seminar table and feel better about themselves?
Go to a meeting.
Be educated.
No. There’s a selective and curiously interpretive statistician too.
that is what you do with statistics JT…
Not anymore. Now it is a far-right racial nationalist organisation.
And what are you? I’m curious to know how someone that says that view themself. This should be good…
I’ve said it over n over but NO ONE will answer me so I’ll repeat it ONE more time…tell me where on this planet has any country eradicated racism..? If you can tell me then LETS FOLLOW THEIR LEAD…but if you can’t tell me then PLEASE stop wasting time money n efforts trying to be “GOD”…People will be people whether you like it or not…Someone somewhere said I have to agree with you or like you…yeah right…I have MY OWN BRAIN i dont need to be programmed to live my life how YOU think i should live I am “civil” to all that reciprocate…I don’t care whether you are black white red or yella BUT! I have ZERO tolerance for Ignorance n Arrogance so if you are ignorant or arrogant…guess what bruh!…get over it and move on with your life.
Diversity makes the world go round YET you want 100% cooperation from all..? If man originated in Africa why did people leave and become different races..? Therefore racism should be a moot point…how can an African be a racist to a fellow African ..? Sooooo…If i consider you an idiot why can’t I say ” you STUPID _____ F#@K!”…maybe your soft ass feelings will get hurt..? Well… If telling you the truth hurts your feelings…then you’re just gonna have to get hurt.
Just as I figured…no one can answer my question.
I honestly think CURB needs more white members… Or is that not allowed? F*@%ing joke of an organization.
It’s run by white idiot. It’s funny folk like you have the audacity to call folks racist. You’re a massive joke
I am a black person from another jurisdiction and I find that the black Bermudians are more discriminating than the whites. They only play the racism card when such issues arise. What surprises me is that some Bermudians forget that OBA party has blacks too. Happy to be living here in the Caymans after PLP refused to renew my permit after working in Bermuda for 6 years.
Lol – 19 people believe this trash? Gosh you people are so easy…
This just fits too perfectly along your OBA’s drivel lines (oh and now the person is Black – gosh you people are good)
So happy in Cayman that 4 years later you are still on Bernews dabbling in Bermudian affairs…..doesn’t sound too exciting over there to me..
@ mixitup….it’s keeping up with global news…..I bet you watch or read BBC CNN ABC etc.
Mere ignorance.
Bermudians don’t forget that. What you are ignorant of is that fact that whites have never expressed and acted on an interest to include themselves in black movements here. And on the flip side there is a long history on his island of blacks getting involved in white lead movement to “get up” in life. Don’t let your bitterness skew your perspective on what what has really gone down here.
Your time was. Up
How else can you one be empowered without Education. Stay in school and study hard. Education is the only way out folks.
Forward, not out.
I must have missed something. Surely CURB are against racism (Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda), yet here they are advocating it. Disgusting.
It’s so cute when you folk throw words like racism/racist around like you could possibly have a clue.
No, this is getting in step with the rest of the civilised world.
Oh yeah cause racism can only go one way……
My fellow Bermudians white and black, we need to band together to fight against allowing these floods gates to open. It is our only chance of retaining what rights we have left as Bermudians. Let us focus on the big picture and ensure we don’t have our island taken from us… once it’s gone, it’s gone. They want us to squabble and become distracted about political/racial issues while they slip through these new immigration policies. We must protest!
Have a clue?? There are Black people who are racist and discriminatory towards white people every day in Bermuda. So what the f**k are you talking about Ian?! You and Onion Juice should get together and form you own little group. Dreamers!
When you find yourself of the receiving end of a loooong history of systemic racism come talk to. You don’t have a clue.
You don’t have a clue either Ian…wasn’t just black people that were sold into slavery either, white and other races as well! Blacks first sold their own into slavery far before the white man did it! ALL SLAVERY in any shape or form now and in the past WAS COMPLETELY WRONG! Funny how when things get repeated enough it turns into “truth.” This coming from a Proud Black man who KNOWS his REAL TRUE HISTORY!
“When you find yourself of the receiving end of a loooong history of systemic racism come talk to.”
And that gives black people or any other race for that matter the right to keep repeating it or a right to do it to someone else or another race? YOU’RE AN IDIOT!! Real talk!
This is a throw back to the 1950′s and 60′s when the white power structure engage in a race base immigration policy whose legacy is still with us today.
And Curb seem to now be advocating for the same thing. Quotas, as they want, can only be discriminatory and anti human rights. As long as it’s for the ‘right’ race, discrimination appears to be alright with you and them. Since when did two wrongs make a right?
AS IT WAS UNDER YOUR PLP ALVIN, PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK AND GO BACK TO SLEEP!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AMY2Bvxuxc
I’ll leave this right here…for those who live in their bubbles..
Did the PLP write this for CURB?
The PLP should ask those black voters who never vote for them why they don’t.
I voted for them until they totally ruined this island financially. I doubt I will ever vote for them again and it has nothing to do with race!
You didn’t for the PLP so stop kidding yourself
I voted for the UBP in the 80′s, the PLP in the 90′s when I had had enough of the UBP, I was one of the happiest people in Bermuda when the PLP won in Nov 1998, I voted for them again in 2003 because I thought they did a good job in their first term, I think I voted for the UBP in 2008 because things started to go wrong in their second term. I voted for the OBA in Dec 2012 because Bermuda could not survive another term under the PLP. Do not tell me who I did or didn’t vote for in the future! There were many white people just like me who voted for the PLP in the past however, I have my doubts if they would ever vote for them again unless the PLP make some drastic changes!
Curb lamemts the granting of ‘ rights to Bermudian status to long term residents, without quotas in place.’ What exactly would they expect those quotas to be based on? Their own numbers say Bermuda is 65% black, 25% white, 10% other. Do they expect quotas to maintain those percentages? They are concerned about the government padding their numbers with white people. Would they expect the quotas to be based on occupation, worthiness or strictly colour? Surely that would end up being discriminitory at some point? Is Curb really suggesting that it would be acceptable to deny a qualified professional status because their colour might offend someone? Are they really alright with the idea of doing the exact same thing they have accused the older generations of doing, that is, discriminating to further their cause? Apparently race trumps everything else for Curb.
And did they really complain about contraception? Do they really think there is some huge conspiracy to keep blacks from reproducing so we can limit their numbers as opposed to keeping young people, black or white, from becoming parents before they can afford to. Surely they must understand education and oppurtunity suffer when parenthood happens too early?
The irony in this statement is unreal. If this organization receives any government support or breaks it should stop immediately. Clearly this organization does not believe in human rights for all.
Oh yeah??? Clearly?? You people are a joke
You people are the joke mate. Another coward just like OJ. Say what u mean. Always sugar coating lmao. Truth hurts dont it?!
Doesn’t hurt me. My race aren’t guilty of the atrocities of recent past nor do we continue to benefit from it today.
No, you’re just getting credit for being a prick all on your own.
Allowing people who have lived amonst us for 20, worked and contributed to our ecomony, to stay is racist.
Gotcha.
Yes by their logic because they are “most likely white”. Wouldnt have a problem though if it were all west indians wanting to stay. Makes sense to me. Smh
Uh, actually we would. The emphasis is on giving status away to foreigners PERIOD!
CURB does nothing but PLANT racism,
Somebody please shut them up! I am sick of their racism! CURB policies are against United Nations human rights!
When privilege is allowed to remain invisible then measures to point it out and rebalance the scales are perceived as racist. All the inflamed comments accusing CURB of racism come from this. Simple. Disturbing to many but simple.
The statement from CURB does not surprise me at all, they are doing anything but uprooting racism in Bermuda.
It is pretty clear they are looking to mislead the public with their ‘facts’, not too dissimilar to another party in Bermuda with the same objective.
If we were to take Bermuda as having 40,000 eligible voters and for arguments sake use their incorrect figure of 1,500 eligible for status then that moves the white voting percentage from 25% to 28%. Hardly going to have much swing is it?!?
CURB are effectively suggesting to limit to the population to a certain race or colour. This completely goes against what it is they are supposedly trying to eradicate!
Curb may have a point but what I find disturbing is that the minister said that His team has been working on this for Three years. That is almost as long as the OBA have been in government! Given that the OBA were the ones that required (forced) work permit holders to sign a declaration that they had no expectation of any rights to live here why then dedicate this kind of time to this issue. Why then publicly state that they were forced by the Courts and a PLP loophole to grant status to PRCs? If indeed it is simply the right thing to do why no public discussion before hand. Why no mention in the throne speech? At the end of the day make it easier for people like himself who come here at a very young age to get status. Immigration concerns have traditionally revolved around the fact that we are a very small country and despite the few reclaimed acres we are still very small. What is the optimal number of people can we have here before our quality of life is negatively affected by overcrowding? How long would it take given the proposed policy changes to reach this number? Yes I agree with resolving the long term resident issue and I agree that persons who have been here over 25 years should get some rights. But I also believe that we need a more inclusive process to such important matters. The manner in which this minister introduces changes leaves a lot to be desired.
In order for people to start coming together and accepting one another we need to start from somewhere. I understand that people are suffering but we should not put things off for a right time. The right time is here and now. We all need to move forward as a country. Many areas need to be worked on. This immigration change is a good one and long overdue. You have people born in Bermuda who had to fight to get Bermudian status, how is that right? This is not just helping the white population it is helping all races. I am a black Bermudian and I have seen racism and classism from both blacks and whites. That is not right for anyone. Things cannot stay the same, they need to change for the better and we need to start from somewhere. Let’s stop with the excuses and push forward. I know struggle because I have seen it and experienced it in my life time. But we all can achieve. Let’s all just come together as one, really. I applaud the OBA for taking this step. Some moves are not popular but nonetheless, they are moves that need to be made. I will back a government for doing the right thing, rather than being afraid of losing votes or wanting to gain votes. Things cannot stay the same. Our forefathers pushed for change for the betterment of us all, we need politicians and people who still hold some of those values today in order to take society were it needs to be.
As the saying goes, there are lies, damn lies and statistics. You can manipulate and interpret statistics to show pretty much whatever you want.
Curb has provided no demographic breakdown of the 690 allegedly affected, they provide the “fact” that 50% of Status awards over the last 30 years have been to whites as demonstration that this must be a racist policy. By that mantra, 50% were also black or other.
Assuming they are correct and that the majority of the 690 are white, one could say that because this change is coming about because Bermuda’s laws are not in accordance with EU human rights requirements that whites were unfairly targeted by Bermuda’s immigration laws, preventing them from status when they should be entitled to it under EU human rights law. Of course, this is just as unlikely as saying that the changes are motivated race based politics.
Both sides will try to wield the statistics to support them. Get the facts for yourselves and come to your own conclusion.
But I’m confused, if these PRCs have spent over 20 years in Bermuda, they’ve had more than enough opportunity to see the political parties at work first hand, so why would CURB believe their race would have anything to do with their voting behaviour?
The PLP have had over 20 years to convince these potential new voters that it is the best party for Bermuda and Bermudians. Over 12 years of governance to demonstrate a clear track record. Plus, by definition, all of these new voters have perspective of other political systems around the world, so have better context in which to cast their votes.
So what is it CURB is so worried about?
Keep it simple… Marriage to a Bermudian gets you in… Outside of that, expats shout be grateful that they got to work in paradise for a designated time period, and got paid super high wages.
People actually go to university work hard and of course get rewarded for their hard work through high salaries.
No more silver platters get an education!
Hey CURB where the #^@& were you when the Black PLP destroyed Bermuda??? OH Right,, you are the PLP!!
My fellow Bermudians white and black, we need to band together to fight against allowing these floods gates to open. It is our only chance of retaining what rights we have left as Bermudians. Let us focus on the big picture and ensure we don’t have our island taken from us… once it’s gone, it’s gone. They want us to squabble and become distracted about political/racial issues while they slip through these new immigration policies. We must protest!
When are people going to stop looking backwards and start driving forwards? Whatever happened in the past is done. We all need to work together for the future of Bermuda. Whoever gets status or PRC through this has committed their time and talents to Bermuda for at least 20 years! No one does that on a whim! Embrace our new citizens and look forward together.
Most Bermudians have never lived off the island, especially the older generation of Bermudians, you need to understand things don’t resolve around Bermuda. This world is so diverse it’s incredible to make claims such as this. Stop being so close mindedly and work towards the goal. A better Bermuda and how? Well that’s for us to figure out but it’s certaintly not fighting. Whites vs Blacks! It’s 2016!
CURB should not be
Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda
rather
Citizens Undertaking to Ruin Bermuda
Look at all this hatred you are creating! We need to unite people not divide them more!