Walter Roban: ‘We Must Unite & Come Together’

June 24, 2016

“It is now up to the Government to lead this country to heal from the divisiveness that has permeated our community for the last few months” and “we must unite and come together and heal our divisions, “Acting Deputy Leader Shadow Minister of Home Affairs Walter Roban said.

Walter Roban Bermuda June 24 2016

Referendum Vote Goes No/No, However  Is “Unanswered”

44,367 people are registered to vote, and 20,804 people — or 46.89% — turned out to vote in yesterday’s referendum, so the Parliamentary Registrar said the “referendum question shall be taken to be unanswered” as it did not achieve 50% turnout.

While the referendum is technically “unanswered”, looking at the votes that were cast shows 14,192 “No” votes for same-sex marriage [6,514 "Yes" votes] and 13,003 “No” votes for Civil Unions [7,626 "Yes" votes]. This is approximately 68% “no” to same-sex marriage and 63% “no” to civil unions.

Walter Roban’s Comments

Mr Roban said, “Bermudians of all walks of life came out and voted in this referendum. The result was a solid ‘No’ to both referendum questions, despite the turnout being less than desirable.

“It is now up to the government to lead this country to heal from the divisiveness that has permeated our community for the last few months. We must unite and come together and heal our divisions. There was much energy expended on this issue by both sides.

“We hope that all of these voices will continue to use their energies into also fighting for other issues facing Bermudians – gun and gang violence, racial inequality, economic inequality, immigration, joblessness, education, among others.

“To fulfill our destiny, we need all hands on deck and much too often, we sit in our silos and only fight for isolated causes.

“With respect to the specific issues of same sex marriage and civil unions, regardless of what side was supported, we must respect the result delivered by those that participated.

“We wait to hear from our government how Bermuda will move forward on these issues. There is much healing that must come after this referendum period. ”

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Comments (35)

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  1. smh says:

    Is it just me or does Walter Roban sound like one of those little dogs that yips all the time but no one pays attention to?

    • mixitup says:

      That no one pay’s attention too? Yet you click on his story AND make a comment.. I’d consider that paying attention.

      • Eyes wide says:

        I just came here for the comments. TL:DR but I gots my popcorn.

    • rogerramjet says:

      yup yup yup
      yup…he does…Woooffff

    • Build a Better Bermuda says:

      He’s trying to push any attempt by the government to introduce civil unions as being a devisive act, as he seek to push his agenda of maintaining the status quo on this matter. That is pretty much why he tries to state that this was a ‘solid no’… a little bit of a over stretched statement as it was the ‘no’ ho called for this referendum and the results were around 33% ‘no’ and around 66% either ‘I don’t care either way’ or ‘yes’.

      • watching says:

        untrue. the divisiveness was from both sides and the referendum campaigns exacerbated it. had the government just made a decision and went with it, then this extended period would not have happened and people wouldn’t have gotten so hostile.

        • Build a Better Bermuda says:

          I’m wasnt talking about the past several months, I’m referring to what Roban in positioning for next, as far as maintaining further divisiveness.

      • Or the results were around 15% yes and 85% either “I don’t care or no.” It’s a resounding NO either way and even you should be able to see that.

        • Build a Better Bermuda says:

          That’s thin, since it was the ‘no’ that wanted the referendum, this was their referendum to show up for. It was the ‘yes’ that objected and the ‘I don’t care’ that weren’t going to show. You need only look at what has been said over the last several months… you had

          ‘No, I don’t believe in SSM and will vote that way” – they voted

          ‘No , I don’t support SSM, but I don’t believe that my beliefs are justifying me to deny legal right to others’ – they in all likely wouldn’t have voted

          ‘Yes, I believe in SSM, I don’t believe in the referendum and will vote for it’ – they voted

          ‘Yes, I believe in SSM, I don’t believe in the referendum and will boycott it’ – they didn’t vote

          ‘I don’t care either way’ – they didn’t vote

          But no where do I remember anybody saying,

          ‘No, I don’t believe in SSM and will not allow it to happen… but I won’t vote in the referendum to make sure it doesn’t’

          So ultimately at best, I will grant you about around 40% of people who actually are willing to block LGBT people from equality under the law… and frankly, there is no percentage of people that should be allowed to deny anybody from equality under the law. Otherwise we have learned nothing from the last couple hundred years, and that is a crime in itself.

    • OBSERVER says:

      TO SMH::
      Bermudians do need to unite, stand together and force changes in this small country.Walter Roban is understood by those who choose to understand him.
      The PRE++++ will do nothing for Bermudians of this soil, so….it is up to BERMUDIANS to stand together and force change. Roban’s comments are necessary and shows great strength.
      Too many non-Bermudians always bash what the opposition does but fail to understand the negative ramifications of the oba/U.B.P……..noses are stuck in the sand.
      Talk on Roban!!!!!!

  2. Wrong says:

    Past few months? Try past few decades Walter. We beat around the proverbial bush on every issue, and never seem to resolve one before moving to the next.

    Six figure salaries on the hill you’re having a laugh.

  3. M says:

    I read that to mean that he was the status-quo to remain regarding ssm/cu.

  4. Kim Smith says:

    I’m hoping that this call for unity is robust and not just a fleeting sentiment.

  5. aceboy says:

    Your party has made it abundantly clear that cooperation with the government in any form is not going to happen, so stop pretending. You want to have power back…we know.

  6. Bud says:

    “We hope that all of these voices will continue to use their energies into also fighting for other issues facing Bermudians – …, racial inequality, economic inequality” – but not inequality for those who happen to love the same sex? What a wanker

    • Build a Better Bermuda says:

      The trouble is that the equalities he is now talking about are social inequalities… and these are much more elusive to legislate. It is government’s responsibility to protect the democratic function that first and foremost, everybody must be equal under the law. After that, it falls more to social evolution, a people issue. Government is there to make sure people aren’t being taken advantage of or exploit through regulations and ensuring that equality under the law is upheld, but they can only deal with that if people come forward to report it. Government is there to make sure that education is available to the best of their abilities, but it is up to the people to take advantage of that education, to be motivated to make the most of it and get themselves educated… no government can educate someone that doesn’t want to be. And so on and so on, in the end it requires people to evolve and change themselves. Social inequities exist because people harbour them, and no government can legislate a person to change themselves out of their prejudices, so in the end all government can do to address inequity is ensure equality is applied in all laws.

  7. jt says:

    The vote suggests most Bermudians don’t care about coming together Walter.
    On to the courts where this will be put to rest.

  8. Gabriel says:

    Glad to see Roban coming out with words like this. Would also be great if his party would stop in partaking in actions that create this division as well. Talk is cheap.

  9. M.C. Beauchamp says:

    Does he mean the “Yes” side should now shut up and go away? Ahhahahaha. This will be in court before Roban can say “No”.

  10. Unbelievable says:

    Robain can’t be serious with this statement?

    Wow.

  11. Onion says:

    Does he have a single suggestion of substance or is this another empty demand that someone else do everything?

  12. A penguin is driving down the road when suddenly his engine starts running rough and he seas smoke in his rear view mirror.
    He pulls off the highway and finds the nearest service station,and pulls up to the garage with the car shuttering and sputtering.
    He tells the mechanic what happened,and the mechanic say give me ten minutes with your car and I’ll better understand and diagnose what is going on…
    Meanwhile the penguin sees an ice cream shop across the street.Thinking this is a perfect time for a tasty treat ,he heads over and gets himself an icecream cone.
    After he finishes,he walks back over to the garage and asks the mechanic…”So…did you find out what was wrongs”?
    The mechanic looks at the penguin and says…
    “It looks like u just blew a seal!”

  13. dick francis says:

    “It is now up to the Government to lead this country to heal from the divisiveness that has permeated our community for the last few months” and “we must unite and come together and heal our divisions”

    Question: so why does the PLP constantly practice divisive politics?

    • Terry says:

      Because they rent the property.
      Limey owns it.

  14. warlord says:

    Bring us together and when an election rolls around you are going to tear us apart with the race card

    • Unbelievable says:

      Exactly. This guy has so much nerve. The PLP called for a referendum in the first place and then when it was announced, the PLP went screaming around the room criticising it.

  15. John E. Thorne says:

    We have been divided ever since party politics began in 1968 and we will continue to be divided until we get rid of party politics.

    • Terry says:

      Then there will never be a perfect doe to create a palatable eat.

  16. the truth will set you free says:

    As it is in the spiritual so shall it be in the natural, everyday by the things we do and say indicates whose side we are on whether it be our Creator or Satan. There is a spiritual war going on for the minds and souls of mankind.

  17. Sayso says:

    All I can say is look at the world. End time prophecy is unfolding. The bible is like tomorrow’s newspaper.

    Jesus came to save the world from the evil one and not to condenm. I pray for those who are lost to start seeking Jesus. There are serious hard times ahead.

    If you do not know the Lord as your saviour all you have to do is proclaim and believe in your heart that He is the son of God and died to save you from your sins and you admit that you are a sinner then you will be saved. It’s as simple as that. …but this is really up to you. Heaven and Hell are real places.
    Jesus said wider is the road to destruction and narrow is the road to life. Many will choose the former
    As for me I am not perfect and will continue to run to Jesus for cleansing.

  18. steve says:

    I like your premise Mr Roban…i really do.NOW IF I COULD JUST ERASE ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS FROM MY MIND OVER THE LAST DECADE!

  19. Peter says:

    The no solution PLP at it again

  20. O.M.G says:

    Yes I agree we need all of your hands on board to help us work together to move this country forward. So tell your party to stop the divide and maybe we can move on. Stop talking out of both sides of your mouth please.