Donations Made For Somerset Cricket Club Wall
Members of the community, including OBA MPs, have donated towards getting the wall built at the Somerset Cricket Club.
The matter came to public attention recently as Minister of Public Works Lt/Col David Burch said that he feels the Governor should not be invited to present the Cup at Cup Match, explaining to Parliament that he told Somerset Cricket Club this, and made it a precondition to fixing a wall.
Speaking in the House of Assembly recently, Minister Burch said, “I also happen to be a member of Somerset Cricket Club, and I have repeatedly as a member of that club made the motion that I find it offensive personally, and also as a Bermudian, that we celebrate this annual historical occasion and then we turn around and invite the supervising power to come and present the Cup.”
“If people look at it honestly and sincerely, this is a celebration of emancipation of slaves, and so why would you still accept, in 2018, inviting he who enslaved us to come and not only celebrate with us, but to also be the person who presents the Cup,” he said.
Following that, Shadow Public Works Minister Trevor Moniz said, “The Minister has put Somerset Cricket Club in an impossible position. That is not acceptable behaviour for anyone let alone a Minister who should adhere to the highest moral standards.
“The issue of who presents the trophy to the victorious team is a matter for the Club and making it a condition of doing some work is reprehensible and an abuse of the Minister’s power. If it is the Minister’s responsibility, then just get on and do it.”
Among those that donated were OBA MPs, with MP Michael Dunkley explaining, “When made aware of the challenges faced in building the wall, and the difficult position that the Club was put in by the Government, all OBA Members of Parliament, along with former members Hon ET Richards and Dr. Hon Grant Gibbons, donated funds to purchase necessary materials to help make it happen.
“We understand this has been a community effort and we are pleased to be able to part of the solution,” Mr Dunkley added.
Government House said that the Governor is “well aware of the importance of Cup Match and its significance in marking emancipation from slavery.
“The decision on who is invited to present the Cup is a free and independent one for Somerset Cricket Club to make. The Governor will be happy to support the event respectfully and in the way judged most appropriate by the Club and Cup Match organisers,” Government House said.
In a post on social media the club said, “October 2016 Hurricane Nicole torn two sections of our perimeter wall apart. Over the past few months members and friends have made repairs. Today we have closed the gap. Thank you for the donations as they continue to come in. House and Grounds Managers are thankful. Congrats to all persons involved.”
To heck with the PLP!!!!!
This was unnecessary considering it wasn’t ‘the PLP’, but Col. Burch who muddied the waters around the issue of the wall at the SCC.
Did I miss the PLP condemning his abuse of powers?
their silence is complicity
I’m not aware of one PLP minister who stated they disagreed with Burch. Are you?
Silence is deafening
The PLP have condoned his behaviour by not sanctioning him or forcing him to resign.
What Time is The March! Awaiting statement from the People Campaign!
You organize it
Collective responsibility!
I tend to agree with Burch’s stance on the presenter, but in the end it is up to the Club to decide.
But in no way would I ever agree to the abuse of his political powers to mandate that a private organisation bend to his will.
We live in a democracy Col. Burch. Get used to it.
I’d never given it any thought before, like Politricks, i I too am with with Minister Burch on the presentation,However, I don’t see him speaking up about being referred to as Col., go figure. His arrogance is astounding and I wish Premier Burt would weigh in on the issue. The most important thing here is it’s not Minister Burch’s money.
How much did Burch donate?
Ha ha! Great way to stick it to Min Burch for trying to bully them. So maybe H.E.will present the cup. We shall see.
Why should the Governor turn up at all? would you go if you were he, who enslaved us? Maybe all people should not be invited to celebrate.
well done all. I find it offensive personally, and also as a Bermudian that Burch abused his power in this way, not to mention the recent racist comment he made
Col.Burch admitted that he seems to abuse of his political powers to mandate that a private organisation bend to his will. “I also happen to be a member of Somerset Cricket Club, and I have repeatedly as a member of that club made the motion that I find it offensive personally,” well i find his behavior offensive and I expect the Premier to address this abuse.
He wont cause he obviously agrees with burch.
Someone should donate some re-bar and use concrete in the block pockets rather than beer bottles if they want it to stay up.
Never miss a chance for a dig , eh ?
I’m still waiting for real proof that herb smokers are safe drivers…
Nope never. Ill take all the digs i bleddy well please thank u very much. Not nice is it? Dig at me ill dig at you. And on ur herb topic, whilst i dont condone driving under any influence, you bet your dam boots herb smokers are 10 times safer drivers than the drunks we have running around this island. And if youd like to go further, theres this thing called the internet there toodles, all the proof you need is just a click away.
The internet can be used just like the bible to justify or condemn anything , both at the same time .
Again , are you aware of road traffic statistics since legalization in Colorado and why there is a massive crackdown underway in Florida on driving while stoned ?
The only people who (erroneously) believe that they can drive better while high are the people fighting for full legalization of herb.
And yes , on more than one occasion I have been in a car operated by someone who had been toking. Never again !
Loan me your car and I’ll show you
that is not obvious to me and i wont make any assumptionsso i will give him time to do the right thing.
LOL!!!! The Ministers plan worked! I would think that the eldest Cupmatch Player from the losing team should have the honor of presenting the cup!!
All jokes aside, I kind of like that idea, or perhaps the Captain.
I’ll send in $$ in Burch’s name. Is his membership paid up to date??
Burch is a total problem.
The Premier needs to do something about him
The Premier has had enough time to deal with Burch,so what does that say about our leader.
Wow thanks OBA, this nicely pulls the rug out of Butch’s feet hahaha~!
Just another jibe to get Bermudians up in arms about the ‘oppressive, colonial’ environment we live in so that they will vote in independence and a really oppressive dictatorship the like of which ‘real African’ countries have encountered.
Kind of nice to take a break from “Bermuda will turn into Jamaica/Haiti” variety of scaremongering, I suppose…
Gives a really new meaning to wall sitters.
Enjoy Onions.
Am I missing something….isn’t SCC a private club ? Why is government responsible for fixing that wall …so if the club tells the Gov to stay away…the public purrse will pay to fix a wall at a private club ?
Burch, you don’t happen to be a member at Coral Beach…there’s some stuff needs fixing there. But I guess you’re not a member, huh ?
Good point. I’m guessing it is a border wall? Now you got me wondering.
It borders a public road so it made sense for W&E to at least be consulted. Of course, at this point things got out of control.
So, why are each of these clubs not the best facilities on the island? The money that flows through every other year yet there are piles of rubble, areas in need of repair etc. I don’t get it.
They need an audit.
Incompetence?
Guess you’d have to see the books to find out. No idea how much these clubs fork out for say lighting for the various night fixtures during football and cricket (T20) season. But a fair question.
Guess Burch gave nothing. What a jerk.
@ Pickled Tink – I agree with you.
@ I Don’t Get It – you would think so given that every other year they alternately host the biggest island wide event, and have members who might know a thing or two of repair/maintenance
Why would the government build a wall for a private club in the first place?
It’s private. They should do it themselves.
Agree
You have one of the most honest and sensible comments on here. But u can’t expect the oba trolls to be honest about anything at all.
Really donations? All that money they make from charging people for cup match stalls which is a pretty large sum, and they sell the liquor and you want people to donate money. Ya lost lost ya mind if that’s the case. Fix ya own dam wall with the money that you get from the people over the two day holiday.
Ya cause the liquor just falls out of the sky onto the club grounds and then they sell it meaning its all profit. The scaffolding also just magically appears in place a week before the game starts
The PLP paid for the wall at St. George’s CC.
Hurricane damage they say? No insurance coverage I ask? Was the wall inspected by planning authorities for safety during its reconstruction? Any comments like an apology from Minister Burch?
I hope they have planning permission to build that wall, just saying.
So when are we going to stop referring to him as Lt Colonel?
It strikes me that this is a repair still in progress. Leaving those concrete blocks unfaced without Bermuda stone tiling (or at least plastered if that was what was there before) is a clear planning violation – that undoubtedly the Col. would enforce on behalf of his colleague the Minister of Home Affairs.
Pay for it yourself. Between cup match and the trade that exists around these establishments (funding for the annual scc community event comes to mind) thesr clubs should have enough $ to throw up a few blocks…