Panel Discussion: The Pitt Report 41 Years Later

May 29, 2019

This Thursday [May 30] a Panel Discussion will be held on ‘The Pitt Report, 41 Years Later,’ with the panelists to include Laverne Furbert, Cordell Riley, Rolfe Commissiong, Phil Perinchief, Alex Scott and John Barritt.

A spokesperson said, “Former Premier Alex Scott, will join a dynamic panel discussion this Thursday, May, 30th at a public forum, designed to examine just how the island implemented changes in the wake of the wave of violence here in 1977.

“The specific structural changes were contained within recommendations in the Pitt Report, a report developed after the 1978 Commission of Inquiry headed up by then Lord Pitt from the House of Lords, London.

“The Royal Commission into the 1977 Disturbances was established in early 1978. Public hearings took place in April and May.

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“Members of the Commission were Lord Pitt, chairman; Professor Michael Banton also of the U.K.; the late Reginald Cooper; the late John Irving Pearman; the late Walter Robinson, a former leader of the P.L.P. and former Premier Alex Scott.

“In short the Commission cited the decision not to reprieve the hangings of convicted murderers Erskine ‘Buck’ Burrows and Larry Tacklyn as one of the causes of the riots, and went on to cite what it termed the strong belief that there was inequality of economic opportunity in Bermuda.

“It also highlighted a number of issues relating to housing, education, distribution of wealth; a lack of job opportunities for Blacks and a number of social issues plaguing the Island.

“The forum this week Thursday — under the theme ‘The Pitt Report 41 years later: How far have we come?’ — will take place at the Gordon Hall in the Bermuda Industrial Union headquarters on Dundonald Street in Hamilton at 6pm.

“The forum will be moderated by Mr. Ulric ‘Rick’ Richardson. Before getting into the meat of their presentations, the panel will hear from Youth Premier Ms. McKenzie Kohl Tuckett.”

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Category: All, History, News

Comments (22)

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  1. house painter says:

    this will be as interesting at watching paint dry.

    • Onion Juice says:

      One thing I like History is, its recorded.

      • Ringmaster says:

        Of the 41 years later, the PLP have been in power for the last 16. What have they done to progress the Pitt Report? Should be a very quick and short answer.

        • Onion Juice says:

          The progress is they gave and are giving Black Bermudians more accessibility to our biased economic wealth sharing, which has been Historically and systematically controlled by the undeserved privileged.

        • Herman says:

          With the remainder of those years what have the ubp done to progress it, or is it only for those negatively affected to fix.

  2. question says:

    I’d have more time for looking at 40-year-old reports if the government would accept responsibility for what they did in the period 2007-2012.

    • Onion Juice says:

      Afraid of what we might dig up in History.
      LOL

      • Toodle-oo says:

        Your re-written history doesn’t count so you can ditch that thought.
        And who’s afraid of history anyway ? Can’t change any of it as much as you’d like to bludgeon people with it.
        No guilt on my part and never will be.

        • Onion Juice says:

          I dont expect you to feel guilty, just like your forefathers didnt feel guilty, just enjoy the benefits that were iherited to you in the form of undeserved privilege.

          • Toodle-oo says:

            I have NO inherited benefits at all other than what hard work and planning bestow , just like most others on this island .
            You , and a lot of others , just delight in staying angry at people who you think had everything given to them based solely on their skin colour .

    • Isn’t that the truth. They will never acknowledge their wrong doings. That is why we are in the state that we are in this island. THey Have Ruined This Island In Every WAY POSSIBLE.

  3. Joe Bloggs says:

    “The forum this week Thursday — under the theme ‘The Pitt Report 41 years later: How far have we come?’ — will take place at the Gordon Hall in the Bermuda Industrial Union headquarters on Dundonald Street in Hamilton at 6pm.”

    The answer will almost certainly be that we have made some progress (although some people will likely deny even that), but not nearly enough. As we approach 2 full generations since the Pitt Report was published more should have been achieved by now.

    Bermudians must continue to strive to end the disparity between the “haves” and the “have nots”, but that progress cannot be forced on people. Bermudians must want that change to happen. Trying to legislate and tax people out of their wealth will only drive our economy further down hill, to the financial detriment of all Bermudians.

    • Ringmaster says:

      The PLP have done more to expand the inequalities in their crave for power, not close the gap. They have made more Bermudians suffer with job losses, falling incomes, falling retail sales, falling real estate prices and increased taxes. Without any plans to expand the economy, it will only get worse for the very people the PLP say they represent.

  4. J Austen says:

    An interesting side discussion might include how armed bank robbery has evolved in the years since that period and the best courtroom defenses for any such accused…

  5. MM says:

    Is this an exercise in who has the best memory, and who carried out the recommend ations.Forty years later..this should be rather interesting… someone needs to be held accountable if we have not advanced
    To advance requires a whole host of ideas, encouragement, lectures, as well affirmative action along the way

    • sandgrownan says:

      … someone needs to be held accountable if we have not advanced

      And who should that be?

      • Joe Bloggs says:

        Speaking as a Bermudian who thinks not enough progress has been made in 40 years, I would say everyone who has resided in Bermuda at any time over the past 40 years, whether Bermudian or not, must bear some responsibility for the lack of progress.

        And all politicians of all political persuasions must bear more responsibility than the average Bermudian or Bermuda resident for the lack of progress made.

  6. kangoocar says:

    Bermuda spends all its time looking backwards, and then wonders why we never move forward! SMDH!

    • Onion Juice says:

      No, we acknowlege our past to see how we can move forward, the problem is some are too embarrassed to confront the past because they see the autrosity of what happened to how they recieved their undeserved privilege.

  7. chart says:

    Between Laverne Rolfie and Phil … nah, got better things to do with my time.

    • sandgrownan says:

      LOL< no kidding, rather stick a fork in my eye than listen to those two

      • Onion Juice says:

        Cant handle when people speak Truth to Power, dont worry you all will eventually get over the fact that what your forefathers and minnions did and supported was inhumane and an embarrassement.
        Same way how some Americans get bent out of shape when their past is exposed.