Report Released Into Event Of Dec 2, 2016
The Parliamentary Joint Select Committee’s report into the events of December 2nd 2016 – in which police pepper sprayed protesters — was tabled in the House today [July 5].
The report’s Executive Summary said, “The work of the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee is an important undertaking in Bermuda’s history, as it affords a more comprehensive analysis than that found in other documents on one of the most serious social issues to have unraveled in Bermuda for more than 40 years. Sadly, many in Bermuda relate the tragedy of 2nd December 2016 to the disturbances that took place in the 1960s and 1970s.
“To assist in understanding some of the deep-rooted feelings, the Committee attempts below to put into context the socio-political climate leading up to and during that period in 2016. It must be said repeatedly that Bermuda is ripe for an academic analysis of this period and the contents of this report can be a valuable resource in that effort.
“While a matter best examined by a scholar such as a social scientist, it is reasonable to deduce that the social atmosphere that developed in 2016 did not happen overnight; there were many contributing factors. On 1st December 2017, Parliamentarian Renee Ming noted in the Legislature that some 26 protests had occurred in the four year period between 2012 and 2016.
“The work of the Joint Select Committee has been extended twice with the permission of the Speaker of the House: first because of delays caused by the ignoring and/or reluctance to engage by key witnesses that the Committee wished to interview, which also included legal challenges which were referred to the Speaker of the House.
“In the later months as the Committee began to uncover more information, due in part now to the willingness of persons to share information, together with the Committee’s commitment to uncover the facts, the Committee was encouraged to seek an extension during its summation.
“The mandate of the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee was to examine and to obtain a clear understanding of the decision-making that prevailed on 2nd December 2016, both at the House of Assembly and otherwise behind the scenes, which resulted in Officers being deployed in protective gear using a ‘Bubble Tactic’, and later resulted in Officers discharging CAPTOR spray on protestors.
“Testimony from some of the protestors who were engaged in ‘civil disobedience’ disclosed that the experience was traumatic and some even considered it ‘life threatening’. It was stated during testimony that an announcement was made that the “House would not sit at 1:00 p.m.”, which was followed soon after by the surprise arrival of the police unit.
“Astonishingly, when the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee reviewed the video from the body camera placed on an Officer, it was uncovered that an Order was given to Officers to deploy CAPTOR spray. The revelation ‘flew in the face’ of what was initially reported by the Bermuda Police Service, and of what previously had formed a major part of the findings and subsequent decision from the Police Complaints Authority.
“Furthermore, the statements of former Deputy Speaker Mrs. Suzanne Roberts-Holshouser and former Member of Parliament Mr. Kenneth Bascome, shared with the Committee during its interview with members of the People’s Campaign, revealed significant information that has illuminated serious discrepancies in the statements provided by the Bermuda Police Service and the testimony and statements provided by other witnesses.
“It should be noted that the testimony of Mrs. Roberts- Holshouser and Mr. Bascome did not form part of the police file requested to be sent to the Committee. However, their testimony states that discussions and planning took place between them, their political colleagues and the Bermuda Police Service about how to gain entry to the House of Assembly, and therefore reinforces Finding 3.9 of the National Police Coordination Centre Report which made significant reference to the adverse involvement of Platinum Command.”
The report into the events of December 2nd 2016 follows below [PDF here]
A not unexpected and sadly one sided and very slanted report behind the causes and results. Over 4 years between 2012 and 2016 many marches and protests took place orchestrated by the combined opposition trying to overthrow the elected Government. Despite the PLP trying to smear the OBA with calling for the protesters to be pepper sprayed, there seems no evidence. This particular protest was not peaceful and history will show it for what it was about.
The protests were a combined attempt to overthrow an elected government and usurp the political process. They won. And look at Bermuda now. In economic tailspin and declining business confidence. Idiots.
The JSC report is a farce.
Fact the oba party was not elected! The (PEOPLE) stayed away that election year and did not vote.
You’re mixed up. It’s the Peoples Campaign that was unelected.
Are you brain dead? An election was held and if the PLP voters stayed away the result is still the same. As was the case in 1995 when Sir John Swan held a referendum on Independence. The PLP stayed away and still complain. What you are saying, and I agree with, is in Bermuda every vote is not equal. The election boundaries are such that there are very few swing votes so every election is rigged from the start.
Bermuda is dying and it’s your fault.
PLP. stupid and incompetent.
If they don’t show up to vote, they can’t complain when the outcome is one they don’t like. Decisions are made by those who show up.
History will only reveal that your arrogant oba is really the UBP in disguise.
Changing the name to hide the racial past didn’t work. Now you sit their like fools asking yourself why all the black voters flip flop over to the PLP which caused a 25 – 11 victory.
Later you place Jet Gate as the leader again. REALLY LOL yea that will help!!!
Until someone creates a third party the UBP will never win again.
What the report does, is normalise mob rule.
But it doesn’t matter, we all know what happened and despite the bitterness, bile and hate you harbour, you won. You usurped the democratic process and you are in control. Satisfied?
You were hoodwinked about the airport and pathways to status. You were lied to about the AC. How does it feel to realise you are just plain stupid. How well is that going for you? How is Bermuda doing? There’s no one to blame but you now. You keep looking for a scapegoat, but it’s on you. Where we are now is entirely your fault.
Idiots.
The idiots are the UBP aka oba. Ask yourself why you change the name
Kin Swan was the last leader of the UBP and is now rewriting history for the PLP. I will agree with you that the UBP will never win again, but how do you explain why so many of the PLP are ex UBP? Seems the UBP were in fact the PLP in disguise.
I’m going to take a guess here and say that you and a whole lot of others are suffering some serious butt hurt seeing that nowhere was it determined that the OBA ordered the use of captor spray .
The police were solely responsible . Can’t stand it , can you ?
(And even if a 3rd party was created we still know the accusations that you’ll level and the names they will be called.)
You do realize that several MP’s in the PLP were UBP right? Including 2 former leaders…… oh, but that’s ok! It is eveident that the PLP are sinking Bermuda……proven in the decline of our economy and decline real estate values. I can’t wrap my head around the fact that they were voted back in. It clearly has NOTHING to do with good governance, and more to do with race….Sadly you and yours will feel it the most. You already are…….
How much did former ubp leader kim swan get paid for this and did he write it
Why does the reports have to be prefaced with Martin L Kings quotes
The reader immediately sees bias
You know why and so do I this group have nothing of substance.
I have read it and nowhere do i see evidence given from the plp MPs present, the union leaders or the people’s campaign – why?
The report says the oba should bear some responsibility for trying to reopen the house, but what about those who closed it – illegally – in the first place? Surely they bear some responsibility as well?
Without their response this is a superficial one sided report
How much did the taxpayers pay for this biased drivel? Why were the architects and other of this “peaceful” protest not interviewed?
if this happened in eastern europe it would have been very different
It’s a superficial report that ignores the basic underlying problem. Rioters were illegally preventing Parliament from sitting, This is supposed to be a democracy. The Police used minimal force, given the circumstances.
What a waste of time and money producing this report.
This is the PLP’s attempt to put blame on the OBA and the police. The protest may have started off peacefully but it did not remain that way. it is clear that some protesters broke the law. The law is very clear that interference with the legislature is an offense. There should have been several arrests made that day but the police were afraid to act. If anything the police were too passive.