Video: Sir John Swan Press Conference
[Updated] Sir John Swan is holding a press conference this afternoon [Nov 21] regarding the Government’s statement that they will be initiating a consultation process about a full membership in Caricom. We will have additional information later on, and in the meantime the live video is below.
Update | The press conference has concluded, Sir John expressed concerns about the concept of Bermuda becoming a full member of Caricom, mentioning a wide range of topics including our relationships with the US and UK, our business industry, geo-political issues and more.
“I am humbly suggesting that based upon the stats, based upon the participation, based upon on Bermuda’s position as to where it is now, that we consider not becoming members of Caricom,” Sir John said. “And that any movement by Government to become a [full] member of Caricom should be by way of a referendum.”
Update Deputy Premier Walter Roban said, “The position taken by Sir John Swan with respect to membership in Caricom is hardly surprising.”
The Deputy Premier said that “many will recall” what Minister Roban claimed was “his overt discrimination against West Indians and their Bermudian families both a Minister of Home Affairs and Premier.”
“Sir John would do well to remember that it is this government that has set up representative offices in London, Washington DC and Brussels and so those bases are expertly covered,” the Deputy Premier said.
“This is an old playbook from his UBP days: denigrate the Caribbean while making loads of money by investing and having business interests there. In that sense, he is not different to the colonizers. What a regrettable stance to be taken by a supposed national hero.”
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Sir John is spot on. Bermuda is way ahead of CARICOM member countries. CARICOM really has nothing to offer us.
Realty is also about what we can Give not just about what there is we can Take
Hence the difference between reality and modern politics
But bring us down to a lower socio economic level, there are very few in that list that hold the level of respect and dare I say 1st world ranking as Bermuda does in the eyes of the developed world. I am not disrespecting such countries as they have a multitude of problems to face. We should look to move upward and forward not the reverse. Mind you at this time not much we can give either with our national debit and high spending divide and concur govt
Total respect for Sir John Swan, and hear his advise as wise.
We get free consultation from him, and yet the Govts’ Mr Rabain, thinks he is much wiser (in all things) and insults myself, and I imagine many in Bermuda, to say is offended by Sir John comments. To state he is uneducated, misinformed and went further but I started to react and did not hear the rest of his ignorance.
I suggest Mr Robain take a hike, and look in the mirror for what agenda is being pushed. I am offended at this Govt response to a wise man.
Here, here!
What’s in it for us? Annual (exorbitant) Membership fees. Foreign workers’ right to work/live in Bermuda w/out visa restrictions. Compulsory Import Trade Agreements. Compulsory Financial Assistance when Member Countries experience disasters. Compulsory Ministerial Meetings abroad. Compulsory Overseas Meetings for Senior Civil Servants… I could go on…and on…and on. Go figure!!
Spot on Sir John. Well thought out and sensible!!!
Funny thing is he wanted to place a McDonalds restaurant in Bermuda and his own party the UBPoba clowns kicked him out on the streets. BIG BAD mistake on their part because Sir John Swan was highly respected by many black voters that voted UBPoba at that time. When Swan left everyone departed with him. Now the circus is trying to attract the black voters back with Jarion Richardson.
You should learn some Bermuda history. The OBA did not exist when Sir John Swan was premier and the UBP did not kick him out on the streets. Sir John Swan quit politics following the 1995 referendum on independence. Sir John supported independence at the time and the overwhelming majority of Bermudians who took part in the referendum did not. That is the truth.
Sir John did not leave resign as Premier because of the Prohibited Restaurants Act. He resigned as Premier before the Prohibited Restaurants Act was passed.
The OBA is the UBP! Tell us why did the same white voters jump from the UBP to the OBA in 1 night? What was so wrong that an entire base jumped ship?
The UBP screwed over John and black swing voters ran like the party had COVID! Later the experimental name change came into play to try and trick the same black voters to return. Now you have jarrrrrrion and a few others posing as a front men.
Make up you mind, White Wash. Did the “white voters jump from the UBP to the OBA in 1 night” or was there an “experimental name change”?
Or is it that you are paid to troll this place and say anything that will stir emotion?
You lot love rewriting history don’t you.
He wanted to set up a McDonald’s. It went through the planning and approval process and got declined. Despite being Premier, he lived with the outcome.
He didn’t get it through by underhanded corruption, or bribing anyone, or by engaging in secretive self-dealing.
Vastly different from how the PLP does things.
So maybe if John runs as leader of the oba aka ubp again all the black voters might return changing the 30-6 narrative! Na not in a lifetime the party is very racist and only used him the same way Jarion is being used now.
You continue to live in the past. The UBP does not exist and has not existed for over a decade.
The OBA is not racist. Never has been. The OBA is completely inclusive of all Bermudians for the betterment of Bermuda for all Bermudians.
It’s 30 -6 because it’s viewed as a racist party that uses surrogates to try and win back the blk vote.
The only one who is undereducated and more is Rabain, a clueless idiot. Sir John is spot on
Sir John, the 1980′s called and would like it’s policies back….. This new Generation would like to take a different route Sir John…. Thanks for your opinion, but no thanks.
Yeah , those terrible 80′s where we had over employment and groceries , rent and electricity were affordable .
When the bulk of our visitors came by air and the island looked good and clean and the roads were smooth too .
For this ‘new generation’ , if they’re under say 35 or so , this mess is all they’ve ever been aware of and they might think it’s normal . So what route are you saying they want to take ? Continue with this disaster of a government or go back to when things were good ?
Please educate us and tell us how smart this new generation is .
The 1980s in Bermuda. A time of double-digit inflation. A time when the hotel division of the BIU would go on strike on a regular basis. A time when, one summer, there was no domestic television to watch in Bermuda.
Yes, we had over-employment and we had three 5 star restaurants (Four Ways Inn, Romanoff and Penthouse), but still people complained that they would never be able to afford “a piece of de rock”.
The double digit inflation (if there was any) would have been the result of the 1981 general strike (Sr David Gibbons’ words “Bermuda can’t afford this”) and then shortly after , greedy Bermudians capitalizing on the influx of money that IB brought (read .. landlords)
“The double digit inflation (if there was any) …”
There was, and it was not only in Bermuda. Most of the western world experienced double-digit inflation in the early 1980s. It is not that difficult to look up if you are too young to remember it.
Roban you couldn’t tie Sir John’s shoelaces okay!! So don’t try to diss yah boy!!!
PLP. Politicians Lost Plot. Wake up those voted green. Simple as that.
The dictator as normal saying this is what we do with NO regard to what we want and in this case DONT want or certainly need. It is pure bs and Ropain is a disgrace and useless mouthpiece for the plp, and in a million years would never hold a candle to Sir John’s savvy well thought out and honest intellect. I am disgusted at his disgraceful biased reply and remarks to a man of Sir John’s level one that he ( Robain) will never achieve such a level.Arogance at its most vile level.
Sir John has more political knowlege and acumen than 95% of the current ruling parties goon squad both past and present