When in a hole...

In a determined effort to shovel his way to the planet's core, Premier Alex Scott is continuing to offer more amusingly implausible suggestions about what happened to the UBP's submission to the Bermuda Independence Commission (BIC).

"[The UBP's submission] was reportedly determined by the BIC Commissioners to not address their mandate to gather material and report on the subject of Independence specifically. However, they still included a synopsis of the submission of the submission in their final 600 page report," said Mr. Scott.

"Consequently, the Opposition Leader is obviously misleading the media and public when he infers that the BIC Report did not include a submission from the UBP" he added.

The Premier concluded by saying that, following his public comment, Dr. Gibbons was immediately contacted and offered the opportunity to place on the Government's Independence Community website any material that was produced and submitted to the BIC.

Yet if the BIC report contained a synopsis of the UBP's submission (comprised mostly of a list of countries that became independent via a referendum), why did that report say that "in no instance, did the Commission discover the use of a referendum [to decide on independence]"?

And why did the Government have to ask Dr. Gibbons for another copy of their submission to the BIC before they could put it online? What did they do with the UBP's original submission?

It's not the Opposition that's misleading the media and the public, it's the Premier of Bermuda.

Does Mr. Scott have no shame?

Comments

[Kate on 23.09.05 at 13:44]

Nope, none, zip, squat

[Bermudian in Limeyland on 23.09.05 at 13:49]

For someone who thinks that half the island is to stupid to read a petition before signing it Alex Scott has gone out of his way to prove his stupidity again.

I can't remember where the quote comes from but,
"Its better to say nothing and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt".

[m on 23.09.05 at 13:55]

His levels of self-delusion are unbelievable. It must be all that testicular fortitude, what being "the man" and all....

[Tiger Bay on 23.09.05 at 14:01]

He has no shame. Alex Scott was the kid who really thought the teacher would believe the dog ate his homework.

The 40-odd page UBP submission was not deemed important enough to include. But the one liner written on the Heineken beer coaster was.

Note the UBP submission was hurriedly added to the BIC website on Wednesday afternoon. The kleptocrats caught in yet another fast one.

[Rincewind on 23.09.05 at 14:27]

another good expression he should remember is "A closed mouth gathers no feet"

[BermyUniversity.com on 23.09.05 at 15:45]

This is from an article in the Bermuda Sun:

"Dr. Gibbons said he had no idea why it had been omitted. “I haven’t had an adequate explanation,” he said. .
He said the UBP had been given the opportunity to put their views on independence to the commission. He and a colleague spent a number of hours with BIC chairman Bishop Vernon Lambe.
But he said he was “just as happy” the UBP elected not to have a member on the Commission. “We wanted to maintain our independence,” he said. "

I was just wondering, is Gibbons the one who wanted to maintain his independence? Could someone please clarify?

[Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 23.09.05 at 16:09]

This is all becoming a PASSION PLAY of lies and deceit.If you are wise you will see the FACTS and Ignore the dishonesty of Alex Scott;he has a long history of dishonesty in public and private life.

[The Hood (.)(.) on 23.09.05 at 19:36]

What else do you expect from an asshole but a fart!

[Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 23.09.05 at 21:02]

Interesting interview on VSB tonight of Alex Scott talking to BBC. He mentions the earlier referendum on Independence,while not indicating that the PLP had boycotted the process.When asked why the PLP were picking up the issue at this time?Mr. Scott said it was a founding plank of their party.Interesting that when given the chance to vote on Independence ten years ago they went against their own core principles.Alex Scott wants to take us down into the abyss.Independence is becomming a dark matinee of deceit.

[loki on 23.09.05 at 21:15]

"Interesting that when given the chance to vote on Independence ten years ago they went against their own core principles."

Just typical of the corruption and dishonesty that characterizes the current PLP administration, unfortunately: regardless of whatever hogwash reason the PLP dispenses for public consumption on this point, the truth is plain to see and well known: as much as the PLP wishes to take Bermuda to indpendence (it's nothing less than an article of faith for some in the party), the ultimate nightmare scenario for the PLP - worse than not becoming independent - would be for Bermuda to decide via referendum to become independent UNDER A UBP GOVERNMENT. The PLP does not want a repeat of what happened in Jamaica, where Manley pushed for independence, only to have the JLP come to power. This is one of Alex Scott's primary motives for insisting on a decision of independence being decided via an election, rather than a referendum. Does this man have no shame?

[The Hood (.)(.) on 23.09.05 at 22:07]

You are all so naive! Do you really think Scott cares what you think?

these guys know exactly what they are doing...after all ...it worked in the school play ground ...didn't it?

[Uncle Elvis on 24.09.05 at 12:03]

See, I disagree.

Mr. Scott is the kid who came to school and said the TEACHER ate his homework... and got away with it!

I don't know how he does it. It truly does amaze me.

[jake on 26.09.05 at 12:14]

Research Innovations is run by Walton Brown.

Walton is a long time supporter of Independence stemming back for at least a decade, if not more.

His firm has just come back with further confirmation that Bermudians are AGAINST independence and prefer a referendum.

If Mr. Brown (Walton) can honestly speak to the issue (which I would have said before the polls released) then why can't the Premier.

We are entitled to our views on the issue, and we are each personally entitled to base those views on whatever issues we deem relevant.

All that I would ask of our leaders, is that they are honest with the issue - not strategic or political.

Walton Brown can do so. We must insist that Alex Scott does so as well.

[loki on 26.09.05 at 12:52]

Jake,

A very good point that you raise - I was thinking the same thing when I saw that Research Innovations carried out the survey.

[Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 26.09.05 at 13:14]

Jake I think only the vast majority of Bermudians will gain Alex's attention...It will not be anything else.I have said for some considerable time that the majority of Bermudians are against Independence at this time....Once again the polls state the true picture. I hope the PLP will have the good sense to listen to the will of the majority of Bermudians. Time will tell.

[Slowhand on 26.09.05 at 16:03]

It also stated that there was a likelihood that the PLP will get re-elected in a General Election.
I'm the PLP.... I want Independence... Hmmmm I'll go with a General Election!!!

[loki on 26.09.05 at 16:10]

Just when you thought the BIC couldn't sink any further, check out what Christian Dunleavy has found regarding further important ommissions from the BICs report:

http://www.politics.bm/

[jake on 26.09.05 at 16:32]

Rolfe is not representative of the entire BIC, I am certain, and he clearly holds his own views on the subject.

Shame that he chose, as is detailed in Christian's plug above, to confront someone whose views differ from his own, in what appears to have been a lest that respectful manner.

I would not paint the entire BIC with the Rolfe Commissiong brush though.

[Tiger Bay on 26.09.05 at 16:49]

Submission documents keep appearing and disappearing from the BIC website. Looks like they are manipulating the flow of information.

[Tiger Bay on 26.09.05 at 16:50]

With their usual stalinesque subtlety.

[Wiser on 26.09.05 at 17:21]

Bud..... I mean Rolfe, would never do such a thing.....

[Phil on 26.09.05 at 17:58]

I don't remember ever seeing a written submission from the ABIC on the BIC website. However a transcript of one of their meetings was up there as late as this weekend (I was using it while writing this Thursday's column). That does now seem to have gone, however. Fortunately, I bookmarked it before it disappeared - you can find it here.

Is the omission of the ABIC's submission from the BIC report really a big deal though? While I would certainly expect to have found it on the website, surely the final report didn't need an annex for every submission?

[Tiger Bay on 26.09.05 at 18:22]

If they have one, they should have all. Doesn't cost anything. Otherwise they fall prey to the temptation - as they appear to have done - of selective inclusion.

[Bud on 26.09.05 at 21:37]

"Rolfe is not representative of the entire BIC, I am certain, and he clearly holds his own views on the subject.

Shame that he chose, as is detailed in Christian's plug above, to confront someone whose views differ from his own, in what appears to have been a lest that respectful manner.

I would not paint the entire BIC with the Rolfe Commissiong brush though."

This behaviour is symtomatic of everything that is wrong with the PLP. It is an organisation founded on great promises that has unfortunately allowed some very persuasive, egotistical and seemingly corrupt, individuals engulf the leadership. These types of people tend to lack discipline and can't quite help themselves in one manner or another. The casualties are real things that people need and issues that we really ought to consider in Bermuda's evolution.

Lets be honest, the BIC report would have been ravaged even if it had been written by the UBP. The mistakes in the report and behaviour of one commissioner only makes it that much easier to dismiss it.

[blovator on 27.09.05 at 13:50]

Good post Bud. Well that is to say, I agree. What you say about in your paragraph just after the quotes could be said about the UBP too.

Who said "politics is that last refuge of scoundrels"

[blovator on 27.09.05 at 13:53]

Sorry. spelling and grammar machine is broken today.

[Tiger Bay on 30.11.05 at 11:59]

Rolfe Commissiong went on the record this weekend to blast critics as "a small minority among us who are determined to hold all of us hostages to their fears".

Hmm. Yep. That 85 percent minority who don't support independence.

Rolfe, I know you are really important and everything these days, hanging out with P and Cabinet. But even your ego does not outbalance 85 percent of Bermudians.

[Full Fullish on 30.11.05 at 12:03]

Tiger Bay - Too right! I like the fact that he goes and names people who apparently "discredit the BIC report", yet I'd like to see him prove even one of those people wrong in what they say. Rolfe, so you tellin that seriously no where else has had a referendum for independence? And you actually DID include the UBP submission in the report after all?

Rolfe, you're an idiot.....and you keep proving it every time you open your mouth....

[Phil on 30.11.05 at 13:23]

TB

You're exagerrating. Only 66% oppose independence; 18% are still undecided.

[Bill Cook on 30.11.05 at 13:28]

Limey,

If you are undecided then you do not support independence it would only be a problem if you included them in supporting independence no ?

[Phil on 30.11.05 at 13:40]

Bill

What TB said was strictly correct, but it gave the impression that 85% were opposed.

There's enough outright opposition to independence without needing to add the don't knows in as well.

[Full Fullish on 30.11.05 at 13:58]

"There's enough outright opposition to independence without needing to add the don't knows in as well."

Gee you'd think that the Government would see this as well!

[Bill Cook on 30.11.05 at 14:00]

Limey,

I guess Rolfe C must feel a bit like Don Quixote but he gives a fresh meaning to the word ZEALOT.

[Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 30.11.05 at 14:11]

BIC was nothing but a White wash.The writing is on the wall about the PLP and Independence...Just like the UBP they got it wrong. Give the people the vote on Independence and it will be a resonding NO! Just let the PLP try to rule over the majority vote....thats when we will see what Bermudians are really made of!!!