Resign

When I first read that Premier Alex Scott had written that he was “getting tired of listening to, and taking crap from people who look and sound like [local white activist Tony] Brannon” I just shrugged my shoulders and sighed.

It’s sad that I wasn’t really surprised by his comment, but it just goes to show how low my expectations of this Government have fallen.

The Premier's faux pas has similarities with the Nancy Acton case. Both Ms. Acton and Mr. Scott foolishly committed to email thoughts that they should have kept in their heads (in Ms. Acton’s case these were about black hotelier Billy Griffith, who had expressed an interest in renting a property from her). Both then carelessly sent those emails to the people they were talking about instead of the intended recipient (her brother in Ms. Acton’s case; director of the Department of Communication and Information, Beverle Lottimore, in Mr. Scott’s). Mr. Griffith subsequently brought a complaint to the Human Rights Commission against Ms. Acton; unless Mr. Scott apologies, Mr. Brannon had threatened to do the same.

I can understand why the Premier might be becoming frustrated with Mr. Brannon’s emails. Their frequency, and his enthusiastic use of capital letters, undoubtedly become wearing after a while.

Although Mr. Brannon attached a comment from the Bermuda Free Speech Forum to the email he sent to Mr. Scott, neither Mr. Brannon’s message nor the attached comment had racial overtones. Although that forum may be notorious for its unpleasant, race-based comments, Mr. Brannon cannot be dismissed as a racist simply because he had a comment from that group. Not everyone who posts on there is a white supremacist and you do not become one by watching, or attempting to engage, those who are (I sometimes look at the messages on that forum myself; on a couple of occasions I have posted too). Besides, even if Mr. Brannon is a racist, that would still not justify Mr. Scott’s response.

The Premier's language is similar to that used by Renee Webb, who once famously said that she wanted to see more Government contracts go to people who "look like me". However, I believe Ms. Webb's comment was a call for affirmative action, not a racist blast against whites. Black Bermudians are still poorer than white Bermudians, and whether you agree that affirmative action is the right solution, her comment was understandable in that context. There is no such justification for Mr. Scott's words.

The Premier has already demonstrated a staggering lack of respect for the electorate when he said of the BFR petition calling for a referendum on independence that “folks signed this and didn’t know what they were signing”. For a Government that claims that it is in “listening mode” in the national debate on independence, Mr. Scott’s latest admission is further cause for concern.

So what should happen next? To answer that question I asked myself what I would be writing now if Grant Gibbons had just been caught having written an email saying the he was “getting tired of listening to, and taking crap from people who look and sound like Rolfe Commissiong”, or if George Bush or Tony Blair had sent a similar message.

The answer is simple. I would not expect them to keep quiet and wait for the storm to blow over, as the Premier has done with every difficult issue from BHC to ProActive to the pay-to-play allegations. I would expect them to make a public apology. And then I would expect them to resign.

I do not make this call lightly. I suspect that many members of the PLP hold prejudices against whites. Mr. Scott’s opinions are probably not the most objectionable of his parliamentary colleagues. But as leader of this country, a country whose people are still divided along racial lines, Mr. Scott has an obligation to lead by example. He has an obligation to work to unite the country, not further divide it. It reflects poorly on his judgement and his character that he would choose the words that he did and commit them to an email, even one intended only for Ms. Lottimore. It's unacceptable for any leader to express sentiments like that.

It’s time for him to go.

Comments

[Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 01.10.05 at 11:30]

Dont worry fall is here and all to soon the Ides Of March will return...Ah Live by the sword die by the sword...Hmmm the Warriors code.Anyway all of you with precious ears...I do'nt think this is going to be the Time or place for your WISH.

[Uncle Elvis on 01.10.05 at 11:54]

Um. Wolf?

"Ides Of March" thing has been done, and it doesn't really relate to this situation.

A closer correlation would be when the "Decieve you 'cuz we had to" bunch ousted Dame Jennifer.

See, it's a reference to Julius Caresar who was killed by other politicians.

Mr. Scott isn't being "killed" by other politicians, only by his own big mouth and perhaps fingers that are too wide to work a Blackberry properly.

As for the rest of the post?

Didn't understand a word of it. And I thought I was fluent in gibberish. Guess not.

[Mailorder Doctor on 01.10.05 at 12:50]

There are rumors of Donald Trump being asked to develop Morgans Point. Maybe he could tell Scott he's fired.

[Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 01.10.05 at 13:01]

Were all resigned to bad Government one more resignation is not going to change that....but if he wants to be hip he'll resign!

[Adjustah on 01.10.05 at 17:19]

Un-f**king believable.

Any other country in the world and there would be great national outcry. Yet our media sit there looking for their testicles.

[Tony B on 01.10.05 at 17:32]

Thanks Limey...
Yes Just for the record....I am sorry to all who have been ticked off by my capital letters....
But common guys a little bit of email etiquette is not the question here at all! The point is my style gets peoples attention....
NOW....
Hear hear....Where is the Royal Gazette on Monday ?
HEADLINE....
PEOPLE DEMAND SCOTT's RESIGNATION....

BRANNON DEMANDS SCOTT's RESIGNATION

THE UBP DEMAND SCOTT's RESIGNATION.......

LIMEY DEMAND's SCOTT's RESIGNATION

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEMAND SCOTT's RESIGNATION

THE HOTELS DEMAND SCOTT's RESIGNATION

What do you all feel out there folks......??

Tony B

[Tony B on 01.10.05 at 17:34]

By the way another bunch of NO BALLS folks who do not even know what a testicle looks like are the exec of The Bermuda Hotels Association...A spineless bunch
TB

[Tony B on 01.10.05 at 17:37]

I ask JOHN HARVEY to come out and DEMAND the resignation of ALEX "I am the man" SCOTT !

TB

[Bill Cook on 01.10.05 at 17:52]

TONY,

In the land of EUNUCH,S the one balled man is KING !!!

[Newthawt on 01.10.05 at 17:53]

Tony B -

Yes CAPS get attention. But it's like SHOUTING AT SOMEONE TO GET YOUR POINT ACROSS. YES IT"S LOUD AND IT ATTRACTS ATTENTIO - BUT IN THE END ALL IT DOES IS DETRACT FROM THE SERIOUSNESS AND WEIGHT OF WHATEVER IT IS YOU ARE SHOUTING.

Plus, there's nothing wrong with abiding by etiquette, imagine if everyone used CAPS to get a point across...

[Bill Cook on 01.10.05 at 17:54]

Shit,

I got it wrong " In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king" soreee !

[Mailorder Doctor on 01.10.05 at 17:55]

Hey Tony

In 97 I sat in Flanagans with you and we talked about how a change in Government might be good for the island and how the PLP should be able to deal with a lot of issues because it would no longer seem like white rule.

BOY! we were so fucking wrong.

What we got was a bigger fatter greedier bunch of pigs at the trough!

So much for all their bullshit promises all those years ago. All I can say is I hope a lot of PLP voters see it to.

[Tony B on 01.10.05 at 17:59]

Yes I remember that...
I was one of the FEW whites who went to the PLP inauguration as I too thought it a historic day....

They have disappointed everyone, black white red and blue...

Time to get 'em outta here

TB

[Tony B on 01.10.05 at 18:00]

By the way...
I rpomise to be a good boy and write normal from now on....ok Limey....
Promise !

TB

[Tony B on 01.10.05 at 18:01]

and spell better too ! oops

[SmokingGun on 01.10.05 at 18:02]

Tony, with all due respect, calling for the Premier of a country's resignation is a very scary thing. Especially before he or she has explained themselves and especially in such a small country as Bermuda with so much at stake.

One question I have is did you consider e-mailing him back and asking him just what he mean't by his comments before taking it to the papers?

If you sincerely feel this was purely a racial slander then I would sincerely hope he would make an apology to you and the people of Bermuda because that is the least he should do. If he does not have a good enough explanation then I do think he should consider doing something that is in the best interest of the country. I just think it should'nt be done in a knee jerk fashion as our leaders have so often done.

[Mailorder Doctor on 01.10.05 at 18:05]

I do believe you even wrote some positive supportive letters to the editor on Tourism back then. I dont think it can be said your motives for your recent complaints are political or racit as you were once positive and supportive.

Just thought I would bring that up for any here that may think TB's motives are anymore than a real concern. There are some posters here that always twist anti government views into racisim.

[Uncle Elvis on 01.10.05 at 18:21]

"...black white red and blue..."

Actually, I hear the blue people are doing quite well, those bastards! *grin*

[sandgrownan on 01.10.05 at 19:35]

Imagine if an expat CEO had said something like "I'm sick of being lied to by a dictator of a tin pot Banana Republic..". He'd be frog marched to the airport and put on the first plane.

Shameful. Scott is a racist, he should go. He's probably put race relations back 10 years with one idiotic comment.

[Adjustah on 01.10.05 at 20:33]

SG

"Tony, with all due respect, calling for the Premier of a country's resignation is a very scary thing."

No shit. Kinda less scary, though, than a Premier with fuggin' racial problems.

"Especially before he or she has explained themselves"

Seriously? You expect an answer? $50 says that he doesn't even acknowledge this...

[Bud on 01.10.05 at 21:28]

Limey,

You've merely dubbed Tony Brannon as a white activist (uh he calls the PLP the "Black Beret Cadre?); You claim that his email did not have any racial overtones (uh, you're saying the Bahamas connection did not have racial overtones?); You've dismissed any merits of the connection to BFSF (uh, if Scott subscribed to The Final Call, would you say the same?); You have linked the mess to Nancy Acton who did in fact discriminate against Griffith (Scott has not done anything to Brannon); You have not seen what else Brannon and people who sound like Brannon (bfsf members) may have been emailing to the P. You have not questioned why the Mid Ocean did not print Brannon's email. You've even given the mic to Chris Broadhurst who completely omits the "sounds like" qualifier of the P's statement and leads readers to believe that the sentiment was expressed towards all white people, no matter how they sound. And Broadhursts conclusion is that, "This Government are a bunch of white hating, lying, cheating, thieves."

You've become too wise for your own good, Limey. All you had to do was exercise some patience. All you had to do is wait and see what the P had to say, something he'd be forced to do without question. Now you are looking like a member of the bfsf zealot patrol. What a disappointment.

[Onion on 01.10.05 at 21:41]

Tony,

I hear you crying down the government on a regular basis. Even your emails which you've sent to certain persons expressing your views have circulated the globe. I agree with much of what you say about the direction tourism should be going, although the method of your delivery often leaves much to be desired. I do agree that tourism is stale. Entertainment sucks. The island is pretty, clean, relatively safe, but kinda boring.

But please tell us how the UBP will save tourism. I have yet to see any visionary platform put forth by them. Remember "Let yourself go", and "Sin City"? Those were UBP tourism campaign flops that helped to put us where we are today. What has changed in the UBP that makes them such a favourable alternative? Are Jamal Simmons, Cole Simons, Kim Swan, John Barrit and Trevor Moniz the bastions of imagination and originality this country has been waiting for?

[Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 01.10.05 at 21:43]

Nice picture from down in Flatts Limey....Such a lovely Blue day.....I miss the sand man though...far more original.Children I think it would be wonderful if we stopped all this colour talk and get out and around Bermuda and enjoy the beauty. I think I'm going to spend some quality time with Frosty the cat.All of you have been drinking again too much on a Friday...Just alot of Nasty talk going on...here.One LOVE one ^..^

[Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 01.10.05 at 21:51]

Onion before I slip away for the evening....You ask an interesting question...What is the alternative to the PLP? You are also correct in saying that it is not the UBP. I think a better alternative does not exist YET.Indeed the future holds all the possibilities.

[Uncle Elvis on 01.10.05 at 22:27]

"But please tell us how the UBP will save tourism. I have yet to see any visionary platform put forth by them. Remember "Let yourself go", and "Sin City"? Those were UBP tourism campaign flops that helped to put us where we are today. What has changed in the UBP that makes them such a favourable alternative? Are Jamal Simmons, Cole Simons, Kim Swan, John Barrit and Trevor Moniz the bastions of imagination and originality this country has been waiting for?"

I must have missed where Tony said the UBP would do better.

Not saying that they've got the best track record, but..

[Ethiops on 01.10.05 at 22:33]

Onion is on point.

This is the french remix Bill. In the land of the blind no one saw who cocked the king.

Why keep it simple when you can have it complex and harvest all that yummy stress.

I know you lot are capable of dragging this topic over the hills and far beyond so i'll let you thug it out. Calling for a resignation is emo why not settle for an apology instead it's more manly. No one said shit when Swan spoke bad about black youth when he was in power. Or Ann Cartright for her verbal slips. I have no clue like the pubic of the real context of the email based chat that took place. There ain't much going on in bda if chat based bs becomes public media.

[Uncle Elvis on 01.10.05 at 22:57]

I thought we were trying to get away from the mistakes of the past, not allow them to repeat.

[Alex must Go! on 02.10.05 at 05:01]

Ive been watching in amazement from abroad, having just left Bermuda after 36 years. My amazement arises from a number of factors:
1. That the leader of a country would say such a foolish thing.
2. That he is still the premier.
3. That the leader of the oposition would respond with such a 'wet noodle' response as he did in the Mid Ocean News.
4. That HIS OWN party don't distance themselves from this.

People would have been lined up outside the White House or Downing Street (perhaps even the Kremlin back in the day)had this occured in any of these countries.

Regrettably, we have no saviour. This will get swept under the carpet just like Renee Webbs comments always have.

Tony Brennan is spot on with his comments about tourism. He has an interest in the success of the industry and I wonder how many people will be subscribing to his point of view during the winter months when the hotels are laying people off.

Yes - the Premier must go - but who will take over - Lord Ewart? I shudder to think!

Somewhere out there a village is missing an idiot!

[Full Fullish on 02.10.05 at 08:05]

Hmmmm I've been seeing some interesting comments.

For Tony Brannon's comments, so he likes to shout, but you know what, we all do when we get frusterated. He seems passionate about reviving the tourist industry, whle many people may not agree with all of his ideas (I happen to agree with most of them myself), he is exactly the type of person we need though, someone with energy, passion and someone of action to actually carry out what needs to be done. Just imagine if we had more people like him in politics, instead od a bunch of useless codgers sittng about talking fluff and lining their own pockets. As far as etiquit, spelling and the likes goes, lets keep this simple and stay on the issue. Alex Scott made a horrible comment, one that deserves the Island full attention. I'm interested into what he has to say, however is there anything he can say that justifies what he wrote, or how he thinks?

Smoking Gun - You hit the nail on the head. Bermuda is a small Island with so much at stake. Therefore how long do you think that an Island such as ours, with no real natural resources to speak of, except that of our reputation and workforce, can go on with such a flagrantly bad leader at the helms. Comments like this completely undermine us all. Whenever I travel to some place new, the first thing I do is pull up the local newspaper and read it for about a week or so to get a bit of a pulse of the community. Now being a tourist, what do you think they would think if a countries leader were making comments like this? How about the CEO of Ace, XL, or any of the other large companies. This only reinforces the fact that we need to get him the hell off the steering wheel, now before it's too late to turn around.

Bud - Tony's comments towards the PLP are more than justified. I swear not more than 6 months go by without one of the main players making some biggoted comment towards the white or other minority population. Quite frankly I know that I am. "Scott has done nothing to Brannon" you say....Scott indeed has said something about Brannon, and in the same fell swoop, has made a racist comment which offends the rest of us white folk. Bud, if the same were said in reverse, there would also be a public outcy and you know it! So why are you acting so surprised as to Tony and the rest of our comments or demands? Oh and Bud, Alex not only said "Sounds like Brannon, he also said LOOKS LIKE too! Honestly are you selectively reading things to interrpret them to what is easier for you to cope with? I suggeset you re-read the whole quote again, very slowly, and take it in. Just for an exercise, replace "Alex" with "Grant Gibbons" and "Brannon" with "Otti Simmons" and pretend this was truth, now tell me you wouldn't be up in arms about the comment. You're lying if you say "No"! Now with that in mind, I want you to tell me what would Grant Gibbons have to say to make you feel better, knowing he was the leader of our country? Bud, you and most every other black person on this Island would be pretty pissed off, and you know what, I wouldn't blame you one bit!

Onion - I see no where in Tony's comments where he suggests to put he UBP back into place. Speaking for myself, Idealy, I would like to get the PLP out of office and replace them with a third option that is neither UBP or PLP, but rather a party with moral fiber, a clear plan and the energy to get the job done without self motivated reasons to do so. I think the PLP should be very worried as to what is going on within it's ranks. If they are truely a people's party, I would think they would be thinking about restuctering right now, as they have failed as being a voice for the people. Take a look around, why is a labour government having so much trouble with labour? The UBP need to put forward something in stone that they believe in and stick to it, grow a bit of a spine and stop being there to say "Tut Tut" whenever the PLP flounders.

Ethiops - While I don't remember Swan's comments of long ago due to my age (I can assume it was when he was "P" when you are speaking) by your logic you are saying it's ok for Alex to say such things cause Swan did years ago? YOu should be carefull when aproaching a cliff, my friend, I hear that all your other friends are jumping off one. I hope you would hold the leader of this country to a higher caliber, I know I do. The leader of this country should be leading, not inciting a public outcry. Cause Swan said it before, doesn't make it right for Alex to say it now.

From my letter that I wrote to Alex (See BrannonGate Forum) I still have yet to see an response. While I doubt that I will get one, I am dead serious when I say that I should get one.

On a personal note, you know what really pisses me off, is cause Alex has just gotte me, and everyone else, refering to Bermudians and Black Bermudians and White Bermudians. We really should be at a point where we are putitng this much energy into other things to make this Island better, instead here we are again....I'm really pissed off right now cause of it! Thanks Alex, you biggoted a-hole!

[Full Fullish on 02.10.05 at 08:11]

Speaking of spelling, mine is pretty bad when I type quickly. I'll take more time to review what I write.......

[That's hot on 02.10.05 at 10:18]

Perhaps I have been watching too many episodes of The West Wing but I am sniffing a different type of stink from the rest of you. Consider the possibility: Would the Premier really be so stupid as to accidentally send an email of this sort? Or could it be that this is an excuse to get him out and put a more hardline PLP person in place? Could one of his own party have manipulated the whole affair? (Remember the Jennifer Smith coup?) Bogus conspiracy theory perhaps but this is politics and I am just a blonde.
Another thought: there has been a lot of rumbling that neither the PLP nor the UBP are fit for office these days and that a third party is needed to lead Bermuda. There's a problem with talk of this sort. If I were a PLP supporter, I would actually be in favour of this idea and would actively call for it. My reason is that any third party would realistically need at least ten to fifteen years to gain enough credibility to win an election. If this party came into existence on a platform suggesting that the Government is incompetant but the current Opposition cannot do any better, this would effectively guarantee that the current Government would remain in power for the ten to fifteen years it takes for this alternative to the UBP to gain credibility as Opposition. My suggestion then, is that we stop wishing for a magic third party full of perfect politicians. They only exist on 'The West Wing'. Instead we have to work to improve the two parties we have and fix the problems within the UBP.

[Full Fullish on 02.10.05 at 10:47]

That's Hot -

I work in the IT sector. You would be very surprised as to how often someone sends an email to either everyone or the wrong person by accident.

If it was a case, don't you think that we would have heard from Mr. Scott (P) by now??? If this quote was a false hood, given the media coverage, let alone the distant but growing rumblings of the people, don't you think he would have been on the following days news? The Mid-Ocean attempted to contact him, I'm sure they stated their reasons for doing so, an innocent man would have pleaded his innocense by now.

As for the PLP party attempting to out him. Look at what happened with Jenifer Smith. The gernal electorate was quite pissed off with the sudden and unannounced change over, don't you think that would happen again? If the PLP were attempting to do this, I would hope they out be public about it. If they are, quite frankly I wish them success.

Why must there be only 2 parties. If another party came along with a clear and concise plan for moving forward, what's to stop them? A new party shouldn't focus on what the other parties are guilty of, but rather the issues at hand and how they attempt to tackle them. That's the biggest problem with politics, it's the amount of energy and time waisted on silly back and forwards arguments. That time and energy can be better used for more positive things. Maybe what we need is another party, at least giving us another option. It sounds to me that if done right, the people may vote them in. At the very least it may shake things up a bit to get both the UPB and the PLP back on track, stop scewing around with the people, and get the job that they were elected to do done!

[Cancundreaming on 02.10.05 at 10:58]

Moral analysis and condemnation aside, does anyone else find this whole situation a bit farcical, some guy emails the leader of our country, first you wonder how he got AS’s email address. Then the leader doesn’t change his email address, or block TB from emailing him again, I mean really if TB has his email address who doesn’t…. well I don’t though….but the leader appears to write a response from his black berry to TB but intended for his communication department, from his blackberry you say! what a joke, what is this an episode from the surreal life?

[Adjustah on 02.10.05 at 11:01]

That's Hot

"Would the Premier really be so stupid as to accidentally send an email of this sort?"

Pwah! Ha! Ha! Ha! Aha! Oh, my. Ha!

Seriously, look at the track record here...

[Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 02.10.05 at 11:05]

Cancun dreaming just scroll down on the Limey's site and you will have the contact information for all our elected officials.We all say things to ourselves....the trouble begins when we deliver the message.

[Cancundreaming on 02.10.05 at 11:08]

Wolf, i saw that before, i just didn't think it was his real real email address, i'm a lowly student and i have multiple addresses each with its own purpose, and then one real real one, i just didn't think this was AS's real real one, blackberry and all.

[Full Fullish on 02.10.05 at 11:13]

Cancundreaming -
Alex Scott, as an elected servant of the people, SHOULD be reachable via email, voicemail and snailmail. The reason for this is that while he is the leader of the country, he is still ultimately answerable to the electorate (That would be you and I). This is something that alot of politicians have forgotten, it's something that we the people need to remind them of.

[Phil on 02.10.05 at 11:14]

Cancundreaming

Contact details for many members of Government - including Alex Scott - are listed on the Government's website here. For convenience I have collated and added to them here.

[Cancundreaming on 02.10.05 at 11:22]

Full Fullish,

i completely understand that principle in any strong democracy and i think that principle can be fulfilled by having an election once every 3, 4 or 5 years. That's where parties and politicians are ultimately held 'accountable.'

But in a real life circumstance, i find it weird that you can email the premier and it actually go to his blackberry.

Just for the simple fact of i would only imagine some of his email.

"Hey Alex, bad tie choice, let the wifey pick it next time'

'Alex, you're getting fat loss some weight'

'Alex you're a cunt i hate you and your party'

It's just a bit too, i don't know it's just a bit to something for me.

[Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 02.10.05 at 11:28]

Heah Cancun the Limey himself has posted for you re e-mails.....Re all your contact info and e-mails I hope you don't suffer from a multiple personality disorder...Lowly student! Turn it upside down....You are at the height of your powers on a voyage of discovery that will last your life....Follow your curiosity to every corner of the globe or dimension.You are lucky to have the privilege....don't ever think or talk it down....Da ^..^

[Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 02.10.05 at 11:29]

I think the word your looking for would be INVASIVE.

[Full Fullish on 02.10.05 at 11:35]

Well, that's the problem with carring a blackberry around with you, you will get all yuor emails no matter where you are. Nothing is going to stop the lunatics from emailing him, that's why he has a delete button, look at us and SPAM for instance. And as BBW points out, it is invasive. However he obviously wanted the job or he wouldn't have grabbed the reigns, so that means he has to take the good with the bad. I"m sure his email is filtered to a certain degree however.

[That's hot on 02.10.05 at 11:49]

Adjustah, you are right, I wrote the question "Would the Premier be so stupid..." trying to give him the benefit of the doubt so as to advance my paranoid conspiracy theory but fully appreciating the comic value. Glad I gave you a good chuckle on a Sunday morning.
As for a third party, Full Fullish, I am not opposed in theory to a third party, I just think that a third party would work tactically to the advantage of the PLP for at least a decade. Whilst I must concede it possible that a third party could appear seemingly out of nowhere with a clear plan and create a viable alternative right away, I think it highly unlikely. I agree it would shake things up, but not in a way favourable to the UBP because their status as The Party That Could Not Challenge The PLP would be cemented in stone. Having a third option would be great, but getting to the point where each party is on more or less equal footing has a cost for the UBP and Bermuda. The cost is that the PLP will remain unchallenged for at least a decade while the impotent UBP cringes in the corner and the infant Alternative Party matures into adulthood.

[Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 02.10.05 at 11:54]

Talking about Filters Fullish....I think its not a bad day.....I think I'm going to filter my life with some sunshine and a nice walk on the beach.Man the jacks were hitting the fry heavy up in the Little Sound just now.It looked like a rainfall of silver against the navy blue water....So Its official its Autumn in Bermuda. Lots of love everybody...^..^

[Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 02.10.05 at 11:57]

Not so quick hotty --you could have a joint strategy with another opposition group and shared power if forming a Government...Checks and balances and all that and one or two cabinet posts.

[Lisa on 02.10.05 at 12:07]

He'll get away with it because sadly most of the electorate (happliy or unhappily) accept that we are (for the most part) governed by racist morons.

There is no real desire for change because there is not a good enough alternative. As discussed above.

However - the P deserves to get a serious media thrashing for this so let's hope the papers bring it on tomorrow.

L.

[That's hot on 02.10.05 at 12:09]

Big Bad Wolf - good point, but surely an Alternative Party would attempt to distance itself from the UBP so as to sell the idea to the public that they are indeed a viable alternative? I agree some cooperation might be possible, but it would be a thin tightrope to walk across. They might stand a better chance of gaining credibility faster if they went on their own as far as possible. But I think that would still take at least a decade. On the other hand, perhaps cooperation is possible, and necessary. Afterall, people are not satisfied with the UBP but so long as the PLP continue their 'antics', perhaps an alliance with a fledgling party might be enough to put the UBP over the top. It would be very interesting to see the campaign PR people selling the idea to the public. Sharing power is a hardsell, not only to the public but to the party members themselves. I wonder how long it would take for infighting among the newly elected alliance to tear the island apart? I am writing from the UK at the moment. All that talk of sunshine and jacks in the Little Sound is making me miss home!

[shipstones on 02.10.05 at 12:10]

I thought TB's suggestions focused on taking politics out of Tourism and putting it in the hands of those that are in the industry!

[Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 02.10.05 at 12:26]

That is politics ships...and as long as Govt. is pumping 30 million in the war chest...it will allways be in the mix...but hopefully more in the background...Hotty I'm jumping over intellectual fences. Yes a new political group lets call it The BDA...Bermuda Democratic Alliance. Formed with a list of the ten most pressing issues and outline their strategy to solve them....6 get elected...they hold the balance of power they moderate what ever major party wants to form Government...a part of that compromise would be dealing with their platform and agreeing action on certain key planks like affordable housing and crime and community centres ect. Anyway its a thought and political belief that has been at my core sometime---Greater political choice for the Electorate.

[Lisa on 02.10.05 at 13:14]

I think it's more likely that a new party will form, which will include some of the current PLP members rather than joining with any UBP forces.