The UBP's deputy leaders

When I heard that Jon Brunson had replaced Wayne Furbert as the UBP's second deputy leader this week, I offered him my congratulations along with everyone else. But nevertheless, two questions persist.

First, does the Opposition really need two deputy leaders? Since they only have 14 MPs, this means that 21% of them hold "leadership" positions. That's too many chiefs and not enough Indians, if you ask me. I'm not even convinced that the UBP needs one deputy leader: I can't remember the last time I heard Michael Dunkley speak for the party on anything.

Second, is it just a coincidence that while the leader and first deputy leader of the party are white, the second deputy leader is always black? I hope so, because however well-intentioned, some will regard artificial attempts to ensure that there are always black faces among the leadership as evidence that the party is more concerned about appearances than true racial equality (even though the two need not be exclusive).

Comments

[loki on 29.10.05 at 15:36]

"I can't remember the last time I heard Michael Dunkley speak for the party on anything."

Just two weeks ago, he was heavily featured by both ZBM and VSB, speaking about the appalling recycling facilities at Devon Springs Road.

"Second, is it just a coincidence that while the leader and first deputy leader of the party are white, the second deputy leader is always black?"

"Always"? To my knowledge, it's happened exactly once before, on the 17th September, 2004, when Wayne Furbert was elected Deputy Leader. This hardly qualifies as 'always' electing a black Deputy Leader to sit alongside a white Deputy Leader. Also, bear in mind that the UBP has eight black MPs amd only 6 white ones so, statistically, any replacement for Wayne Furbert was more likely to be black than white.

[Slowhand on 29.10.05 at 18:22]

Isn't there more to the UBP than just MPs? I mean there are other members that are not MPs and then there is the general membership as a whole I'm sure.

I think with all that is happening now, I'd like to see a UBP that is more visable and vocal, and not just to complain (or whine) or just be reactive. I think they have been sitting back hoping that the Govt will keep digging a deep deep hole, and in certain circumstances that is wise. The 'P' email was a good example where it was wise that they stay quiet for a bit.

[The Limey on 29.10.05 at 20:01]

loki

"Always"? To my knowledge, it's happened exactly once before

The UBP has only formally had two deputy leaders since the 2003 election, I believe.

Also, bear in mind that the UBP has eight black MPs amd only 6 white ones so, statistically, any replacement for Wayne Furbert was more likely to be black than white.

Well then, statistically I'd expect one of the other two leadership positions to be held by a black person too.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that the UBP are bent on excluding blacks from senior leadership positions. I just get the feeling that they might be concerned that having a white leader and deputy leader will lead to their party being perceived in that way, and that the second deputy leader position may have been created purely to counter that perception.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 29.10.05 at 20:54]

Limey,

I think that at this point the UBP has no clue what it needs to do to win an election so they grasp at straws. In the past, in order to win an election all they had to do was say, "If the PLP is elected the International Business Companies will leave and the Bermuda economy would collapse." Now that they have lost two elections and Bermuda is still, for the most part doing well, they actually have to come up with a strategy to win votes they are absolutely clueless as to how to do that.

The only thing the UBP does now is react to the PLP and they only react after there has been some public negative reaction to something the PLP does or says. They do not take a clear position on anything because they do not know what the electorate wants. They do not want to upset any potential voters so they sit on the fence waiting to see what the electorate wants before they take a position.

The UBP is nothing more than a spineless organisation and I challenge it to show where it has done anything to proven othewise. I do not disagree that there are some in the party that will express their views, such as Kim Swan regarding tourism, but as a whole they are like flags in the wind, whereever the electorate blow the party blows too.

A political party is supposed to GIVE direction not always TAKE direction. The UBP will have a very difficult time winning another election until such time as the electorate know what the UBP position is on matters of importance to Bermuda.

You can't be all things to all people, which is what the party is attempting to be. As the saying goes, "If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything."

[Adjustah on 30.10.05 at 08:01]

I'm sorry, Jon Who?

[The Limey on 30.10.05 at 12:43]

Keep comments on topic please or I'll have to turn moderation back on.

[bw&p?? on 31.10.05 at 09:53]

Limey,
Last week I attended a UBP branch meeting held by Dr. Gibbons, Jon Brunson and Louise Jackson. Dr. Gibbons opened the meeting with a brief speech on the current state of affairs of politics in Bermuda, the obvious lack of performance by the PLP, and the directions and proactive stance the UBP is taking/will be taking on issues, including Bermuda's social agenda.

Topping this agenda is the intiatives Mrs. Jackson HAS taken and WILL BE taking regarding the welfare of Bermuda's senior citizens - the very foundations upon which this great country was built and that I am proud to live and work in. One would have to reside on another planet to not be aware of the aggresive positions she has taken on the subject of seniors and how she has fought for them like a warrior. Even as a senior citizen herself, you'd be hard pressed to find ANYONE in the PLP with more backbone than Ms. Jackson.

Jon, whom I have been aquainted with since childhood, stood and spoke on several issues he will be tackling, from sports and the fair distribution of funds in promoting the diversity of Bermuda's sportsmen, to the youth programmes being developed by the UBP - another sector of the community which has been disregarded by the PLP (come to think of it, the only part of the community the PLP have devoted any time or effort to have been themslves). Jon is a member of the class of 2003, he is new in politics but he has matured well and is respected by many. His profile with the youth has grown exponentially and these are the voters of 2008(?). This shows tremendous foresight in winning votes.

In 1998 the UBP lost 6% of the votes and hence lot the election..in 2003 they won back 4 of that 6% - I think that a diversity in the leadership is required to reach all sectors of the community and I do believe that Jon was selected as part of the deputy leadership for his valuable contribution to sports and youth. Michael Dunkley is very outspoken and always passionately makes his voice heard on issues both within and outside of his porfolio. Of course, the issue of race arises. Playing this card right on que is the only thing the PLP has the ability to do well. It's just a by-product of their incompetence.