Wayne Furbert replies

Here's the response of Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert to the letter than Denis Pitcher sent to him yesterday.

Dear Mr. Pitcher,

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to address the concerns raised by you. I have also been greatly concerned about Bermuda and the direction in which it is headed. Our people are losing hope and many are becoming angry and frustrated. For a number of years now I have been driven by my love and passion for Bermuda. It is that love and passion that has driven me to think of ways that will benefit Bermuda rather than focusing solely on getting the United Bermuda Party elected. We have a vision that goes beyond Party Politics and our vision will be about putting the people first and not merely gaining a political advantage over the PLP Government.

One of the issues at the top of our agenda is to formulate real solutions to the racial divide. For too long this issue has been kicked around as a political football with little real dialogue and little concrete solutions. We intend to move our Shadow Ministry of Race Relations and Economic Opportunity into high gear with a series of initiatives that will enable the United Bermuda Party to not only take on a strong leadership role on breaking down racial barriers but will also offer real solutions and real dialogue among Bermudians of all races. That is the ultimate goal. I don’t want my children or even my grandchildren to struggle with the issue of race so we have to begin now to generate solutions that will bring our people together.

We have all seen the way today’s generation of Bermudians are socializing, dating, marrying and even forming business partnerships across racial lines. Despite this, as our children have grown up and moved into the professional realm, they cannot help but notice that opportunities aren’t always equal or fair. We have to do everything in our power to ensure that the economic playing field is open and provides opportunity for all, and the racial baggage of the past is prevented from being carried into future generations.

Our second highest priority is dramatically altering the dynamics of politics in Bermuda. None of us are happy with the way some politicians conduct themselves in Parliament, in the media and in the community. None of us are happy with the back and forth “he said, she said,” level that Bermudian politics has been reduced to. The Westminster system has served Bermuda well but the way we have practiced politics has proven to be divisive, hateful and non-productive. We seek to set a new example by pledging to work side by side with the PLP, strongly supporting those initiatives and programs they bring forward which we believe are in the best interest of all our people. We will not shirk our responsibilities as the watchdog of the people however as we will continue to vigorously fight against bad ideas, bad policy and bad government. We will take a leadership role by spending more time focusing on the issues and pushing our vision for Bermuda rather than tearing down the PLP. We will push to open up Parliament and create greater opportunities for the best and the brightest of both the PLP and the UBP to pool our brainpower and focus on creating solutions rather than divisions. It is our vision that there be more bipartisan committees in Parliament with United Bermuda Party and Progressive Labour Party working together on solving the challenges facing our island. In the coming weeks you will see the United Bermuda Party lay out the way forward that we believe can help reshape politics as we have come to know it in our country.

Our other priorities for the country include addressing the housing crisis, creating a world-class educational system and creating a long-term plan to ensure that every Bermudian has access to the tools, resources and support they need to reach their full potential. Furthermore, we support:

• Fixed election dates

• Referendums for significant issues such as gaming

• Checks and balances being put in place to protect politicians from themselves

• The formation of a Political Commission that will look into the workings of our political process, so that at the end of the day the people are served better and will always come out on top.

I hope that this answers some of your questions. As we lay out our new vision for Bermuda, we welcome future opportunities to field your questions, address your concerns and perhaps most importantly get your feedback on the way forward for our people. Our vision is for every Bermudian and we want as much input and feedback as possible from the Bermudian people. We hope to create a Bermuda I which we can all reach our potential.

Someone once said, "Follow the people and the people will follow you." It is our commitment to listen and seek new ways to ensure that our people always come first. We need to restore hope. We need a new beginning and a new vision that will drive our purpose and our destiny. Please contact me at the Opposition Leader's Office (292-2665) if you wish to make an appointment to discuss this further. Thank you for your letter and I hope you will join us in making this vision a reality.

Comments

[Denis Pitcher on 20.01.06 at 20:22]

Dear Mr. Furbert,

Thank you kindly for your not only kind but thoughtful and swift response to my letter. I greatly appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to write me back and address my concerns. Especially in such a short time frame following your election as opposition leader when you likely have much greater concerns that need addressing. I certainly appreciate your offer to meet with you and will be in contact with your office to arrange a time to do so.

I would like to commend you on doing such a great job in summarizing not only answers to my questions but also in giving me an idea of the direction and forward movement you intend to put forth as leader of our opposition. By also taking the time to make your response public, you have showcased that you are willing and able to address the Bermudian people and may likely make for a tremendous leader for our people. We are lucky to have a man of your caliber stepping up to face the trials of public service and hopefully you will succeed in instilling change in our island for the better.

I would however like to take a moment to address a couple of the points I made in my letter. I note that you have suggested that you support implementing fixed election dates and referendums on issues important to Bermudians. However, I also note that you did not address my question of whether you will be willing to place the power of petitioning for referendums as well as elections in the hands of the people. Will you support changes to our constitution that places this power directly in the hands of the electorate, say if 20% were to petition in support of an issue or a new election?

While I do not doubt your own ability to lead our nation should you have the opportunity, I do venture to wonder how you may obtain the support of other Bermudians and overcome the negative stigma that ties the UBP to it's past. Unfortunately many of those who were around in the days before my time suggest that the UBP are not to be trusted for a history that is long since gone. I would not doubt you are aware of this as it is the basis of the PLP's argument against supporting your party. Of this, I share a similar distrust for our own present government as despite what the PLP is working to achieve, some would agree that it appears they are doing the same thing to our people today, only in reverse. Some may deem this as balancing the scale however we the youth are not and do not want to be a part of this debate which is evidenced by our lack of representation in, and disillusion of, Bermudian politics. I find it hard to imagine how any government can distance themselves from a similar fate of how power can corrupt even the noblest of people. It is this that I believe Bermudians are growing tired of and which I hope to see a resolution for forward movement.

Ultimately I believe accountability needs to be established in our government, regardless of who is elected to run it. Through this belief, I believe the only way that our government, being either party, can address these issues is to stand up and place the power in the hands of the people, being that of the people's ability to petition for a referendum as well as petition for an election to be called. To this extent, I do not believe the travesty of 49% of our electorate being ignored should ever be allowed to happen again. So through amending our constitution, the fundamental document that governs all our people, is likely the only way either party can truly showcase that they are ready to do what is truly in the best interests of the people. Proving that they are willing to sacrifice their own right to power, specifically for the benefit and will of the people.

So I ask, if you are to be elected when an election is called, will you amend our constitution to give the people the right to call for a referendum or an election through means of petition?

With sincerest regards,

Denis Pitcher

[Full Fullish on 20.01.06 at 20:26]

I really like what he says there, especially the referendum and fixed elections bit. It's time the people got more of a say in some of the issues surrounding our country. I've always been in favour of referendums to let the people decided instead of just the politicians and whoever may be lining their pockets.

He hits all of the major issues for me, Race (first and foremost),education and accountability.

Maybe that's why we haven't heard the UBP responding much to the PLP's racially divisive comments. They may be simply taking the higher road. If that's the case, then kudos for them!

Isn't it about time we start to see the platforms come out?

[Raptor on 20.01.06 at 23:01]

Hallelujah!

[Sunshinelover on 21.01.06 at 08:17]

I believe there is one fundamental issue in Bermuda from which a number of issues flow. WORK ETHIC! We have a society of entitlement and envy across the board. From this there is little consideration for others and it’s all about ME what is in it for ME. This also goes to the heart of family life, which again is disintegrating in place of the one. Check out the divorce rate the single parents the family feuds etc. It is convenient for both black and white to blame everything on race but hey the lack of work ethic is across the board. I turn up at the workplace and demand a check at the end of the week. Do I ask whether I have earned that check at the end of the week sad to say the majority says no I am entitled? Did I perform – who cares they can’t get anyone else and if they bring in a foreigner he can do my work as well as his because I am a Bermudian. Parents schools the church the community need to get the message across to our children that if you want a good life you have to work for it. If Bermuda wants a prosperous and happy future we all have to work for it. Take away the nanny state thinking if government can contribute to this then there is hope.

[Silencio on 21.01.06 at 08:48]

Dear Mr. Furbert,

I read your reply with a touch of cynicism, but mostly elation. I only got through half of your post before I started to get overly excited. In a nutshell, you appear to be speaking to the issues - all the issues - even the most sensitive kind. This is what Bermuda needs in leaders.

So yes, I am utterly thrilled at what you are saying so far, because the last thing I want to see is another smiling black man at the top of the UBP with nothing of substance to say, or no ambition to address Bermuda's most controversial topics. I have always been disgusted that black UBP MPs in particular only deal with race when it comes to attacking the PLP. But ironically you seem to desire a far more progressive and HONEST approach - well done!

But here is where my cynicism kicks in. There is nothing you will have said or plan to do that could not have been said or done by Grant Gibbons. That is, changing the messenger only matters if the message really is different. My fear is that Grant Gibbons and your average white Bermudian does not share the same level of zeal that you have expressed above. Heck your average white Bermudian would probably take you to task on your race comment if it didn't mean costing the UBP the next election.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is that I believe that you are being honest, and I really do hope that your political support has a change of heart. I really do hope that you can transform the UBP and shift the psychologigy of white Bermudians away from a state of denial. Don't let this be about politics or winning the next election! Follow through on what you are saying here, and refuse to be the next John Swan.

[Slowhand on 21.01.06 at 09:40]

I have read with interest the response from Mr. Furbert, and it all sounds like the UBP is on the right track. Of course that is just what it was meant to do. He is a politician, so of course he will say these things that he thinks we want to hear. I'm sure if we were to go back and listen to the PLP representatives pre '98, that also would have sounded good. It is now time to walk the walk. Lets see some of these things come about. I hope they do.

[JJ on 21.01.06 at 09:58]

Sounds to me like he has also pulled the rug from the new ABC's platform by adopting many of their ideas.

[Bald Eagle on 21.01.06 at 10:07]

Full Fullish - I'm with you on this one, it truly is time for both parties to start laying out their election platforms, after all the day may not be so far off when Bermudians are at the voting booths. I hope that this time around the people of Bermuda are shown more respect by the PLP who waited until the very last moment to announce their platform in the last election.
I would like to see both parties throw out the rhetoric and state exactly what they plan to do to effect the changes outlined in their goals...its the 'how' I am interested in not the 'what'. We have had seven years of the 'what' with the spin doctor's government with almost nothing to show for it.
Sunshinelover - What you infer as the 'entitlement attitude'is I believe the impression upon which the PLP rode into power in'98. We sit in a global economy where there are no free rides for most of us....a good education, experience in ones chosen field and a good work ethic will in most cases yield positive results and opportunity abounds in Bermuda for those who want to make the effort. Not all whites are the happy recipients of inheritances that gave us a leg up on life at birth. Many of us are part of a middle class that face the same challenges regardless of creed or colour.
For those who are sitting back expecting someone else to make the change for them I would say that the ship has already left the dock. Better dive in now and get after it!
The current government has though made it harder by setting a poor example of what it takes to move ahead in the real world. Its focus on racial and independence issues while failing to address a collapsed public education system, housing needs and the Berkeley fiasco, among others, ought to be more than enough to bring it down if the electorate can be persuaded to look deeply at these very real problems.
So...I would simply ask Mr. Furbert to give us more of the 'how' the UBP intends to go about laying the foundation for a better Bermuda. It will then be up to each and every one of us to respond in our own way if we wish to catch up with the rest of the developed world.

[SmokingGun on 21.01.06 at 12:06]

I am impressed that Mr. Furbert has taken the time to pen a response to Denis so quickly. I am also impressed that Limey's medium has shown it can be a valuable forum that allows the young, the old(er), black, white and everyone in between prove that they can communicate on an open and even level and try to work together in a respectful manner. It can only be good for Bermuda.

[silencedogood on 21.01.06 at 19:21]

I'm hearing what I want to hear. Now let's see if it goes anywhere. The sense of entitlement is a problem, but hopefully better education can aid that a bit.

[blovator on 22.01.06 at 00:15]

Let's hope Furbert works better than the others. I hear he's not big on policy but he is an able politician. His letter sounds right even though I don't agree with all of it - it seems positively intentioned which is better than nothing. Bad abstract policy is often good in practice if the execution is cunning. The stuff about cooperating with the PLP sounds very good. As long as they maintain the perogative of conflict and dissent. He looks good.

[Uncle Elvis on 23.01.06 at 01:43]

"Heck your average white Bermudian would probably take you to task on your race comment if it didn't mean costing the UBP the next election"

If you were referring to:

"We have all seen the way today’s generation of Bermudians are socializing, dating, marrying and even forming business partnerships across racial lines. Despite this, as our children have grown up and moved into the professional realm, they cannot help but notice that opportunities aren’t always equal or fair. We have to do everything in our power to ensure that the economic playing field is open and provides opportunity for all, and the racial baggage of the past is prevented from being carried into future generations."

I'm not sure what there is to take him to task for?
What would the "averge White Bermudian" have against this? How do you see the "averge White Bermudian"?
Personally, I think the "averge White Bermudian" is 100% FOR creating equality. Unfortunately, we, on average, just don't know how to help, what to do.
I know I, for one, would welcome a plan to create a more even playing field. I think most others would, too.

We're not boogie-men, out to keep the brothers down.
Honestly.

[Ralph on 24.01.06 at 14:54]

A good response I think, but I suggest that governmental reform needs to go deep. I don't claim to fully understand how everything works, but aside from the ideas I've seen mentioned before, here's some more for the Political Commission that was mentioned;

Politicians should not be running ministries and given broad discretionary powers, nor should our laws include 'at the Ministers discretion'. Politicians should be dealing with legislative and policy matters. Leave the full execution of policy and law in the hands of a professional (and properly managed) civil service, and lets deal with exceptions and requests in broad daylight.

The 'winner takes all' approach means that the other half (or so) of the electorate is left with no meaningful representation.

I also suggest that if you win your parish you should be part of the legislative body. Anyone who didn't win the mandate of a constituancy has no business being in government.

We also need an effective and realistic method of removing politicians from government when they fail to do the job we hire them to do.

The right words are there in the reply, and I'm looking forward to seeing a very thorough review.

[Denis Pitcher on 24.01.06 at 18:56]

Ralph,

A good observation. Some Bermudians have begun the call for dissolving our 2-party based system and the migration to a system of independants.

Your thoughts appear to be along these lines and I agree that the 'winner takes all' approach simply doesn't work.

[SmokingGun on 01.02.06 at 12:55]

From today's RG:

"Government, to show how serious I believe that we have to find a way to work together, is to include a member of the PLP in my Cabinet – if they will come.
“I do have someone in mind.”
But he said even if a PLP MP would not join his Cabinet he would ask someone who was a known PLP supporter to join." - Furby

So Guilden.... is it you....is it??