Independence debates
I'm not sure why today's Royal Gazette chose to classify PLP Senator Walter Roban's announcement of an independence education campaign as "news". The PLP has already mentioned its desire to hold such meetings to highlight the findings of the Bermuda Independence Commission (BIC) report, and Senator Roban still didn't reveal any dates.
Moreover, the Gazette was wrong to describe the purpose of last year's BIC meetings as being "to discuss the pros and cons of splitting from Britain". The purpose of the meeting that I attended was merely to allow audience members to give the Commission their opinions on independence. Discussion was specifically forbidden. And that made for a pretty dull evening.
So if the PLP genuinely wants a "full discussion" of the issues, that people might actually bother to attend, it should dispense with these planned "educational" sessions and hold a series of public debates instead. And I don't mean Col. Burch-style debates, with a panel stacked only with supporters of independence. I mean debates with panels containing a real divergence of opinions.
Alex Scott should be on there, as chief proponent of going it alone. I'd like to see Wayne Furbert up there too (as Leader of the Opposition), Julian Hall (as a supporter of independence who nevertheless believes that Bermuda is not yet ready to go it alone), Michael Marsh (as the personification of the referendum/election debate) and Rolfe Commissiong (as a former member of BIC and outspoken supporter of independence). Panel members would start by debating the issues amongst themselves, then the discussion would be opened up to questions from the audience.
Will the PLP have the balls to organise such a robust series of debates? I doubt it. But I live in hope.
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Of course not. A public debate? You have got to be kidding me. For something as big as independence, what in the hell have they been doing for the last 6+ months? It seems that EVERYONE has been talking about independence and most of them screaming for a referendum sooner rather than later on it, except the PLP. Unless you count Burch of course, who's talk show is more of a monologue than anything else. I too would like a public debate on the issues. If Scott doesn't do it, I think taht Furbert should throw down the gauntlet and challange the PLP think tank to a debate. Then we'll see who has testicular fortitude...
Posted by Full Fullish on 09.02.06 at 07:36
Fat chance of an open debate. I can see opponents of independence being shouted down, abused and ridiculed by the likes of Commissiong & Burch.
Arguing with The Man won't be much of a challenge, the logic of the anti-independence side will make the pro side look stupid and true to form they'll resort to abuse.
Maybe if you don't allow anyone over the age of 40 in the room...
Posted by sandgrownan on 09.02.06 at 08:46
Isn't this really just window dressing?
The arrogance of this Govt so far suggests that they have no intention of listening to the people and taking what they say into account.
Pathos - pure pathos.
Posted by Martin on 09.02.06 at 10:35
There won't be any open debates and the sad thing is the public will not call the government on it. Bermudians have been asleep for the last 40 years and need to realize that there are times when you must step up and question authority.
Posted by PorKy on 09.02.06 at 12:30
LOVE the semantics involved in the idea of public education.
sounds very Orwellian to me.
Posted by tong on 09.02.06 at 16:45
Maybe the Govt should hire the private sector to educate us about independence... God knows "public" education on independence is going to fail! ;)
Posted by Somers on 10.02.06 at 08:48