Plantation questions

When I heard that Deputy Premier Dr. Ewart Brown will no longer answer questions from the press that he considers to be "plantation questions", I wondered what on earth he meant. So did the Royal Gazette. So I emailed him to ask.

Just over an hour later, I got his reply:

"A plantation question is one which conjures up for me stories of plantation life where the relationship between the owner and his servant was a "man-boy" arrangement.

An example of such a question would be : "Did GlobalHue (a black-owned company) win the Tourism Ad contract because its owner assisted in getting Rev Al Sharpton to speak at the BIU banquet?"

It is often a question which is not asked of White politicians."

Dr. Brown is not without his faults, but a willingness to engage with the media generally isn't one of them. In fact, of his parliamentary colleagues, I have found only Dale Butler to be as responsive.

That's why his refusal to answer "plantation questions" is disappointing. Dr. Brown may consider such questions to be insulting, but if the media believes that there are sufficient grounds to ask them, a denial followed by an explanation is more likely to soothe their concerns. Whenever a politician refuses to answer a question it usually just makes him look evasive. For someone who is mistrusted as much as Dr. Brown, such a course of action seems particularly inadvisable.

For proof, Dr. Brown needs look no further than the suspicion that has been generated by his refusal to answer questions about the change of developers on the Club Med redevelopment. In today's paper he said that negotiations with the Renaissance group had been terminated because they had not satisifed the Government's conditions. So I also asked Dr. Brown if he could tell me what those conditions were - even in just general terms - and if not, why he was refusing to comment.

"I will not elaborate further at this time. It is a policy of mine to limit discussions regarding financial details to the principals and the Cabinet," he said.

Comments

[hadenuff on 22.02.06 at 18:41]

Dr. Brown seems to forget who he works for...the people of Bermuda, and the people, through the press, are asking valid quesions. If he doesn't like the press here, he wouldn't last two minutes in any other democratic country. Come on Dr. Brown, plantation question?! Do you really think we're that stupid?? Just the facts please.

[SmokingGun on 22.02.06 at 18:51]

Now that it's been brought it up, did GlobalHue win the contract because of the owner's ability to bring Rev. Sharpton to the BIU meeting?

And I would stay away from the Man/Boy references unless of course we're hoping to get NAMBLA down for it's annual convention. Just a suggestion....

[In Vino Veratus on 22.02.06 at 19:54]

How does Dr. Brown's plantation rhetoric reconcile with the fact that he is applying for membership at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, perhaps one of the institutions most reviled by PLP stalwarts and often cited as the definitive symbol of UBP oppression during the "bad ole days"?

I was there 2 weeks ago for a wine tasting benefit for volleyball and his name was on the temporary/new members list tacked to the wall. His proposer is Bob Richards. While this just begs for an onslaught of bad jokes playing on Dr. Brown's urgent exhortation for people not to "go back to the plantation" and Col Burch's comments regarding the dynamics of field versus house, it may be better to just let the facts speak for themselves

It's a most curious move given his statements last night to an an audience of PLP party faithful at the Warwick Workmens Club last night, “I will always tell the truth. I might not tell all of it.” Is he thinking about changing parties, demonstrating an earnest effort at reconciliation, or perhaps he just needs a walk-on mooring?

[silencedogood on 22.02.06 at 20:42]

Did you read the rest of the gazette article quoting brown. Wow. I've never heard a politician be so patronizing. "The deal is fragile, it's like a baby" Please...

I think E.B. does a fairly decent job as tourism minister (GPS, Jet Blue), but the problem is that he only seems to put in effort when he gets something out of the deal. Sad that that's the gold standard.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 22.02.06 at 20:51]

Here we go again, another PLP is crooked thread created by Limey.

I do not blame Dr. Brown for his position because the questions being asked have nothing to do with capabilites and everything to do with personality.

"Did GlobalHue (a black-owned company) win the Tourism Ad contract because its owner assisted in getting Rev Al Sharpton to speak at the BIU banquet?"

Why is this question more important than the question, "Can the company fullfil the obligation for which it has been hired?"

I have no problem with the PLP or its MP's being criticised for performance but asking questions such as the above do not equate to good journalism.

Dr. Brown is also correct in stating that these questions are not asked of politicians of other persuasions. The UBP was questioned by the press when things went wrong with tourism advertising but any relationships with the contracted company were never scrutinised as is happening consistently with the PLP.

Shouldn't the main issue be with performance under these contracts and not who the contractors know or don't know?

If contracts cannot be award because the personalities of the company are know the parlimentarians then that means no contract can be renewed because through the life of the contract the Minister responsible will be involved in the operation of the contract, especially Tourism.

So what if the company got the contract because it was able to secure Al Sharpton. Why is that not a good thing as it could show the amount of respect the company. I think for Tourism you need a company that cna pull some strings after all Tourism is about marketing and in many ways marketing is about who you know or who you can get access to.

The more time I spend on this site the more I realised how completely biased the adminsitrator and many of the regular posters are against the PLP and they will do anything they can to discredit the PLP.

Enough is enough.

[NoVote on 22.02.06 at 21:13]

Guilden,

I actually think that Ewart Brown is doing a good job with his ministry (although I am somewhat suspect about the ethics of some of his dealings).

However, it seems perfectly reasonable to me to ask the minister - what he described as -a 'plantation' question, when he is the representative of a party that used a blatantly racial platform during the last election and recently had sitting Cabinet members clearly state advocate support for businesses 'that look like...'etc.

The electorate can reasonably expect to know whether such policies are continuing to be pursued for party political reasons.

On the flip-side I can imagine that there are perfectly good reasons why Ewart Brown would not at this stage disclose the reasons behind the recent switch of developers at the Club Med site.

Negotiations are not complete and there may well be information pertinent to those negotiations that he would not wish to see in the public domain for the time being.......or at least I hope that's the reason.

[SmokingGun on 22.02.06 at 21:13]

Dr. Brown is lumping any question that seeks to determine how decisions are made as being "Plantation Questions" only says that he is willing to use the same old twisted rhetoric that the PLP uses about racism.

Why would he disparage someone for asking a simple question as to why he/tourism decided to end the contract with Arnold Worldwide and switch to GlobalHue? With only an impossible 10 day window of opportunity for any others to make a proposal and having pretty much admitted he'd already been working with GlbalHue all along it would only be right for a reporter to seek information as to why and how our government is running "our" country.

And now we have the Club Med situation being man-handled in the same fashion. Where we have huge issues regarding affordable housing, limited land resources and people who are being left behind socially and economically I think it's not something that one person should be allowed, nor even want, to make all the decisions on. If Dr. Brown has shared his "vision" with his colleagues in Cabinet then I would expect at least some of them would want to spend a little time on seeing how it fits in their portfolio before going into another undetermined period of exclusion.

In some ways I'm starting to understand what it must have felt like being forced to live on the plantation. Maybe that's the whole point of this exercise.....

[m on 22.02.06 at 21:20]

guilden,

unbelievable it took you all this time to figure that out....

because you are completely right. there is no way you are overreacting...not a chance...

[Tiger Bay on 22.02.06 at 21:34]

If Ewart does not want to answer a question because he finds it belittling, then he should simply say so. Pulling race into it is counterproductive even destructive in divided Bermuda.

Truth is a lot of people are conflicted about Ewart. [Insert whatever drives you nuts about him here] .. but he has a plan and has followed it. A little less piss in that vinegar and he could have some crossover appeal.

The GlobalHue question about Al Sharpton is overthetop (but what isn't when Al Sharpton is involved?). I think he hired GlobalHue because Don Coleman is on the same wavelength as him socially and politically. The question should be: is this feel the love/ diaspora/ popandsizzle stuff actually doing anything for Bermuda or is Ewart only marketing to himself?

By the way Ewart, you looked like crap on TV last night - tired and burned out. You need a vacation. I recommend Bermuda.

[RideTheCliche on 22.02.06 at 21:37]

What of past perfromance indications for KJA Development?
All I can find is:

http://gilmantonnh.org/Documents/SMin09-20-04.pdf

"Nate said the key piece is that if the Planning Board has granted a subdivision with the condition of the driveway permit for each lot, then you don’t have to ask the question. He said it is their jurisdiction; it is in the subdivision and they have to have it. Nate cited a case with KJA Development on Mountain Road. He said the Planning Board approved their site plan, which is an excavation site plan approval, applied for significantly after the fact, after a violation had occurred. He said they had some conditions and a waiver was requested that a licensed surveyor provide a survey of boundaries. He said they did not grant that waiver. He said they excluded it from the approval because there was testimony that there may have been violation of the boundary of the property. Nate said the other thing was a bond for reclamation and rehabilitation of the site and that the building permit that was issued for the site is now rescinded."

Those are the Council minutes from the Town of Gilmanton, located in central New Hampshire.

AND/OR He's A.K.A. "James A. Avedikian" -- In which case the PLP should be honoured to work with such a generous supporter of The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

AND/OR He's A.K.A. "Jim Avedikian" who, like Mr. Kerkorian is a generous contributor to a PBS station and Children's Hospital in California.

Guess I'm feeling a little inflammatory tonight; have fun!
~RTC

[Bill Cook on 22.02.06 at 21:57]

Would it not make more sense to have an evaluatuion of Global hue regarding its ability to do the job we the people are going to pay it to do ?

Personally I think Al Sharpton is something of an asshole but we the people did not pay to bring him down the BIU did so thats their business.
If I had been invited I would have asked him did he still believe Tawana Brawley was telling the truth, but I was not invited.

I am very surprised that Minister Brown would join the RBYC but maybe he just wants to keep a finger on the pulse of the real decision makers as I am told thats where the real power base of Bermuda is located.

I want to know if he has worked with the St Georges Chamber of Commerce on the Club Med deal as surely they would be the ones most interested in revitalising the floundering economy it would seem to we the people.

Energetic the good doctor may be but diplomatic maybe not however I will certainly overlook all that if he really does pull off a major coup with the Club Med site but if he screws up after all the mysterious silence can we the people be blamed for our reaction ? and how will his supporters react or is that a silly question ?

[SmokingGun on 22.02.06 at 21:59]

Tiger Bay - In principle if he has a master plan (and I'm not trying to be facetious here) then I'm all for him sticking to it and following through. But surely he would wish to be as open about it as possible so that we know it's all part of the plan when suddenly makes sweeping changes with little or no warning and opportunity for others to participate.

And with regard to the plantation comments it really does him and Bermuda a disservice by stooping to that level. If I were a heavy hitter looking to invest in Bermuda I wouldn't be too happy hearing that is how he deals with his own people.

And the reason he's looking so tired is probably because he's got his finger in too many pots. Tourism, Transportation, Hospital Advisory, The Bank of Bermuda "Monstro-City" and his day job to boot. I'd be exhausted too....

[Tired Of Politics on 22.02.06 at 23:44]

Guilden + Ewart,
I understand how the question can seem upsetting. But then we need only take the case of Berkley Institute... I'm going to be frank, Was Pro Active chosen only due to race or other ties? They CLEARLY were not chosen for a track record of doing jobs of this size in the past or any performance related aspect... In fact the owner of pro-active used to work for Zurich Investment Services not only 5 or so years ago... (i know that first hand from having dealings with them back in the day).
I am not saying anything bad about him, but I am certainly questioning how his investment ability lead to an ability to build a place as large as that? OR how he also put up a monster house himself during the building of Berkley...
So you tell me guys, how far off are questions like that? Plain and simple the most qualified guy should have been chosen regardless of race... whether he be white, black, portuguese, chineese etc... there are only a hand full of qualified companys for a project that large on island and he was simply not one of them...
You cant convince me that stuff like that doesnt go on... yet when you ask, people (PLP) all of a sudden dont want to talk about it.. wake up PLP.. Bermudians are not blind and stupid! I dont mean to come across badly, i just dont know how to put that any other way but straight up having know the owner of pro-active personally and knowing he had little to no construction experience...

Tired of Politics

[Slowhand on 23.02.06 at 07:00]

When it comes to economic empowerment, experience and ability is not a considered factor, and I believe this was made clear to us if not in words, certainly by the actions taken. what is sad is that from all views, that Economic Empowerment was not really for the broad cross section of the community that admittedly needs to have access, it actually was for a select few with what can only be termed (going by all accounts reported, and having no real explanation from Government) Criminal Intent.

[Lost in Flatts on 23.02.06 at 07:32]

Yeah but if you only choose the company with the most experience, and they've obatined that experience through being historically wealthy and white, then how exactly are we supposed to balance things out, or achieve economic empowerment?

That said, me personally, I'm from the Ayn Rand school of efficiency, but that's not what the PLP are after. The agenda they were elected for was to create more economic balance, and these kind of measures are how they've decided to do it.

[Martin on 23.02.06 at 08:41]

Guilden....

I have watched your posts over the months and in the main, you present well balanced, well thought through responses to issues.

Your final comment above, i.e..."the more time I spend on this site the more I realised how completely biased the adminsitrator and many of the regular posters are against the PLP and they will do anything they can to discredit the PLP"...is one I find strange.

If the definition of "bias" is "favouring one over another"...isn't that the essence of politics? Presumably you are not suggesting that we should simply fly the PLP flag irrespective of their performance?

If we remove the bias, there is little to debate surely?

[ken on 23.02.06 at 08:46]

Guilden,

If you notice, since the monday debate on Berkeley I have chosen not to post. Many of the posters and the administrator himself seem to have such disdain for the government that anything we say is nullified and anything they do is wrong. Even if it is right, it is wrong.

I agree with Dr Brown that there are some questions that the reporters just won't ask of the UBP but they feel that they are fair game on the PLP, and usually these questions call into question the integrity and ethics of the government. It is ridiculous. And anti-PLP posters cannot say that they have a right to do this because of some screwups by the government, because the previous government had screwups as well but were not taken to task like this.

The sad thing is that I believe that the holders of these opinions really believe they are being objective, but unfortunately they cannot see the forest for the trees.

[stephen notman on 23.02.06 at 09:32]

Guilden,

I monitor this site daily and have always found your insights to be valuable, informative contributions. We do not always agree, but (and please do not think me patronizing because that is not my intent)you come across as a person with a strong moral foundation who sincerely wants the best for Bermuda. I agree that this website often comes off as a platform to slag off the PLP and for a PLP supporter, it must often be frustrating. However, I would like to think that when contributors do criticize the government they are not necessarily displaying anti-Labour sentiments, they are simply commenting on what they view as poor performances by individuals within the party, rather than the party itself.

Please do not stop contributing to this site, Guilden. I believe I can speak for all of us when I say that you will be sorely missed if you do.

[Tired of Politics on 23.02.06 at 09:41]

Ken,
You know we could use the same arguement with you of not seeing the forest for the trees here. your point was never in denial. I for one (can't talk for anyone else" understand the basis of the arguement... But my point which I should maybe clarify is that there ARE questionable decisions and actions taken by all governments and certainly the PLP for that matter.

It is only human to question motives... When the UBP chose a white contractor for a large government job, do you REALLY think that there weren't people saying "they got that because they were white?" Come now... It has worked both ways for years and we all know it... It is only human nature. When things dont go our way either as an individual or socially we typically need to find an excuse!

Both sides of the fence have used this one for a long time. I for one am not some un-enlightened individual. I for one comprehend that there are two sides of the fence, but when as a gov you make constantly questionable decisions on projects, you screw up badly due to not going with the most qualified guy and then turn around and say we are not open to questions as to why we did choose XYZ person... Are we just supposed to call that fair game and crawl back into our holes of ignorance?

-Tired of Politics

[Rossini on 23.02.06 at 09:43]

This will be another bumper day.Friends, let me put it into perspective for you. When one reporter has the balls to ask Grant Gibbons why he would speak against the Caribbean and decry joining CARICOM whilst his family have business interests in several Caribbean Islands then we will have gotten some equality of questioning in this country. Dr. Brown refers to similar questions to him as "plantation questions" because he gets asked questions like that if buys a hamburger from one shop but not another while his political counterparts do what they wish without media accountability. By the way this semi-illiterate, mostly foreign, poorly read and lazy media do not speak for me and their questions and reporting is mostly insulting to my limited intelligence.

[ken on 23.02.06 at 09:56]

Well said Rossini...well said!

Tired of Politics,

People might have wondered why white corporations got certain contracts etc but I am sure that the journalists did not go at them with questions regarding these contracts. The wonderings might have gone in the backgrounds and in private conversations, but the media never questioned publicly the motives behind the contracts. Every contract that this goverment awards is scrutinized as if there has to be a kickback or something sinister about it. It is ridiculous.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 23.02.06 at 09:59]

Martin,

I have nothing against anyone who opposes the PLP, however, it gets a little tiring when every decision the Party makes or even personal decisions that PLP members make is called into question.

Anytime something negative is printed about the PLP most on this site take it as gospel. The latest Berkeley issue is a prime example. Why not wait until the facts are determined before condemning the PLP. That is not debate, debate should be based on fact, should it not? At this point, from what I can tell, nobody on here has the FACTS, they are simply jumping to conclusions and they are doing so only because the governing party is the PLP.

Here we have Bill Cook who wants an evalutation done of GlobalHue to determine if they are capable of fullfilling the role they have or will be hired to fulfil. Yet when the UBP contracted firms there was never any question of the compentancy of the firms contracted.

With the level of contacts the Colin Powell has did anyone ever questions Sir John Swan's clos epersonal relationship with him? Did anyone ever question if any of the firms contracted by the UBP were chosen because of Colin Powell's influence? No.

Then you get people like Tired of Politics getting upset that Arthur Ebbin built himself a big house. Has he ever questioned why Bierman has a big house or how a local construction family can own a $45 million house? No. Has he ever question the Gibbons fortune? No. Has he ever questioned how Sir John Swan made his money? No. Yet without blinking he questions why Arthur has built himself a big house. Arthur, did not come from a wealthy family but he worked hard and earned a few dollars and you have the audacity to criticise him for that. For the record, Arthur, like every other person is in business to make money and how he spends the money he makes is of no concern to anyone else.

So what if he was working for Zurich 5 years prior. There are many sizable contractors in the market today who were in other professions, not too long before they became contractors yet they have become successful in their new field.

Many have chasitised, and rightly so, the Renee' Webb comment about "people like me" (could be easily translated to people who support me) but what Renee verbalised is no different from what the UBP practiced (they simply did it without advertisement) throughout its days as government.

You want proof, ask Ramadan ? how he became successful. He joined the UBP. Ask Kalid Wasi how many contracts he secured after joining the UBP.

Case in point, while I was on the executive of Leaders of Tomorrow I was appointed to the Road Safety Council and the National Youth Council. Not long after I resigned from LoT Maxwell Burgess became Minister of Transport and wanted me off the Council because I was not a "party supporter" and he would have been successful had I been the kind of person to simply back down and sulk. I challenged him by threatening to take my case to the press as he had no justifiable reason to have me removed. Low and behold I spent another few years on the Council and was removed when I removed myself.

So those of you who claim that the PLP is such a bad apple because they look out for their own need to take a step back and realise that politics is all about gaining support and giving people who support you certain opportunities. No party is any worse then the next when it comes to "assisting supporters" it happens in Bermuda politics and politics around the world. I am not addressing whether the practice is right or wrong, I am simply stating what is a part of the political game.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 23.02.06 at 10:06]

Stephen,

Thank you for the comments. In the past I have givne consideration to removing myself from this site but the views I hold are very strong and I think if I did not (tooting my own horn here for a moment) contribute this site would be even more one sided as there are very few of us that participate here that are willing to stand up and defend the PLP.

If Jake, Onion, Ken, Rossini and I ceased participating this would be nothing more than "a bash the PLP every chance you get" site. I happen to believe that the performance of the PLP is significantly better than many on this site would have us believe.

[JJ on 23.02.06 at 10:08]

Have you considered that it might just be that our reporters are getting more balls and taking a leaf out of their UK counterparts books by trying to get deeper into issues? May be if and when we get the UBP back in power they too will have their feet held to the fire more than in the past.

[ken on 23.02.06 at 10:11]

JJ,

I have considered it and if the UBP does get in I hope that every decision they make is questioned and they are made to explain and justify every single thing they do. But I doubt it.

[enough already on 23.02.06 at 10:12]

Ken/ Guilden,
You are clearly PLP supporters and that's fine. Others are clearly not. You keep criticizing those who are questioning the current Gov, assuming they were silent about the previous Gov mistakes. Please remember that these are very differnet times then when the UBP were in power even though it seems like only a short time ago.

Technology has advanced to the point that we can now have these daily discussions. Conversations and arguments can take place at the click of a button; this was not the case when the UBP was in power. We live in an age where information is king. The internet has advanced the average persons capacity to seek information rapidly and voluminously. The traditional media sources (t.v. and news print) have had to become more aggressive in their reporting in order to compete with these alternate sources of information. It is not good enough anymore to just regurgitate what politicians say.

It's all about timing and the PLP are in the spotlight. When the UBP is re-elected, you can be certain that they will face the same amount of scrutiny. The voices you hear now, with be the same voices you hear then. The average person, now more than ever, has multiple channels to express their angst.

Unfortunately, the PLP have an incredible gift for making stupid comments in public. They have no noteworthy track record accomplishments while in power, so they have to win by claiming that anyone who attempts to question their actions are racist.

Lets hope that enough people are sick and tried of their crap and vote in a Gov that actually wants to run a country.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 23.02.06 at 10:16]

Rossini,

"When one reporter has the balls to ask Grant Gibbons why he would speak against the Caribbean and decry joining CARICOM whilst his family have business interests in several Caribbean Islands then we will have gotten some equality of questioning in this country."

How true, how true.

For the record as bad as many in the UBP have spoken abou the Bahamas, its corruption, its poor governance, etc. The question needs to be raised, "Why does one of the "most politically influencial" families in Bermuda, and a family that has not spoken veryhighly of the Bahamas, have such a large invest within the country?

Most people may not be aware of what assets the family owns here in the Bahamas but they are significant.

Mabe the family needs to be questioned on why, if their view of the Bahamas and the Caribbean is so negative, do they have such heavy investment.

[ken on 23.02.06 at 10:18]

Enough already,

Enough already.

[Martin on 23.02.06 at 10:28]

Guilden...

I am sure you are right, but my point was to tackle "bias".

Similarly, I am not convinced that..."anytime something negative is printed about the PLP most on this site take it as gospel".

I appreciate that if one has a bias, then it is easy to simply apply that and accept what you hear/read without challenge, but I give a little more credit to many on this site that at least appear to think things through for themselves.

The level of posting - including your own can often be erudite and well thought through.

I cannot draw comparisons with the UBP...I wasn't here then. I can only comment on what I see and hear.

[Shelley on 23.02.06 at 10:30]

Tiger Bay,
As a marketer I would like to comment a bit upon Dr. Brown and his team's selection of Global Hue, an agency I am familiar with in an automotive context - it is the multicultural agency of record for Daimler Chrysler in the U.S. I really think we need to adopt a wait and see attitude here, this agency is well respected in my industry and also has some other noteworthy clients like Micorsoft. I do not know what Dr. Brown's or his team's strategy is but this agency has a multicultural focus and such an approach may be beneficial for Bermuda in the long run if the focus is to attract a more diverse customer base. Also in agency speak it is often good to shake things up a bit and try the untried. As with everything the proof is always the final result, let's judge him on that.

[Uncle Elvis on 23.02.06 at 10:49]

I gotta go with Enough Already on this one.
It's been said before.
Yes, there are many UBP supporters on the board here, but I honestly believe that there are as many, if not more, people who just want good governance. I know I do. Guilden, jake and others are the reason for that. They have shown many of us that it doesn't matter who's in power, as long as they do their job. Hell, I think most of the UBP supporters would love it if the PLP did their job properly. To be honest, wouldn't that be the best "Fuck you" to the UBP there ever could be? To do the job they had for ages and just excel at it? I think everyone here would like a government that gives a shit about the people they are governing, all the people, and actually do a good job, regardless of colour, regardless of party affiliation.
Instead, we get what we've got. I don't think even the most outspoken PLP supporter here could say that they've done the job we need them to. That's not a criticism of the PLP as a party, it's a criticism of the government of the day.

To get back to Enough's point, though, the UBP fucked up when they were in power. We know this and some of us spoke out against them, as best we could at the time. I remember that awful budget they came up with years ago. Problem is, back then, all we could do was bitch and moan to each other and print tshirts in protest. We didn't have the proliferation of blogs and the ease of communication then.

I think that if the UBP does manage to get their shit together and win an election (I'm not holding my breath, though), that we may see the same sort of criticism of them that we do of the current Government. I certainly hope so!
It's our duty as citizens to keep an eye on them, and keep them in line. The problem is the party politics and the difficulty in figuring out the line between criticizing the Government and criticizing the party.

To be honest, I think that Phil's intention, as somewhat of an outsider, relatively new to the island and not remembering a time when the UBP was in power, IS to criticize the Government and not the party... and I really don't have any problem with that at all.

[Rossini on 23.02.06 at 11:04]

For those of you can't (or refuse to) remember when the UBP was in power please don't snipe at those of us who do.Those memories are raw and made more so by the fact that the show has not changed. The players have changed little and the same old same old is trooped out to make us think otherwise.I've said it before and I will say it again...the "any old black face will do" policy just will not work anymore.This post is meant to deal with "plantation questions" well I'll try again to explain the "plantation" thing which DR. Brown has so expertly put forward. Look at the recent private bloodbath that removed Grant Gibbons...do you really think that that meeting at Michael Dunkley's house is all that secret ?! Of course not...I personally know that an attendee has shared an in depth account with the press.....but not one branch of the media has covered it, save for a passing reference that it happened. Is there happiness and light on the Opposition benches about the allocation of Shadow Portfolios...no way....has any of that been covered by the media ? Not a dickey bird. But the Premier sits 15 feet away from the podium at the bus terminal opening and someone reports that this is clear evidence of a growing rift within the government. Guys, I get it loud and clear...and those of you who don't are living in cloud cuckoo land as far as the media is concerned....or dare I say it, on the media's "plantation".

[Tired of Politics on 23.02.06 at 11:25]

Guilden,
I welcome your opinion and everyone elses... it makes us look at both sides. However you make large assumptions that you simply don't know to be true, dont know my age, where i was while UBP was in power etc about what i was and was not saying when they were there... How do you know i dont critisize the UBP? You dont...

I have opinions about the UBP that are certainly not favorable. I think for example they are selling out to race in the hopes of winning the next time round. While grant gibbons was somewhat of a drip, he was likely the smartest politician that UBP had.. I personally feel that he was replaced along racial lines in the hopes of gaining votes... It made me think much less of the UBP.

Please, dont put words in my mouth that you have no clue about... The issues are simple as stated by others in this thread... I would not care who is in power as long as they are accountable, not corrupt and willing to deal with critical issues such as housing etc.

My opinion is that PLP divide this country racially for their own political gain. Yes this is a tool to keep them in power, but it is not good for the Betterment of Bermuda. PLP have taken us backwards 50 years in my opinion with regards to race relations. They continue to do so and then dont want to talk about it or call the media racists basically for suggesting certain connections that may or may not be true... (forgetting the fact that certain members have shown CLEARLY that they are racist and not been held accountable in the PLP)

As someone else said this is a diff era, some spice and drama is needed to keep the papers and news in business... People just dont rely on the same things to get information anymore...

I cant tell you the last time i watched local news! I read the paper every day, but only because i get a free one at work and it kills time, other than that I would likely look online for news ;0

-Tired of Politics

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 23.02.06 at 11:40]

Tired,

Did you read my post? I was commenting n your remarks about Arthur Ebbin and your complaint or concern about the big house he built.

Let me ask you then, "Have you ever question how Bierman got wealthy or how the Gibbons family acquired its wealth? If you haven't then why question how Arthur was able to build a big house?

You say the PLP has set Bermuda back 50, please explain. Race is an issue that many on this blog believe needs to be address and the PLP, in many ways, have addressed. Sometimes what has been said maybe be deemed to be inappropriate but the fact is the party is addressing race, which is something the UBP pretended for 30 years was not an issue. As soon as the PLP begin to address race and address it in a manner some may be agree with they are then labelled a racist party.

I may not agree with some of the things that have been said or done but the fact remains the Party has had the testicular fortitute to broach the topic.

This is the problem with many of us, we know there is a problem and it has to be addressed, when it is addressed we do not agree with how it is being addressed and rather than state how it should be addressed we become critical of how it is addressed.

Race is a very touchy and emotional topic and no matter how it is addressed somebody's feathers will be ruffled. So instead of saying the PLP has set race relations back 50 why not offer your solution to solving it issue?

[bored on 23.02.06 at 11:53]

Well I am getting bored of all this.
The people who post here about the PLP post because they see race as a factor in their decisions, and they feel that it should not be that way. It should be on their proven track records
Ken and others feel that this is ok because the UBP and the powerful white families used to do it all the time. It is about evening up the playing field. economic empowerment?
They also feel that the PLP are getting bashed because they are seen as blacks with power and that scares the white people. They may be right in some instances, but I think most (posters on this site) want good governing, regardless of race.
This is the problem.
I feel some cannot understand how supporters of the PLP feel. Some of the supports want revenge, some want an even playing field and some want what is good for all of Bermuda. How do you decide which is which? But most take offense to the PLP being always task becuase they see it as a racial attack. When will it end? When will PLP supporters see the questions as asking for better governing rather than a race attack. And when will the UPB supports stop questioning the PLP over race? will it ever ever end?

I am all for evening the playing field and for better Government as it will make Bermuda a better place, but I dont want to see it at the expense of a culture of people.
It should be done together.

[SmokingGun on 23.02.06 at 12:11]

"I agree with Dr Brown that there are some questions that the reporters just won't ask of the UBP but they feel that they are fair game on the PLP, and usually these questions call into question the integrity and ethics of the government. It is ridiculous."

Are we to assume all the reporters are supporters of the UBP? Not one PLP fan amongst them?

As far as asking someone about their personal investments all I can say is we should all live by the saying "people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". If there is a legitimate question based on a political office then that's a different story, but if someone's investing in a foreign land it could be as simple as they can't afford Bermuda, or are shut out.

Today is a very new day and as has been pointed out half the information that people get is through a medium such as sites like this. The beauty is that the information is often direct, questionable and a little more balanced. Thanks to the fact that the likes of Guilden, Jake, Limey, Bill Cook, Loki, Tony B. and even "Bud" as an example.

Should people be allowed to question our government leaders on any and all aspects of their decisions and performance. I would certainly hope so. And the timing of those questions may cause some discomfort but guess what, if you put yourself in the hot seat then expect to get a little uncomfortable.

No-one is expecting anyone to be a saint or to make a decision that gets a perfect result. That's unreasonable. But when things are being handled in a vacuum and the so called transparency is not forth-coming then people will assume they are being lied to. It's the nature of the beast in politics.

Berkeley - when would be a good time to start questioning why this has turned into 100% over-run in money and time? I believe the industry standard calls for a 10-15% over-under for costs. If my reporter wasn't asking questions when it had gone beyond just that I'd wonder what his value was.

Club Med - when is a good time to ask why a consortium that had raised $200+ million and had extensively promoted a deal with the highly reputable Four Seasons was suddenly thrown out only to be replaced with a top secret "new" and "exclusive rights" deal without any time for alternative proposals?

GlobalHue - When is a good time to ask why a rather sizeable budget for Bermuda Tourism is pulled from one of the worlds biggest and best agencies with it's HQ based in the core market we cater to and replaced by an agency with very little experience in the tourism market and only 10 days are offered up for any other proposals?

Oh and about the UBP. Last thing I heard was they got voted out, so I imagine it might have had something to do with the majority of the people didn't like the way they were running things.... and had their say about.

[Tired of Politics on 23.02.06 at 12:23]

Bored + Guilden,

I agree with your comments. I simply want good governance and accountability. If you do poor at your job and you are called out on it, don't all of a sudden bring out the race card as to why you were called out and cry foul nonsense...

This whole notion of people thinking that somehow white people are afraid of black governance is nonsense and an excuse for covering up constant and blatant mistakes like Berkley. Someone should simply put be held accountable for that whole fiasco... but we all know it won't happen. God forbid if we question it... that might be a plantation question!

I see the PLP more and more as being paranoid and totalitarian in their leadership. It's an opinion of "We know what’s best for you, just accept it." Where I am scared personally is the whole issue of independence being forced on us and it being so secretive.

In regard to the Bierman's estate etc, sure he got that from many contracts over the years and possibly via favoritism, knowing someone etc, but I am pretty sure his qualifications were *never* in question. He never had a failure as blatent as Berkley. Clearly Arthur Ebbins qualification are in question as he failed at the job miserably... And it ended up costing the tax-payers money at the end of the day. Yet nobody was accountable!?!

The natural question in that scenario is to ask why he was chosen in the first place!?! Again though.. oh wait.. that's another one of those plantation questions... better back down on that and just forget the wasted 50 million or whatever of tax-payers money.

-Tired of Politics

[loki on 23.02.06 at 12:26]

The PLP Government keeps getting attacked because

(a) They are in power (surprise!!); and

(b) They have an eight year track record of incompetence, divisiveness, self-dealing and racially-motivated action.

People are suspicious of this government and its motivations and they are right to ask questions. The PLP response to this is to throw the issue of race out there virtually every time.

[SmokingGun on 23.02.06 at 12:30]

"This is the problem with many of us, we know there is a problem and it has to be addressed, when it is addressed we do not agree with how it is being addressed and rather than state how it should be addressed we become critical of how it is addressed."

Ewart couldn't have said it better himself....

[Shelley on 23.02.06 at 12:56]

Smoking Gun,
I am curious, why did the Department of Tourism only give ten days out to other agencies to bring in proposals? Do they have more than one agency of record, many corporations have more than one and the trend is now to include a multicultural agency. Also even though an agency does not have experience in a special field (tourism) they will often ramp up with the level of expertise required. I am assuming the level of expertise they were selected for was multiculturalism. Afterall Global Hue did not have automotive experience until they secured Daimler Chrysler in the U.S.

[Rossini on 23.02.06 at 13:07]

Let me throw this into the mix. Dr. Brown isn't the inventor of this attitude to white people. He is following the example set by those icons of "good black boys" like John Swan and Jim Woolridge who in their heart of hearts know that "it" is all about race and know that they were courted not because of ability but because of affability and the ability to bring other blacks into the fold whilst not being any threat to whites because of their lack of depth. But it even got too much for both of them in the end when they had to admit that after a lifetime of doing just as they were told, bearing the brunt of attacks from blacks who knew better and being the front men for policies that really didn't benefit them or their people that it was all about race. No "tea and cookies" for John Swan and the testy "...those white boys don't mind a black man in charge as long as they can tell him what to do" from Jim Woolridge still ring in my ears. And should ring in the ears of Wayne Furbert, Jamhal Simmons and the others who have joined the UBP band. White people in this country cannot accept a strong, black male, period. It defies the model with which they have been comfortable and on which they have been raised.Its not their fault its just the way it is.For the avoidance of doubt, John Swan is not a strong black male...not because of anything other than the fact that he never had the courage to say or do anything that might have been outside what his white power base wanted. The two occasions that he did (McDonalds and the "I" Referendum) were soundly defeated and showed him who was in charge. Those of you who can't handle how "it" is always about race....as Col Jessup (Jack Nicholson) said in "A Few Good Men"..."You can't handle the truth!!"

[SmokingGun on 23.02.06 at 13:16]

Shelley - that's the question I would have. I realize that the modus operendi of Ad Agencies bidding on major accounts is to bring in additional qualified staff to handle the account just as they let them go when an account is lost. Going on the basis of multi-cultural alone I would imagine that Arnold has addressed that a long time ago. Could GlobaHue have been brought in as a back-up specialist? I don't see why not.

The fact that only a very short review period was given makes me wonder why he even bothered. I imagine Arnold decided they weren't going to waste their time and money knowing they didn't have a chance and once they threw their towel in who else would bid?

[SmokingGun on 23.02.06 at 13:32]

Rossini - or should that be Colonel Rossini? Enquiring minds want to know.....

[PorKy on 23.02.06 at 13:34]

It's just another case of someone in the government not thinking that they should be questioned by anyone including the press. I shudder to think what is going to happen if Bermuda goes independent under the PLP. Jail for journalists who ask the wrong questions. On another note I find it quite sad that a man who has obviously done well for himself(no matter if I agree with his politics) still has to make petty illusions to slavery, is it just trying to get more votes or self hate, I wonder.

[digitalmaster on 23.02.06 at 13:41]

Is that who Rossini is Burch, it figures he writes in so often and we all know Burch does fuck all, so he has the time.

[Shelley on 23.02.06 at 13:58]

Smoking gun,

I am certain Dr. Brown asked for proposals to assure the public that he was doing his due diligence. However, ten days is a very short time frame to craft a serious proposal, if you are a competing agency.

I'm curious - is there a specific proposal process in place and is it open to public scrutiny and review?

Also were any local agencies invited to submit a proposal? Do you have any thoughts on local capabilities?

I would stress I have heard positive word of mouth about Global Hue, maybe Dr. Brown should clearly articulate his strategy and how Global Hue fits in, their expertise etc. and that would allay people's concerns.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 23.02.06 at 13:59]

Digital Master/SmokingGun,

What's wrong you can handle a man freely speaking his mind? One day the two of you need to sit down and listen to John Swan talk after the Independence referendum about how he now realises that he was nothing more than a pawn.

I heard those words come out of his mouth.

Just because Rossini expresses what you don't believe or want to hear you want to label him. Some of us have opinions and are not afraid to express them, no matter how they may upset you. You either deal with it or ignore it but we are not going away anytime soon.

[Tired of Politics on 23.02.06 at 14:08]

PorKy,
I think that you hit the nail on the head here... No government should feel that they are above the people. They aren't. The plp feels like they dont have to answer to anyone. It is apparent in their lack of "testicular fortitude" to apologize for their racist comments (we all know who said what), their lack of ability to be held accountable on mistakes (we all know which ones) and their concepts of how independence should be decided for the country (referndum vs gen. election).

If that is not a mild form of dictatorship thinking at least, i don't know what is... I wont even bring the "Propoganda - 1" proposed TV station into the mix here!

They should know that certain inherent and un-pleasurable aspects come with the job... If you cant handle them, you arent the right man for the job!

It's almost humorous to think of a public figure who wont talk to the public and doesn't realize that it is part of his job? Is that not an oxymoron? When you take a position like that, are you not expected as part of the job to be accountable and informative within reason?

-Tired of Politics

[SmokingGun on 23.02.06 at 14:17]

"And should ring in the ears of Wayne Furbert, Jamhal Simmons and the others who have joined the UBP band."
" White people in this country cannot accept a strong, black male, period."
"For the avoidance of doubt, John Swan is not a strong black male..."

And the final kicker...

"Those of you who can't handle how "it" is always about race....as Col Jessup (Jack Nicholson) said in "A Few Good Men"..."You can't handle the truth!!"

Guilden - give me a break. If it sounds like a Burch then it might possibly be a Burch. Heck he even brought up Col Jessup as if he's a personal friend!

And for heavens sake don't lump me in with Digital Master - I imagine Burch works a hell of a lot harder than I do.

[J Starling on 23.02.06 at 14:19]

I would agree that in many ways the media is biased against the PLP, either focusing more light on them than they did on the UBP, or failing to report on the good the Party has done. I am of the opinion that the PLP government has done more for Bermuda than the UBP did, and I do think thet are dealing with issues that, though forming under the UBP, are only coming to fruition today. I do not think Mr. Brown chose his words very well, I don't think he had to phrase his message in the way he did. I for one am a big supporter of transparency, I don't think the government should be keeping secrets from the people, and the people should hold them accountable (can't wait to use PACT). I do feel however that his comments are connected to Mr. Halls comments, the leadership is feeling pressed. As for contributing to this website, I regret that many PLP supporters feel that this site is UBP biased and don't read it let alone contribute it and find out whether it really is UBP biased. Because of this, they leave the field open to the UBP supporters, and the site does become unbalanced.