Breezeblog

The Royal Gazette editorial today pretty much sums up why I think the vote of no confidence will fail tomorrow. If only the PLP rebels had the courage of their convictions, risk expulsion and join with the saner elements of the UBP to form a new party … but that’s wishful thinking. Dr. Brown, for all his faults, is a shrewd political operator who still wields considerable patronage and power.

On top of that he seems to be playing his usual game of “divide and rule” by playing the tired old race card.  I have never really understood why someone of his undoubted intelligence continues to resort to these low and shameful tactics when the PLP, by demographics alone, could stay in power almost indefinitely if it played its cards right.

With a little more diplomacy and tact, Dr. Brown could have come out of the Gitmo Four and other situations smelling of roses. Instead, his confrontational style only serves to be divisive – and that can’t be good for any of us.

Maybe the Premier needs to replay that DVD of The Big Conversation, an initiative for which he deserves much credit, and remember its fundamental message that conversation is a two-way thing.

It will be interesting to see who turns up to protest tomorrow and whether  Bermudians of all stripes have the balls to match those of the Premier and stand up and be counted.

At the moment, the situation seems to be playing into Dr. Brown’s hands. It will take something extraordinary to dislodge him now.

Among the many letters published by The Royal Gazette over the last few days, I thought this one from Aideen Ratteray-Pryse bears reprinting in full, given some of the racist vitriol being spun the way of the protestors by Dr Brown and Hott 107. For those of you who don’t know Aideen, she is a mixed race Bermudian whose father was Dr. Stanley Ratteray, one of The Progressive Group that successfully protested against the segregation of Bermuda theatres in the Theatre Boycott of 1959.

Insulting comparison

June 17, 2009

Dear Sir,

I write regarding the comments of Ms Laverne Furbert concerning the march on Parliament on Tuesday, June 16. Specifically, she said: “What I saw here today was a lynching party … and I tell people go and look at history books.”

Shame on you, Ms Furbert, for such blatant mis-characterisation of the event and for ignoring history yourself. As you know, “lynching” is an extralegal punishment carried out by a mob to kill a person for a supposed offence.

What you witnessed was a free and legal demonstration of freedom of expression. Your reaction reminds us once more that freedom of expression is a two-sided coin. It’s great when people say things you agree with and not so great when they don’t.

But that’s the way freedom of expression works. Ms Janice Battersbee and her group can state their opinion and you can disagree with it. What you shouldn’t do, Ms Furbert, is dishonour and insult the memory of people such as Isaac McGhie, Elmer Jackson and Elias Clayton, who actually died at the hands of a lynch mob.

A. RATTERAY PRYSE
Warwick

Organisers of Tuesday’s protest against Premier Dr Ewart Brown are staging further protests this Friday and next Friday (June 26). Time is 12:00 both days.