Should the UBP disband?

Disbanding the UBP to create a new party would have little impact, however, what of disbanding to yield independent representatives? Would it end this historical battle of Us vs. Them and free our people to focus on real issues? Should the UBP give the PLP what they've always wanted and disband for the betterment of Bermuda's future?

Regardless of any new form the UBP takes, it is likely existing UBP members or those who have ties to the UBP will still be painted with a UBP brush. Just as any new individuals who run as a part of the UBP or as part of a party created out of former UBP members would also be. Thus would creating a new party of any name composed of former UBP members be fruitless?

However, should the UBP split into independents and allow each independent to only represent themselves, vote every vote on conscience and not be required to toe any line; could this make it harder to target the opposition as 'them' and open the door to independents in the community who want no ties to either the UBP or PLP and just care about making a difference to step forward with a fighting chance?

Could it also create the ability for PLP dissidents to not have to cross the floor to make a difference? They could instead leave the party, stand as independents and not require allegiances to anyone in order to retain their seat. They could support PLP motions they believe in, and vote against those they don't. Could such a move even break down the PLP's party line? Does this contrasts today's situation where individuals must toe the party line and if they don't cross the floor they are nearly guaranteed to be marginalized by the UBP/PLP divide and lose their seat. Thus, despite how internally divided the PLP may be, as long as the UBP exists will the PLP and it's supporters always be united in opposition to the UBP?

Would independents work? If it worked before the PLP and UBP existed than why not now? Would it be possible for independents to publically, transparently and openly vote on every issue based upon either their own conscience or the believed desires of those they represent? Could they not back PLP proposals they believe in and oppose those they don't? Would they also be more able to propose or sponsor legislation with the potential for PLP members to join in supporting it without marked as traitors?

Could the disbanding of the UBP spell an end to party politics? Would the end of party politics be what we need most in order to achieve true progress away from focusing on Us vs. Them? Would it move our people closer towards unity and closer to a focus on debating real issues as opposed to focusing on who is who?

Does the UBP's very existance make it impossible for this endless historical battle to ever end and thus would disbanding finally cause people to focus on the issues? Would we be better off with an opposition composed of independents? Thus should the UBP give PLP supporters what they've always wanted and disband in the best interests of Bermuda and it's people?

Fool me once...

"There are others such as IT companies that are small anyhow their workforce is non-Bermudian."

This was a comment made by Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Wayne Perinchief in todays royal gazette as for why the proposed workforce equity act is needed; especially to apply to companies under 40 people. Unfortunately Minister Perinchief hasn't been in communication with the immigration department as, if he had, he'd know that the vast majority of advertisements for IT jobs go unanswered by Bermudians. Not only are companies having a hard time finding capable Bermudians for IT positions, they're having a hard time finding non-Bermudians willing to come here.

IT is a perfect example of why this act is ill concieved. Bermudians were generally very late to be exposed to computers and the internet due to their high cost and difficulties of our location and infrastructure. When combined with the sad reality of economic disparities between the races, the likelyhood of blacks generally having the same experience with computers as generally wealthier whites is sadly minimized. Does this mean there are no blacks skilled in IT? Of course not, there are many, however the expectation that there are enough to meet the proposed equality measures is beyond far reaching.

Despite this disparity in exposure, our government has expressed little interest in making IT, computers and strong exposure to internet and technology more accessable for Bermudians of tomorrow. Instead, focusing most on disadvantaged Bermudians of yesterday who are victims of the same lack of foresight we're witnessing today. This lack of foresight and unwillingness to recognize and address the prime causes of disparities between the races is largely what people are up in arms over with regards to the present efforts of our leadership.

It is this blindness that leaves many wondering whether our present leadership truly understands the implications of what they are proposing or if this is simply the latest in racially motivated electioneering tactics designed to fool the electorate into thinking they have our best interests at heart.

As the saying goes. 'Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me'. Are we again being played the fool?

Milkman short on deliveries?

According to a recent interview with UBP chairman Shawn Crockwell for The Royal Gazette, the UBP has outlined a few more promises to go along with their pandering to the taxi drivers.

     100 new homes a year for 5 years

     Free daycare for single parents

     20% of government contracts will go to small business.

 

100 new homes a year

Only 100?  Surely they can do better.

According to the UBP's own 2004 Budget Reply, the annual additions to the housing stock have been extraordinary low for some time despite steady growth in demand due to international business.

In order to compensate for the lack of new developments in during it's terms in office, the PLP has been introducing housing projects recently at a staggering pace.

According to A piece of de rock: Providing homes for Bermudians, the following developments are planned or partially completed.

12 units at Butterfield lane

16 units at Anchorage lane

38 units at Perimeter lane

100 units at Rockaway for seniors

108 units at Harbour View Village

54 units at Westcott Lane

100 rental units at Ireland Island

96 units at Loughlands

So where the UBP's promise last election was to provide 100 new homes a year for 5 years, the PLP has managed to match and exceed this, at least in principle, by planning and constructing 524 new homes/apartments prior to the next election, many of which may be complete should the election not be called until the full limit of the PLP's present term.

The PLP may have been weak on promises during the campaign in the last election but you can't really argue with results (though tardy) given that they're looking to meet the same benchmark as set by the UBP in their own campaign.

When 500 families are suggested to have put their names on the list for homes at Loughlands alone, may I ask if the 100 new homes a year is lowball offer from the UBP to the electorate?  Can they not do better?

 

Free daycare

Here's a glaring question.  Why free daycare for only single parents?  Is the UBP not willing to promote assistance for stable familes as only broken families needs support?  If a family of two parents still can't make ends meet should they not also be entitled to free day care?  Should all families not be able to apply for free daycare subject to a means test as opposed to only single parents?

Also, what is meant by a "means" test?  Do they mean Black families only?  Or restricted by income level?  Or how about those who are forced to work 3 jobs as a means to be able to provide for their children and thus don't have adequate time to properly raise their children?

 

Government Contracts

So 20% of government contracts will go to small business?  How do you define that?  20% of what exactly?  20% of overall value?  20% of the number of projects? 

Can we not also have a more transparent bidding process that publishes the results of why specific businesses were chosen?  The last thing I want to see is another massive project being assigned to a small business with very little experience in the industry simply because it's a small business. 

What will the UBP be doing to ensure that awarding of government contracts is a fair process that treats all Bermudians as equal and does not favor friends of politicians over those who truly deserve the work?  Also, what kind of transparency will be awared to ensure that a contract isn't given to a middle man simple so that they can cover up the fact that he is sub contracting to friends of politicians?

 

Drop the Zimbabwe references

Oh, and finally, drop the Zimbabwe References Mr. Crockwell.

"But this is not Zimbabwe where you can take property from Tucker's Town and give it to another segment. We have to be pragmatic as we move forward."

Let's remember that pragmatic has multiple meanings and take into consideration Tucker's Town's founding before making such statements.

Via dictionary.com:

prag·mat·ic   (prāg-māt'ĭk)  Pronunciation Key
adj.  

1. Dealing or concerned with facts or actual occurrences; practical.
2. Philosophy Of or relating to pragmatism.
3. Relating to or being the study of cause and effect in historical or political events with emphasis on the practical lessons to be learned from them.
4. Archaic
   1. Active; busy.
   2. Active in an officious or meddlesome way.
   3. Dogmatic; dictatorial.

n.  

1. A pragmatic sanction.
2. Archaic A meddler; a busybody.

Collie Buddz is bigger than Ewart

It is sometimes surprising that people forget that Bermuda is the equivalent of a small town, especially our Premier.  Collie Buddz is better known internationally than our Premier.  He isn't just a Bermudian sensation, he's becoming an international sensation with his name and his music being known all over.  The Premier's apparent attempt to jump on his bandwagon by doing a cameo at his show isn't anything that will garner support from the youth.  That kind of publicity works for Presidents who preside over hundreds of millions, but in a small town of 65000 you'd be more likely to see the local mayor buying a ticket and walking around amongst the people enjoying the concert sans bodyguards.

If the Premier wants to garner support from the youth, cameos are not where it's at.  He would have gotten an incredible amount of support had he simply bought a ticket and wandered around, even with a bodyguard.  People would have been talking for days.  "Did you know the Premier like's Collie Buddz?"  "Ya, I saw him walkin around at de concert, people wouldn't even leave him alone to enjoy de show".  Instead, what we're probably going to hear for the next week is "Can you believe the Premier tried to ruin the Collie Buddz concert?"  "What was with the t-shirt?"

That little stunt may well have killed the youth vote.  I just wish Collie Buddz hadn't said "fuck politics".  Just because we've got a poor load of politicians today doesn't mean we shouldn't care about the future we'll soon inherit because for all the Bermudians who don't make it big, it's all we have to look forward to.

Collie Buddz doesn't like your politics either

Just under a couple weeks ago the admin on the Progressive Minds blog bashed the UBP's young united group for having attempted to claim some credit in helping to arrange a local Collie Buddz concert.

"That latest shameful attempt to campaign by the UBP (hop on the back of a Reggae Artist name Collie Buddz) has backfired in such a grand way. Seems that Mr. Colin Harper isn't a fan of those Haterz over there in MilkWorld..."

So how funny is it that Premier Brown turned around to apparently make an appearance at the Collie Buddz concert to the sound of booing.  Did this shameful attempt to campaign by the PLP backfire in such a way that Collie Buddz was able to spin it against the PLP and the shameful nature of Bermuda politics in general?

Why we need young politicians

Onion, of the New Onion blog writes:

"When I see 20 year old candidates, twentysomething Senators who live with their parents… it makes me go “hmm - how, exactly are they supposed to understand life?” (not to mention “how are they representing labour when they have never worked to support themselves?”)"

Personally I fail to see how 60+ year olds, generations removed, can understand what the life of a 20 year old today is like and this is why I believe we should have more young representatives.  Despite their lack of wisdom and experience, what young people do bring to the table is a different perspective, one significantly lacking in people who are more 'set in their ways', often the old ways.

In Bermuda, unless you come from a privelidged background, it is entirely unrealistic to live in a $3000 a month studio apartment and expect to get ahead in Bermuda. It comes at little surprise to me that many youth are forced to live at home up to later ages, especially aspiring politicians.

"There are no 30 year old Statesmen for a good reason. "

Incorrect, many great politicians halved started young and kept going. There have been many successful young politicians who became great statesmen.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy happened to became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives at the age of 30.  William Pitt the Younger became Prime Minister of Britain at the age of 24.  According to USA today, as of 2004 there were more than 800 politicians from city council up to Congress under the age of 35

Of the 20 most recent American presidents, 12 won their first elected office before age 35.  Notably, Theodore Roosevelt was 24 when he won a New York State Assembly seat. Former President Bill Clinton was Arkansas attorney general at 30.

Young politicians think further into the future. They look ahead 20 or 50 years because they will still be alive then, it is their future they are planning for and are more concerned with the long term picture than simply the next election like many older politicians.

"That is at least one major reason why I won’t consider running in an election and also publish this blog generally anonymously - it’s going to be years before I can be sure that I have the integrity and experience necessary to be the most effective I can be in a world of conflicting opinions, different viewpoints, personality conflicts, and a generally shared long-term aim to do the best for Bermuda (with notable exceptions)."

Nothing personal Onion, but integrity is not speaking while hiding behind the curtain. Integrity is standing in front of the crowd willing to speak for and stand behind what you believe in. Experience is learning from the mistakes you make along the way.

Oscar Wilde may have once said it best "I'm not young enough to know everything".  Allow me to continue his words by suggesting that we should not let the ignorance of our youth be a deterrent to changing our island for the better for we're still young enough to believe that we can always do better.

If anything, we don't have enough politicians under the age of 30.

UBP catering to the Taxi industry, not the electorate

The UBP's pledges to the taxi industry are intriguing to say the least.  By no means do I think that the taxi industry shouldn't get it's fair shake, but I hold little support for an industry who, as a whole, offers terrible service to my constituency.

It is bad enough that many taxi drivers balk at me when I tell them I'd like a ride to St. David's, let alone the costs of nearly $30 or more to catch a taxi home after a night in town.  The prospect of a 5% increase, a review of "shared rides" and premium rates for late night hours just make it worse.

Where are the changes to the taxi industry that benefit the electorate?  I'm tired of having to call up a taxi company and give directions on where to go.  I've been to places like Toronto and London and taxi drivers there either know the city inside and out or they count on "real" GPS solutions.  It is absolutely ridiculous that one should have to give directions on a 21 square mile island.  I'm also tired of being told that I can't be served because I live way out in the country, which here in Bermuda is not all that far.

What guarantees will the UBP give the people that the taxi service will improve?  Will they commit to doing random spot checks to ensure that taxi's do pickups within a reasonable amount of time and serve all destinations?  Will there be fines and penalties implemented for those who refuse service?

According to the article in the Bermuda Sun: 

The "range of measures" that the Opposition UBP says it will bring in if elected comes two months after Mr. Dunkley held an open meeting with taxi drivers and a day after the Bermuda Sun reported that disgruntled taxi drivers are vowing not to drive PLP supporters to polling stations to vote as they did in the 1998 election.

This sounds allot like the UBP is pandering to the disgruntled taxi drivers to buy votes at a convenient time without providing a well thought out plan that will also assist the electorate.  Is it becomming increasingly apparent that it's election season and suddenly politicians are waking up to realize they need to serve the voting community?

Mr. Dunkley, what will you be doing for St. David's islanders and the rest of the electorate who are fed up with poor service?

No class or professionalism.

Jamahl Simmons displays no class or professionalism in his switch back into the PLP.   Months ago when he left the UBP he launched scathing attacks and criticism on the party claiming that racism is the reasoning for why Erwin Adderley was chosen over him for his Pembroke West branch.  As I don't recall him ever naming names many of the attacks came off as personal and unsubstantiated, though they could not be dismissed easily as there may have been truth to his words.

So now after a few months of being an independent he has spun around the rejoin the PLP all while launching scathing personal attacks on UBP chairman Shawn Crockwell.  Noone could claim Shawn Crockwell as perfect, however one should recognize that having paid his debt to society and worked hard to find means to rise above his faults to become an upstanding member of his society, he deserves respect without the resurrection of his past every time someone wants to take a cheap shot.  Apparently it is Jamahl's implication that all criminals are forever guilty regardless of the time they spend in jail.  If that's the case than perhaps he should take a look at the party he's joining, for clearly it is not without it's own rehabilitated individuals who deserve that same respect.

The only thing Jamahl's latest attacks bring into question is the validity of his claims with regards to the UBP.  What he has done is made it ever more clear that he is more interested in personal vendettas than setting things right.  If Shawn Crockwell had truly proclaimed him lazy than the best rebuttal would have been to prove him wrong through action, not petty retorts lacking real substance.

10% extra, same great price

Christian Dunleavey over at Politics.bm has a really great quote when it comes to blogging and how timid our local media is at asking hard questions and getting real answers.

Thaao may be playing a character, but I'm not. I don't make money from this, I have no corporate boss to tell me what to do, and no advertisers to please. I say what I say because it needs to be said, and our timid media is missing a huge swath of political coverage, may the chips fall where they may.

The issues I write about (accountability, racial tolerance, good governance, modernizing Parliament) are ones that are fundamental to a properly functioning democracy. I make no apologies for that, whether Thaao thinks it's sincere or not.

Well said.

Bruce Gordon's accountability ladder

Through the magic of youtube I got to watching a number of clips of this years American State of the Black Union from back in February.  One particularly compelling clip was that of Bruce Gordon, former President and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as he described the distinction between personality led organizations and process led organizations and their inherent success.

His words on this speak for themselves and are a key indication of the predicament we find ourselves within in our own country.  We rely far too heavily on personality led politics when we should be striving for process and proper planning.

One other thing I picked up on from this clip was in the comments where there was a plea for a link to his other comments regarding an accountability ladder.  Though I've been unable to find a copy of the video, I was able to find a breakdown of this concept recorded on a blog post:

Bruce Gordon, President of the NAACP and a true Black leader, elaborated on what he called an “accountability ladder.” Dr. Gordon described the ladder as an eight rung progression of accountability. The lower four rungs are where those with a “victim mentality” reside; the top four are occupied by “Accountable” or “Empowered” people.

-Victim Mentality-

8. Unconscious/unaware of their situation or problem.

7. Blaming others for their current state.

6. Can’t do anything about it, so why try?

5. Wait and hope the problem is taken care by itself or others.

-Accountable People-

4. “I messed up.” (Admit mistakes)

3. Find a solution.

2. Ask for help, but be willing to go it alone.

1. Make it happen.

From a young age my father used to tell me, "the only person who can stop you from achieving what you truly want is yourself".  For a man who went from being a poor St. David's bye that people laughed at for proclaiming he'd become a pilot to one who is recognized by the United Nations as one of a handful of international experts in aviation, I am incredibly thankful to have been taught to live in the upper rungs of the accountability ladder.  I just wish there were more Bermudians willing to as well.