Bermuda is on the verge of either destruction or greatness. Unopposed by any formidable opposition the Progressive Labour Party have been handed absolute power and continue to abuse it, though there are glimmers of hope. Unopposed by a common foe factions of the PLP are rising to oppose each other. Increasingly ideals, values and principles seemingly forgotten which once laid at the heart of the party are again bubbling to the surface with relevance. Bermuda is on a dangerous precipice, absolute power corrupts and yet we can hope that greatness will rise from within. Hopefully more will realize that winning uncontested isn’t really winning if you’re not moving things forwards.
21Square
20.6 sq mi, some 65,773 people, on a string of islands in the middle of the atlantic. – Bermuda
Sad to say I agree with you D. Hope the ship somehow rights itself.
It’s hard to reconcile statements from the PLP where they say that they desire a strong opposition, yet say that they want to destroy the UBP. I think they’d rather have the UBP remain relevant but not a threat, so they can run the same campaign every term.
Mind you, a PLP that’s completely in charge (as they’re at the verge of being) almost certainly runs the risk of self-destruction.
That’s namely why I’ve been supportive of this situation we’re in now as it is the only thing I see as possible of actually bringing change. If the UBP or BDA become relevant than the PLP will be able to keep up the same charade, ignore the issues, cast aside ideals and continue us on the path to destruction.
The UBP was largely the glue that holds the PLP together. Since the UBP and BDA are largely irrelevant at present and are due to split the white vote the PLP is left uncontested, the PLP are left without a common enemy to unite factions and silence dissidence.
I think what we’ll see next election is that since the PLP are highly likely to be seen as guaranteed to win that turnout from PLP supporters could hit an all time low as there will no longer be a need to vote against the UBP. It could also open the door for PLP supports to become highly critical of the PLP and start demanding the real changes that were promised pre-1998 and the changes that have been needed since then.
It also opens the door for factions of the PLP to rise up and attempt to claim power on their own. If they have the prospect of controlling a small majority of seats on their own you may see the PLP splinter into multiple parties themselves, especially if Brown ultimately renegs on his promise to step down or other divisions rise between the upcoming contenders for party leadership.
Ultimately we’re at a turning point, we’re either on the path to destruction or greatness. Unfortunately unless you’re in the position to directly influence our course it seems we’ve got little choice but to wait and see what happens. That and take a seat near a lifeboat in-case the captains of Titanic Bermuda continue to ignore that we’re headed for an iceberg and that our ship isn’t as unsinkable as we’d like to believe.