Progressive Minds

We all saw the tourism numbers this week. It's clear that, now more than ever, Government needs to take action to bolster the tourism industry.

This piece of venom was contributed by a UBP stalwart to one Bermuda's online message boards. It speaks for itself: "I have always wondered why so few black folks participate in the on-line debate? Is it something to do with writing skills? I don't know."

And they wonder why we think there's still racism in Bermuda.

Last week, Bermuda's Fox News created a firestorm by claiming that a so-called "gag" was in place against them from the PLP Government. They enlisted international media organisations to roundly condemn the PLP Government. The truth is, no such gag was ever ordered or ever put in place. It was another lie by The Royal Gazette. As evidence, read this quote from today's paper! ""I get the distinct impression that the Neal bill does not have the support to get through," Dr. Brown told The Royal Gazette last night."

Reposted from PLP.bm for discussion.

Like Fox News in the United States and The Sun in Great Britain, Bermuda's Royal Gazette and Mid-Ocean News are less newsgathering organizations and more proponents of a particular point of view.

Well, I don't know Ms. Matthews from Eve, but I think there's no harm in congratulating her appointment as the new Auditor General. Her CV, as reported in the media, makes her an excellent candidate, and I'm sure she'll do an excellent job of keeping the Government on its toes, whether it likes it or not! LOL

But seriously, well done to Ms. Matthews!

*The RG report is here --> http://www.royalgazette.com/siftology.royalgazette/Article/article.jsp?a...

I'd like to take time out to praise independent MP Wayne Furbert for spearheading the race apology issue. Here's what Wayne had to say...

This is an historic occasion when for the first time this Parliament can debate and pass a motion to apologise for the indignation and degradation inflicted upon generations of blacks by successive Governments of Bermuda.

Warren Buffet said that newspapers are on their deathbed. Like other failed industries it's because they failed to adapt and they saw enemies (the internet) where they should have seen allies.

I knew there was a reason I stopped buying the Royal Gazette.

http://www.plp.bm/node/1939

Oh yea, because Bill Zuill calls PLP volunteers slavish and compares the PLP to North Korea. Disturbing.

Match the quote to the author!

"We will continue to report the news fairly and accurately"
"(I am) committed solely to relaying the events fully, accurately and impartially."

Bill Zuill
Rupert Murdoch

No matter how much the UBP and their friends in the media try to stoke the flames of division, we are one PLP family. Families may disagree and argue from time to time, but, in the end, our bonds are stronger than those forces who would like to see our family torn apart.

"At a well attended regularly scheduled meeting of the Central Committee held at Alaska Hall on Monday night, the membership affirmed overwhelming support for Dr. the Hon. Ewart F. Brown, JP, MP. They expressed full confidence in his performance since his election as Party Leader."

Here's something that Stuart Hayward and BEST should be praising: today's Bermuda Sun reports that the new court building will be green. It will have solar panels, use LED light bulbs and other green building techniques. I challenge Stuart Hayward and BEST to praise the PLP Government for it's strong environmental leadership on this project.

Breaking News! Some guy idled a car in a loading zone for a few minutes. Scandal! Not only that, he allegedly stayed in the car so he could move it if he was blocking anyone. How dare he!

I can't tell you how OUTRAGED I am about this. I call on all Bermudians to join me in a march against this travesty. Let me be clear: heads need to roll. The driver should be fired immediately. And, the UBP should file a motion of no confidence in the PLP Government for allowing this travesty to happen.

Today's Royal Gazette included a biased story slamming Tourism for it's alliance with PIX TV in New York. The article suggests that Tourism should have partnered up with another local TV station.

Did anyone see the photo caption in today's BDA Sun? They call Glenn Blakeney a "Ghetto Star."

We give example after example of subtle racism and so many Bermudians still choose to stick their heads in the sand and pretend that racism doesn't exist here. Imagine the outcry in America if a newspaper caption in the States called Barack Obama a ghetto star. It would be huge. The article is great, but, the caption is uncalled for. And, it's sadly unsurprising that Bermuda's blogs have been silent on this issue.

It's a consensus in the environmental community that high density development is preferable to low density development. There are a number of reasons for this. High density development accommodates more people in less land than low density development. This allows us to conserve more green space. High density buildings are, generally speaking, more energy efficient. They also encourage walking, biking and car sharing because the homes of your friends and family can be closer to you. High density developments also become focal points for efficient public transportation.

In what could be a Hardy Boys novel...who planted the fake cheques.
The RG has reported that Chief Architect for W&E was arrested and released on bail for investigation into the fake cheques. I am sure readers know that cheques were found made payable to Dr Brown and Derrick Burgess, implying that they were paid funds from companies involved in the new Court Building. These cheques were found to be falsified and neither Dr Brown nor Minister Burgess received funds. The Police subsequently have arrested Mr. Brady, the Chief Architect. Interesting turn of events.

Lynne Winfield in today's BDA Sun...

In the first two parts of this series, published on March 25 and April 1, I wrote about why it is that white people and people of colour have different perspectives about the current status of race relations and why diversity training is only the first step in the process of understanding how structural racism continues to manifest itself in our society.

Part II focused on the "white business model" and true life examples of structural racism in Bermuda.

Did anyone see Bob Richards' subtly racist comment in today's paper? He said:

"I find it amazing that Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man are in the top group and we are not," Mr. Richards said. "It's incredible. From my own knowledge of the Isle of Man, the only reason for anyone to be there is for tax reasons. Maybe it's because they're more British than we are."

The UBP doesnt seem to respect their newest MP, Charlie Swan.

Swan is referred to on their website as Senator Charlie Swan, Shadow Minister for Technical Education.

However, Swan has been an MP since December when he won the bye-election in Southampton West Central. Do they have such little respect for Swan that they cannot even get his title correct?

I must say I am very happy that the government has compiled this group of business leaders, spanning all segments of society to protect our financial viability. We are obviously going through a trying time that most people have not experienced before. Therefore there will be trial and error. I think one thing we definitely need to recognize is that we no longer can rely on international business as our sole industry.