Progressive Minds

As many of you will know by now on Friday April 13th many industrial workers, primarily government workers downed tools to attend two meetings at Union HQ and also staged a demonstration of at least 400 workers (according to reporting) outside of the Ministry of Works and Engineering.

Here is an email to Michael Dunkley that we were copied on. I didn't catch the whole show, but did Dunkley really tell a whopper like this?

Mr. Dunkley,

Just the other day our Premier made public his plan to begin easing the traffic congestion going into and out of Hamilton during peak work hours. His ‘bold’ plan “will introduce into the Legislature amendments to the Motor Car Act to prescribe a specific number of motor cars available to the employers of ten (10) or more expatriate workers.” Whilst this may seem like a brilliant idea to some, to me it misses the mark completely.

I commented the other day on the UBP & their continual use of race race race (its tiring). Here they go again from Today's RG, Mr. Shawn Crockwell,

He said Mr. Dunkley, as a white leader, could come under attack.

"If we are still stuck in mire of what colour the leader is then we as a country are significantly behind.

"I am hoping right-minded people will look beyond the very obvious issues of colour."

Bermuda Network News is reporting that Pauulu Kamarakefago, Dr. Roosevelt Brown, has died. I'm not really sure what to say, as I'm not really very good at these sorts of things. I didn't really know Pauulu very well, I only really got to know him in the last year, although when I first joined the Party in 1998 he was by far the most genuine and nicest person I met, and I remember the first time I met him at Alaska Hall very well. Ideologically he was also very inspirational for me.

Of note yesterday the Goverment opended up a new, state of the art, recycling facility. I think that its great that this has happended and hope it is followed by sustained commitement to recycling both from the public and private sector. Below you will find the the speech that the Premier gave for the opening of the event.

I’m tired of people who have never served in the Bermuda Regiment saying how great it is for our country. Yes is nice to know that the Regiment will clear trees and fix peoples roofs after a hurricane, but at what price. My goal isn’t to besmirch the Bermuda Regiment, but to reiterate the fact that the male only conscription policy is in violation of ones human rights. Unfortunately Bermuda tolerates discrimination based on convenience. To make matters worse public officials defend conscription because “majority of Bermudians support it”.

From the presumed leader of the Oppostion in today's Royal Gazette.

“I understand they have a fleet of SUVs which follow the Premier around."

If these are the lies that come before he's elected I'd guess we're in for one hell of a slog. Just for public record the premier does NOT have a fleet of SUVs following him and rarely has police escort (it is a police SUV).

I'm sure we'll be debunking a few more 'Bermurban' Legends in the coming days.

The Premier was on HOTT 107.5 this evening for Bermuda Speaks. I didn't get to hear all of his interview, but I am going to try to get the MP3 Loaded onto the site so that people can have a listen if they like. One of the quotes which I can remember was (almost exact): "Its not our job to make the UBPs car shine, but to question whether we should have the car in the first place".

More to follow I'm sure, but i'm happy that the Premier does take questions from the listering audience on a regular basis.

I was reading the results of the polls printed in the daily paper earlier this week and was suprised to see that the UBP gets 33.8 percent of the over 55s compared to 22.8 percent favouring the PLP. When I look at what the PLP government has done for seniors its unfathomable to me that they feel this way.

It was the PLP government who:
- opened the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged
- Introduced the prescription drug benefit under HIP
- increased prescription drug benefit to $1250 annually
- Increased doctor's visits under HIP
- extended dental care services

Well the time we knew was coming, has come. Wayne Furbert, UBP Opposition Leader has tendered his resignation effective March 31. He was given the position 15 months ago, and they thought that he would be able to give them the energy and the connection to the people to take them to greater heights. Unfortunately, He was unable to give them that desired advantage. Why exactly that was the case, is not as clear.

Its so funny, while the people are 'protesting' in the street the oppposition remains SILENT on the Southlands issue. Why is this? Are they too scared to say, "We support the plan". If they have any principle, one would think that they would say one way or the other; but knowing the UBP that would not be possible.

I really wish someone in the press would get their position, it would be gratifying to know that they can actually be asked to take a stand.

I think a good compromise was made with Col Burch's decision to move the registered squatters from Club Med to the vacant staff quarters at Wyndham. The Club med squatters won't be fire hazards and a risk to themselves or others, and they won't be trespassing and therefore breaking the law. Wyndham is sitting there empty so the staff quarters will be used for something useful. Those registered squatters will be put on the BHC list and once suitable accommodation is found they will be housed.

I just want to express my pride at the Bermuda team for their performances. Today was the pinnacle so far with Malachi Jones taking the wicket on his first ball, and as a 17year old this speaks volumes for the future of our game. While India got a record amount of runs, we batted our best in the tournament so far and we have nothing to hold our heads down for.

I just wanted to clarify some details of the proposed Jumeirah Southlands resort. Many people are fearing that our drive on South Shore will be underground. In fact, some posters to the petition are decrying this government for taking the South Shore that they knew and making us drive underground and how they love to drive on the South shore etc.

There has been a lot of 'noise' made recently about our Governments decision to close the indigent care clinic in favour of providing those who use the clinic the option to see their doctor of choice. I personally feel its the right decision and watch with amusement as the UBP predictably orchestrates a 'protest' against the action. Its nice to know that the UBP thinks its a bad idea to provide people with the right that I'm sure all of their members have, and that is it allow them to see their own doctor.

This little gem was missed from Friday's Royal Gazette.

Mr. Furbert also talked about education during the meeting, admitting that the UBP was wrong to restructure the Island’s public school system while in power, creating the two senior “super schools”.

“I was part of the Government that made a decision about CedarBridge and Berkeley,” he said. “I believe we made a mistake.”

He said a UBP Government would not necessarily reverse the change but would work to cut red tape by “shrinking” the Ministry

Say what?