Progressive Minds

Charges? What charges?

Opinion by Calvin Smith

As the election campaign heats up, I am asked almost daily, “Calvin what is the PLP doing about the corruption charges? My standard reply is “What charges?” After a surprised look from my questioner, I ask again, “What charges?” Another puzzled look followed quickly by the response “Calvin, you know what I mean. I’m talking about the scandal at the Bermuda Housing Corporation.” I reply, “You’ll have to ask Michael Dunkley about that. He seems to know more about what occurred at BHC than the law enforcement officers who investigated the case.” The BHC case is the ultimate demonstration of the new UBP strategy. That is to portray the leadership of the PLP as greedy, corrupt and incompetent. The incompetence charge can be dismissed very easily. The PLP has been characterised as incompetent by the UBP ever since the party was inaugurated in 1963. It is a charge that has never required validation by the accusers. The incompetence of blacks is a well established legacy in Bermuda resulting from our long history of slavery and segregation. What is cause for deep concern is that the UBP continues to go to that well of hate and contempt to formulate its current election strategies.

In the lead-up to the 1998 election, the core of the UBP campaign was that if the PLP were elected, the international companies would flee. This was partly correct. The international companies did flee. However the flight was from wherever they were to a Bermuda led by the Progressive Labour Party.

Further, Bermuda’s own major investors have shown no fear with respect to the PLP ascendancy to power. This fact is reflected in the numerous major buildings that are growing up all over the city and elsewhere in Bermuda. This construction activity involves upgrading of existing business facilities as well as substantial investment in the creation of entirely new office and residential structures. Clearly, although the political leadership of the UBP may claim that the PLP are incompetent, the businessmen who support the UBP certainly have no fears about investing in Bermuda’s future under the PLP government. Of special interest is the fact that foremost among the willing investors in a new Bermuda is former UBP leader and Premier, Sir John Swan.

The PLP have more than justified the faith shown in them by the Business community. No sooner were the charges of corruption made by the current leader of the UBP Mr. Michael Dunkley, then premier Dame Jennifer Smith asked the governor to investigate the charges. (This approach was necessary since we are a colony and the governor in responsible for internal security). His Excellency, Sir John Verreker responded by appointing the leading officers in the field of criminal activity to look into the BHC affair. These were the Commissioner of Police, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Chief Justice.

These three men thoroughly investigated the operations of the Bermuda Housing Corporation with the assistance of officers from Scotland Yard, one of worlds most effective law enforcement agencies. After several months, the investigating officers issued their report declaring that no crime had been committed by members of the Cabinet whom the UBP had claimed were corrupt and involved in fraud. However, at least one of the three investigating officers stated that although the actions of the Cabinet Ministers were not illegal, they could be said to be unethical. The UBP lost no opportunity to run with the alleged lack of ethics and declared that the matter should be investigated by a Royal Commission.

At this point, the whole issue converts into a comedy worthy of Shakespeare. The highest ranking government officer in Bermuda is the Governor and he alone has the legal responsibility for the maintenance of Law and Order on behalf of the Government of England. As they say colloquially, “He is the man.” “The man” had investigated the involvement of cabinet members with the charges of corruption at BHC and found them guilty of no crime. The governor’s acceptance of the findings was justified since it had been carried out by the most competent legal officers operating in Bermuda assisted by Scotland Yard, the foremost law enforcement officers operating in England.

However the leader of the Opposition, Mr. Michael Dunkley, was not satisfied. He dismissed the findings of the investigative team and demanded that a Royal Commission be appointed to look into the matter. The fact that the members of the United Bermuda Party have accepted the dictates of Mr. Dunkley without question, suggests that either the membership of that party is abysmally ignorant or are willing partners in the BOLDEST FRAUD attempt in the history of the British Parliamentary System.

Did I say BOLDEST FRAUD? Yes I said that because it should be clear to all, that in order to have a Royal Commission appointed, Mr. Dunkley must apply to his Excellency, Sir John Vereker, governor of Bermuda. But if Sir John accedes to this demand, he must acknowledge that the investigative officers that he appointed were incompetent and that he, the governor, was wrong when he accepted the report of these incompetents. Surely, if Mr. Dunkley really believes that the officers appointed by the governor to investigate the BHC affair were incompetent, he should be insisting on the resignation of these officers, like his party is currently doing with respect to the Minister of Planning. After all, how can Bermudians continue to have faith in the ability of these officers, if their investigative and analytical skills are so obviously defective that the leader of the opposition is prepared to demand that Governor Sir John Vereker should reverse his original support of their findings and appoint a Royal Commission to correct their botched-up job?

This leads to the question, if Mr. Dunkley is prepared so casually to refute the decision of Her Majesty’s official representative in this colony, he must be quietly preparing to seek independence from England should his party win the next General Election. This would not be a new behaviour of the UBP. Remember, when Sir John Swan attempted to take the UBP into independence even though his party was against independence during the lead up to the general election which had just ended.

It should be obvious to any thinking person that Mr. Dunkley’s call for a Royal Commission is just one more attempt to discredit Bermuda’s most effective political leader, Premier Dr. Ewart Brown. Any student of management would recognise instantly that Dr. Brown possesses in abundance, all the key qualities of leadership: Intelligence, courage, integrity and a risk taker.

The fact that the UBP recognise these qualities in Dr. Brown explains why they are taking every opportunity to discredit him. This is not a new tactic for the UBP and their antecedents. Those of us who are close to the political scene know that this tactic has been used to destroy all persons who have dared to advocate real political change. We need only recall the continuous personal attacks on the late Dr. E. F. Gordon, that heroic advocate of fundamental change in Bermuda.

Today, Bermuda has another Doctor advocating fundamental change, the Honourable Dr. Ewart Brown. Can we expect any less destructive attacks on him than was true for Dr. E. F. Gordon? However, PLP supporters and those of us who see the need for fundamental change must take serious steps to defend Dr. Brown from the vicious attacks that will no doubt continue to be made by the opposition

...as Bermuda is now going through a rebirth and we clearly do not have the hotel room inventory, attracting cruise passengers is a way to get people to experience Bermuda and hope they will return as air arrivals when the hotel room inventory has been increased enough to accomodate them.

I am not saying for one minute that cruise passengers are the wave of the future for tourism in Bermuda but as we don't currently have the necessary rooms let's get people here.

I don't understand what your argument is because if we only focus on air arrivals and are successful where are these people going to stay?