Progressive Minds

Since the unfortunate death of Minister Nelson bascome, this seat has been vacant however on Aug 27th the voters will have their choice as to his replacement. Who will this be?
This seat has been a PLP stronghold since party politics. In the last 2 elections, Nelson bascome won the vote of 93% and 87% of the electorate. Amazing statistics.

Minister Bascome was from that community, of that community, and gave back to that community. His shoes are mighty big, and whoever tries to fill them will need to come with the similar goods.

While the title may be a bit of an exaggeration, Senator Michael Fahy has clearly demonstrated either a lack of reading skills, or lack of comprehension skills in his criticisms of the Auxiliary Bicycle Bill that is to be brought before the House today.

The bill clearly states that to be able to ride an auxiliary cycle, a person will have to complete Project Ride, and that from the age of 16-18 they will not be able to tow another passenger. In addition, they will not be able to ride on the roads between 1am and 5am.

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.

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.

I understand there are many reasons, both emotional and practical for being a supporter or opposer to Bermuda's independence.

I wonder however, with the possibility that the Prime Minister of UK Gordon Brown might put us on his hit list, isn't it ironic that the country that is supposed to protect is might very well throw us under the bus? Shouldnt they be working to protect our reputation as we have?

So why stay dependent to a country that may have no interest in defending out reputation and economy?

Just a thought.

In 2007 prior to the general election the then Opp Leader Michael Dunkley blasted the PLP Govt for creating CITV, an outlet to show bermudian culture etc. Before even giving the channel a chance, he decried that if elected, he would shut down CITV.
Obviously being out of the spotlight has been good for the former Leader, turned Senator. He has actually tuned into CITV and seen what the Government and the rest of Bermuda has seen from inception. In 2007 what we had was a typical knee-jerk reaction to a Government initiative. At long last, a UBP politician has admitted his fault.

From the RG -

At a ceremony on the Cabinet grounds today Park Hyatt signed a management agreement with hotel developer Carl Bazarian to run a new hotel at the old Club Med site.

While Park Hyatt had previously been linked with the proposed $294 million five star hotel the signing, which was witnessed by golfer Nick Faldo and Premier Dr. Ewart Brown, formalises the deal after other hotel projects have been hit by the credit crunch.

Mr. Bazarian said work would begin next year and the hotel should be ready by the first quarter of 2012 or even late 2011.

I think currently not only in Bermuda, but in the world, there is extreme concern over the financial situation(s).

The US economy has hit the skids, the European economy is having challenges.

The ramifications of these issues will be far-reaching. Countries may have to resort to alternative methods of income to maintain a quality of life.

In Bermuda, we may not escape unscathed. We have already seen tourism numbers begin to decline. However, to our benefit the numbers weren’t as bad as projections and we anticipate steady numbers next year.

St. George’s Police Station-

Promise made, promise kept…During the election campaign of 2007, the PLP government promised to refurbish the St. George’s police Station and to ensure that the police presence in St. George’s would be restored.

There is another e-mail being circulated regarding the Ministry of Tourism’s decision to outsource its sales function in the New York offices.

Bermudians should be aware of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Bermuda Government and the Bermuda Public Services Union (1st October 2005 – 30th September 2008) states as follows:

Article 27: Advance Notice
Technological & Other Changes/Privatisation/Contracting Out – Consultation

Elitism – A Figment of Some People’s Imagination
by LaVerne Furbert

In my opinion, the talk of the PLP becoming elitist is a figment of some people’s imagination, especially those who have gone public on the subject recently, in particular those people who purpose to be members of the Progressive Labour Party.

Dear Readers,

The following letter was published in the Bermuda Sun on Friday, July 11, 2008. Maybe you might want to share it with your friends and neighbours.

Dear Sir,

The campaign in which you and the Gazette have united against Dr. Brown is a psychologist's dream.

The application of the term elitist to a successful black man is so instructive. Until Jennifer Smith, Premiers had no need of an official residence because their own homes were far grander than anything the government could provide. I do not recall any of them being labeled elitist.

The following was posted on the Bermuda Sun website by LaVerne Furbert in response to Tom Vesey’s column in last Friday’s (June 20, 2008) Bermuda Sun entitled “Don't let Paula Cox off the hook”

The ridiculous notion of PLP Elitism

Bermuda College lecturer and ‘economist’ Craig Simmons has branded the PLP as elitist for not dealing with the plight of the common man, and for not introducing policies and programs to deal with what he believes to be the increasing poverty rate in Bermuda.

I can agree with Mr. Simmons that there is increased poverty in Bermuda, and that there are many Bermudians that are struggling. However I find it hard to believe that the PLP and its ‘elitism’ have encouraged this dynamic.

When the Voter Rights Association asks the UK to ban the "black power salute", will they show them a picture of Dr Brown, or will they show this one as well?

This picture was taken by Chris Burville, and published in the Royal Gazette on May 5, 2008.

Please see below.

“In response to the many reports in the Royal Gazette regarding the Premier’s decision to withdraw Government advertising in that paper, this letter was sent to the editor of that paper on April 21, 2008 and to date the letter has not been printed. Although Bill Zuill, editor of the Royal continues to write about the “people’s right to know”, it is obvious that he believes that the people only have a right to know certain things.” LaVerne Furbert

On some other blogs, and on facebook, there have been comments that by the Bermuda government enacting National Heroes Day for October 13 this year and the 2nd Monday in October going forward, and removing the Monday holiday in June for the Queen's Birthday and setting it for the Saturday, that this government is being disrespectful to the Queen. On another website it is hinted that the government is once again one step from independence by removing every connection with Britain possible.

Today, the Premier & Minister of Tourism & Transport, Dr. the Hon. Ewart Brown, announced the partnership between the department of Tourism and the New York Mets to promote our destination. Most of our visitors come from this region of the US, and with Bermuda's location only 1 1/2 hours away it seems like prime opportunity to increase our share.

Yesterday the Premier, Dr. the Hon. Ewart Brown announced the deal for the Club Med property. Bazarian International will develop the property which will house the Park Hyatt hotel.
This should be welcome news to the St. George's community. This government has laboured long and hard to find a suitable replacement for this property and it should bode well for the Eastern End of the island.