Progressive Minds

Because I believe that, if asked, we SHOULD take in INNOCENT Uighur refugees.

The problem is, this question wasn't asked of anyone, nor has it been established that they ARE, in fact, innocent, nor has it been established if we are in a position to offer these people British Citizenship, which is ostensibly what we are doing.

I have to seriously ascertain if this Government thought about the social, economical, cultural and political ramifications in deciding this? These guys can be innocent, but any person from any walk of life and who holds any point of view from these last botched up 8 years, knows this is a World Controversial Issue!

So far, President Obama's biggest embarrassment came from his own Democratic majority congress on this issue. The US Congress voted against providing funds to close Gitmo because of Obama and Rahm Emanuel's poor thought-out plans. And here we, Bermuda on June 11, 2009 decided to take part in this process? The G7 nations who supported the war and implementation of Gitmo should be handling this! Not the smaller nations who are risking more to lose because of their size, un-diversified economies and limited trades!!

I bet our IB CEO's this afternoon had recieved calls from their board members, investors and international press to ask about their future safty of investment, employee expats and families, and the way of doing business in a country that now accepts Gitmo former detainees on its streets. What screening processs we have in place? Again these four guys can be innocent and we know for a fact some detainees are victims of the US's profiling agenda, but let the bigger nations and the US handle this.

And to suggest the reason for taking them is because we are a friendly society and is currently celebrating a centuries old relationship with the US, is really puppy cock at best! This isn't an issue of national importance! If Premier Brown used this to score points with Obama in getting assurance that Bermuda won't be affected by tax code and legislative changes is indeed disappointing. Maybe now are biggest fear isn't Washington DC, but because of this decision IB's are really looking at an exit strategy. The sad part on this issue is the end result cannot be seen by Government or those against its decision so why take this unnecessary risk?

Also to add, why would Government think Bermudians will get over this decision when in most cases the Government has a hard time trying to build affordable housing in some neighborhoods that are defiant to not let fellow Bermudians live? This proves Bermudians has a certain mindset and something like this is a NO NO!

I strongly support my party and Government but I believe this is political suicide.

The people should have been notified and IB & Tourism heads, should have had input.

S. Brown,

I see your point, but working in the IB environment like anywhere else, these people/heads have political views to. Companies develop political risk analysis based on what the BDA Government is doing. This can affect future talent from wanting to work in Bermuda which will place businesses in a tough situation after current work permits are up. Possible start ups that are looking at the island might now have focus somewhere else. These questions you can't easily put to the side. I think because we obtained leverage with DC for this doesn't mean there isn't no downside. The way how this was handled is a major case of errors & omissions. The focusing on humanitarian need is ok but focus on other areas were disregarded. If we want to do anything humanitarian send funds for the sheltering of them somewhere else.

Good dialogue is needed on this issue.