In the last election, the UBP had solid policy reforms and preached the gospel of unity. The problem is that their insistence on measured calmness made it sound like they were on prozac, compared to the fiery (albeit divisive) energy of the PLP campaign. So, it’s no surprise to hear the new UBP leader, Kim [...]
Entries from January 22nd, 2008
New Life for PATI
January 21st, 2008 · 1 Comment · Transparency
The Royal Gazette is trying to catalyse support to revive the “Public Access to Information” proposal – aiming to get Government to recommit to the legislation in this year’s throne speech. In 2005, Government published an excellent briefing on the subject – but actual draft legislation has not been created for public input. To his [...]
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Mirror
January 19th, 2008 · No Comments · Bermuda Politics
I’m amused by the vast attention paid by PLP supporters to the UBP’s reform conversations, ranging from duplicitous outrage to earnest concern. Folks, while the advice is appreciated, dontcha think you’d be better off dealing with the PLP’s own inadequacies of racial integration and proportional representation? I mean, really?
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Meet in the Middle
January 18th, 2008 · No Comments · Bermuda Politics
All eyes are on the UBP, which meets this weekend to consider the fate of that party. There’s a strong likelihood that a new political entity may form. The time was not right a year ago when the ABC was contemplated, but the PLP’s effective defanging of the UBP’s reform message using racial rhetoric has [...]
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Common Sense
January 18th, 2008 · No Comments · Independence
Earlier this week a senior British diplomat, Leigh Turner, said political independence is a matter entirely for the Overseas Territories, even as he said he would welcome some of them breaking ties with the United Kingdom. I guess he’s met our Premier. In response, the Caribbean’s top diplomat and CARICOM booster, Sir Ronald Sanders cautions [...]
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Taming the Robocalls
January 18th, 2008 · No Comments · Bermuda Politics
During the past election, the PLP imported a number of negative campaign tactics from the US including push polling and robocalls. Both are facing considerable criticism in the US as their election heats up – leading to incresed regulation there. A growing number of states attempt to restrict push polls so that telemarketing may not [...]
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It’s January
January 17th, 2008 · No Comments · Bermuda Politics
That means it’s time for the annual announcement: “The Bermuda Post Office (BPO) is advising customers that international mail delivery may be delayed over the next few weeks.” Why can’t they ever sort this out?
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Pep and Thizzle, hic!
January 17th, 2008 · 2 Comments · Transport
It must be a delight to be a defense lawyer in Bermuda. A Government ferry pilot was given a simple fine after running his ferry into the dock and being found two and a half times the legal limit of alcohol in his system. His lawyer’s defense: his client was a “good Christian man” who [...]
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Hott Idea
January 17th, 2008 · No Comments · Media
During WEDCo’s squeeze-out of the Bermuda Cement Company, Dr. Brown suggested that the new supplier should sell at least 20% of its shares to the “everyday Bermudian.” Why stop there? I propose that all local broadcast and news media companies should also be required to publicly list their shares. It would reduce the risk of [...]
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Burchall’s Clarity
January 16th, 2008 · No Comments · Bermuda Politics
The excellent Bermuda Sun columnist Larry Burchall speaks about the strange compromises that Bermuda makes to avoid difficult issues. January 11 “The recent outpouring of ‘racial rhetoric’ has achieved one sure success. It has allowed and enabled the almost complete obscuration of some realities [regarding, among other things, the correlation between education and success] … [...]
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