Not only did Dr. Brown not notify the UK that the Uighurs were coming until their plane was about to land, apparently he vaguely called them refugees without any mention of the United States or Guantanamo Bay that would have set the diplomatic alarm bells ringing. From the UK, where they have real parliamentary questions [...]
Entries from June 23rd, 2009
Official State Media
June 23rd, 2009 · Comments Off · Media
I may not have gotten a Christmas card, but I did get the nifty “alternative media” postcard from Government this week. Shucks, they forgot to include Hott on the list of official PLP/Government news sites. Hott: Where the Senators Spin.
Tags:HOTT
Bermerica
June 22nd, 2009 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics, Islands
The ever anxious Bermuda rumour mill is floating the idea that King Ewart and the PLP have been toying with the idea of “changing teams” from the UK to the US. (I have no idea if the rumour has any substance.) Some say this might make sense as our economic and social links today are [...]
Tags:Free Association
Cake and Eating It Too
June 22nd, 2009 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics, Independence, Islands
Last week, the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation (aka the Special Committee of 24) approved its annual resolution by which the UN General Assembly would reaffirm that there was no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which was a fundamental human right. The Special Committee of 24 defines self-determination as free association with an [...]
Tags:TCI·Turks & Caicos
Three Line Whip
June 22nd, 2009 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics
Both of Bermuda’s parties were under a “three line whip” for the vote of no confidence concerning Dr. Brown’s controversial leadership. What’s that mean? Under the Westminster tradition, each party has a “whip” responsible for coordinating the votes of its members. This is traditionally reflected in a memo sent to MPs (called The Whip) where [...]
Tags:House of Assembly
Countrymen
June 22nd, 2009 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics
There is some vocal support for Dr. Brown’s Great Uighur Misadventure from his adopted countrymen. However, most Bermudians don’t concur. The Rev. Al Sharpton is in Bermuda again and said the following words in support of the Premier: “If you come out of the ghetto, like I did, you worry afterwards whose mess it was [...]
Tags:Spin Doctor
A Catastrophe For Bermuda
June 20th, 2009 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics
The motion in the House of Assembly failed by 22-11 (two UBP MPs failing to vote). The sole consequence for Dr. Brown is that Dale Butler resigned from Cabinet as a statement of protest. Shame on you lost souls that placed party before country, self-interest before your community. Unless they resolve this internally, the PLP [...]
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Motion Being Debated
June 19th, 2009 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics
They have started debating the motion of no confidence in Dr. Brown. The Speaker tried to change the motion to: “That this house has no confidence in the Government and deplores the actions of the Premier in relation to the Uighurs matter” or something like that. It finally ended up as “That this honourable house [...]
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Protest
June 19th, 2009 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics
A large crowd despite the weather. Very calm and respectful – but forcefully stating that it’s time to have an accountable Government. Lots of politicians popping out to the balcony to assess the crowd. Even if the motion against Dr. Brown fails, I hope they heard the message: enough of this constant circus! As the [...]
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Not Business as Usual
June 19th, 2009 · 2 Comments · Bermuda Politics
My BFF Tigga exhorts: “enjoy ur little spat – but come monday – its business as usual”. First off, isn’t it telling that the only people speaking out in favour of Dr. Brown are either distant foriegners whose primary interest is the closure of Guantanamo. They know or care nothing about Bermuda. Either that, or [...]
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