Vexed Bermoothes

Bermuda is getting more international news coverage than ever in its history over Ewart’s Uighur farce. Most locals are just stunned by the ridiculousness of the situation. After wiping the disbelief off his face, Shawn Crockwell, the UBP’s Shadow Minister for Immigration and Labour, released some comments this afternoon:

Brown brings Guantanamo to Bermuda

Bermudians today woke up to the news that four detainees from Guantanamo Bay have been re-settled in their midst as a result of a decision by the Premier – a decision the US Attorney General said “will make America safer.”

Bermudians learned that these men will be given the opportunity to become naturalized citizens. They also learned the Governor had been informed of the decision this morning and that he was assessing its ramifications.

I can recall no other decision that so blatantly disrespects the people of Bermuda as this one.

I can recall no other decision that so publicly disrespects and challenges the Bermuda Constitution as this one.

Certainly, no other decision better captures the type of one-man autocratic rule that this Premier has been allowed by his party to exercise.

When we first heard the news we thought it was some sort of journalistic mistake, or so some sort of joke going around.

But this is no joke, and Bermuda is not amused.

How this decision was made and enacted – are matters of grave concern.

To tie Bermuda so explicitly into the world of terrorism is an extremely serious step. To do so without any consultation whatsoever is unnecessarily dangerous and unprecedented.

That the Premier folded the issue of independence into the Guantanamo decision – by challenging the governor to reverse it after making the announcement – brings a level of cynicism and manipulation into the equation that is simply appalling.

The United Bermuda Party believes in the vital importance of maintaining and growing the best possible relationship with the United States of America, but we should never do so at the expense of our own best interests.

Clearly, Bermudians should have been consulted about this decision, because it is their country, not the Premier’s to do with as he wants.

If the Premier had any respect for the people, he should have – at the least – made his statement in the House of Assembly before the elected representatives of the people?

If he respected government structure of Bermuda, at the very least he should have given the Opposition Leader prior notice as well as the Governor, who, by the Premier’s own words, was informed after the fact.

Who are we are accepting into our midst? The Premier says the four men have been cleared of terrorism charges and yet the United States will not allow them to settle there. Indeed, the US Attorney General said the transfer of the detainees to Bermuda “will make America safer” – a statement that does not give us comfort that it makes Bermuda safer.

What is the mental state of the men? When asked this question, Senator David Burch said: “Their mental state appears to be quite fine.” While we appreciate his view, we are, however, not convinced. These men have been held in Guantanamo for seven years. They may have been subject to torture.  They may be deeply angry. We do not know. Again, the government has given us no assurance that these men are psychologically ready to live and work in Bermuda.

By this Guantanamo decision, the Premier is disrespecting Bermudians across the board, reducing them to mere spectators with no say, no input into what happens in their island. He has presented us with a fait accompli. That he has done so on a matter of national security is unacceptable.

We urge all Bermudians to speak out on this issue, if for no other reason than to get this government and its Premier to respect their views and the democracy in which we live.