Vexed Bermoothes

Government has announced that October 13 will be a new public holiday for Bermuda National Heroes Day.
Starting in 2009, the 400th anniversary of Bermuda’s founding as a British settlement, Government will cut the traditional public holiday in June celebrating the Queen’s Birthday.
National Heroes Day will thereafter be celebrated on the second Monday in October.

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The UK FCO has repeatedly indicated that “a referendum is the preferred route” to independence by its Overseas Territories.
However, when pressed on the issue at a meeting in Cayman, Meg Munn provided a little more detail on their stance:
Mike Gapes MP, Chairman of the Committee, asked whether an overseas territory would be granted independence […]

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The Cayman Islands is updating their 1972 Constitution. Their Government just announced that the new proposed Constitution will be put to a public referendum in May, following a rigorous public consultation.
The proposals include a clause that future constitutional amendments will require a majority vote in a national referendum. Other proposals include:

The ability for […]

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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 that the […]

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Back in the 60s Bermuda led the way in constitutional reform among the British colonies.
Now, arguably, some of the laggards in that process have the opportunity to leapfrog Bermuda as they modernize their Constitution and Government.
The Cayman Islands is entering a process of constitutional reform. You can stay up-to-date at http://www.constitution.gov.ky.
Some refreshing thoughts:
We believe […]

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You may recall that last week, Dr. Brown’s official mouthpiece Glenn Jones went on the record to reassure voters that Dr. Brown’s views were “crystal clear”: the PLP would use a referendum to determine whether to pursue independence for Bermuda.
Clear as mud.
Dr. Brown went on the record today to flip flop his stance: […]

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Politics.bm highlights Dr. Brown’s evasiveness in saying that he doesn’t want independence to be an election issue. But of course it is, doctor we-had-to-deceive-you!
While in Bermuda Dr. Brown always casually says independence is on the back burner. However, the subject is front and centre in speeches during Dr. Brown’s frequent travels … delivered with every […]

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Glenn Jones, the Cabinet Office spokesman, went on the flippity-flop today saying that the PLP would use a referendum to determine whether to pursue independence for Bermuda.
While this is wonderful news, it contradicts decades of PLP policy so please forgive us if we want to hear it from the horse’s mouth as it were. Even […]

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