Vexed Bermoothes

The UBP has tabled a motion of no confidence in the Premier.  Under the Bermuda Consitution, this would remove the Premier from office, leaving the Governor to appoint a new Premier who has majority support in the House of Assembly.  The motion would not remove the PLP from Government.

A vote of all UBP MPs, plus 5 from the PLP/Independent would carry the motion.

Typically a motion such as this would be voted upon two weeks after being tabled. Understandably, the Premier’s team are pursuing all options to keep that from happening.  He could object to the language in the motion, he could stuff the agenda with other matters (which would be ironic given the paucity of parliamentary activity of late), or he could even push the House into summer recess (subject to a vote).

The Opposition’s House Leader comments:

“There are two important points to note about the no confidence motion tabled Friday: the motion was presented to the Speaker and approved by him before it was introduced; and it was tabled with the support of the House of Assembly. No one objected when my colleague Kim Swan introduced it, as they could have.  We have since learned that the Premier’s team will try to kill the motion before it is debated. We would urge the Speaker to resist the pressure and ensure that Parliamentary debate is not thwarted.”

It is clear that there is considerable public discontent regarding the leadership of Dr. Ewart Brown.  The Speaker (although currently drawn from the PLP ranks) has a strong responsibility to be impartial in conducting the affairs of the House.  He must facilitate the debate of this motion as soon as possible, so that Bermuda can clear the air and get our Government back to work.