The idea of independence is currently unpopular in Bermuda … and has declined consistency as the scandals have mounted surrounding Dr. Brown’s leadership.  The Uighur incident allows Dr. Brown to push independence – both literal and de facto – without any public mandate.

The whole affair raises many questions about governance in Bermuda.

Under Bermuda’s Constitution, the UK maintains control over Bermuda’s foreign affairs and external security working in consultation with the Bermuda Government.  Moreover, the UK has control of naturalisation in Bermuda.  The UK was purposefully cut out out of this transfer by both the Bermuda and US Governments.

In short, I believe Dr. Brown did not have the legal right to undertake the commitments he has taken on Bermuda’s – or the UK’s – behalf.  And from the perplexed reaction on the street, he certainly does not have the moral right nor popular support.

1. The Bermuda Government knows the constitutional arrangements.  It speaks VERY BADLY about Bermuda that our own Government will openly defy our constitution.  It says that our Government is run by personal agenda rather than rule of law.
2. From his quotes in the local media, it appears that US Consul General to Bermuda Greg Slayton knew of the Uighur transfer. Mr. Slayton is also well aware of Bermuda’s constitutional arrangements as well as Dr. Brown’s ongoing skirmishes with Government House.  Did he inform the US State Department of this background? If so, it would be clear that the US did actively snub the UK by not engaging them in the discussion.  Moreover, it could be argued that the US abetted the political destabilisation of a neighbouring country in its clamour to solve its Guantanamo problem.
3. Local media alleges that not even the local Cabinet was informed of the transfer.  It’s hard to talk about “collective responsibility” when important decisions like this are made in secrecy.
4. Neither Dr. Brown nor the Attorney General will confirm if the Bermuda Government took legal advice over the transfer.  It is damning if Government did not take the advice of the Attorney General on such a major issue.  It is even more damning if the Attorney General allowed such defiance of the Bermuda Constitution.

This week, Bermuda had a leg up with the good OECD news.  That has been totally destroyed – and then some  – by the folly of Dr. Brown’s Great Uighur Adventure.

They also point out that the little contratemps was probably engineered “by some in Bermuda’s government” to cause a fight between the UK and Bermuda.

Gee, ya don’t say?  What a devious, half thought out, incredibly damaging, attention junkie fiasco this is.

Bermudian reactions to this range from the bewildered to the outraged.  Most see it as political manoeuvring by Dr. Brown to put egg on the faces of the English and to create a massive diversion away from the myriad of other scandals brewing around him (including his fading support amongst his own parliamentary backbenchers).

Parliament should be fun today.   Call your MP to tell them what you think of this.  Better yet, call your PLP branch chairman.  And if you have the patience to deal wiffit, call those tedious radio talkshows.

An interesting side note.  Shortly after this blog began in 2007, the hits suddenly “disappeared” from the Bermuda Government network.  I always assumed they had blocked www.vexedbermoothes.com, not wanting to contaminate the civil service with deviations from the Party line.  Well, in all the Uighurian excitement, someone opened the door again. Hoo boy, was there some traffic coming from Bermuda Government yesterday.

Errr, and a few other governments too.

[Update - someone from Government disputes that the site is blocked.  It maybe that changes on their side recently started broadcasting their network location again.  I welcome any Government reader.]

In Bermuda, we are used to murky controversy going wherever our operatic Premier goes.  Sounds like the State Department, in their rush to seal the deal, didn’t check all the facts about our man.

They claim that Dr. Brown told them that he was talking with the FCO and arrything was cool:

Speaking on condition of anonymity a State Department official said Washington negotiated the release of the four Uighurs directly with Bermuda’s government on the understanding it was consulting Bermuda’s British-appointed governor.

Oops.  No-one told them that the Premier doesn’t play nice with Authority Figures?

And now everyone is embarrassed.

“They’re pissed,” admitted a senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The idea for the US was to let the Guantanamo controversy settle down – not to amplify it.

Meanwhile, the Premier brags to CNN that he approached the US Government with the deal, pretty much admitting that it was done to cause constitutional problems with the UK:

Brown said he read an article on the issue of the Guantanamo Bay detainees’ fates in The Washington Post while he was in Washington for a White House meeting in May, and decided to put an offer to the U.S. government “on the table.”

He said Bermuda, a British colony, told London of its intentions, but not until late in the process. Britain must approve the transfer for it to be permanent, Brown said, adding that he believes the issue may raise tension between Bermuda and Britain.

Way to go Doc.  Are you finished playing diplomat now?  Please.  You are a trainwreck for Bermuda.

Here’s the thing about suspected Uighur terrorists:  they’re on your territory, they’re yours.  100 other countries have already turned ‘em down.

Bermuda’s inertia allows Dr. Brown to continue his destructive misrule.  How long can that continue?

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.

The Uighurs, a Turkic Muslim minority from the Xinjiang province of far-west China, were living in the Tora Bora mountains in Afghanistan run by the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, a Uighur independence group the State Department designated as terrorist three years after their capture. Evidence indicates that some of the Uighurs intended to fight the Chinese government and received firearms training at the camp.  They fled to Pakistan after U.S. airstrikes destroyed their camp after September 11, 2001 and were turned over to the U.S. military and detained as “enemy combatants” though they had no apparent animus towards the U.S.

There had been plans to relocate the Uighurs to Virginia, which were shelved after intense opposition in Congress.  Instead they will be naturalised in Bermuda and given the opportunity to get full Bermudian status.

That’s right.  All you expats who contribute for years to Bermuda’s community and economy, term limits for you and don’t let the door hit you on the ass when you leave.

But come on down you Xinjiang Uigher suspected terrorists … you’ll fit right in!  Hey bye, your people are from St David’s right?

Now, Dr. Brown is the master at creating diversions whenever he gets in hot water politically.  This is the mother of all crazed diversions.   Seriously, WTF?

Just yesterday, Paula Cox made a strange comment in the press about not wanting Bermuda to sound like a suck up.  Perhaps she was referring to this.

The key question is:  What did we trade for doing this? What deals were made? How does this fit in Bermuda’s national priorities?

Did we get money to fill some of the big gaps in Bermuda’s coffers?  (News reports say that Palau is getting $200 million for taking 17 of the Uighers).

Are we counting them as air arrivals for Tourism?

Does he think this is cheap PR – getting Bermuda’s name in the news worldwide? Americans, come to Bermuda for some Pop and Sizzle!  And Boom!

Or is this the new tagline for the Department of Tourism:  Better than Gitmo!

The Chinese Government is pissed off about this, presumably finally killing off Dr. Brown’s dubious plans to develop a Chinese tourism business (as well as dinging the aspirations of Bermuda international companies that do business in China).  The ramifications will be interesting.

Hey maybe the US will stop hassling us about all the piddly tax stuff?  In which case, you can expect Cayman to adopt a bunch of Afghans any minute.

I think negative diplomatic problems for Bermudians, who travel widely, are inevitable.

The decision still must have sign off by the UK via the Bermuda Governor.  They must be scratching their heads.  Perhaps this is another stab by the Premier to create a constitutional crisis should the UK overrule the move.  You see, the Doc is supposed to make decisions impacting foreign policy and security in concert with Government House.  Technically, he had no right to do this without consultation.  Same old loose cannon.

Don’t stop the carnival.  And Bermuda’s governance is a constant circus.  Our political leaders are addicted to high profile grandstanding … look at me look at me, the flair o’ the day … but have little time or ability for the details of running a local government well.