Where else to gauge the sentiment of the common man than in the barber shop? Today's subject: Ewart Brown, politics and the Bermuda Housing Corporation. But the common man, it seems, is just as divided as everyone else on what to make of recent events.
Over at the Universal Barber shop on Court Street there were clear differences of opinion.
"Most Bermudians are taking all this with a grain of salt. It's politically motivated; we all know where it's coming from. At the end of the day, the PLP will still be the ruling government," said one man.
"I'm more bothered to know why Michael Dunkley didn't turn up at Lois Browne-Evans' funeral. He spoke in the House of Assembly the day before. He knew he was going away, why didn't he say something?" Another man, about the same age, in his 50s said: "I don't support anyone who has done anything wrong. I want to know why everyone is more concerned about who leaked the information as opposed to whether it's true. I want these allegations addressed. As taxpayers we have a right to know. I support the idea of a Royal Commission."
We also stopped by Cromwell Shakir's barbershop, Nu-Look, in the Union Square Mall.
Mixed feelings
When we asked customers there for their thoughts on all the stories, one man said: "That's exactly what they are, stories." He said: "This got resurrected because somebody put a 'stolen file' in the public domain via the media.
"My opinion is that was wrong because it doesn't happen in anyone else's case.
"If you are going to start releasing files, let's release everyone's file that has been through the police system." The man said he supports Dr. Brown, but he feels like he should make a statement.
However, like most of the other men we spoke to, he doesn't like the way the story broke. He said: "I'm very disturbed that individuals, possibly organizations, are using historical information to destabilize the Government of the day and, by extension, the actual community." Asked if he supports the idea of a Royal Commission, he said:
"No. I'm not for that. We say that we have great confidence in our judicial system and that it's served us well up to this point, so what is a Royal Commission going to do when this issue has run its entire course and the DPP couldn't find a reason to charge anyone else [apart from former property officer Terrence Smith]."
Again, he reiterated: "If we're going to re-open this, let's re-open everything."
Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, June 22, 2007
Comment by:
LOL
Why are you so worried why Michael Dunkley did not show up for Lois's funeral? The Permier DID NOT show up for the Queens birthday party, which one do you think was MISSED?
