1/18/2008 1:03:00 PM Two prominent UBP figures torn over role of whites Crockwell says young blacks should lead the way; Gordon-Pamplin says party must be colour-blind
It may be time for the UBP to cast aside its white "old guard" in order for the party to move forward, the party's chairman said yesterday.
Speaking ahead of a UBP retreat this weekend, Shawn Crockwell said that the party must discuss pushing young black members to the fore, while "drawing back" older white elements.
Mr. Crockwell stressed that it was regrettable that such a conversation would have to take place, and said that it would likely cause machinations within the party. However, he said it was necessary because the UBP appears to be unelectable in its current guise.
Underscoring just how combative this weekend's conference is likely to be, Mr. Crockwell was later rebutted by the party's acting leader Patricia Gordon-Pamplin. Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin told the Bermuda Sun that the party would be making no promotions or demotions based on race, and that to do so would compromise everything the party stands for.
Mr. Crockwell said the priority this weekend would be to prepare the party to enter Parliament on February 1. He said: "We have to put the strength of Bermuda's democracy first. I expect us to have a new leader early next week, and we will appoint our senators so that the UBP will be a vociferous and effective Opposition on February 1."
However, looking further ahead, Mr. Crockwell said that the party may well need to be renamed, and also has a duty to look at more radical options. He said that the electorate had "sent the party a message" by voting so heavily for the PLP despite what he believes was the UBP's stronger policies.
He said that the UBP's historical reputation is holding it back. "Maybe certain individuals are more responsible than others for giving the party that image [as the party of white oppression]," he said. "Maybe it's time to move away from that old guard. That is one of the options. We have to put that option on the table in good faith. That would be regrettable because many of our white members really play a crucial role. But we saw during the election that there is a perception problem. Let's look at something new: something totally different from the old UBP."
Mr. Crockwell said that he, Kim Swan, and Donte Hunt were the kind of young black faces that will take the UBP forward with the right image and ideas. He said: "We represent the future of the party. I think we will take a leading role. Personalities make up a political party and shape a political party. The UBP has this influx of new, young talent and we can change the party from within."
Mr. Crockwell stressed that it would be "regrettable" if older UBP figures get pushed aside, but said that it may be necessary for the good of the party and democracy in Bermuda.
He said: "The political arena is very unfriendly to white people right now. The PLP set out to make it that way. Now, of course, we can continue to fight the good fight. We can refuse to have this dictated to us by other people. But I hope we can be mature enough to look at this as it is. The electorate sent us a message. I now think it's going to be expected that certain people are going to have to draw back."
Asked what kind of conflict may be caused within the UBP if the white "old guard" are asked to step aside, Mr. Crockwell said: "There could be trouble, yes. Some very difficult decisions will have to be made."
Mr. Crockwell, who has ruled himself out of the leadership race because he says he needs to gain more political experience, said that he has given his specific support to John Barritt. However, he said his opinion "might change" if acting leader Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin would agree to take on the role. (See panel on this page.)
Mr. Crockwell said that John Barritt would make a fine leader because he is "a great parliamentarian, a tremendous debater." However, he hinted that the party may need to try its hardest to pick a black leader. He said: "Unfortunately he [Mr. Barritt] is white, and he's a Barritt, and that could create an issue, as it appeared to with Michael Dunkley."
Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin challenged Mr. Crockwell's assertion that the party may need to push forward a young black image. Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said: "People should be pushed to the fore on the strength of their talents and their talents alone. Have we really reached the stage in this country where the only consideration is the color of someone's skin?
"If I made a decision based on someone's race I would be compromising my core values and the values of the party. If we compromise our values we may as well pack up and go home."
Posted: Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Comment by:
nick
So sad that in 2008 with all of humanity's progress we are still seeing skin tone as an issue. we run the risk of reverting to the middle ages with such nonsense. as a "white" man with a good heart, an open mind and a decent brain i can detach from prejudice when i realise we ALL came from Africa..its just some of our ancestors went further geographically than others, hence the diffences in shade. Of course we must make sure no one is discriminated, and no one group gets advantages over others, but your politicians need to grow up and study basic biology & geography
i wish bermuda well and hope you evolve from such base issues
Posted: Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Comment by:
Ann
SHAME ON YOU BERMUDA - you are going back in time ! It's time to get over the black/white issue !
Posted: Monday, January 21, 2008
Comment by:
Truth
Hi Tom
Your note is very accurate reflection of a sad commentary on the state of the peoples perception regarding race and politics in Bermuda. I ask you though, why do you assume that the PLP will not accept young whites? And how does your rationale compare to Zane DeSilva's acceptance. Is it based on first hand experiecnce or just a "feeling"? I agree with Mr Wells in that race needs to be removed from politics, but the only way to do that is to disband the UBP and to diversify the PLP. My historical understanding of whites joining the PLP, is that if and when they did join, they were heavily ostracized and persecuted by the whites in the community, hence discouraging whites to join. I am open to be corrected on this but this is my understanding. The onus is on whites to break from the political norm seeing as though 95+% of whites vote UBP. Integration and diversification has been a one way street in Bermuda with blacks integrating almost every white institution there is. It is time for whites to step out of their comfort zones and diversify "black" institutions. We need it to remove race from politics and to move forward as a Country.
Posted: Monday, January 21, 2008
Comment by:
uzette@netzero.com
If the UBP had won, it would be all about whites as usual. You white people would not give a hoot about us blacks just as long as you were getting yours as always. Now your afraid because a black party rules, but don't worry we would never do to you what yours have done to us. We don't have it in our hearts to be so brutal! Being brutal and evil is satanic and demonic! We are of Yah, The Most High, and we know its beyond this earthly way of life.
Posted: Sunday, January 20, 2008
Comment by:
Tom
What about the young whites who aspire to become politicians? It's not as if the PLP will except them, so what are they to do? Does the UBP have no place for them either?
Posted: Friday, January 18, 2008
Comment by:
Phillip Wells
Before Mr. Crockwell does anything foolish, I urge him to look back on his party's recent history.
Mr. Crockwell suggests that the UBP needs to try its hardest to pick a black leader. Well, Wayne Furbert was black and his leadership did the party no favours. He was just portrayed as a puppet of the white people who were allegedly really running the show. Any other black leader would be portrayed the same way.
Similarly, asking "the old white guard" to step back and pushing black faces to the fore won't help either. The PLP and its supporters will still be able to suggest that the old guard are really running things behind the scenes.
The only solution is the complete dissolution of the party, with all its MPs standing as independents.
Some people suggest that the dissolution of the UBP would be an over-reaction, given they commanded 47% of the vote. But what Bermuda needs much more than a UBP win is for racial fearmongering to be removed from politics. Even if the UBP manage to cobble together enough votes to win the next election, it will not remove race from politics (indeed, I think it would make things worse). The only way to achieve that is if the alternative to a PLP government is not a UBP one.
