7/4/2008 10:00:00 AM 'PLP has become elitist' Grassroots PLP MP joins chorus of disquiet over Brown’s leadership
Speaking out: Ashfield DeVent says there’s a chasm between the struggles of ordinary people and the opulent lifestyle of the PLP’s leadership. *File Photos
Voters are increasingly concerned that government has become elitist under the leadership of Ewart Brown, according to one of the PLP's own MPs.
Ashfield DeVent said that the working poor are convinced that they have been forgotten while Dr. Brown obsesses over glitzy parties and flash cars. Mr. DeVent, pictured left, whose Pembroke South East constituency includes some of the poorest areas in the country, said that government has failed to deal with some "core grassroots issues". That failure has led to the "perception" that the PLP no longer represents the common man.
Mr. DeVent's opinions were given extra weight yesterday by a straw poll of grassroots voters conducted by the Bermuda Sun. Working Bermudians chosen at random were unanimous in their view that government needs to realign its priorities. Voters told this newspaper that they are tired of Dr. Brown's jetset lifestyle at a time when they are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. (See story here).
Mr. DeVent said: "In my constituency, among the working people I meet, there is a growing perception that the party is becoming more elitist - that it isn't supporting their needs. That's what I'm hearing more and more. When you look at the [current] make up of the party, it is very different to its roots."
In recent weeks, several high-profile figures have questioned whether the PLP is doing enough for struggling households in Bermuda. Craig Simmons, economist at Bermuda College, said that a so-called labour party appears to have turned its back on the working poor. Others have criticized the Premier for attending a Playboy party in Los Angeles; for travelling by private jet; and for choosing a top-of-the-range BMW as his new official car.
Mr. DeVent, a former Works and Engineering minister, said: "Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bermuda do not travel by private jet and are never going to travel by private jet. They are asking: 'How do these people represent me?' This is a critical issue. The guy struggling to keep the roof over his head, he's looking at his leaders, and they appear to be spending his money on fancy cars and Playboy parties, and he's thinking 'it looks like my leaders are having a great time; but what about me?'" Continuing on the theme of the Playboy party, which the Department of Tourism said it sponsored in order to boost Bermuda's profile in America, Mr. DeVent said: "Perhaps these are good things. Perhaps they'll even bring more tourists to the country. But right now, for that guy who's struggling, he needs help now. And that doesn't help; it doesn't even raise a ray of hope that help is on the way."
Fellow PLP MP Wayne Perinchief came to the Premier's defence, saying that Dr. Brown has always led an "affluent lifestyle" and that Bermudians should accept him as he is.
He said: "Ewart Brown, before he was Premier, always enjoyed a very affluent lifestyle. He always did. That's the man; he's not putting it on or pretending. If you saw a Wayne Perrinchief in that office doing exactly the same thing, you should get a baseball bat and beat me over the head, because I've been a lowly police officer and never enjoyed a more affluent lifestyle than that."
Mr. Perinchief disagrees that the electorate sees the PLP as increasingly elitist. The working man is much better off under this government than the last, he said. He added that it was only right and proper, in one of the most affluent countries in the world, that the leader should have a top-of-the-range official car. "We can't have a Premier who meets the President of the United States turning up in a clapped-out car. We used to have a Premier who rode a moped, but this isn't the 60s or the 70s anymore. We all have to grow up sometime."
Mr DeVent argues that priorities are skewed: "I think the party has, in many ways, not dealt with some key, core grassroots issues. Non-collection of court-ordered child-maintenance payments is a key one. It affects a great number of struggling caregivers. If we are not helping these families with these core issues, what are we doing?" Referring to government's promises of free daycare and health care for seniors, Mr. DeVent said that the party has good plans in progress to help ease the plight of poor families. However, he said that the "perception," was still growing that the party has become elitist.
"In politics, the perception becomes the reality. And right now, people perceive that the party has stopped representing them. That's what I'm hearing, in my constituency. I hear it every day. It's become a major issue." Mr. De Vent said that functions for the PLP now cost $500 or a $1,000 to attend. He said: "I cannot honestly try to persuade people to go to their own party's functions - the cost is out of their reach."
The UBP will today table a motion in the House of Assembly to demand government do more to help struggling families. Cole Simons, the party's deputy leader, said in a statement: "Government has shown no sign it appreciates or understands the growing day-to-day pressures facing our people. It is the biggest challenge before Bermuda today and the Government needs to step forward with a plan to help our working families make ends meet."
Mr. Simons said that as the "world economy deteriorates," government has put in place no plans or measures to help support the poor. He urged the government to expedite its free day care and public transport plans and to consider a payroll tax cut and other tax changes.
"blackboy: Jsut because we can overcome the ...we are just brighter and stronger. We are inherently stronger...they are just wiser with their weaknesses and use violence and deception in ways that we arenot even thinking of...Yet even that we can overcome with patient endurance and self discipline education and courage...we shall overcome....!"
This is off the hook give me a break man we are in the year 2008. The biggest problem on this island is ignorance.
"blackboy: ....aslong as they dont start that killing and raping we will naturally do well". What are you talking about man open your eyes your killing each other.
Posted: Sunday, July 13, 2008
Comment by:
Seriously?
Oh come on mate, we're not in the 1960s anymore. Give it a rest, seriously, the guy is spending money that need not be spent, end of story.
Posted: Monday, July 07, 2008
Comment by:
blackboy
Jsut because we can overcome the oppression of white people does not mean that they are not fighting like hell to keep us down...we are just brighter and stronger...aslong as they dont start that killing and raping we will naturally do well. We are inherently stronger...they are just wiser with their weaknesses and use violence and deception in ways that we arenot even thinking of...Yet even that we can overcome with patient endurance and self discipline education and courage...we shall overcome....!
Posted: Monday, July 07, 2008
Comment by:
Newyorker
This is something we see all over the world. In the States, we see words like "limousine liberals" to describe the elitist types who hold office in the democratic party, and those who support the party. The Democrats and the PLP, are both elected by and large by the working class. Its this working class, like Mr. DeVent, who then feel betrayed by those they once rubbed shoulders with, who are now "lording it" in expensive cars, first class travel, and cocktail parties. It's an appearance that just goes completely against all the jubilation of having finally gotten our people in. Yes, new faces are now in control, but if you aren't in that elitist inner circle, you are absolutely no better off than you were 10 years ago.
Posted: Monday, July 07, 2008
Comment by:
localopinion
Its funny how some people still want to defend everything this government does as a Black vs Wite issue. The fact is the Bermuda public as a WHOLE has doubt bout the state of government isn't a black or white issue. The fact that MOST families in Bermuda are struggling to just keep the roofs over their heads while it seem their government seems to be more concern bout its material status in the world.
This has nothing to do with keeping a black man down, this has everything to do with an elected official by the people seeming to be more into his own wealth and gain than that of the country he was elected to lead.
But you Bermuda elected him in so now deal with it. We all saw where this government was heading but refused to believe the signs, now that it is happening we want to act like we are in shock.
You keep hearing how they want Bermuda to be another Monte Carlo. Research Monte Carlo, see how the ecomonics and social development is actually done in that country and look at what is happening to our.
Posted: Saturday, July 05, 2008
Comment by:
Pat-Ex
Wow! What is this island coming to. We are so worried what the leader is driving. There are many jobs where a car is a perk. Why not the leader of a country? Come on fellow Bermudians let's pick our battles wisely! The car is one of the only things in the last year that the PLP may have done right. The fact "the car" is what we are worried about is of great concern to me. The fact The Premier is so concerned about what he is driven in equally worries me. However, there are an array of real issues that the PLP has failed us on. Let's forget the car and discuss something that will touch the everyday life and the everyday pockets and the everyday roof and the everyday child. Again I say, "Pick your battles wisely."
Posted: Friday, July 04, 2008
Comment by:
good
from blackboy:".What black people should get from his example is...if you work hard and be honest and confront evil unapoligetically there are rewards in life for you..".....good..at least you acknowledge that the white man isnt holding down blacks and all they need to do is put some effort in.
Posted: Friday, July 04, 2008
Comment by:
blackboy
THe Premiers aflluent lifestyle has not been at the expense of his work. He has worked hard and we all have benefitted from it.
The salary is not commensurate to his work. Those who work in investment companies making almost a million dollars a year dont have his level of responsibility neither do they manage accounts that are equal to his govts purse.
Thus just based upon a business practice he earns his perks.
The dishonesty that we desire is rooted in the practice of deceving black people in order to get them to like you. The fear of black jealousy and envy has caused black leaders to be decieved and black followers to demand a lie. As far as I can see it. The real problem that we have here is a media that exploits the vulnerabilites of the black poor in order to injure the influence of the black leaders and thereby wind up back in charge of the public purse. This is not good. Dr.Brown has not done anything that any other global national leader has not done. The problem with Brown is that he is unapollogetic in a culteru that demands that he be a boy when he feels that he is a man.He will counter racists by telling the truth...and liberate teh victims of racism by living the truth...What black people should get from his example is...if you work hard and be honest and confront evil unapoligetically there are rewards in life for you...YOu dont have to bow down to keep your house because it will cost you your dignity and that is too much of a price to pay....Many disaffected low performance black politicians are running with sourgrapes which have become sour wine and toxic blood...THey need to have better plan and they are not workers but they want to distract and destroy one who shows them up...THe better use of politcal influece by lame ducks would be to get the poor disaffected black person to do introspection and accept responsibility.......ITs is time to get our work done so that we can drive and dine like a doctor!........................................................................................................
Posted: Friday, July 04, 2008
Comment by:
Still Learnin...
Personally I don't care what Ewart gets driven around in, I think the fact that he gets driven is a problem, the fact that he needs security is a problem, the fact that he needed to invent inflated GP1 repair figures is a problem, the fact that it now costs $500+ to attend a PLP function is a problem, etc etc…
It seems we need an issue each week to get the public to forget the previous week’s issue!!!
The PLP are turning into the UBP...
Posted: Friday, July 04, 2008
Comment by:
Emerson
I remember seeing Margaret Thatcher riding around the island in a Subaru. I guess some people have bigger egos than others.
