While the Muslim community plans to welcome the four prisoners from Guantanamo Bay with open arms, the UBP has said the move "blatantly disrespects the people of Bermuda."
Reaction ran the gamut yesterday as news of the four Chinese Muslim men being given permission to resettle spread across the island.
Walia Ming, a Bermudian Muslim, said the Muslim community would do their best to "accommodate them and assist in whatever way they can."
She said: "They will definitely be welcome, we welcome all people. As Muslims we have an obligation to the guest and to the wayfarer and to persons in distress.
"I have no idea what they are going to do about accommodation or jobs, however, where there is a way, there is a will, and we will work on it."
Ms Ming said the public's initial outrage was "to be expected" because most people were not kind to foreigners.
She said: "Bermudians are selfish for the most part - we want to enjoy all the amenities the world has to offer; free trade and travel to the U.S. We have right of abode in the U.K. and EU countries and we cannot even, on a humanitarian outlook, reach out.
"Well, it's time for Bermuda to start giving instead of continuously taking and wanting to have their cake and eat it too."
She added: "I believe these men are innocent. I know for a fact that many Muslim men around the world were sent to Guantanamo Bay simply because they were Muslim."
'Humanitarian'
The Human Rights Commission also applauded the government's decision saying it appears "the Premier had acted on humanitarian grounds."
Chairperson Venous Memari said: "I think that this humanitarian initiative is a clear recognition that Bermuda is a part of the world community, and we have a role to play.
"It is also a recognition of our respect for human rights and the presumption of innocence that is the cornerstone of fundamental universal human rights in modern democratic societies."
However, Shawn Crockwell, the shadow minister for immigration, said at first he had hoped it was some kind of joke, but said: "this is no joke and Bermuda is not amused."
He said: "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.
"Certainly, no other decision better captures the type of one-man autocratic rule that this Premier has been allowed by his party to exercise."
Mr. Crockwell said it was "unnecessarily dangerous and unprecedented" to "tie Bermuda so explicitly and inextricably into the world of terrorism" without any consultation.
He said Bermudians should have been consulted as "it is their country, not the Premier's to do as he wants." He said by making this decision the Premier had "reduced them to mere spectators with no say."
Mr. Crockwell said: "The Premier folded the issue of independence into the Guantanamo decision - by effectively challenging the Governor to reverse it after making the announcement - brings a level of cynicism and manipulation into the equation that is simply appalling.
"We should not forget there are security concerns in this matter, for which the British Government have explicit responsibilities as well as expertise."
The UBP want to make it clear that they believe in the importance of maintaining the best possible relationship with the U.S., but not "at the expense of our own best interests."
Posted: Thursday, June 18, 2009
Comment by:
logic76
Henoch,
It is people such as yourself who are the stem of racial problems in the world today. Un-educated men and women who feel the rest of society should be indebted for past suffering. Do you have a meal on your table in the morning and at night? You know nothing of the pain endured by Africans during the slave trade, Jews during the Holocaust, or the 2,998 honest people killed on 9/11. You cannot comprehend the emotions of the soldiers in the Middle East who do not know what dangers lay around the next corner. These men and women give their lives for your freedom, you have not witnessed the pain and anguish on the face of a Marine as he salutes his fallen brother one last time. Do yourself a favor and visit Arlington National Ceremony and witness a Marine being laid to rest, if you are not stirred by the sound of taps played by the bugler and the final salute of the deceased then you truly are a lost soul. I don't mean to take this thread off topic, but there are some comments that cannot go unanswered. Your comment is sick and disgusting, I cannot believe people are even allowed to post such cruel comments on this website. God bless the U.S.A. and our troops and lead this island in the direction of transparency and the truth.
Posted: Thursday, June 18, 2009
Comment by:
Henoch Narmer
I can remember many years back when a friend of mine who worked as a security officer at Southampton Princess told me of Krugerrand gold coins
from Apartheid South Africa, being smuggled through Princess, by white South
Africans. The point here being that countless undesirables, misfits,
criminals, drug addicts etc, visit Bermuda every day. These four people will
not make any difference to Bermuda and are being used as scapegoats by those
who are already angry with Mr. Brown.
No greater terror exists in the history of the planet than that of the
inhuman Trans-Atlantic slave trade. According to ''their'' records 100
million Africans were kidnapped and enslaved. They claim to have lost one
third of their catch getting them to the ship and one third during the
voyage, meaning 200 million died in order for 100 million to make it. Add
the other countless millions that died from diseases caught by being in
contact with these terrorists and the other millions that were born/ died
abroad as slaves,and the many millions more like those slain by king leopold
of Belgium in Congo to steal rubber,Debeers diamonds, Cecil B.Rhodes of
Rhodesia all the way up to now and conservatively we can claim at least 700
million lives lost to colonialism and imperialism and counting. No greater
terrorists exist other than those nations that participated. They grew
extremely rich to the same proportions that Africa was made extremely poor.
Like Lloyds of London who insured the slave ships and countless others still
in business.
Right now every 5 seconds an African child dies from a preventable and
curable disease. TERROR!!! Over 5000 black children die daily from unclean
water. TERROR!! All while Africa is the most resource rich nation on the
globe. 80% of what the west uses daily to live is stolen from Africa in a
continuous piracy,over 500 years of terrorism. Africa has the largest rubber
plantations on earth, they also have the earth''s largest deposits of
iron, they have so many diamonds, some called alluvial diamonds don''t have
to be even mined, one can plow a field and just walk and pick them up. In
some places where the life expectancy is 40 years old for a man, diamonds
worth $60,000.00 per carat are mined by people paid thirty cents a day and a
cup of rice, less if they don''t find any.These people have no running
water, electricity, no health care, no transportation, no schools etc. even
little food.
So for all the hypocrites who don''t like terrorism or terrorists stop
buying tires, or using foil paper, or driving, or wearing diamonds, or
gold/platinum jewelery, stop using your mobile phone or laptop because more
than 10 million Africans have been murdered in Congo by European and
American TERRORISTS to secure the trade in coltan a light weight metal in
your phone and laptop.
Dr. Brown has a tremendous task ahead of him, to free happy slaves who
don''t even desire freedom from their colonial oppressors. Sometimes one has
to seem like a dictator in order to do what is right, in the best interest
for all. What was your mother? Was she democratic? Did she give you a vote
or did she lay down the law until you were able to make some wise decisions
on your own?
There were two types of slaves: those that lived in the master''s house,
ate off his table, wore his discards and lived in relative comfort. This
slave identified with his master. If master was sick he felt bad and said
"oh massa we''s sick" if the house caught fire he said " oh massa our house
is on fire" and helped to put it out.If the house slave was set free he
often would stay on, afraid of freedom, having no longer any desire for it,
any taste for it. The other type was the field slave, he lived very
hard,slept like cattle, worked from before sun-up to after sun-down, ate
garbage and wore rags. This slave hated the master. If the master was ill
this slave prayed that he would die, if his house caught fire this field
slave would pray for strong winds to help it burn faster. The field slave
didn''t wait to be freed, he would run away every chance he got and if he
was set free, he was gone.
Today we witness the same mentality among our people and among our
leaders. Some don''t want to be free don''t know what to do without massa,
can''t imagine life without pleasing him. Others of us have never lost that
natural human urge of all beings to be self determined, free!! We never lose
sight of the prize, no matter what illusions are thrown in front of us. We
are happy to see the so called governor left out of our business and would
love to see him gone from Bermuda forever. It is high time now to let the
house slave burn with the house he loves so much and for the field slave to
start the fire that will remove these real terrorists from our midst for all
time. I am not inciting, only using fire as a metaphor for a mental
revolution that must take place in order for us to survive to live in the
future. Eternal life means survival right now! I mean no disrespect to the
governor but what has he done to deserve/earn my, your, our respect?? Not
one thing!! He and his kind live well off of the accumulated wealth of 400+
years of free labor and over 500 years of stealing the resources of Africa
from the people who own the land by birth right. Us. Africans worldwide. Why
didn''t someone complain about who pays his expenses? He claims Bermuda is
British territory. This should change and the descendants of slaves should
be given reparations from England. The amount owed would bankrupt the nation
forever.
Can you imagine just getting someone to work for free for a year? Wow that
would be a major spike in my bank account!!! How about for 400 years? Untold
millions in profit and we still want to bow to them?? Insanity!
TERRORISTS? No these men were accused by Bush who has proven to be a
lying, thieving murderer. He and his crew blew up their own buildings and
blamed it on Muslims, many of whom are still alive. He used weapons of mass
destruction on over a million women and children in Iraq and even his own
troops.
This is a wonderful time, we can clearly see among our leaders, who is in
the house with massa and who is in the field with us. We must be strong!!
Dr. Brown is not perfect but he obviously doesn''t live to please massa and that is a major asset for us.
Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Comment by:
logic76
Well if the U.S. is so sure they aren't dangerous, why didn't they take them?
Posted: Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Comment by:
Mary Ellen Crowley
These are four men who escaped a repressive government which arrests, imprisons tortures and even kills people for the crime of "splittism", which includes advocating for independence. These Uighurs are the same as the hundreds of thousands of Tibetan Buddhists who have fled Tibet since it's occupation by the Chinese in the 1950's. The United States has admitted that they are not terrorists, had no ties to al Qaeda or the Taliban and are of no threat to the United States or any of her allies. If it weren't for the fearmongering and politics, they would have been released into the United States years ago.
Burmudians should feel proud of their generousity and their ability to see through Chinese and US propaganda. God Bless you all!
Posted: Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Comment by:
LongTimeFriend
I have been traveling to Bermuda since 1965. More than fifty visits to a place I loved to visit and always felt welcome.
My wife and I last visited in 2007 for a five day stay which we felt might be our last.
We haven't come to a firm conclusion on that, but let us just say, while most of the memories are warm and endearing, what the Island has become, over time, since the PLP assumed leadership has been very disappointing.
We have seen the rise in crime, in incivility, rude and dangerous driving on the roads and the slow disappearance of what we once knew as the "Bermuda Way of Life."
Your country is very expensive to visit. We do not mind paying for value received and for many, many years it was
well received.
No longer.
The latest flap over the receipt of Gitmo prisoners, without consultation and without the knowledge of most is just one more example of how life in Bermuda is little different than life in other over crowded places with uncaring politicians.
It is truly a shame.
Posted: Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Comment by:
Joe Pompei
Folks....please calm down and listen to some facts about the Uighurs. The Uighurs are not now and never were terrorists...they are neither Taliban or al Queda. The US Army admitted they made a terrible mistake in detaining them....they were turned over to the US by Pakistani bounty hunters for $5K US a head. They lost six years of theie lives because of US blundering....and shame on the US for not offering them proper asylum...those are the facts ! KUDOS to Bermuda for having a heart. Bravo !
Posted: Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Comment by:
Adrienne S.
Our family once traveled to Bermuda every year, between 1997 through 2007. We stopped visiting once it became clear that the Premier-Ewart Brown, was running Bermuda into the ground. One doesn't have to look far to find countless examples of his faux paux's. In 2008 he arrogantly proclaimed that the European tourist would certainly be able to cover the gap created by American Tourists decline due to economy,etc. As I predicted, that did not happen...a global recession has ensued and his idea of stimulus are cheesy tourism ads, and allowing known terrorists to live "freely" in country-while hundreds of law abiding individuals get passed over for citizenship. I support all Bermudians who are outraged and want Brown out. They better act fast before it is too late.
Posted: Monday, June 15, 2009
Comment by:
Bruce McClarron / Arizona
I, like most Bermudians are quite dumbfounded over the "Brown Regime's" latest monumental blunder, apparently committed in complete secrecy and 'Under The Table', from even the British Government's knowledge! This is an outrageous act, committed by a Semi-Dictator! One has to ask...What was the 'Payoff' to Brown & the PLP in terms of $$$ or other intangibles? He is NOT a generous man...This move was "Hidden" for a reason!!
Furthermore, can the British Government stop this 'Fiasco' from taking place? There must be some legal precedent that can be used, to ultimately put a halt to this embarrassing situation! Surely, Whitehall is NOT going to let Ewart Brown, who is an arrogant & extremely egotistical individual, dictate foreign policy to them? We are after all, a democracy!
The British government must not allow this incident to ultimately be a 'Fait Accompli', as it would set a dangerous precedent, for future egregious, underhanded maneuvers! It is quite obvious that Ewart Brown is out-of-control & on some monumental 'EGO' trip, compounded with his infatuation with Barack Obama!! He has and is severely tarnishing Bermuda's image around the world! He MUST go!
The majority of Bermudians are very 'Pro British' (That is why we don't want Independence) & will be expecting "Westminster" to ultimately rescind this illegal arrangement!
Posted: Saturday, June 13, 2009
Comment by:
Ann Hurst
Well, I thought nothing would shock as much as when I read the story about the Chinese Muslim's. What was the thinking about this?? Months ago everyone was complaining about foreigners with jobs ans now they will NOT have to go through the correct way through Bermuda's Immigration. HELLO. Ms. Ming, if you think Bermudian's are spoiled, yes maybe BUT they worked for it. If you like them so much, how about letting them move in with you and you take care of them. Humanitarian, start at home. The last three visit I had I saw more and more homeless people. How about the struggling families and the elder's?? Take care of the Bermudian's first.
Hat's off to Mr. Crockwell. I'd be fighting tooth and nail on this matter.
Get it together people, you'll be loosing more and more tourist dollar.
Posted: Friday, June 12, 2009
Comment by:
Datechguy
I think this is a very foolish move for Bermuda.
How many tourists like myself cruise or fly to your country a year from the US?
How comfortable are we going to feel being there with our wives and children knowing that former Gitmo inmates are going to have the freedom of the island?
That fact alone will be enough for me to keep my family away. What will happen if there is an incident. How quickly will it cause other American tourist dollars disappear?
Hey it's your island, if you believe these gentlemen are more valuable to your island than us more power to you. I'm sure we can find other pleasant places to spend tourist dollars.
