6/17/2009 11:26:00 AM PLP closes ranks As hundreds rally against the Premier, key PLP dissidents now appear unwilling to help the Opposition topple him
Home of the free? The Uighurs, who say they are delighted to be living at last in a democratic country, pose alongside Major Glenn Brangman in front of the Parliament buildings on a sightseeing trip to Hamilton on Monday. Less than 24 hours later the same lawn was mobbed with protesters expressing their anger at the way the deal to bring them here was handled. *Photo by James Whittaker
A drive to oust the Premier from office looks set to fail as disaffected PLP members circle their wagons to protect the party.
The move against Dr. Brown looked to take on real momentum yesterday as hundreds of people gathered to chant: "Brown must go." However, political insiders say the current storm is unlikely to cost the Premier his job.
The UBP needs the support of at least five rebel PLP MPs in order to force through a motion of no confidence in Dr. Brown.
Former Premier Alex Scott said they are unlikely to get it, adding: "The object of [the motion] was to focus on the Premier, but there are those who feel that it engages and
involves the government."
PLP MP Ashfield De Vent agreed. "I am not going to vote for anything that has even a remote chance of removing the PLP [from power]," he told the Bermuda Sun.
"They are not going to get the support they need."
In further good news for Dr. Brown, President Obama publicly thanked Bermuda for giving a home to four Guantanamo refugees. Obama said the island had performed "a great service" in the strongest sign yet Dr. Brown's decision has helped win friends across the Atlantic.
Brown looks set to survive confidence vote Seeing hundreds of people protesting yesterday, it would be easy to imagine the days of Ewart Brown's leadership are numbered.
However, the drive to have him deposed appears to be floundering because PLP MPs do not want to vote against their party.
The UBP needs at least five PLP members onside in order to push through a vote of no confidence in the Premier.
The motion states that the Opposition is pushing for a change of leader but "not necessarily" seeking a change of Government.
However, PLP members believe the wording is too vague and is being viewed as an attack on the Government as a whole.
Former Premier Alex Scott said: "There is considerable discussion about the wording of the motion at present. "Simply stated, folk are at sixes and sevens. The object of [the motion] was to focus on the Premier, but there are those who feel that it engages and involves the Government.
"The ongoing discussion now is which is which."
Mr. Scott said the motion needed to be more specifically targeted at the leader if it was going to gather the support it needed.
The Speaker
He added that the speaker of the House of Assembly may not even accept the motion in its present form.
Fellow PLP MP Ashfield DeVent said: "If they clearly have an issue with the Premier they have to clarify the situation to say that.
"I don't think anyone within the Government is going to side with a motion that could be interpreted as being targeted against the Government.
"I am not going to support a motion that has even a remote chance of removing the PLP [from power].
"If their problem is with Dr. Brown then they had to say their problem is with Dr. Brown, otherwise they are not going to get the support they need."
Mr. DeVent continued: "The UBP has to recognise that they lost the election and the general public do not want them in power.
"The UBP does not even know what direction it is going in. Some people see Dr. Brown as a problem, but it is a bigger problem to get in a party that doesn't even seem sure of its own direction."
Speculation abounds as to who among PLP MPs might be inclined to vote in favour of a motion to oust Dr. Brown. Rumoured rebels are Randy Horton, Michael Scott, Neleatha Butterfield, Jennifer Smith and even Deputy Premier Paula Cox. Ms Cox declined to comment on the matter yesterday and we were unable to reach the others.
'One-man rule'
UBP leader Kim Swan tabled the vote of no confidence last Friday. It must sit in the House of Assembly for at least two weeks before a vote. The motion read: "The public affairs of Bermuda are increasingly subject to the politics of one-man rule under the Premier, Dr. Ewart Brown.
"We consider this unhealthy and not in Bermuda's best interest."
It continued: "What we are seeking with this motion is a change of leadership for Bermuda - not necessarily a change of government at this time - but a change that can get this island back on a steady course, where we no longer are distracted by the antics of one man, where we can collectively get together, roll up our sleeves and start working on solutions that are best for Bermuda."
UBP MP and lawyer Trevor Moniz yesterday defended the way the motion is worded.
He said: "The only way to change the leader within the House [of Assembly] is with a motion of no confidence. We could only have made it broader, we could not have made it narrower."
Asked about those in the PLP who will not support the motion through fear it will harm the PLP, Mr. Moniz said: "They have to ask: 'does it do the party more harm to have a bad leader, or more harm supporting this motion?'"
I am an American with deep affection for Bermuda (have made more than 300 trips to Bermuda over the years). Although I usually support the PLP, I am very concerned about Dr. Brown's actions and feel he is doing great harm to the country.
Posted: Thursday, June 18, 2009
Comment by:
Mr. Maestro
Bermmuda did you notice that at the big event of the swearing in of President Obama, Paula Cox was seen on live TV not Dr. Brown...
HMMMM I WONDER IF THAT'S A SIGN FOR WHAT NEEDS TO BE...
Posted: Thursday, June 18, 2009
Comment by:
nick
People of Bermuda don't let Dr.Brown pull the wool over your eyes.His interest are for his own gain,and when you all put him out his gain will be Bermuda's lost because he will pack up and leave and strive in the united states with all his contacts and photo ops he has put in his profile for himself and his family.While Bermuda will be paying for his playboy status he has created. Watch what he dose if he put out he will pack his bags and leave that island to cash in his chips in the united states and all his follower can get on that flight because thier chip are not worth anything outside of bermuda.(Its a sad day in BDA).
Posted: Thursday, June 18, 2009
Comment by:
David
For all those talking of how "At the least the UK is there to rescue us from the more idiotic actions of our public servants", my friends, if you haven't been reading the newspapers recently, you would realise that the UK has its own problems with corruption and scandalous financing that have lead to the resignation of members of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Cabinet. How, may I ask, will Britain provide for us oversight, if they cannot keep their own house in order?Several hundred years ago during the early days of this beautiful Country bermudians, some of whose descendants possibly stood in that crowd yesterday, aided the United States in its war of Independence by giving it gunpowder stolen from the British stockpiles in Bermuda. That gunpowder was ultimately used in guns that cost British lives. That act, that is feted today as an example of the symbiotic relationship between Bermuda and the USA, was essentially an act of treason. The covert immigration of four Gitmo detainees is indeed tame by comparison. I'm sure the benefits will out-tongue your complaints.
Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Comment by:
Rod
More than 90% of the protestors were caucausian. Hmmmmmn
Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Comment by:
Bruce McClarron / Arizona
The late John Kennedy made a momentous quotation over 45 yrs ago...."Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but what YOU can do, for your country"!
Now we will see the 'True Colours' of the PLP...Are they more interested in their own "Personal Agendas" or the greater good of Bermuda?
If they are worth their salt & truly have Bermuda's interests at heart, then they will do what is right for Bermuda...and help the UBP remove 'king Brown' from his Throne!
Lets see if they have the 'Testicular Fortitude' for the good of the Island & all Bermudians in general!
Remember....Actions speak 'Louder Than Words'!
Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Comment by:
Brian
Here is my predictions of the events to come;
The Premier will say that the people calling for him to resign are UBP supporters. He will also say that they are mainly White and have not adjusted to the rule of a Black Government. As a result the Black majority will rally around him. The British Government reacts to the Guantanamo refugee indecent by reducing the powers of the Bermudian Government. Again Dr. Brown's supporters will rally around him and call for independence. We will then be thrown into independence, we will lose the Privy Council as a high court and will lose the majority of our international business. Tourism is already dead and will never be revived. I'll let you take the story from here. I'm sure you can figure it out.
Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Comment by:
Robert Davies
Do Alex Scott and Ashfield not know how to listen and read. This isn't a motion to topple the government, it's a motion to oust Brown. Maybe those two need to go too if they can't understand plain English.
Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Comment by:
Thascrazytalk
It was expecting far too much to hope that Scott and Devent would do the right thing. Wouldn''t it be nice to have a government with integrit and principles for a change. Thank goodness we''re not independant. At the least the UK is there to rescue us from the more idiotic actions of our public servants.
Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Comment by:
PLP supporter
I have always voted PLP all my life - every election without fail I marked the x next to the PLP candidate or candidates.
But I am not a Brown supporter. I don't like his American style politics. If Ashfield and Alex can't see the difference I might as well stop voting.
