6/20/2009 3:14:00 AM Victory for Brown but a setback for democracy
Opinion By Larry Burchall BDA Sun columnist
SATURDAY, JUNE 20: The members of Bermuda's House of Assembly, by majority vote, have decided to keep Dr. Brown in post as Premier. This means that, acting for all Bermuda and all Bermudians, they have decided to keep someone who knowingly breached the Constitution and who acts separately from the Cabinet. More particularly, the PLP members of the House, by their collective action, chose to keep Dr. Brown as their leader. In both instances a clear choice and a definite result.
The PLP has, in this instance, determined that the rule of law is secondary to the retention of political power; and that ignoring Cabinet is acceptable. Their decision represents political growth - in the wrong direction. As in all things, there will be consequences.
One clear consequence, which will certainly unfold over time, is that the community that supports a diminution of the importance of law, will begin to suffer - and suffer more directly - at the hands of people who agree with, and who adopt, their ignoring stance. Skating around the law, bending the law, and breaching the law are now - and for many tomorrows - far more acceptable than yesterday.
Now I - and all Bermuda - can expect to see lowered standards of performance in all areas. When the results of lowered performance begin to show, we will see another consequence as world attention comes back to us. This time, though, it'll come back to watch - and perhaps even gloat - over a once successful community declining into a community in chaos. A service providing community that no longer provides the kind of honest service on which we built our international reputation, and from which we invite others to do their business.
The decline will happen. It will be noticeable. It will affect everybody.
For now, however, Dr. Brown's long and colourful political career continues.
Dr. Brown first came to prominence in the summer of 1968. That was the year when France was wracked by student riots in May. A month earlier Bermuda had blown up with the Floral Pageant riots of April 1968. In July California saw draft-card burning riots and disturbances by American students and draft-age citizens. In August, the people of Czechoslovakia reared up against the Russians. All through 1968, in all five continents, there were significant riots and street actions against the established order of that day.
In 1968, Dr. Brown was leading student demos at Howard University in Washington DC.
Thirty-eight years later, in 2006, in a democratic process created by the sentences and clauses of the Bermuda Constitutional Order, 1968; Dr. Brown became the Premier of Bermuda. In January 2009, in another democratic change operating under the constitution of the United States of America, Barack Obama became the President of the United States of America.
The United States of America, population 300,000,000, and Bermuda population 65,000, have two things in common. Both contain significant minority and majority populations. America is a majority white nation, and American blacks are a thirteen percent minority. Bermuda is a majority black nation with Bermuda whites the thirty-five percent minority.
Barack Obama seems to understand America and his role in America. With a history of hundreds of years of black persecutions, black enslavement, lynchings of blacks, and outright discrimination of blacks - by white Americans; President Barack Obama seems to understand that he is still the President of all Americans. That he represents every American, black as well as white.
Even though America still has its share of virulent - as the Holocaust Museum shooting has just shown - gun-toting 'good 'ol boys', Barack Obama strides above all that and leads by clear example. The quality of Barack Obama's family and personal life set an excellent example for all common people. In all things, Obama sets a good example.
Dr. Brown's political language and political actions and his style of leadership is not like Obama's. Dr. Brown's well-known and well-publicized refusal to answer "Plantation Questions" is, perhaps, the quintessence of a narrowly politicized man. The other Brown - Gordon - would love to treat 99 per cent of David Cameron's questions as 'plantation questions'. But Gordon Brown does not. Instead, in the full play of democracy, Prime Minister Gordon Brown - the other Brown - rises to the Despatch Box, takes the hit, and answers the question.
That's Democracy at work. Visible. Loud. Raucous. Confrontational, indeed. But it works.
Dr. Ewart Brown's refusal to accept or to answer what he chooses to describe as plantation questions was but one of many steps on his road to this recent defiance and abrogation of the very Constitution under whose protection he was elected, and from whose sentences and clauses he draws the power attached to the Office of Premier.
Currently, Dr. Brown is involved in behaviour in which he has clearly - even in the professional eyes of Bermuda's Attorney General - breached Bermuda's Constitution and who has publicly treated his Cabinet with disdain.
Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2009
Comment by:
Diana Wise
How disturbing that such a group can continue to take advantage of their fellow Bermudians and in doing so seem determined to destroy the integrity, beauty and historically pristine character that has been inplace for hundreds of years...and worse yet, that these same people who are being taken advantage of refuse to do anything about it...Get off your butts Bermudians and get rid of these negative people that seek to destroy you
Posted: Monday, June 22, 2009
Comment by:
Llewellyn
Well written article...i am totally in agreement with it. i believe that the same way Dr. Brown became Premier is the same way it will be taken away from him. in the end i am gonna have faith that the rest of the PLP MP's will eventually do the right thing and vote him out. At the same time they should get rid of Walton Brown and Thaao Dill. it is my belief that these men are not good for the country...
Posted: Monday, June 22, 2009
Comment by:
Brian
We are all working on Dr. Brown's Plantation now.
Yes you may have the freedom to speak but you will not be listened to.
Posted: Monday, June 22, 2009
Comment by:
American watching
What a shame your PLP couldn't take this opportunity to show the good people and constitution of Bermuda some dignity and respect. It's all about black power apparently, above all else. Dr. Brown obviously misplaced his Minister of Tourism hat somewhere with his constitution. Godspeed Bernuda, the world is watching your lovely culture sink through radical leadership and racial strife. You are lead by a radical, "by whatever means necessary" politician. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is spinning in his grave. Disgusting from here! Love your island, fear your leader. Your leadership's poor decisions based only on skin color foreshadow the economic catastrophy coming. I'm sorry our US leadership helped. Ashamed too. Obama's people should have known better too. Nobody wins in this, but Bermuda will lose, bigtime. Shameful!
Posted: Sunday, June 21, 2009
Comment by:
Sara
It is good to know that ALL MP's are now able to ignore the Bermuda constitution as long as they give an apology to their fellow MP's. After all, Dr. Brown has just set the precedent.
Posted: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Comment by:
Helen
Finally a voice of reason from someone who has always is that reasonable voice. Thank you so much!
Posted: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Comment by:
Robert Bryce
Excellent article Larry. Dr Brown, as Premier and supposed role model, has effectively given every Bermudian, especially the youth, the go ahead to breach, ignore and flout any law that they disagree with, which would tend to be all. He has also apparently elevated the President of the USA to be a God, which I somehow doubt is a view shared by the President. One can only hope that following the venting of all right thinking MP's anger against the Premier they will shortly do what is necessary to bring decency, credibility, respect and the rule of law back to the governence of Bermuda. If not, it's back to the plantation.
Posted: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Comment by:
Cicero
Excellent piece Larry and very succinct: In a message to your once wonderful little country, allow me to quote Geoff Goldblum in 'The Fly': 'Be afraid - be very afraid'.
Posted: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Comment by:
Linda
Today is a sad day for democracy in Bermuda.
Mr. Burchall has expressed my sentiments, so need not add more, except perhaps this quote by E. Burke. "All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing"
Posted: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Comment by:
Jim Wilson
Then Mr Burchall, it is up to you & people like you, that have a reasonably high public profile, to get out on your soapboxes and organise more of the public gatherings that were seen tis week.
