The 'secret' UBP report does not prove a conspiracy

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5: The UBP’s ‘Secret Report’ is highly recommended reading for those who would like some insight into the 2007 UBP/PLP election strategies, as well as the PLP’s use of plantation politics in 2012. 

The document basically explains that particularly amongst older blacks there is a “deep emotional hostility still lingering against the UBP”. 

When this is combined with the PLP’s strategy, “to run an emotional and negative campaign based on historic racial prejudice, fear and mistrust,” the thinking is that even Jesus and his 12 Disciples couldn’t get elected as UBP candidates.

What the report does not support is the PLP’s conspiracy theory that the OBA is all part of some script to fool blacks into voting UBP.

The consultant actually recommended that: “These two independent groups might work together as a New Democracy Coalition (NDC) for the next election cycle giving the UBP a chance to phase out gradually”. 

Well, the Bermuda Democratic Alliance and the UBP fought like cats and dogs from the very start, they didn’t remain independent for the next election cycle, and the Swans sure didn’t phase out the UBP gradually (it was dragged to its death). If anything, the report proves the opposite.

Another reason the conspiracy theory doesn’t add up is given that Wayne Furbert had read the consultant’s report, wouldn’t he have deemed the UBP breakdown, rebel defection and formation of the third party, as nothing more than the early stages of “the script” the PLP now claims is being followed?  Why then would he have considered joining the new party?

The Royal Gazette, October 15th, 2009: “He said he would also consider joining Bermuda’s new third party, but complained defecting UBP MPs Shawn Crockwell, Donte Hunt and Mark Pettingill had failed to contact him about their plans until recently, despite the fact he joined them in their calls for reform after the 2007 General Election defeat.”

Additionally, in the March 22nd, 2010 Royal Gazette, Furbert similarly doesn’t seem to doubt that the BDA is genuine:

“I just believe that, going forward, I had no other choice but to walk alongside the PLP to help make Bermuda a better place.”

Another option would have been to join the Bermuda Democratic Alliance, but Mr. Furbert said he would have declined if asked.

“I care very much for those guys. I worked with them over the past. It’s going to be tough for them to win an election at all,” he said.

So did Furbert forget about the ‘Secret Report’ until the OBA was formed, or is it now being trumped up and “leaked” two weeks before the election in order to manipulate black voters?  Is the UBP really so clever as to have faked a rebellion, started a third party, dissolved the BDA, and created the OBA?

And are we to believe that Kim Swan’s anger about it all is just an act?  Let’s just say that I have my doubts!

As for the UBP’s consultant’s use of the term “black surrogates” I encourage voters to judge it for themselves instead of assuming that it relates to a strategy to use OBA blacks to carry out some diabolical white agenda:

“This was a tough call and probably debatable,” the report states, “but in hindsight, even though he was party leader, having Michael be such a visible presence in every press event may have worked to our disadvantage. We may have been better served lowering his profile a bit and letting a handful of black surrogates play a more visible role”.

‘Demonize Dunkley’

The document makes a similar comment with regards to the PLP. Whereas the UBP strategy sought to “make this a referendum on Ewart Brown’s leadership and governing style” the PLP chose to “limit the public presence of Ewart Brown and demonize Michael Dunkley”. 

In other words, send in surrogates for Brown so there could be a “shifting away from Brown’s ethics problems to Michael Dunkley...”

A similar observation was made by The Royal Gazette on November 5th, 2012:

“But he was practically erased from history in an audio-visual montage presented to the audience as a warm-up to what was billed as “The Big Speech”. The montage contained video footage of the PLP’s 2007 election victory rally, but Dr Brown barely made an appearance in the piece, despite the fact that he was Party leader and Premier at the time.”

The way I feel about the consultant’s report is this.

Over the last 14 years, the PLP has done a superb job of misleading parents on the poor quality of the public education system.

It’s spent tens of millions on things we don’t need.

It’s saddled future generations with millions in unsustainable debt.

It’s placed major construction contracts in the hands of a select few. 

It’s alienated and frustrated international business to the point that job opportunities for college grads have been reduced.

On numerous occasions it’s sent mixed signals on corruption, unethical behaviour and criminality, which certainly can’t be good for law and order.

If there was a racist group carrying out a secret plan to oppress blacks, they’d have probably concluded by now: ‘why bother?’

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