Sun Folds
|
SUNSHOPPER
|
SUNEMPLOYMENT
|
ADVERTISE
|
FACEBOOK
|
LINKEDIN
|
TWITTER
|
INSTAGRAM
Thursday, March 4, 2021
HOME
NEWS
News
Human Interest
Labour & Immigration
Environment
Marine reserve
Economy
Education
Politics
Ministerial Statements
Crime
Breakaway
Weekender
Back in the Day
Sun Girl / Sun Guy
Midweek
Throne Speech 2013
SAGE Report 2013
Year in Review 2013
Budget 2014
Augmented Reality
BUSINESS
Business
Shipping
Retail
Tourism & Hospitality
Finance
Economy
Technology
Columns
Matters in Healthcare
Ask the Expert
Insurance
Press Releases
Law
Boston: Strong Ties to Bermuda
OPINION
Larry Burchall
Letters
Opinion
Shawnette Somner
Burton's Banter
Wise Up
Christopher Famous
Craig Cannonier
Marc Bean
Jeremy Deacon
Elaine Murray
Jonathan Starling
Bryant Trew
Eron Hill
SPORTS
Cricket
Cricket fixtures
Cup Match 2013
Track & Field
Bowling
Tennis
Football
Boxing
Softball
Basketball
Sailing
Equestrian
Martial Arts
Cycling
Squash
Golf
Gymnastics
Triathlon
Rugby
Field Hockey
Swimming
Sports
Pool and Snooker
Olympics
Motor Sports
Youth Sports
Columns
Sports chick
Wells at Wembley
Island Games
Cup Match 2013
World Cup
Cup Match 2014
LIFE
Lifestyle
Movies
Arts & Entertainment
Music
Community
Food
Travel
Fashion
Health and Fitness
Enter contests
Peace Day Contest
Bermemes exclusive
Makeover Contest
Bermuda Festival 2014
FAITH
Faith
Pastor Gary Simons
Walia Ming
Rev. Maria Seaman
Shabnam Jheengoor
NOTICES
Legals & Notices
Marriages
Announcements
Obituaries
Submit an obituary
Advertise
Contact Us
RSS Feeds
FEATURES
Newport Bermuda 2014
Cup Match 2014
Victory for Brown but a setback for democracy
Opinion By Larry Burchall
BDA Sun columnist
Saturday, June 20, 2009 2:14 AM
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.
Related Articles
Premier Brown survives confidence vote
Was it a unifying speech?
Long night of the clucking tongues
Those who should have played key roles were kept in the dark
X
Search only accepts letters and numbers.
MOST READ
Exclusive: Superstar Beres Hammond surprises his biggest fan
Why did lawyer doorstep the Premier?
How Collie Buddz got the girl
The importance of eating three meals a day
Painful chapter in our history revisited
LATEST NEWS
Media reflects on Bermuda Sun closure
Cup Match: What’s open, where and when
Sun closure: Honoured to have led the Sun’s news team
FCO Minister: I have full confidence in the Governor
Swimmer rescued in Bailey’s Bay
PRC status
Should PRC holders get status?
Yes
Some of them
No
Don't know
Tweets by @BDASun
NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFE
FAITH
FEATURES
NOTICES
ABOUT US
Sun Folds
|
SUNSHOPPER
|
SUNEMPLOYMENT
|
ADVERTISE
|
FACEBOOK
|
LINKEDIN
|
TWITTER
|
INSTAGRAM
Copyright © 2005-2021 Bermuda Sun Ltd. All Rights Reserved. For more information see our
Terms of Service
.
Software Copyright © 1998-2021 1up! Software, All Rights Reserved
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##