Almost a month ago to the day I noted the obvious attempts by the PLP to minimise some significant liabilities in advance of the December election window:
Even the most casual observor would have probably noticed that there's been a flurry of activity over the past few weeks of unexpected developments and renewed talk of an election as the next logical window approaches (December).Most notably there's been developments around moving the Southlands development to Morgan's Point; supplementing the Bermuda Police with some nebulous imported force; importing a foreign consultant to cool down the economy (or just advise on tourism development if you believe the latest shifting justification); and the draft racial quota law.
Well, you can see that they're still at it, with the Premier attempting to head off early a major liability for he and his colleagues: his party's constant push for independence in the face of a combination of overwhelming opposition and complete apathy.
In the Bermuda Sun on Friday Dr. Brown gave a rather slippery response:
But he told us yesterday that he has no intention of "springing it on people" if the PLP wins the December 18 general election.He said: "My position is that the historical pro-independence position of the PLP has not changed. But when we go to the people to see if they wish to pursue independence, [our course of action] will be determined by the likelihood of a victory... There's no plan to spring it on people."
The same way he told Alex Scott that he wouldn't spring a leadership challenge on him, only to spring one a few short months later?
I think what rightly distresses many people is that there are two different postures on independence for the PLP; one when they're on island and another when they're off.
When speaking to locals they downplay it and say it's on the back-burner, but as soon as he's talking to an overseas crowd it seems to be right back on the front as a priority.
Bermudians should rightly be concerned that right now the PLP aren't just promising to do things immediately that they've refused to do for years (re-open St. George's Police station for example), but they're now also promising not to do things that they've always said they will do (Independence, Southlands).
Granted, Dr. Brown didn't say it was off the table, but he's being coy, and also telegraphing that he's more interested in gaming the outcome rather than just putting it to the people.
So the UBP today called Dr. Brown out on his comments to the Sun and pointed out the lack of clarity in his response. Bermudians need an answer here, because with all of the talk about the parties being the same (which I don't accept), this is a big difference:
I urge Dr. Brown and the PLP to come clean with the people of Bermuda. Will they push for independence, yes or no?Would Dr. Brown claim an election victory gives him a mandate for independence? That’s a very real possibility. People should demand clarity.
I think the answer is that right now they'll say anything, but the real plan remains unchanged.
Posted by Christian S. Dunleavy