Talk about looking for problems, but how can you make the following all-encompassing statement in the Throne Speech on a core issue of discrimination:
"The intention of the Human Rights Act to prevent discrimination against all classes of people must be fulfilled. Therefore the Act will be amended to ensure that no person is discriminated against in Bermuda."
And then less than 72 hours later say that "all" didn't mean "all", particularly the issue that everyone presumed you were talking about because it's been the hot topic for a few years now, culminating in a Parliamentary flame-out of epic proportions:
Today, Ms Butterfield told the media Mr. Butler had taken the issue to Cabinet earlier this year, but that it had been turned down. She said she did not know whether individual Cabinet members had been against the move, but only that the collective decision had been to reject it.
This is a cop-out, but also political strategy malpractice.
Firstly, why make such a grandiose statement in the Throne Speech when you didn't have to, and secondly why queue this up in your first post speech press conference?
Self-inflicted really. But it is a shining example of not letting the facts get in the way of your bold spin.
The PLP professes to be the party of civil rights, but on this core issue of discrimination they are chronically incapable of doing the right thing.
This is a basic human right. Make it happen.
