Recently in Claim vs Fact Category

A request for assistance.

Since the BIC report has provided such a rich source of misinformation, distortions and outright fallacies, I figured this would be a great time to make some new entries in the Claim vs Fact section of the site, which has been dormant although I have a few old but new entries to make as well as move it to a proper database (which is 3/4 done).

So, I'm making a request that you email me with anything that is worthy of a claim vs fact correction in the BIC report, or elsewhere for that matter.

The easy ones from the report that are already coming down the pipeline are the claims that:

1) The BIC didn't learn of any locations that used a referendum to determine independence.
2) The claim that tourism has turned around.

A couple of others are to be included including Tourism Minister Ewart Brown's claims that tourism numbers are improved over 2004.

Topic: Independence
Speaker: Alex Scott, Premier of Bermuda
Date: 30 Sept., 2004
Source: Royal Gazette: 'Scott welcomes UBP views on sovereignty path'
Claim/Quote:

“Historically, every country that has gone independent has done so through a General Election. He (Mr. Rammell) would want me to give a balanced view that while that may be so current practice and thinking, certainly in the EU and Great Britain, the facility of a referendum is a tool that is being used,” the Premier said.
“So history is on our side, opinion in Europe and Great Britain may be elsewhere.”

Fact:
Jamaicans voted, via referendum in 1961, to withdraw from the Federation of the West Indies which was established in 1959 - a vote for independence. Both Houses debated a draft Constitution for an independent Jamaica which was unanimously approved. Jamaica achieved independence on 6 Aug. 1962 from the UK.

References:
Jamaica National Heritage Trust: History of Jamaica
Jamaicans.com: Brief History of Jamaica
CIA - The World Factbook - Jamaica

Submit a claim

I'm compiling a database to catalogue and correct misleading and incorrect statements in the media. Each claim or quote will be matched with documented facts, so that Bermudian politicians are held accountable for their words.

I need your help. Please submit any claims that you believe to be untrue. Include the source and date of the statement and any references that disprove this statement.

I'll research it and add it to the list if it checks out.