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A New Vision March 24, 2006

UBP

Last night I went to the UBP’s New Vision rally. Not really knowing what to expect I finally made my way downstairs to where the cocktail party was before the event started. My initial reaction was that I was distressed as to what I saw. Getting there at 6:30, which was quite a push coming straight from work, I was there with most of the other early birds, and I quickly found myself with a crowd I don’t usually hang about. I was a bit dismayed at first as most of the people I saw there were exactly what the UBP is constantly being branded as having it’s members consist of, the upper class. It was a bit stuffy, but then again I’m the type of person who prefers beer and a bar as opposed to highballs and a cocktail party, so I was bound to think that.

7:25 hit so I made my way to my seat and observed everyone coming in. I made my way around and saw a few people I knew, including Philip and Mandy Wells. The night was filled with entertainment, with singing and dancing. I was quite surprised to see that Bootsie was our MC of sorts and Gina Spence-Farmer touched on the incident that happened back in 2002 where Bootsie was apart of a skit that was insulting towards the UBP and it’s members. Bootsie apologised for what he said while being on the job. While I know that work and personal life must be kept separate and I can appreciate what Bootsie said was on the job alone and may not be reflective of his personal feelings, I still have to say that certain moral ethics must be applied in work life as well. I can only hope that while it was just a job for Bootsie, in future he may give consideration to the racial tension that the Island is suffering . I don’t know maybe it’s just me, but I prefer to take the moral high ground both in business and personal life, this is my philosophy and it’s not my place to impose that on anyone else. Enough said on that, it’s been hashed over and over, water under the bridge, yadda yadda yadda. Bootsie was good and had us laughing, which added to the evening.

The whole evening was worth the trip. It was a mixture of very diverse entertainment and separated by public speakers delivering what we were all there to hear, the UBP’s New Vision. Entertainment wise, the highlights for me were Gina Spence-Farmer doing a very powerful interpretive dance depicting empowering a homeless lost individual and bring them back onto their feet (Gave me shivers!), Gina’s daughter and brother performing a very intricate salsa dance routine (Gina should be proud of her family!), and several singers, including a classical and the girl from Bermuda Idol who started off a bit slow, but then got right into it where the point of crescendo several women in the audience shouted out “You go GIRL!”

Maxwell Burgess led things off and pointed out the diverse mixture of people he saw. I turned around and realised that the room had filled up to capacity, there was standing room left only. He was too right, instantly my thoughts of being in a stuffy room with stuffy people evaporated as I saw people from all walks of life, all races were represented, and when Mr. Burgess brought this up, everyone looked at one another and smiled. This is the Bermuda that I’ve been hoping for. It was my fondest wish at that time to drag in all the Na-Sayers from the PLP by their ears, whether pierced or not, stand them up in front of everyone there and dare them to repeat the utter garbage they have been spewing to this audience which so well represented the makeup of people in Bermuda. Mr. Burgess stated accurately that we need this change for our unborns. Unborn children, grandchildren and so on. It is after all the reason why we are here, the continuation of life. Now what kind of life do we want our unborn to inherit?

David Dodwell came up after some more entertainment and discussed the need for MP’s on both sides to stop the bickering. Another irritation that I have with current politics. More time is waisted when you get into the “he said-she said” arguments. Besides, that’s what these blogs are for! Wayne Scott was next, discussing how there needs to be a more accountable and ethical government, with viable plans and viable results.

After another bout of entertainment, John Swan took the stage…..and the crowd with it. He was point blank and what he said, spoke volumes. In essence he criticised the UBP of the past for loosing it’s togetherness and ability to work as a team, and how that Bermuda shouldn’t be a divided people and we need to re find our foundation. Truer words were never better spoken. I have said myself, before Bermuda can move forwards, we need to move as one people. David Saul followed John Swan who gave sheer accolades to Wane Furbert. He made a quick quip saying that Bermuda needs a leader instead of another 7 years of people learning on the job; but out of everything he said, this one quote summed up Wayne Furbert to a tee, “A true leader walks with kings and still maintains their common touch”.

At this point it was Wayne Fubert’s time at bat, and he struck a home run. He outlined 8 pathways to get Bermuda back on track. It seems that we finally have someone who has been listening to what the people want. Not only does he outline ways of empowerment, bringing the people together, bringing the parties together but he also is intent on restructuring the political system ultimately bringing the voters closer to the government.

I have to say that before last night, I was wondering if raising my hand back in December, and accepting to get involved with helping the UBP was really the correct choice for me. However after hearing what was said last night, it sounds as though we have a team of charismatic people willing to go the distance for Bermuda and work for a change, cause lord knows we need one. Of course, and as anyone who knows me would agree that I’m a “Talk is cheap kinda guy”. I would have to say that I’m more interested in the performance and the results than the rallies, but it was interesting to see what the plan, or vision if you will, was. The UBP are on the right track, it’s up to all of us to make sure they stay the course, when elected into government.

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