by Zane DeSilva, JP, MP, Constituency #29, Southampton East
The Bermuda Progressive Labour Party firmly rejects the untrue and reckless allegations made by the OBA’s Shadow Minister of Finance, Doug DeCouto, in Parliament on Friday.
To launch false, vitriolic, personal attacks on the character and integrity of members of our Government in a desperate attempt to improve their horrific political prospects is nothing less than evil.
MP Decouto’s deplorable behaviour is not about holding the government accountable or not responsible oversight. It is the latest example of the racially coded, dog-whistle politics of the OBA which attempts to cast suspicion on a government led by Black Bermudians by implying corruption without ever proving wrongdoing.
When the OBA cannot win on policy, they try to win with made up allegations.
When they cannot produce evidence, they seek to manufacture division and hatred.
We condemn these smear tactics in the strongest possible terms.
Let us be clear and reinforce what the government has already said and that the Opposition already knows:
No special treatment has been granted to anyone outside of what is already public, transparent, and aligned with Bermuda’s economic interests.
No misconduct occurred, and the OBA has produced zero evidence to the contrary.
These allegations threaten investor confidence, undermine the hard work being done to revive tourism, and place political games above Bermuda’s recovery.
Bermudians deserve politics based on honest debate on the facts, and deserve representatives who build Bermuda up, not tear it down with lies designed to get headlines.
Despite so many years of using racially coded innuendoes and throwing out conspiracy theories, Bermudians continue to repeatedly reject the OBA.
Clearly trying to make the people hate us hasn't made the people love them.
The PLP will continue to defend our integrity aggressively and will push back, every single time against attempts to mislead the public or destabilize the progress being made for Bermudians.