“Hey preacher man, I know you got something going on;

gotta make up another story, cause another Sunday coming down.” – Beres Hammond

Every Sunday between 6pm and 8pm, many Bermudians faithfully form part of the congregation of the Church of Hott 107.5, religiously tuning to “Reverend” Larry Scott preaching his own gospel of politics and economics.

In early 2012, Rev Scott encouraged every Bermudian to “seek the truth and to speak the truth” against the OBA pre-election lies.

I then took it upon myself to begin writing to Letters to the Editor to counter against the lies being spread by the OBA bloggers.

Fast-forward to a recent radio broadcast on Sunday, July 27, 2014, during which Rev Scott had Minister Michael Fahy and Junior Minister Sylvan Richards as guests explaining the OBA’s rationale for wanting to grant status to thousands of non-Bermudians.

During this show, Rev Scott not only allowed his two guests to speak untruths without stopping them, but also joined in the orgy of inaccuracies himself.

False Doctrines

* Dismissing the concerns of the people regarding the potential impact of PRCs gaining status, MP Sylvan Richards stated: “We have a housing market that is depressed. The silver lining is that increased people coming to the market…there will be an uptick in sales”.

Current legislation restricts PRC ownership to properties with an ARV of $63,000 or to properties costing at least $1.2 million. As 38% of our residential-zoned property is owned by non-Bermudians, removing these restrictions for thousands of PRC holders can only disadvantage Bermudians who are seeking to become first-time home owners in the lower end of the market.

* In response to the request to freeze the processing of applications until there is comprehensive reform, Minister Fahy said: “it would be absurd to turn around and say to people, after telling them you have the right to apply for status, you are not good enough anymore. Wait another couple of years…”

Minister Fahy demonstrates a lack of sensitivity towards our Island’s history of unfair and racially biased immigration policies; policies from which he himself has benefitted as the son of two PRC holders, who now dictates to born Bermudians.

More importantly, he ignores the legal contradiction that granting status in this manner, as it goes against the original intent and spirit of the legislation.

* In support of this position by Minister Fahy, Rev Scott stated that PRC’s have an “expectation” to status.

The intent of the PRC legislation was very clearly laid out in the White Paper that there will be no status granted.

* In asserting yet another untruth, Minister Fahy stated: “...people who have been here 30 years, 35 years…we wanted you here, thank you for being here, now go home. That’s not right!”

Minister Fahy is purposely stirring ill-sentiment as he knows that PRCs cannot be told to “go home”.

* Minister Fahy, in another attempt to justify why we need to grant status to PRCs, stated: “We need more people here…our death rate outweighs our birthrate.”

PRCs are already in Bermuda. Therefore, granting them status does not increase our population.

* Rev Scott stated that his Kittitian mother acquired status through marriage to his Bermudian father. Rev Scott then asked: “Which one of the Scott “PRCs” should go?”

Dear Rev Scott,

You know full well that none of your family members were PRC holders. They are Bermudian because your father was a Bermudian, so they could never be forced to go.

Additionally it was not in your place to answers questions posed to your guest. They must answer for themselves. Bermudians were extremely frustrated and disappointed to hear you allow such untruths to be spread on your show, unchallenged by yourself.

Bermudians need to hear the truth, and not be continuously misled by the OBA government. I challenge you, sir, to “seek the truth and to speak the truth”. You owe your congregation that much.

“Tell me preacher man do you love people from your heart?

I’m not saying that you don’t, but now is the time you make a start” ­– Beres Hammond