Canon James Francis’ timely and courageous letter to the Royal Gazette is highly recommended reading for those concerned about Bermuda’s social, economic and political, stability. He raised a great number of issues and called upon us, “…to step back, pause and reflect on what all this noise is doing to the future of our Island.”

Many of us are utterly convinced that the “noise” that Francis referred to is not politically driven, but simply demand for social justice long-denied. While social justice is something we should all be striving for, our focus should be on generating solutions instead of blinding ourselves with politically motivated protests.

The PLP set their path in motion at the very start of the OBA Government’s tenure. On February 18th, 2013, the Opposition Leader made clear that the PLP’s desire was to see the new Government fall long before its term was up:

“We will return to Government sooner than you think, because while they think we are at our weak point, the truth of the matter is that the demonic, Harry Potter One Bermuda Alliance will crumble faster than it was built. They will self destruct. Any institution built upon the principles of fraud, of deceit, of lies, will crumble faster than it was built.” As if this desire wasn’t clear enough, Bean repeated a similar statement in the House of Assembly on March 4th, where he predicted that the OBA’s, “time in Government will be 14 months.”

So, how does one go about seeing their prophecy come to fruition? In Saul Alinsky’s Rules For Radicals, he writes the following:

“The organizer dedicated to changing the life of a particular community must first rub raw the resentments of the people of the community; fan the latent hostilities of many of the people to the point of overt expression. He must search out controversy and issues, rather than avoid them, for unless there is controversy people are not concerned enough to act.”

Now, consider Canon Francis’ words: “With all due respect to the people who are enticed to engage in such folly, the only beneficiaries of marches appear to be the people who sell bottled water and shoes.” When viewed through Alinksky’s political lens, I think it’s patently obvious that the prime beneficiaries are politicians and those activists who support them.

Take note that it has been five weeks since the Governor requested, “clearer references to the kinds of alleged abuses concerned and a clearer mandate for me to incur expenses from the Consolidated Fund.” It’s also now been two weeks since the FCO rejected the PLP’s request to replace the Governor and dissolve Parliament. Surely the PLP would have prepared for this possibility if the call for a Commission of Inquiry was genuinely about social justice? Surely they would already have Plan B ready if this wasn’t merely an attempt to rub raw the resentments of the people in order to return the PLP to power sooner than we think? …Apparently not. Until such time as Plan B is revealed, I have to conclude that the “Combined Opposition” is manufacturing discontent in order to achieve their premature political goal. And, unfortunately, they are demonstrating a willingness to maliciously attack anyone who disagrees, including Canon James Francis. Rev. Tweed (and several others) rewarded Francis by maligning him as a black surrogate of the Anglican Church who is ignorant of the history of racial injustice.

On Facebook, he was dismissed on face value by one of the PLP’s Assistant Party Organizers, Christopher Famous: “The man serves the Church of England… End of story… When you serve the Church of England you serve the views and wishes of the English you serve.”

None of this should surprise anyone, because this single-minded kind of propaganda resurfaced the day the new Government was branded demonic. Since then, we have constantly been bombarded in the news, on talk radio and online, with the idea that to speak out against the Combined Opposition is to be Anti-Bermudian, racist or traitorous.

As Francis wrote, “Today, we appear to be caught up in the throes of noisy confrontation. There is no respect on the part of adults whose role it is to set standards of respect for our young.” This kind of McCarthyism is a recipe for Bermuda’s self-destruction. The PLP needs to respect the democratic process and win an election on merit, just as the UBP, BDA and OBA, had to over the PLP’s 14-year tenure. To do otherwise, especially when our economy is so fragile, is to hasten our collective demise.

Saul Alinsky wisely wrote:

“We must never forget that so long as there is no opportunity or method to make changes, it is senseless to get people agitated or angry, leaving them no course of action except to blow their tops.”

Canon James Francis wisely wrote:

“An island perishes when people of goodwill do nothing.”

Yes, it’s time for people of goodwill to break their silence and speak out against the discontent being manufactured, or this island shall perish.

Email: bryanttrew@mac.com