Burch quit after Premier met Police Commissioner
Government Senate Leader David Burch resigned suddenly on Saturday as he believed Premier Paula Cox lacked confidence in him.The timing of Mr Burch’s departure two days before the end of the Senate session left Progressive Labour Party colleagues concluding he was either deeply unhappy at a string of political developments or suffering serious ill health.Ms Cox initially added to the speculation as she refused to say why Mr Burch had left. She would only tell the media: “It’s not a resignation I would have welcomed or wanted.”But the Premier revealed last night that Mr Burch resigned because she had spoken to Police Commisioner Michael DeSilva about last week’s murder of Randy Robinson without consulting him first.Ms Cox last night told ZBM’s Let’s Talk Programme that Mr Burch had resigned by e-mail after she had told him about the meeting she had with Mr DeSilva on Saturday. Mr Burch is believed to have felt disrespected.She said: “He thought that showed I lacked confidence in him when I showed him it didn’t mean that.“After the latest shooting I just wanted to be briefed first hand by the Commissioner.”Mr Burch was yesterday replaced in the Senate by former Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith, who becomes Junior National Security Minister under former assistant police commissioner Wayne Perinchief who was appointed the new National Security Minister. Economy Minister Kim Wilson is the new PLP Senate Leader.Ms Cox said in light of Bermuda’s rise in violent crime she liked the “the synergy” of the two former top cops, saying their policing background would “add value” to the Ministry of National Security.But Ms Cox insisted she had tried her best to talk Mr Burch out of going.She said: “Ministers are their own person, they are strong-willed.“He’s a loss and he’s an asset but Government moves on...If a person does feel that strongly I have to accept that and make the necessary decisions...no-one is indispensable.“We had a good team with him (Mr Burch) and we have a good team without him and a strong team.”Ms Cox denied Mr Burch’s decision was based on him “not being able to orchestrate” recent issues, such as the continued existence of the Corporations and condominiums being sold to non-Bermudians. She went on to say that it “wasn’t my style” to interfere with the decisions Ministers were making.She said: “As Premier I take myself out of things. It is up to the Minister to make decisions, I don’t get involved in the bits and pieces.“I think that is the whole point of having a cabinet government. I want to empower Ministers to take control of situations”Ms Cox said she wouldn’t rule out a future Cabinet position for Mr Burch when it was hinted that he could be the next speaker of the House of Assembly. She said: “I welcome all credible candidates .I would welcome him back.”A host of PLP MPs yesterday said they were in the dark about why Mr Burch quit, with Mr Perinchief telling The Royal Gazette: “No clue. It’s a surprise, but I’m happy to fill the breach.”When Mr Perinchief, who also appeared on last night’s talk show, later discovered the reason for Mr Burch’s departure, he said “it was between him and the Premier.”But he did say: “There can only be one captain of the ship and that captain is the Premier of the country. I have no qualms about that.”Mr Perinchief added that he and Mr Burch were “always frank with each other” but admitted they did sometimes disagree on things.Other senior party members pointed to a succession of moves which could have further have irritated Mr Burch, including:l the Tucker’s Point Special Development Order, during which he told the Senate: “I will vote for the SDO today, but do so only because the national interest supercedes my personal misgivings.”l the continued existence of the Corporations of Hamilton and St George, which he repeatedly said should have been abolished by the Municipalities Reform Act;l a growing trend of Ministers being asked to read prepared statements instead of speaking off-the-cuff;l MPs’ refusal to back reform on gambling laws last year.A number cited the recent move to allow extra condominiums across the Island to be sold to non-Bermudians.Changes are also expected on controversial policies in Mr Burch’s former Ministry, including a relaxing of the rule requiring homeowners with non-Bermudian spouses to get licences for their propertyMr Burch has repeatedly stated his desire to be firm against land being sold to non-Bermudians.Mr Burch has suffered health problems in the past, with the Bermuda Sun reporting in late 2009 that he had a “complete physical meltdown”.“I expected to die. That is how I felt, that is what they believed and I had accepted that,” the then Senator told that newspaper at that time.The timing of Mr Burch’s resignation caused a potential problem for the $2 million Morgan’s Point resort in the Senate, although any danger of being outvoted was removed by the swift appointment of Senator Smith.Mr Burch did not respond to requests for comment yesterday, but his out-of-office e-mail reply stated: “Please be advised that my Government Service ended on April 2, 2011. Personal e-mails can be sent to my home address.“Please check the Government website for information on the appointment of a new Minister.”At the swearing-in ceremony yesterday, Ms Cox said Mr Burch had represented duty, honour and Country.She stated nobody could replace him but added: “Government is a continuum and this circumstance offers an opportunity for a senior Minister who has passion and commitment to the Country as well as a new Junior Minister who can bring a new dimension in Government’s efforts to tackle crime.”lInterview with new Senator Jonathan Smith, Page 5
New National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief returned to Cabinet yesterday vowing to tackle Bermuda's gang problems head on.
“I do have some initiatives up my sleeve, directed specifically at trying to get guns off the streets,” Mr Perinchief told The Royal Gazette shortly after being sworn in by Acting Governor David Arkley.
“I have strategies to get them off the streets and out of the hands of the criminals.”
Mr Perinchief, the former Police Assistant Commissioner and the MP for Pembroke Central, said guns give gangsters a feeling of power they wouldn't get if they were restricted to using baseball bats and machetes.
“The gun itself is a phenomenon driving some of these murders,” he said.
“If they hadn't got the gun, we would not be seeing these murders. It changes the whole paradigm.”
Mr Perinchief was sacked as Culture Minister by then Premier Ewart Brown immediately after the 2007 general election.
Many tipped him to return to Cabinet when Paula Cox replaced Dr Brown, but he was overlooked and then elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Yesterday, he said he never gave up hope of a comeback, saying: “I always was hopeful that I could serve in this capacity.
“I have wanted to for a long time. I have made it known to other Premiers that I would like to have this post. I have never lost the motivation to be the Minister for Public Safety.
“I am both elated and also sobered. It's very sobering. This is a critical time.”
He said he was especially happy to have Senator Jonathan Smith as his Junior Minister.
Sen Smith was a chief inspector when Mr Perinchief was Assistant Commissioner; Sen Smith later graduated to Commissioner before retiring in 2005, and joined the PLP in 2009.
His brother is Tim Smith, the former United Bermuda Party Minister.
After his swearing-in, Sen Smith noted it was almost exactly ten years since he swore his oath as Commissioner.
Later in the morning, he joined the Upper House, saying in his maiden speech: “I went into the weekend with no expectations, with nothing other than the list of household chores and my weekend changed quite dramatically when the Premier called.”
He called it an honour to be in the Senate and said he recognises the very important work that is done here.
Sen Smith recognised that as one of the public faces it would make him an easy target for criticism, both in his past role and new one.
But he added: “What held me through were ethics, leaderships, trust and at the end of the day just putting people first because at the end of the day that is what we are all here to do.”
Senator LaVerne Furbert commended his introductory speech and said: “You didn't even sound nervous.”
