History, Updated
With the 10th anniversary of 1998 just a few months away, Walter Roban, JP, MP has submitted an update to the history section of our website.
MP Roban's update primarily chronicles the year 2007.
2007 saw the loss of some giants in the history of the Progressive Labour Party. Dame Lois Browne-Evans, Dr. Pauulu R N O B Kamarakafego and the last remaining member of the "Garage Gang" who founded our great party, Albert 'Peter' Smith. They will not be forgotten:
In March 2007, party founding member Albert 'Peter' Smith dies at the age of 80. Mr. Smith is the last of the 'Garage Gang' the core group of individuals who founded the party in 1963; the members of this group were Wilfred 'Mose' Allen, Hugh ‘Rio' Richardson, Robert Austin Wilson, Edward DeJean, Walter N H Robinson, Dilton Cann, and Alan Butterfield.
In April 2007, the architect of Universal Adult Suffrage in Bermuda, former PLP MP and Party Education Officer, Dr. Pauulu R N O B Kamarakafego (formerly Roosevelt Brown) passes away after a period of extended illness.
On 29 May 2007, the public awakens to the devastating announcement that Dame Lois M. Browne-Evans DBE JP former Party Leader and Opposition Leader has passed away suddenly at the age of 79 in the early hours of the morning. She apparently suffered a stroke. Later that Tuesday morning Premier and Party Leader Dr the Hon. Ewart F. Brown and his Cabinet addressed the country on the passing of Dame Lois. In his comments on behalf of the Government, Premier Brown describes her as, "... a legend like no other…a champion for justice - not just for blacks but for all Bermudians..."
The funeral of Dame Lois on 5 June 2007 was the most emotional in recent memory with thousands of Bermudians witnessing and listening to the ceremony at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. A procession to her internment led by her family and closest colleagues in the party, was followed by thousands of people. It was apparent that her contribution to the people and country was remembered and would not be forgotten.
2007 was also the year of our strong, third straight general election mandate. The election is remembered:
To the surprise of many, just hours after the Throne Speech, Premier the Hon Dr. Ewart F. Brown ends the election mystery and suspense. He announces to the country that he has visited the Governor and requested he prorogue the Parliament in order to hold a general election dated Tuesday 18 December 2008.
In a first for Bermuda, Premier Ewart Brown used a YouTube video on the Progressive Labour Party's website to announce the date of the general election.
At the Annual Delegates Conference Banquet that followed on 3 November, Premier Dr Ewart Brown delivered a rally call to party supporters to mobilise and work in concert. In a hard-hitting speech, Dr Brown called for members to focus their energies on winning the upcoming election.
The six weeks going up to the election was filled with a great deal of energy and sometimes-confrontational rhetoric between the completing parties. The campaign slogan for a third consecutive victory was, 'Moving Bermuda Forward' with a mission to make it ‘Three Straight!!!’ Another effective campaign tag line promoted across the island was ‘PLP Solid!!!’ The party focused its energy and resources on saturating the political landscape; proving the party was the dominant force in the country for progress and change.
The Party put forth a presentation and image of a government that has delivered by ensuring sound economic stability and performance, enhanced the quality of life for seniors, providing affordable housing, a turnaround in Tourism and a commitment to education reform.
The party launched it platform on December 9, 2007. A comprehensive and expertly crafted document titled, 'Patterns of Progress', it outlined the party’s vision, plans and promises to the people for its next term of government. Some of the party's chief promises in the platform were:
- Interest-free down payments for 500 first time Bermudian homeowners
- Building more geared-to-income housing units, especially single unit apartments for young Bermudians.
- The continuation of the Bermuda Race Relations Initiative throughout 2008.
- Partnerships with businesses to develop training and apprenticeship models in information technology
- Free ferry and bus transportation
- Free day care for means-tested Bermudian families though neighborhood based childcare providers such as churches;
- Future Care; a comprehensive healthcare and insurance scheme for seniors.
On December 18, 2007, the party succeeds with a third straight victory winning 22 seats of 36 seats in the House of Assembly. Despite the disappointment of losing the seat in constituency 4 St. George’s South, two sitting members M. Dean Foggo, and George Scott the party maintains its parliamentary majority. Two exciting victories for the night was new candidate Zane DeSilva gaining a seat in Constituency 30 and Patrice Minors retaining her seat by defeating challenger Michael Dunkley, the Leader of the Opposition.
Not only did the party successfully keep its majority, it managed to increase its percentage of the popular vote from 51.6% percent to 52.5% percent.
In 2008, we have delivered on our mandate and passed free day care to those who need it, revolitionised education with bold reforms, extended dental benefits, and we extended public transportation and education benefits.
The PLP has always been focused squarely on improving the lives of the Bermudian people and we will continue to live up to our commitment to social and economic justice.
