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Protest turns violent in Bermuda over airport deal
As for the VI, under the National Democratic Party (NDP), there has been a proposal to have a Chinese company build, own and operate an expanded runway at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport as one option; however, after some verbal opposition, the Cabinet of Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) has been divided and the project is on hold.
In Bermuda, with the ruling One Bermuda Alliance of Premier Michael H. Dunkley, they appear to be going down the same road by allowing a Canadian company to expand the L. F. Wade Intentional Airport under a Build, Own and Operate concept.
However, in Bermuda, the opposition party, trade unions and ordinary citizens have taken to the streets in protest of the government's decision to allow a Canadian company to take over their airport.
House of Assembly blocked by protestors
It was yesterday December 2, 2016 that thousands of residents of Bermuda protested and blocked elected Members of Parliament from entering the House of Assembly.
The heated protest over the controversial airport redevelopment project turned violent yesterday, with police dousing protesters with pepper-spray and officers claiming they were assaulted.
However, protesters, union leaders and the Opposition Progressive Labour Party (PLP) have alleged that the officers needlessly disrupted a peaceful protest, sending at least one senior away in an ambulance.
Violence in the streets
Protesters, according to the Bermuda Royal Gazette, chanted and linked arms to remain in place and, during a heated altercation, police attempted to disperse them with spray. The move prompted a furious reaction from protesters, union leaders and PLP MPs.
People who were sprayed were seen treating themselves in the street with water and cream, while two female crowd members were helped into an ambulance. Witnesses said one woman was injured after a confrontation with police, and several officers reportedly attacked.
By 2:45 P.M. yesterday December 2, 2016 Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) Kenneth H. Randolph Horton announced Parliament would be postponed until next Friday and the crowds began to dissipate, although a presence remained for the rest of the afternoon.
At the height of the tension, in front of the HoA, veteran PLP MP Derrick V. Burgess warned police some potential demonstrators may bring ammunition.
“I would like you guys to retreat — this is going to get dirty,” he said.
“You don’t want to mess with us. There are people with ammunition; they may come here — that’s what they told me. I tried to calm them down; they will shoot. They will come.”
Mr Burgess, who emphasised to The Royal Gazette that he had tried to calm people down, later said of the standoff: “This is white supremacy at work. This is the biggest thing to happen since the 1977 riots.
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37 Responses to “Protest turns violent in Bermuda over airport deal”
speak up are the canaries in the coal mine. They warn people to look further into the issues. These people are courageous and should be respected. No one says you have to agree with them, but respect them for speaking up.
We do not NEED an airport, what we need is a government that will work with airlines. We do not NEED connections to the mainland US (with packed immigration services), what we need is to fly through P.R. at a reasonable rate and at reasonable times!! Yeh, Inter Caribbean!!!!!! Hope it works (and it will until the government puts their thumb on success.
If the people in the Bvi use to hold one head and come together and doing sh*t like this lots of things in the Bvi would be different that's y the government from do has they wish an we all just talk talk talk and kill each other the BVI is the only place in the world where the government can do what they want an the. People sit on there a$$$$e$ an just let them do