.png)
Violence against Bermudians
“What transpired in Bermuda last Friday was disheartening to see and unacceptable. Let me be very clear, I don’t condone the violence that occurred against our citizens and was deeply troubled by what occurred.” – Premier Michael H. Dunkley December 4, 2016.
The Premier hosted a press conference a few days after the pepper spraying incident on December 2, 2016. Royal Gazette reporter Sam Strangeways asked him if he had spoken with the Commissioner. ZBM reporter Gary Moreno asked him if he had spoken with the Commissioner of Police. VSB reporter Brian Darby asked him if he had spoken with the Commissioner.
He never said anything about speaking with the Commissioner on December 2, 2016.
During Parliamentary Question period on Friday February 10, 2017 the Premier was again asked if he had spoken to the Commissioner on December 2, 2016.
MP Walter Roban asked him who he spoke with. He said nothing about the Commissioner.
MP David Burt asked him who he spoke with. He said he was researching the log. Never said anything about speaking with the Commissioner.
MP Michael Scott then asked him the same question. He said nothing about speaking with the Commissioner.
MP Diallo V. Rabain MP then asked him the same question. Again, he said nothing about speaking with the Commissioner.
Then MP Zane Desilva then asked him. Finally, he said he spoke with the Commissioner.
MP David Burt then asked him who else he spoke with.
He said nothing about speaking with the Commissioner more than once.
Premier learns of police action via social media!
According to the Royal Gazette of Saturday February 4, 2017 this was the Premier’s reply:
“Michael Dunkley has told MPs that he first became aware of the deployment of helmeted police against protesters on December 2 when he saw images of them on social media.”
So his claim was that he first knew about police in riot gear once he saw images on social media.
Fast forward to Friday February 10, 2017 the Premier then admits that he spoke to the Commissioner on no less than six occasions on Friday December 2, 2016.
As per Royal Gazette on Saturday February 11, 2017 “Michael Dunkley has said he was in phone contact with the Commissioner of Police during the protests” of December 2. Speaking in the House of Assembly, the Premier said that he had six separate phone conversations with the Commissioner on the day of protests against the proposed airport redevelopment project.
Responding to parliamentary questions by David Burt, the Leader of the Opposition, the Premier said the first phone conversation with the Commissioner on December 2 took place at 8.29am, with subsequent calls at 10.15AM, 11.06AM, 11:45 AM, 1:12 PM and 5:55 PM.”
So some questions come to mind:
1 Why did the Premier refuse to state to the press that he had spoken with the Commissioner for over 2 months?
2 Why did the Premier initially refuse to state in Parliament that he had spoken with the Commissioner?
Keep in mind; by the Premier’s own admission, he spoke to the Police Commissioner at 1:12 PM. At approximately 1:15 PM the police riot squad appeared on Parliament Street where the violence against Bermudians commenced.
.png)
Follow Us On
13 Responses to “Violence against Bermudians”
Please note that I put the sources of my information in my columns so the facts presented can be verified. By all means be objective but the facts cannot be denied.