“We don’t need to focus on our lanes. We need to focus on our destination and forge every union we can. I call it the concept of “functional unity”. Functional unity is at play when we come together around a common goal, and we unite and take all the steps necessary in order to reach it.”

Dr Ewart Brown, BIU Labour Day Banquet, August 29 2014

When read superficially, it’s extremely difficult to argue against Dr Brown’s statement. However, it’s the very first sentence that is precisely what makes functional unity incredibly problematic. I would actually argue that we do need to focus on our own lanes. Why? Because keeping that focus allows our conscience to keep us in check. When we suppress our conscience and lose focus of our own lanes for the sake of political unity, that unity rapidly becomes dysfunctional.

Consider the following examples of what typically happens when politics is put above conscience:

1. Following Dr Brown’s Labour Banquet speech, a spouse of a Bermudian repeated what could easily be perceived by some as a highly inflammatory statement. LaVerne Furbert (Dr Brown’s “Greatest Defender”) decided to voice her displeasure on BE2012, which is an online forum moderated by Christopher Famous (and used frequently by several PLP leaders and supporters). Ms Furbert asked members, “Is there a process in place to revoke status?” She further asserted that it was time for that spouse of a Bermudian “to go back home.”

Much to my disappointment, none of the PLP members commented on the suggestion that status should be revoked for a spouse of a Bermudian who makes a statement that some find disagreeable. But given the possibility that none of them actually saw Ms Furbert’s comment, I put the question directly to them. More than 12 hours later, none of them advised whether or not they supported Ms Furbert’s point of view (as is their prerogative). It’s also remotely possible that the question hadn’t yet been seen. Nevertheless, I realised the next morning that Mr Famous (or another administrator) chose to delete the discussion entirely.

To provide additional context, on multiple occasions I’ve openly been branded a house n****r (or the near equivalent) on BE2012. Threads containing this kind of language typically get defended instead of deleted. Ironically, the original discussion thread containing LaVerne Furbert’s original question wasn’t deleted either. Yet, it appears that merely asking PLP leaders for their thoughts on the topic was worthy of censorship. Refusing to comment on her remarks, and/or censoring those who question them, is precisely what I’d call dysfunctional unity.

2. Another example of how dysfunctional unity can rear its ugly head can be found in the August 15th Royal Gazette. In the column titled “OBA is fighting Bermudians” Christopher Famous warns: “Non-Caymanians now outnumber born Caymanians in their own island. If the OBA continues on this path, Bermudians too will be outnumbered in our own island.”

Oddly enough, Cayman’s 2010 Census reports that there were 30,979 Caymanians and 23,057 Non-Caymanians. Further, Cayman’s 2013 Annual Economic Report states, “Unlike in previous years where there were more non-Caymanians in the labour force, there were slightly more Caymanians in 2013.” So what data was Mr Famous’s claim based upon?

A further consideration is that at 102-square miles Cayman is almost five times larger than Bermuda. Whereas Cayman could accommodate even more expats, Bermuda’s 21-square miles probably couldn’t sustain 50,000 expats. Given all of these facts, one has to ask if Mr Famous’ s statement was meant to unify Bermudians through enlightenment, or through manufacturing discontent about the OBA’s immigration agenda.

3. Next, consider how the PLP called for unity over the Governor’s decision not to approve their motion for a Commission of Inquiry into compulsory land purchases and alleged theft. Thousands came together to protest the Governor’s decision and support the PLP’s demand for his removal. Seizing upon that opportunity, the PLP also requested that the FCO dissolve Parliament in an attempt to remove the OBA Government.

It’s now been eight weeks since the FCO rejected their demands, and the PLP has yet to state what their plans are to address the matter. The PLP’s failure to reveal a Plan B after so much time leads me to believe that they used the Commission of Inquiry to unify voters over a contentious issue, only to then exploit their support for an ulterior political motive. Once again, this is incredibly dysfunctional unity.

Seemingly by nature, politicians attempt to compel voters to abandon their individual thoughts and principles in order to reach a political goal. Silence, censorship, dishonesty, exploitation and even corruption, become pervasive because dysfunctional unity requires political loyalty at the expense of the community as a whole. When we end up turning a blind eye, or attempt to cover up misdeeds, we sacrifice our integrity for the sake of a political party’s success.

To put it bluntly, dysfunctional unity is largely why Bermuda has ended up in the mess it now finds itself in. Both parties are guilty of it, and we really don’t need to encourage it.

E-mail: bryanttrew@mac.com