Dunkley condemns 'gutter' video
By Sam Strangeways
Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley last night hit out at a video posted on the YouTube Internet site in which a former narcotics chief alleges that he may have been involved in a drugs conspiracy.
The ten-minute interview with retired superintendent Larry Smith was posted on the site at the weekend by a user calling themselves "Son of Bermuda" and had been viewed more than 620 times by 8.30 p.m. yesterday.
Mr. Smith talks about a Police investigation into the importation into Bermuda of $3 million worth of marijuana in a Dunkley's Dairy container which led to two of the company's employees being imprisoned for ten years in 2005.
Mr. Smith, who headed Bermuda Police Service's narcotics department from 1999 until 2006, asks at the end of the footage: "Was Michael Dunkley's behaviour unethical? Did it border on attempting to pervert the course of justice?"
Mr. Dunkley described the video as "trash" and told The Royal Gazette he was not afraid to deal with any allegations.
The suggestion that Mr. Dunkley might have played a part in the 2003 conspiracy was raised by Premier Ewart Brown in June when Government and Police lost an attempt in the Supreme Court to stop the press from publishing the contents of a leaked Police file into corruption at Bermuda Housing Corporation.
The Premier said at the time that the ruling meant all confidential Police files were fit to print and that it would be wrong if unproven investigative findings relating to the Dunkley case became "media fodder".
Labour and Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess raised the topic again the following month in the House of Assembly but was made to retract comments about Mr. Dunkley by Speaker Stanley Lowe.
A PLP candidate alerted The Royal Gazette to the video on YouTube yesterday. One user who watched it wrote: "Nice try PLP. Slander and spin are just not working for you here.
"No proof, no charges, no evidence, all hearsay. Nothing but hate and desperation."
Mr. Dunkley said the posting of the video had "all the hallmarks of another PLP smear against members of the United Bermuda Party" and was designed to deflect attention away from allegations about the BHC scandal in Friday's Mid-Ocean News.
"Once again the people of Bermuda can see that this government is prepared to stoop to any level, to say anything to hold onto power; a power they have used for their personal gain," said Mr. Dunkley.
"For the record, relating to the most recent in their series of bizarre attacks, this time on a You Tube-posted video, let me state that I fully cooperated with the Police in this matter.
"In fact, I assisted in the investigation, working with the Police on arranging surveillance of the subjects who were ultimately convicted. This cooperation assisted in the conviction and incarceration of two individuals. The people of Bermuda know me and know I have no tolerance for illegal drugs."
He said the video showed that the PLP was resorting to desperate measures to retain power. He added: "We think the people of Bermuda want a campaign devoted to the issues that can help improve lives, strengthen health care, ease the cost-of-living and educate our children.
"Instead the PLP continues to drag it into the gutter. The people of Bermuda deserve better. In the days to come we will continue to talk about our plans to reform education, build affordable housing, care for seniors, and reduce crime. However, we have to warn people that the PLP will fight that effort with continued smear attacks. Brace yourself Bermuda. Prepare for the PLP to go even lower."
PLP chairman David Burt said his party was focused on its election manifesto. "The Opposition Leader is free to speak publicly about whatever he chooses; we choose to talk about Patterns of Progress, our solemn promise to the electorate.
"We won't allow Mr. Dunkley or anyone else to distract from the conversations we are having on doorsteps across the country and taking our platform to the people."
