OBA: ‘Secret plan’ document is a fake
A document labelled the “secret plan” of the United Bermuda Party by the governing party has been denounced as a fabrication by the One Bermuda Alliance and its alleged author.The OBA denounced the document which was placed on a new website, www.ubpleaks.com, as a centrepiece of the governing party’s own conspiracy.And the company named on the document has threatened legal action, saying it had no role in its authorship.The Progressive Labour Party called on the OBA to “come clean” about the “secret plan” after a Bermuda Broadcasting Company news report on Wednesday which featured what they said was a document containing consultant’s advice to the United Bermuda Party after the 2007 election.Yesterday, the document appeared on ubpleaks.com.But OBA leader Craig Cannonier issued a strongly worded statement saying the document had nothing to do with his party and had to be a fabrication.“There was a television news story last night that said the report was a post-election analysis about the December, 2007 election results, but we are told by the press that the document in question was dated October, 2007,” Mr Cannonier said.“That makes no sense and tells us it is nothing but a fabrication.”He added: “As far as we are concerned, this is a deception organised by a Government desperate to distract attention from its record. It’s dirty politics, nothing more.”Mr Cannonier added: “The One Bermuda Alliance has waged a campaign based on facts, focusing on the need to grow the economy, return good-paying jobs to thousands of unemployed Bermudians, restore safety to our neighbourhoods, control soaring debt and make sure our children get the education they need.“The Government has waged a campaign of fiction, using puppets, secret plans, rumours and anonymous websites to attack the OBA and its members. Their campaign has been a disgrace; putting forward nothing but wave after wave of negativity and distortion.”Yesterday evening lawyers acting for Penczner Media and Marius Penczner issued the following statement warning against any further publication of the document.“It has come to the attention of Penczner Media that a document has been anonymously posted on the website ‘ubpleaks.com’ entitled ‘United Bermuda Party, Post election: Analysis & Comments’.“The claim that the document was produced by Marius Penczner or Penczner Media or is completely false and defamatory.“The document purports to have been produced in 2007. The attribution is false; the document was not authored by, prepared by, nor was there any input whatsoever from Penzner (sic) Media.“Someone has maliciously created a document and posted it with the intent of misleading the public that Mr Penczner was the author. He was not.“There are obvious signs that this is a fabricated document. Whoever authored this document dated it 22 October 2007, nearly two months in advance of the election held on 18 December 2007.“It is impossible that such a document could contain a post-election analysis.“The address listed in the header of the document is incorrect, referring to ‘Washing’ as opposed to ‘Washington’. The banner at the top of each page is not Penczner stationery.“Since 1986 Penczner Media has collaborated with hundreds of clients. It develops television, print and online media for some of the world’s best known corporations and causes.“Penczner Media is not in the business of producing documents of the kind that has been irresponsibly published by ubpleaks.com and broadcasted by ZBM.“Publication of the document is defamatory of the good reputation of Marius Penczner and Penczner Media and further publication of the document will be met with legal proceedings.”