Third PLP candidate quits race
Progressive Labour Party election candidate Makai Dickerson quit yesterday as the political storm around him intensified.Mr Dickerson, from Sandys, stood down days after news emerged that he had been arrested and found in possession of cannabis.Yesterday, pictures emerged of him making an apparent gang symbol on a social networking site.He subsequently issued a statement categorically denying that he had “ever been involved with any gangs on the island, or overseas” [see page 2].However, he said in his resignation announcement that “my personal shortcomings shouldn’t cause any further distractions for my party and the voters of Bermuda”.The public at large yesterday could see two photographs dated May and June 2010 on Mr Dickerson’s Facebook page. The images depicted him making a W sign with his fingers.Public attention was drawn to the pictures by a person using the pseudonym Swiss C-Suite who posted a link to them on a Bermuda news website. The posting was on a story about a gang education workshop hosted by the Bermuda Police Service on Tuesday evening.During that workshop, head of the Gang Targeting Unit Alex Rollin spoke in general terms about symbols made with the fingers, which can be associated with members of certain gangs. He cited the W sign as being associated with the phrase “West Side” and the Sandys-based gang Money Over B****s, otherwise known as MOB.Research yesterday by this newspaper established that the images in question could be seen on Mr Dickerson’s Facebook page, although it is in no way suggested that they mean he is a member of MOB.In a statement issued to this newspaper last night, Mr Dickerson’s lawyer Marc Daniels said: “The photographs of Mr Dickerson showing the W sign are nothing more than showing an affinity to being from the West End”.The news came just days after Mr Dickerson, 30, who was standing for election in Devonshire South Central, told his party about his arrest in Sandys in September for cannabis.National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief acknowledged that the party was “caught on the back foot” when Mr Dickerson informed it of his arrest. Mr Dickerson said he “made a mistake,” in respect of his arrest and is to attend Hamilton Police Station on December 16, where he expects to receive a warning.Announcing his resignation last night, he said: “After much reflection, I have decided to step down as a candidate. I do this because this election is too important and my personal shortcomings shouldn’t cause any further distractions for my party and the voters of Bermuda during this important time.“I appreciate that my party supports me and offered to give me a second chance but I believe that the future of our Country is at stake and I don’t want my personal situation causing unnecessary problems for my party.”He added: “I would like to thank all those who have supported and continue to support me. I ask that you continue to support me through your support of the Progressive Labour Party, as I will continue to stand strong with them because they stand strong for you.“To my fellow young people, I encourage you to learn from my mistake. Be accountable for your actions. Take responsibility for the situations you allow yourself to be placed in. One simple act can call into question your integrity and be a hindrance to all you have worked for.”Mr Dickerson did not make any reference in his resignation statement to the Facebook pictures, but issued a separate statement to this newspaper in response to our inquiries.Attempts to get comment on that issue from a PLP spokesman did not yield a response. However, the spokesman advised that a candidate for constituency 12 will be announced today.Mr Dickerson is the third Progressive Labour Party candidate to step down in recent weeks.In early October, Linda Merritt withdrew her candidacy in Smith’s South for personal reasons and was replaced by National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief.John Gibbons pulled out of the race for St George’s West this month, also citing personal reasons. He was replaced by Renée Ming.Premier Paula Cox described Mr Gibbons and Mr Dickerson as “rising stars” within the party prior to their resignations.Mr Dickerson’s arrest took place before he was unveiled as a candidate by the PLP, but he did not disclose it until two months later — conduct that incensed party insiders, with one source describing it as “reprehensible”.
Makai Dickerson issued a statement through his lawyer, Marc Daniels, last night denying any gang involvement.He made the statement in relation to pictures on his Facebook page, which showed him making the W symbol with his fingers — a sign associated with the MOB gang in the West End [see main story.]Here is the statement in full:“Makai Dickerson is a Sandys Parish native. He adores the West End of the island where he shares cultural and family ties within a close-knit community.“The depiction of Mr Dickerson embracing another individual with a hand symbol is a personal greeting between two friends. The other individual in the photograph with Mr Dickerson was his best friend who was tragically killed in a car accident. The photographs of Mr Dickerson showing the W sign are nothing more than showing an affinity to being from the West End, something which many of us declare especially around Emancipation Day.“Mr Dickerson has never used this gesture as a token of recognition or as a demonstration of support for those who may similarly use such body language to denote gang membership and/or loyalty. Moreover, Mr Dickerson is acutely aware and genuinely concerned that these photographs may now pose a risk to his personal safety as a result of the media blitz which misconstrues his genuine intentions and which he hopes the public will accept underpins the point that any suggestion that Mr Dickerson demonstrated gang signs is wholly unfounded.“Notwithstanding the Bermuda Police Service's view that this hand gesture, or a similar variation thereof, is used by the MOB gang in particular; the public should not misconstrue such a gesture as a prerequisite for gang membership.“Mr Dickerson is exceptionally aggrieved by any suggestion that he is connected with any criminal enterprise whatsoever. Mr Dickerson has dedicated a significant part of his life towards community development, in particular in Sandys where he resides and therefore he is genuinely concerned about the manner in which these photographs are being used to malign his character and/or to raise question marks concerning his ties with the Progressive Labour Party. Mr Dickerson categorically denies that he has ever been involved with any gangs on the island, or overseas, whether it be in the form of membership, or close association.“It is often said that ‘a picture says a thousand words’, and yet none of those words may be even remotely accurate. Symbols are utilised around the globe to represent ideas, processes, or entities. They may also be used to depict emotions, sentiments and associations. In this case, the symbol, as depicted, may evoke different sentiments across our community, but for Mr Dickerson, this gesture simply represents the affection between the closest of friends. Any suggestion that this symbol represents a connection with MOB is as accurate as comparing Mr Dickerson to the various music entertainers who present hand gestures when posing for photographs on Hollywood film sets.“Mr Dickerson wants the public of Bermuda to know that he intentionally took a drug test after his arrest, which has recently been the subject of debate in mass media publications and forums, to demonstrate that he did not have any such substances in his system arising from this incident.“However, Mr Dickerson appreciates that as an individual running for public office, he is subject to the scrutiny of the very people he seeks to garner support. He is also cognisant of the fact that he represents a group of individuals with similar ideology and purpose and therefore, in an effort to not tarnish those around him with the negative commentary that he has observed flowing from the various blogs, online polls and general opinions of members of the community; he has decided to resign of his own accord despite the Party's willingness to stand behind him during this difficult test of his character.“Mr Dickerson is desirous of putting this matter behind him, rebuilding his ties within the community and continuing to contribute to the island that we all love.”
