Dickinson: the PLP can heal from this
Curtis Dickinson has said there is no doubt in his mind that the Progressive Labour Party can unite despite the deep divisions brought about when he challenged the party in court over membership changes, and won.
However the backbencher, who is challenging Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, for the leadership of the ruling party, insisted that he had no regrets over a course of action he described as defending the integrity of the PLP’s constitution.
Mr Dickinson said he would welcome a conversation with his leadership contestant Mr Hayward about him joining Mr Dickinson’s Cabinet, should he be successful in his bid to lead the party and country.
The MP for Pembroke South East (Constituency 21) spoke after the Supreme Court largely ruled against party officials in the legal dispute.
The former finance minister and others filed legal action to seek “urgent relief” to block progress on a membership process that he said was contrary to the party’s constitution.
The amendments sought to prevent those who had actively campaigned against the party in the last two general elections from automatically being approved as members, and allow only those who have been a member for at least a year to be eligible to serve as delegates at the upcoming conference and election.
Mr Dickinson told The Royal Gazette: “I won’t dispute the point that this has been a difficult process. It has been divisive.
“Will we recover from this? I am confident we will. People have a choice. At the end of the day, we have to be focused on doing the work to advance the people of Bermuda, but it is important that the process be legitimate.”
Mr Dickinson said he had no regrets about bringing the legal action against the party, insisting that he had exhausted every avenue in the time available to ensure that all who wished to were given the opportunity to become members.
“The obligations of members of the PLP in my mind are very clear — we are stewards of the party’s constitution,” he said.
“With the greatest of respect, we have to do what is right by that document.”
On the question of who might be willing to sit in his Cabinet and whether that could include his leadership contestant, Mr Dickinson said: “I would be amenable to considering Jason Hayward for a position in my Cabinet, and I would be amenable to considering a position in his.
“It would be down to both of us.”
Mr Dickinson said that a date had not yet been agreed upon for the leadership contest, which was pushed back as a result of the court action, but said it was his understanding that it would most likely be in January.
More to follow …
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