HAMILTON, Bermuda – Outspoken former National Security Minister David Burch quit both his ministerial and other position as leader of Government Business in the Senate over the weekend because he felt he had been disrespected by Premier Paula Cox.Appearing on a television programme here last night, the Premier said that Burch, a former commanding officer of the part-time Bermuda Regiment, resigned because she had spoken to Police Commisioner Michael DeSilva about last week’s murder of 22-year-old footballer, without consulting him first.Cox told her television audience that Burch had resigned by e-mail after she had informed him of the discussions with the top cop on Sunday.
“He thought that showed I lacked confidence in him when I showed him it didn’t mean that. After the latest shooting I just wanted to be briefed first hand by the Commissioner,” the Premier said.Burch was replaced in the Senate yesterday by former Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith, who becomes Junior National Security Minister under former Assistant Police Commissioner Wayne Perinchief, who was appointed the new National Security Minister. Economy Minister Kim Wilson is the new PLP Senate Leader.Cox said in view of Bermuda’s rise in violent crime she liked “the synergy” of the two former top police officers, saying their policing background would “add value” to the Ministry of National Security.But Cox insisted she had tried to talk Burch out of leaving.”Ministers are their own person, they are strong-willed. He’s a loss and he’s an asset but government moves on . . . If a person does feel that strongly I have to accept that and make the necessary decisions. No one is indispensable,’ she said.
“We had a good team with him (Burch) and we have a good team without him and a strong team,” she added, denying that Burch’s decision was based on him “not being able to orchestrate” recent issues, including the continued existence of the Hamilton and St George’s Corporations and condominiums being sold to non-Bermudians.She said it “wasn’t my style” to interfere with ministers’ decisions.
Burch has declined comment on his sudden departure and the Royal Gazette newspaper reported today that the timing of his departure, two days before the end of the Senate session, left colleagues in the ruling Progressive Labour Party (PLP) thinking that he was either deeply unhappy at a string of political developments or suffering serious ill health.
Cox initially fuelled the speculation, declining to say why Burch had left. She would later tell the media “it is not a resignation I would have welcomed or wanted.” (CMC)
