The following is the final part in a two-part series by Gladwyn Simmons. The articles address some of the key issues facing Bermuda.

Surprise is an element that generally suggests a lack of awareness. Surprise is also a potent weapon in the art of war when used effectively.

History has recorded that the Americans were drawn into the Second World War as a direct reaction to the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. 9/11 was another surprise act of aggression aimed at America that has had a global impact.

The big question for me is whether or not the world is getting any safer and, if not, why?

Bermuda has experienced its own fair share of surprises born from a style of racial war games of “us and them”. And like Americans, we need game changers to reverse this trend. Just like the “war on drugs” has failed, so are a number of other well intentioned and very well-funded programmes and projects …all destined to fail.

Question: don’t you find it surprising that violence from black youths would break out with such deadly force under black PLP rule. Ask the former PLP minister of public safety, Mr Randy Horton, how surprised, disturbed and perplexed he was when he bore first hand witness to several of our youths — our black children — violently emerge onto a sports field in full battle mode directly in front of PLP government officials with complete disregard.

You know it wouldn’t have been so bad for me but for the fact that they were told that it was coming. But who am I? Just a simple, blue collar, know nothing worker. What could I possibly know about anything?

Bermuda has likewise experienced its fair share of significant surprises over the years, if not centuries.

It has been suggested that the Sea Venture itself got caught out by a surprise storm. People were totally surprised by the killings of the Commissioner of Police and the Governor of Bermuda. There have been some truly significant social events over the past 35 years that have clearly subjected the traditional leadership of the country to the profound element of surprise.

On several occasions, leaders who represent unions — like the BIU’s Ottiwell Simmons and lawyers like Julian Hall — and those individuals representing business — like the UBP’s Sir David Gibbons and Sir John Swan — have been overtaken by disruptive events. I can go on. But unlike the Pearl Harbor surprise invasion, little or no account or real conversation has been built around these social hot spots. What really happened?

Finance Minister Bob Richards, in the town hall meeting last year, declared in public that he was really surprised at the hostility in the audience. What does this mean or does it make a difference? And if it does make a difference, what does that mean?

For all intents and purposes the PLP was a black government that came to power in 1998. I personally made an appeal to a senior PLP minister for an audience with the Cabinet to give them a heads up on the pending youth disturbances that in my view were about to erupt; however I was denied.

But very shortly thereafter — and in front of prominent PLP cabinet members at a very well attended sporting event at the St Georges Cricket Club — SURPRISE!

Not a clue…

Is it not surprising that these black youths would be so uncharacteristically disrespectful in front of a black government?

In reaction to that surprising scene, the government enacted legislation that was supposed to effectively contain that sort of antisocial behaviour. The new law was to give 3 years mandatory for anyone carrying a bladed article in excess of x amount of inches. A law that effectively kick started the prevalent usage of guns — MORE SURPRISE!

Do you remember the debate on whether we as a country had gangs? How long did it take them to come to terms with that reality? The point I am making is that you can only avoid reality for so long and you wouldn’t be so surprised if you leaders learned to sincerely listen.

Ask anyone, do they think the hard core PLP supporters were surprised or not when Premier Paula Cox lost her seat? SURPRISE!

GLADYWN S SIMMONS

UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY

WORLD VIBE, FIGHTING WITH

PEACE AND NOT FOR IT