The PLP responds

We note with interest that a voter wrote to all Government M. P. s making several accusations about the Leader. According to her he is dictatorial, a grandiose spender, he is of questionable ethics, has an inflated ego he lacks transparency and stirs up racial hatred.

If he were truly dictatorial would she confidently make those accusations to all of the M. P. s, when is spending grandiose as opposed to consistent with the demands and/or expectations of the office. The voter presumes to question the ethics of another, is she above reproach? What she perceives as inflated ego, others with shared life experience admire as supreme confidence. Racial hatred has never been on the PLP agenda. To the contrary the Party was formed by victims of racial hatred. We know firsthand the pain that can be inflicted.

Since our founding we have worked assiduously for the extension of the franchise. One of our greatest accomplishments was ensuring: "One man, one vote, each vote of equal value." That initiative also caused a protest march on Government House. The voter states that she, along with everybody she knows is so hurt over the disenfranchisement of white people in Bermuda. We challenge her to provide one instance of white disenfranchisement under the current or previous PLP leaders.

This is precisely the sort of rhetoric that exacerbates the racial divide that has existed here for almost 400 years. We should be healing.

The voter exercised free will when the wrote the M. P. s Minister Roban did likewise. The voter ignored his request not to write back. She complained that the Minister did not know her and she was not a racist or a bigot. Can we infer from this that she knows Dr. Brown. As we do not know her perhaps we should refrain from calling her a racist or a bigot. It would however not be unreasonable to say she appears to have a genetic predisposition or a socialisation experience that gives her an anti-PLP bias.

WENTWORTH CHRISTOPHER

Progressive Labour Party

Public Relations Officer

Birds of a feather

June 24, 2009

Dear Sir,

If it wasn't so sad I would find it amusing that the Rev. Al Sharpton (aka Al Charlatan or the Rev. Soundbite) has come to support our Premier.

If you remember, it was in 1987 the good Rev. waded into the Tawana Brawley incident accusing all and sundry of a racial hate crime (the incident was later ruled a hoax and Sharpton found guilty of slander and ordered to pay $345,000 in fines).

The Philadelphia Inquirer writer Claude Lewis wrote then "Brawley and Sharpton proved to be among the saddest figures, using their talents at deceit to fool the public". Are we talking "birds of a feather" here or what?

RFK

Smith's

A bully dictator

May 12, 2009

Dear Sir,

Why should us here in Bermuda (a democracy) allow a "chosen few elitists (PLP) to dictate to us with their Hitler style Premier to ruin Bermuda's image. This man has no boundaries! He is a bully, dictator and has not done anything worth talking about for Bermuda. Just look at our public beach facilities! They are NADA and Pathetic. Horseshoe Café look like some hut in the third world village — has a strong stench.

Snorkel Park – government has not spent an iota or subsidy to renovate this area in Dockyard. The place smells like a filthy dump and you have mega and luxurious ships berthed not far from this festering smell.

The Premier is giving that Global ??? millions of tax revenue to have a ball while the product here in Bermuda is left dilapidated.

ANONYMOUS

Not getting value

June 18, 2009

Dear Sir,

I believe that only 10 percent of our members of Parliament have enough good sense and perspective to be prepared to sacrifice their own ambition. But it is necessary for all of us at one time or another to put country in front of party. However unfair it may seem confidence is everything in politics and finance. After all the right thing is not the thing with 26 present members of Parliament who need to find a real job. Bermudians are not getting value for what we pay. What we have is a government that denies most of its people the fruit of their labour and robs them of any incentive to work harder. We cannot live forever in a community without living with it. As the best thing is the right thing. There are 26 members in Parliament who deserve a job in our public sector.

RAYMOND RUSSELL

Pembroke

Saving bacon

June 22, 2009

Dear Sir,

To Messrs. Delahunt, Rohrabacher and Webb — aren't the dates of 2010 and 2012 really the basis for your concerns between our two countries?

Bermuda, it seems, has saved your Political Bacon.

ANDREW LESEUR

Smith's

Put off Bermuda

June 16, 2009

This was sent to Premier Ewart Brown and copied to The Royal Gazette

Dear Premier Brown,

I am writing to express my disappointment in your decision to admit into Bermuda "trained Uighur separatists" (trained in Afghanistan), particularly without consulting your Bermuda Parliament.

This has led to my uneasiness in travelling to Bermuda. In fact, I planned to entertain twenty couples at one of your resorts in Tuckers Town during the summer, but have decided to change the venue to a resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. I feel travelling to Bermuda at this time would be subjected my guest to potential danger.

I am genuinely opposed to this recent development and urge you to reconsider the effect this will have on other considering travelling to Bermuda.

JOSEPH J. MORROW

Stamford, Connecticut

Can we have a cruise?

May 16, 2009

Dear Sir,

I would appreciate very much if you would print my letter in your paper (The Gazette). An open letter to the Premier, Dr. Brown. Mr. Premier I have had long conversations with a number of senior citizens like myself who asked me to write to you. We have a large number of seniors who are home owners — who would like to do something other than attending tea parties.

We would like you to look into the possibility of talking to cruise ship officials in offering low-cost cruises to New York City and Philadelphia for a four (4) day cruise and ride on the New York City open air tour bus during the month of July or August each year. You can use some of your tourism expertise and political skills. Please do your best to persuade the cruise ship officials.

Looking forward to hearing the good news via the news media or television.

Thank you Mr. Premier

GEORGE BURCHER

Hamilton Parish

They won't bother you

June 16, 2009

Dear Sir,

Concerning the letter by MAM on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, entitled "Door Knockers". May I make a suggestion to that individual. The next time these religious door knockers call at your door, simply answer your door and let them know that you do not wish for them to call at your house and they will not bother you again. They are only following the example of their leader, Jesus Christ by sharing the good news of God's Kingdom. (Matthew 24: 14) If you choose to not want to hear it then that's OK. Tell them so and they will not bother you gain. With that I'd bid you good day.

HAPPY FEET

Warwick

Bad leadership model

May 4, 2009

Dear Editor,

Please excuse me, but if you publish this letter I say thanks again.

I read today in The Royal Gazette of the termination of Mr. Kenneth Dill effective immediately. At this time when the Government is talking of building relationships with labour, we have this outburst of arrogance. It was also stated that this was done outside of the general procedure. In the same Royal Gazette and the same day Party Chairman Mr. Burt is quoted saying that the rebel MPs are not following the guidelines of the party.

Well not be cynical, but it seems to be standard procedure not to follow party procedures. My question is "is it good for the leader and not for those being led?" I have learnt that the best form of teaching is by modelling and if Dr. Brown is modelling bad leadership then it is obvious with those being led. This being true it is time for a change in the leadership.

With a new leader and a good broom that will sweep clean, we should see some modelling of integrity and honesty. The new leader will see that all procedures will operate under the laws and standards respectably drawn up for all and not just for one. There should be no partiality in a democratic organisation.

Looking at this situation I can see why the trustees are so confused with the initiation clause. But never the less I can clearly see where it all stems from (the poor modelling). But this one thing I know, you cannot hide the truth, because it will surface. Search the scriptures and you will find out for yourself. And guess what the truth will set you free and the blood has set us free. God bless you all.

ARTHUR E. W. HASSELL

Sandys