It didn't happen

December 14, 2007

Dear Sir,

Thank you for allowing me the space to respond to the letter from Wendell Hollis, December 10, 2007. What a wonderful opportunity! The UBP never "forced" any Bermudian to Independence! Mr. Hollis states that "in the lead up to the General Election of October 1993 the UBP never once proposed an agenda to proceed to Independence."

He then states that after the victory, Sir John Swan announced an initiative to pursue Independence for Bermuda. Two years later a referendum was held, according to Mr. Hollis, in August, 1995, where the initiative floundered.

So why is Mr. Hollis implying that the UBP forced us to Independence? This certainly did not happen! All Bermudians were given the chance to choose by way of a Referendum some two years after the election! Bermudians chose against Independence! Pretty obvious.

By the way, if Mr. Hollis resigned from the UBP and "fought the initiative against independence? I am curious to know where he stands now!

PEGGY COUPER

Pembroke

The UBP has changed

December 13, 2007

Dear Sir,

Regarding the letter in today's Royal Gazette by Wendell Hollis replying to Pat Ferguson's letter on Independence may I comment.

Ms Ferguson was involved with the UBP back in 1993 and 1994 but voted PLP in 1998 as did many in 1998. But she has, to the best of my knowledge lived in Bermuda since the inception of the two party system.

While she is completely capable of replying herself, I should point out as she is a friend of mine that I am sure she referred not to the UBP of that era, but the party of today and its stand on Independence that would be that they as a party, would allow the people of Bermuda to decide on the best course to follow in making that decision and that the decision would be by referendum.

When Mr. Hollis states that the then premier, Sir John Swan garnered enough support with some UBP members to pursue independence to win the hearts and minds of Bermudians, that decision was most assuredly not supported by the grass roots membership throughout Bermuda.

Rather the opposite, as subsequent events were to reveal. Mr. Hollis decided to leave the party after that, whereas others like myself decided to stay on and make every effort to change the structure and policies of the UBP instead, resulting in what in my opinion is a totally different party, both in composition and outlook and is the better for it in my opinion.

All transitions are difficult and often painful giving birth to new and often controversial ideas to deal with today's Bermuda. Perhaps when time and circumstances permit Pat will further elaborate. I hope this sheds some light on the matter reflecting my personal opinion only.

BILL COOK

Paget

PLP must embrace whites

December 20, 2007

Dear Sir,

Though not pleased with the eventual outcome of the election, it was a pleasure to watch and listen to the election banter between Julian Hall and Jerome Dill.

They are both intelligent, eloquent, and well-versed in our social and political history. I do have a question for both of these gentlemen, which I hope that they will take the time to answer. Julian noted that the UBP would never win another election as the United Bermuda Party. Unfortunately, I believe this is probably accurate. However, I also believe that so long as the PLP exists, that any other party, by any other name, will always be touted as the "white party" or as being manipulated behind the scene by whites (heavy sigh at the ridiculousness of this thought).

Therefore, my question is, how do we get around this? Surely no one wants a Government to work unchecked and unmonitored (especially not the current Government if past actions are any indicator of future behaviour): so what are we to do? How is a viable opposition party to be formed in the wake of Bermuda's current political climate? And to Rolfe Commissiong, who thinks that it is up to whites to bridge the gap between the parties by voting for the PLP: until your party speaks out against those in the community who continue to perpetuate divisiveness between the races, it's never going to happen.

Until the leader of the PLP can address publicly those outspoken PLP supporters who say, for example, asinine things like: "If a black person has to choose between a white person who is clearly right, and a black person, they should choose the black person on principle" – and make it known that that sort of talk is not representative of what the PLP believes or thinks, then the majority of whites will never vote for your party (regardless of how many Zane DeSilvas or Jane Correias there are, and I don't believe there will be many more, truth be told, as I don't foresee the die-hard pro-black PLP members appreciating the dilution of their party!).

So, Mr. Commissiong, until your party can give us that warm and fuzzy and all-embracing feeling, it's just never going to happen. It is sad because looking at the PLP members singly, there are many that I do really like, respect and would actually vote for if it wasn't for this perception (and true or not, your perception is your reality) that most members of the PLP, by virtue of their silence, believe and are in agreement with those outspoken people noted above.

On a final note to Patrice Minors: Patrice, your speech upon finding out that you won your constituency was one of humility and class. Your refusal to trash-talk about Michael Dunkley (unlike the rest of your party later that night on Court Street) has placed you in a league above those members who were disparaging and just plain rude.

GLAD IT'S OVER

Southampton

Kudos to Vesey & Dill

December 20, 2007

Dear Sir,

Tom Vesey and Jerome Dill did an excellent job on election night. Not for their interesting commentary but for tolerating Julian Hall. He goaded them all evening and I admire them for holding their tempers.

KATE PEETERS

Warwick

Reassure me Dr. Brown

December 20, 2007

Dear Sir,

On December 17, Premier Dr. Ewart Brown told the Bermuda Network News: "A PLP government will be a caring government, concerned about the quality of life of Bermudians."

Today (December 20, 2007) he told the BBC's Caribbean Service that "the white population of Bermuda really doesn't need a great deal of reassurance. The economy of Bermuda in the private sector is probably 90 percent controlled by white Bermudians so they don't really need any economic reassurance."

Well, I'm a white Bermudian that definitely does not control the Island's economy except for working two jobs to try and survive in it so could I get some reassurance that someone is concerned about my quality of life?

THE TEN PERCENT

Pembroke

Our democracy is young

December 19, 2007

Dear Sir,

This is an open letter to former United Bermuda Party leader Michael Dunkley.

Hi Michael,

I am saddened about yesterday's election outcome. I guess we now have confirmation that in Bermuda, that outward show of religious affiliations, professions of integrity and morality are like everything else – superficial designer trinkets that we like to flash around – but something that as a nation we really do not internally value or exercise when put to the test as a nation.

To quote my daughter's response to the outcome: "Personality will always trump common sense in Bermuda!" To also quote my family physician: "Bermuda is a very unsophisticated jurisdiction when it comes to the democratic process and many Bermudians do not fully comprehend the value or the ramifications of their vote– they view the election process like a soccer game or Cup Match. No matter how much your team has let you down, you support them, win lose or draw." He went on to say that we have yet to develop or to exercise the critical thinking skills to comprehend the impact of our decision at the polls on our quality of life. We are still young in our democracy. We have a long way to go.

Peace and blessings to you and yours during this holiday season. Always remember that God is in control and as a nation we are still the better for having been presented with the choice you provided. Remember also during this time why we celebrate the birth of Christ and his ultimate purpose for coming to earth. He was born to ultimately die for our salvation.

Take consolation if the fact that when Christ was crucified, the crowd chose Barabus – a murderer – to free as opposed to Jesus when given the choice by Pontius Pilate. Irrespective of His suffering, humiliation and death at the hands of a vicious and cruel mob, we who believe and our baptised into Christ are the ultimate benefactors of Christ's love and sacrifice for us. Have Faith. You have sown a seed that will bear good fruit in the not so distant future and, Bermuda will be the better for your sacrifice. God's purpose will be fulfilled in good time. Hugs to your wife and family. As a wife and mother, feel their pain. This too shall pass and your family union will be all the stronger for it.

Love and best wishes,

A FELLOW BELIEVER AND FRIEND

Sandys

We must unify

December 20, 2007

Dear Sir,

As I stood on Court Street Tuesday night contemplating what another PLP victory meant for my beautiful island home, I was filled with a mix of emotions.

I felt relief that the distasteful campaign with all the name calling and mud slinging from both sides was over, cautious optimism regarding Bermuda's future and growth as a democracy, amusement after having earlier watched the matching of wits between Julian Hall and Jerome Dill on TV (Julian won), and unfortunately great sadness at the complete lack of presence, at the victory celebration, of my fellow Bermudians who happen to have a fairer skin hue than I.

Bermuda is very divided along racial lines at the moment and this saddens me. This little coral atoll that we call home, needs all of its people, white and black, working together in order to thrive. We have been truly blessed as a country, sometimes in spite of our own actions, and it is only by the grace of God that we are this prosperous.

I would encourage my fellow white Bermudians to really take a long look into their hearts and perhaps come to the understanding that black people in this country are not out to hurt or destroy them.

Black Bermudians are usually more likely to seek opportunities to reach out and connect with their white brethren than vice versa.

I would encourage older white Bermudians to take a cue from their sons and daughters who are less reticent about socialising with their black peers. We all need to step out of our comfort zones and take a chance.

Unfortunately, unless black and white Bermudians become more accepting and appreciative of each other, we will continue to remain in the uncomfortable condition in which we find ourselves today, where we are basically two separate tribes, suspiciously eyeing one another.

SYLVAN D. RICHARDS Jr.

Paget

A mixed blessing

December 20, 2007

Dear Sir,

Martin Luther King must be rolling in his grave. The manner in which the PLP ran this campaign, an outsider would have thought Bermuda had been under eight years of UBP oppression!

I heard someone on HOTT 107.5 yesterday say that "whites" had taken the campaign the wrong way. I quote: "It wasn't about race, it was about equal rights and equal pay for blacks". Okay. Why didn't the PLP come right out and say so? I would've been down with that. I lived through the women's rights era in the States in the 1970s. That was a hard fight and many outrageous things were said. That was one big conversation.

As for Ewart Brown, he should be ashamed of himself. He needs to take a lesson from Barack Obama who is running for President of a World Superpower and has far more at stake. I've not heard him once say "Vote for me, I'm black". He ain't playing any race card. The man has too much class and integrity for that.

And the comment about a time for healing? Do those who were so vociferous in this racially-charged campaign really believe that right thinking, dignified Bermudians of any colour will get over this soon? I am hurt to the core and for what purpose does that serve? It will be interesting to see how the government approaches any future dialogue between the races.

What I do know for certain is: I refuse to be responsible for anything "my" forebears did. I'll make a bet too that most Bermudians had ancestors who were like mine: labourers and servants. That's on my father's English side.

As for my mother? I rarely speak about this and my mother, never. Her mother's family were systematically persecuted during the pogroms in Russia throughout the late 1800s. Half the family were tortured and murdered – dragged onto the streets and slaughtered. My grandmother and what remained of her immediate family fled the Bolshevik Revolution and emigrated to the States. Hitler finished off the family by wiping out entire communities in that region which had become Poland after the First World War. That's persecution my fellow Bermudians. My grandmother had nightmares the rest of her life.

However, I bear no malice towards the great grandchildren of those murderers. Bermudian blacks who harbour so much anger need to think outside their hate box and start looking within to find some pride in themselves. It's a mixed blessing that the PLP were swept back into power, because only the party as a whole can find a way to bring peace to those who are clearly troubled.

The UBP, even with their racially-balanced party, would never have gotten past first base.

First batter up: the perception needs to be changed from a black and white issue to one of anger and hate. THAT was Martin Luther King's big conversation.

PAMELA H WILLCOCKS

Smith's Parish