Get over it!

December 28, 2007

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to respond to the letter from 'Sad for Bermuda' regarding an apology he/she thinks is owed to Michael Dunkley. Are you serious?

You asked the question: "Do you really think Mr. Dunkley would behave like that if the boot were on the other foot?"

My question to you is, what do you think? If Mr. Dunkley and the UBP party would have won then yes, he/they would have gloated and yes, there would have been ridicule coming from him and others in the Opposition.

You stated that "their utter glee at his loss left me speechless". Please tell me what you expected. Were members of the PLP supposed to feel sorry for him, should they have sent him a sympathy bouquet of flowers, should they have had a moment of silence for their loss?

The winning party did what they were supposed to do upon a victory, they celebrated! Utter glee was expected. Let's be realistic, they did win the election for the third time straight.

My advice to you is stop being a sore loser; stop the pouting and get over it! You have at least another four years to do it.

GRIZZLY

Devonshire

A solution to race

December 24, 2007

Dear Sir,

Re: The "BIG" conversation – A possible solution:

Invite the whole of Bermuda to an all day dance at the National Stadium! As Bob Marley sings it "When you hear music, you feel no pain."

I guarantee you, the mental barriers of Racism will melt away! However, what happens after the dance will determine if the "white" population will hang around and still mingle with the "black" population??

DEE BEE

Devonshire

PLP's challenges

December 30, 2007

Dear Sir,

It is a challenge for any successful organisation to continue to produce positive results year in and year out. Many different things can affect the results and every year differs one from another. It is in confronting the challenges that determines our character, and ultimately our success. I find that as a small and successful nation, our success has been in recognising the challenges laid before us and working through them. While our nation still faces issues in education and housing, in health care and in crime, we can count our blessings that we are not as bad off as most countries of similar size and nature.

It is in our successes that we see our next challenge, or set of challenges. Our esteemed Premier has been delivered his leadership extension, and now we wait with bated breath his plans for our future.

His organisation must, first and foremost, recognise the challenges in front of them, address them and set forward plans to ensure that these challenges… will be challenges no more. While we cannot be sure, we go to sleep at night praying that he understands the Bermudian way of life, and that he would not do anything to jeopardise that way of life, that he understands the challenges laid before him and wants to fight them with every fibre of his being.

One of the primary challenges that still exist, unfortunately, looms large on our society. A lot has been talked about and argued about in regards to race, in regards to these the most basic of differences that divide us. I wonder when we will ever be able to move on to a time where the colour of one's skin isn't an issue at all. May God help us if it ever comes down to being skinny or fat, tall or small, big nose or small nose. There are some here, like Calvin Smith and Dr. Eva Hodgson, who I believe seek a day when blacks will have realised complete power, thus realizing their dream of being equal to whites.

I don't see where one race having complete power is an equaliser, but if it is their dream, and probably a dream of many others, then so be it. I would like to ask them what model of society in our world today projects that an equal racial balance is found where one race has complete power and the other side feels that all things are equal. It's a tricky thing power. Many countries and people have struggled with it, and at what point does having it make you a better human being, or a better Bermudian? At what point will complete power correct all the evils that have happened in the past? Forgiveness usually begins when the person(s) wronged actually wants it.

It is easy to constantly refer to the past, and dwell upon the demons that have left us scarred and bitter. As a "white" Bermudian (of Portuguese heritage), I recognise that we have made many mistakes, that we are not perfect, and yes, even in our "blessed" nation, we have a long way to go.

I am also willing to recognise that not many nations in the world have achieved "racial harmony" (or cultural) and not many ever will. For Bermuda to be a world leader in that area would be a wonderful thing, and would require sacrifice… yes sacrifice, from both blacks and whites. Is it possible? Can we be a model for which other nations follow? Can we be a nation that not only succeeds economically, but as a social, culturally and racially diverse people who can think and act as Bermudians first? Only time will tell.

Our Premier has been given his mandate. His challenges are ones that have not changed since before the election. His future, our future, lies in his ability to deliver and produce results. While there may be no clear challenger at the moment, it would be folly for him to believe that he can rest on his laurels. An election victory is a contract with the people for five years. His organisation will be held accountable for all aspects of the Bermudian life. I wish him and his organisation good luck.

PHILLIP A. RAY

Pembroke

Independent journalism

December 20, 2007

Dear Sir,

I always thought that independent journalism was mentioning what was seen as good as well as emphasising what was seen as not good about an organisation or a person. What I saw from independent journalists leading up to election was a writing off of PLP.

While I only was a frequent correspondent to all the print media in Bermuda between 1978 and 1998, mostly criticising the UBP, I also credited them at times. This I felt described me as independent. Great credit was given to me by all and sundry for my letters. I therefore felt satisfied that I was helping not hindering.

ROSS TUZO

Warwick

Educate the voters

December 27, 2007

Dear Sir,

Reading the Gazette today, I turned to Page 4 and was about to turn to page five skipping Cal Smith's column, whose pedestrian crossing mentality no longer holds my interest, when I noticed the opinion piece by Kathleen Bell which stimulated my interest, so I satisfied my curiosity by reading it.

I am glad now that I did, inas much as it basically crystallised my own thinking regarding the United Bermuda Party of today.

I already was very aware of the calibre of the composition of its candidates and their basic moral integrity, plus the huge contribution of their personal sacrifice to serve Bermuda, most especially the non-white candidates, selected for bitter attacks by lesser human beings, morally speaking that is. Michael Dunkley of course the prime target. Changing the name of the party is easy, but probably irelevant, as the UBP members elected and otherwise will not change, as they already made that change years ago, with the exit of the dinosaurs of that era.

Policy is everything, names basically meaningless, unless we accept that voters lack the understanding of Government's role in running the country.

Educating the voter is really more important than changing the name of the party, largely cosmetic in my opinion.

Nevertheless game playing is all part of the political process, nauseating though that fact is to any seriously moral person's rationale, sadly a group becoming an endangered species as recent events have illustrated.

W. COOK

Paget

Jamaican Independence

December 2, 2007

Dear Sir,

For those that want to know the road to Jamaica Independence, well here it is.

In 1955 Alexander Bustamante lost power to his cousin, Norman Manley, founding President of the PNP: and later that year he was made Knight Bachelor by the Queen and became Sir Alexander Bustamante. In 1959 he again lost the general elections but aged 65 he remained in the battle, which now shifted to the issue of Jamaica's participation in the West Indies Federation.

In 1958 he had formed the Democratic Labour Party to oppose Norman Manley's West Indies Federal Labour Party. Despite winning 12 of Jamaica's 17 seats, the Democratic Labour Party lost the Federal Elections and its members, particularly Cargill and Lightbourne.

In 1960 the JLP withdrew support from the Federation and called for a referendum to determine whether Jamaica would strive for Independence alone, or as a part of a Federation.

On September 19, 1961, the JLP gained a positive vote for National Independence by 256,261 to 217,319 votes. The tide of public events turned and Bustamante joined Manley as joint leaders of the delegation that met in London to negotiate Independence for Jamaica. Norman Manley magnanimously called an election for April 19, 1962 (despite having 2 years remaining in his 1959 mandate) to have the people say who should lead them into Independence, Bustamante's JLP won 26-19. On August 6, 1962 Jamaica became Independent for the first time since 1509 when the Spainards settled.

British rule was ended after suzerainty since 1670 and Sir Alexander Bustamante became the first Prime Minister of Jamaica.

He quickly declared that the Government would work to develop both capital and labour. Would stress education, roads and the rule of law. In foreign policy he was brief: "We are with the West", he declared. Sir William Alexander Bustamante passed away on August 6, 1977 aged 93.

M. E. DURHAM

Smith's Parish

Thanks for support

December 12, 2007

Dear Sir,

The Lord blesses us so that we in turn can bless others. Jesus said that when we do for the least of our brethren, we do it as unto Him. Matthew 25:40

On Friday, November 16 and Saturday, November 17, 2007, the Matilda Smith Williams Seniors' Residence held its annual Tag Days.

We first thank the Lord for His blessing. We then thank all who allowed the Lord to use them to bless us, whether it was the volunteers who gave of their time to tag on the two days or the public who gave monetarily. As a result, we were able to raise approximately $15,800.

We greatly appreciate their assistance and look forward to their help next year.

IANTHIA EVE (MRS.)

For the Fund Raising Committee

Matilda Smith Williams Seniors Residence