May 26, 2003

Dear Sir,

Your editorial "Sharing the Wealth" of May 23, 2003 has prompted me to write to bring to you, and to the attention of your readers, information that seems to be overlooked, and in some cases not even considered, whenever the debate regarding wealth and income equality arises in our community.

In the 2000 Census in the tabulations section and specifically on page 251 there is Table 10.1 that lists household income across Bermuda. The table lists total households, Bermudian households and non-Bermudian households. I think it very pertinent to examine the Bermudian household section and I copy below this section for easy reference:

Income Range in ‘000s Total House/holds Black White Mixed Other

16K 1,083 719 286 52 23

16 - 24 K 822 529 220 54 12

24 - 32 K 1,195 823 270 79 14

32 - 40 K 1,365 928 319 93 21

40 - 48 K 1,437 999 291 112 33

48 - 56 K 1,288 877 302 75 26

56 - 62 K 1,146 744 283 74 35

62 - 76 K 2.090 1,368 535 141 32

76 - 92 K 2,084 1,368 539 112 54

92 - 108 K 1,719 1,145 468 66 32

> 108 K 5,064 2,880 1,780 277 104

Not stated 212 122 77 4 5

What I find significant is the progress that has been made in our community to advance the income opportunities of Bermudian households in general, and in particular of Black Bermudian households.

The table illustrates that in every income category, black households outnumber their white household equivalents. More important, to those who are concerned about the economic and income opportunities between the races, the table also shows that in the upper income categories, black households significantly outnumber white households. This is a very positive revelation and one that should be embraced by all in the community.

For example, in the $62,000 to $76,000 category, the table illustrates that there were a total of 1,368 Black households versus 535 white households. Simply put these figures show that there is more than two and a half times black households than white households in this income category. In the $92,000 to $108,000 category there are a total of 1,145 black Bermudian households and 468 white Bermudian households - another example of how progress is certainly being made in raising the incomes of blacks within our community. As a last example, in the largest category of households earning over $108,000 per year, there are 2,880 black households and 1,780 white households, or more than 1.6 black households than white households.

As a final note, I'm sure everyone in Bermuda will agree that much work needs to be done to bring those in our community who are lower income earners up the ladder of progress towards higher incomes. Higher education and skills training will help accomplish such goals, and each of us in our roles as parents, relatives, and neighbours need to be vigilant in helping our people stay focused and determined towards that end.

However, those in our community whose mandate is to drive bigger and deeper wedges of bitterness, hatred and suspicion between our races by 'cherry picking' statistics that don't tell the true progress, do a terrible injustice to the many black and white Bermudians who put their heads down and get on with the job at hand in advancing Bermuda and themselves. The above table illustrates clearly that much progress has been made in raising and equalising the income opportunities of our people.

Going forward, it is imperative that Bermuda have an administration focused on serving the people and not themselves. In so doing, Bermuda will have a government whose policies and programs benefit all within the community, and not just the chosen few. In so doing, the progress that has already been made, and which is illustrated above, will continue. In so doing, we will have a government that can be trusted to get the job done for all.