January 1, 2002

Dear Sir,

I am prompted to write to express my view with regard to two different issues that appeared recently in your newspaper.

The first was a letter attributed to Mr. Selley which sought to discredit the writings of Rolfe Commissiong simply because Mr. Commissiong had a brush with the law in his earlier years. The second was an advertisement which appeared in your edition of December 31 2001 credited to Concerned Bermudian which stated "I am Bermudian. My dollar is worth $1.00 What is Caricom dollar worth? Every Bermudian! Say NO! NO! NO! to Caricom".

Like a previous letter writer expressing the same view, I am of the opinion that the leader of the Opposition should instantly distance himself from both of these comments particularly the first, since Mr. Selley by stealth, tried to link this view with the UBP voters.

Unlike Mr. Selley, I am a supporter of the UBP who knows that in a country like ours, words have far reaching political implication especially if linked with a particular individual or group. Many of those who supported the PLP in the last election but traditionally voted for the UBP must have had flashes of the political landscape of the 1970s-1980s. In those days the UBP had the political capital to ignore even outrageous comments by its supporters and parliamentarians. What Mr. Selley and others of his ilk have failed to realise is that those days are long gone. Mr. Selley must know that such an attack against Mr. Commissiong would be interpreted as an attack against blacks as a group, and in particular, those persons who have been in trouble with the law but thereafter made the effort to turn their lives around. Mr. Selley also needs to know that it was always the black vote in Bermuda that kept the UBP in power. Unless Mr. Selley knows something that I don't, this is not time for squandering opportunities.

The great upheaval about the single seat constituency issue, which was fought in the British Courts, was another giant blunder the UBP could have done without. It made little sense in the circumstances to be saying that one agreed with the principle but disliked the process. Clearly, the UBP was misguided by some of its members who had failed to comprehend that the election in 1998 changed several social and political dynamics. The UBP should thank their lucky stars that battle was not fought close to or during an election.

The advertisement although not linked with the UBP ought also to be rebuffed by the UBP and its voters who have the interest of the party at heart. It is only a very narrow-minded view coupled with a lack of macroeconomics knowledge that could produce such a silly slogan. Whether or not we should join Caricom can and should be debated (and won or lost) without recourse to such a nonsensical slogan. I would merely refer Concerned Bermudian to the North American association of which Mexico is a part and the Asian economic and social blocks and he would see that the value of one's currency has nothing to do with joining political or economic organisations. Personally I see such language as merely another backdoor avenue of isolating the voters from the UBP. It would be easy to say that this is not the UBP view and so there ought not to be a response. Nevertheless, in a small country like this, such views have been traditionally been associated with particular individuals or groups within the UBP and its supporters. But in any event, Dr. Gibbons must make an effort to let the Bermudian public know where he stands as a leader of his party bearing in mind that he will be automatically labelled as that old part of Bermuda that longs for the return of parochial politics which elevated some voters and devalued others. Quite frankly I think that Dr. Gibbons is eminently qualified to lead the UBP but much effort is needed on his part to establish a rapport with the Bermudian public and to outline his strategy for the party in the future. The harshly worded language used in the past by the UBP will not work in the new Bermuda.

Finally Mr. Editor, despite all the criticism you have had to endure, I must give you credit for publishing Mr. Selley's letter. Unfortunate for Mr. Selley and the UBP he may have done more damage to the UBP and himself than he could ever do to the PLP or Rolfe Commissiong.

I would urge Mr. Selley and others of his thinking to keep this kind of view within his social confines unless of course, he is interested in seeing the PLP win the next election.

UBP SUPPORTER

Devonshire