Mixed reaction to Queen’s death
Following the death of the Queen, reporter Stefano Ausenda asked people for their thoughts about the monarch. He encountered a mixed reaction.
The Queen was an “amazing” person who will be “greatly missed”, according to expatriate Julie Tomkins.
However, other people had very different opinions about the Queen — with one person saying the monarchy represented “a system of bigotry, racism”.
Ms Tomkins hosted a large party at her house in June to celebrate Her Majesty’s platinum jubilee.
“She was an amazing lady who did a lot for people around the world and will be greatly missed, as can be seen by the volume of people who have turned out to pay their respects to her,” said Ms Tomkins.
Kenneth Randolph Scott’s opinion on the monarchy was less positive. He told The Royal Gazette that even though it is never easy for anyone to lose a parent, wife or grandmother, the Queen represented and upheld a particular system.
“As Queen, Elizabeth represented a system of bigotry, racism and one that was compliant in the deaths of many people throughout history. That was the system that she upheld and we must never forget that.”
A man who asked to be identified only as “Sergeant Major Smith” said he was a young man when the Queen visited the island in 1975 and was a soldier in the regiment when Commissioner of Police George Duckett and Governor Sir Richard Sharples were assassinated.
He said: “The Queen will be missed by Bermuda; we lost our commander-in-chief. I am surprised that Bermuda is not sending 25 to 50 delegates to the UK for her state funeral.”
Kevin Hughes viewed the Queen simply as a woman who has passed away — someone’s mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
He said: “I prefer to stay neutral, because there are a lot of negative thoughts about what she could have done as monarch, but positive thoughts on who she was as a person.”
Eric Bassett was sad to hear of her passing, but believed that it was inevitable, given her age.
“There will not be anyone who will be able to take her place or follow in her footsteps,” he said.
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