Dear Sir,

Of course, certainly, most in the black community recognise the validity of the remarks of elder statesman Reginald Burrows, in terms of the inevitable result of the Progressive Labour Party split (RG, December 16).

We find it very depressing since the very well expressed concerns by Christopher Famous (RG, December 16) are very real to most in the black community. We are clearly second-class citizens under the One Bermuda Alliance.

However, there is one possible solution for the PLP, if enough PLP representatives really care about the second-class citizenship of the black community.

Since David Burt has remained loyal to the leader and yet is seen as an acceptable alternative by the dissenters, he is in a good position to unify the party by turning his attention to, and concentrating on, proposals to address the situation of the entire black community, both in terms of its second-class citizenship and in terms of the tremendous economic, psychological and social disparities between the black and white communities.

It is conceivable that if he leads the way in such a difficult but necessary discussion within the PLP, he could unite the MPs about the real purpose of their being elected in the first place, rather than continuing to be divided over the leadership, particularly since that issue has divided the black community as much as it has divided their representatives.

Mr Burt, I challenge you to unite the party on the purpose of their being elected and you might begin by having all of the PLP MPs read, or read again, the much neglected Pitt Report and its recommendations.

Eva n. Hodgson