The misuse of power

June 3, 2004

Dear Sir,

When Dr. Larita Alford was still in the USA I was one of those people whom she called from the USA to support her application to the Bermuda College. I did not know her at all, but she knew that I was one of those people concerned about "Bermudianisation ", or "black empowerment".

It was undoubtedly because of the pressure of a variety of people that she ultimately got the position rather than another foreigner.

It is very tragic that ever since she has been in the position there has been one report after another of her very deliberate and vicious victimisation and dismissal of other black Bermudians.

Michael Bradshaw is by no means the first for whom she has made life miserable or impossible. While she herself has in fact shown no initiative.

Many of us who have devoted our lives to the struggle of seeing "the empowerment of black Bermudians" wonder if the day will ever come when those black Bermudians whom we have fought "to empower" will ever understand that our concerns are not for the enhancement of their personal and individual ego, and in their new position they have a responsibility to all of us because our concern is for the entire black community. If it were not such a fundamental principle for which we were fighting we would often wonder if it were worth the effort, since many of those whom we "empower" behave so badly so often, and use their power so destructively.

EVA N. HODGSON

Hill, you are my hero!

June 3, 2004

Dear Sir,

I feel compelled to write you concerning Clarence Hill and the fact that he was among a short list of 25 who were being considered for induction into Bermuda's Hall of Fame.

It is unfortunate that only 10 of the short list have been selected for induction at this time.

However, having been a cricket captain and a selector, I fully appreciate the dilemma that Mr. Rick Richardson and his committee had in extracting only ten names from the distinguished list of 25.

I can remember having to select 11 players from a vast pool of talent of approximately 20 to 25 players. Each earned a place in the team by their performance, but only 11, or 10 could be selected. I understand that part of the process. Even though it was difficult to select the full team, the first man selected was always Clarence 'Tuppence' Parfitt.

In my opinion Clarence Hill should have been the first man selected, then the other nine. Furthermore, Clarence Hill achieved what no other athlete representing Bermuda had ever done before, and that was to win a medal in the World Olympics, a bronze medal.

There is wide support in the community for him to have been among the first ten. However that did not happen.

If a person obtains a degree in a specific field, qualifying that individual for a certain position, or job, would they be hired if they had a criminal conviction?

I guess there can be a lot of variables like if the job was one of trust, and the individual had been convicted for an act of dishonesty. Maybe not.

Can a person be elected to the Honourable House of Assembly if they have a criminal conviction?

The short answer is yes! Can an individual with a criminal conviction become the Premier of Bermuda? The short answer is yes.

Should an individual who has achieved great success in a sport like boxing, and has in fact did something that no other athlete has ever done before in Bermuda be considered for the Hall of Fame, the answer is yes; hence Clarence Hill had been considered and he was short listed among 25 names.

Should a Clarence Hill be inducted into the Hall of Fame after having a criminal record? The answer is that having accomplished what he did in Sports, he should be inducted in the Hall of fame not because of his criminal record, but in spite of it.

The final and most important question is: " Was Clarence Hill left out of the first ten inductees because of his criminal record?"

If the answer is yes, then we have a serious problem in this country. Only the decision makers of this whole process know the true answer to that question. Clarence Hill, you are my hero, May God continue to bless and guide you is my prayer. Stay positive!

NEVILLE T. DARRELL

Devonshire

Outraged by crime

June 2, 2004

Dear Sir,

Justice Archibald Warner said and I quote "All Bermudians should be offended and outraged by (this crime)." I am, thus my letter to the editor to voice my outrage.

Not only am I outraged by this hideous crime but I am also outraged by the sentence and I hope the Attorney General's Chambers will appeal and asked for the maximum on both.