Premier?s double talk

October 29, 2005

Dear Sir,

Come one, come all, see ?The Man? with two mouths talk out of both sides of his head!

Watch him stumble through such minefields as: Ashfield was not fired for failing to perform, it was merely a changing of the guard. But more Ministers could get the axe for failing to perform.

Or the head spinning: Bermudians must seek self determination through Independence. But we don?t believe a direct vote on the issue is the way to decide self-determination.

And don?t miss the scintillating: Britain should have been doing our job, safeguarding our satellite slot interests; that?s why we need to be independent!

As a special treat, listen to him whoop and squeal like Howard Dean to the barely audible delight of the applause committee.

Now playing at a small venue near you, so the room looks full. ?P? puts his special spin on being a polyglot and makes an oxymoron of himself in the process, two acts in one for the low, low price of your future, discounts for sycophants. Hip waders and shovel dress code will be enforced.

Confused by policy

October 27, 2005

Dear Sir,

With regard to the current situation involving Gina Spence Farmer and the Bermuda College I found it interesting to hear College President Charles Green on the VSB evening news (October 27, 2005) state that the policy that effectively bars Gina Spence Farmer from serving in the Senate was instituted in May, 2003. With that date in mind why was Eugenie Simmons in her role as College administrator allowed to forward her name as a potential candidate for the seat left vacant by the passing of then Finance Minister Eugene Cox in Sandys North as reported in on February 3, 2004? Ms Simmons did not obtain a seat in Parliament, which could have required her to give up her job. Similarly, Mrs. Spence Farmer is an adopted candidate for the United Bermuda Party for a constituency, but presumably would not be required to give up her job unless she won a seat.

Referendum now!

October 15, 2005

Dear Sir,

My fellow Bermudians, I have finally reached the boiling point. We are a generation of Bermudians who have worked very hard to provide for our families, build up equity in our homes, and provide the best education we are able to afford for our children. And all this is threatened by the spectre of independence.

What is our present Government thinking? I, personally, don?t think there are very many Bermudians who would welcome Independence, and I cannot think of one plus. We have the best of both worlds ? imagine having a passport that gives you an entry to any country in the European Community, plus Bermudian students can study anywhere in Europe!

I have been working with the group Bermudians for Referendum. This is a purely non-political organisation dedicated to the democratic principle of one man, one vote, each vote of equal value. This is what a referendum means.

Whether you are for or against Independence, a referendum is the only way ALL Bermudians will have an opportunity to express themselves on this all-important issue. A referendum will reflect the wishes of the majority of Bermudians and not those of a few politicians!

Independence is forever ? there?s no turning back. So speak up, Bermuda! Let?s have a referendum, and let?s have it now!

Taking a gamble

October 27, 2005

Dear Sir,

What?s the similarity between the Premier using that very offensive word ?crap? and the Bermuda College?s issue with Gina Spence-Farmer and the BIC Report?

None, however if you add an ?s?, they all look like the gambling game of chance played with dice. First and foremost, the Premier, though unconsciously, did further damage to race relations in Bermuda by how he spun or justified pushing the wrong button. Without going into much detail, he should have been less thin-skinned, ?the man? and apologised for his racist perception and recommended how Bermuda can collectively improve race relations.

Yes, he would have allowed the UBP to score a few political points temporarily. However his credibility would have been maintained and his commitment to improve race relations would have been reinforced.

Once again, he took the groundhog view.

Secondly, remind me if I?m wrong, but isn?t the Bermuda College a community college and their remit is to serve the community? Unfortunately, unlike other community colleges, the Bermuda College does not solely rely on community and individual donations to maintain their educational programs and infrastructure. Luckily, Government throws money at them to operate, hence decisions such as the Spence-Farmer issue can be absorbed or sacrificed, if the perception is given that political influence is absent and the President has one year remaining on his not-to-be-renewed contract.

The question has to be asked. If the PLP would have stepped out of their ?like me? comfort zone and solicited Spence-Farmer, before the UBP did, then eventually asked her to serve in the Senate, would Bermuda College have approved?

Contrary to how we spin political, moral and social issues, people in glass towers should use Windex more often ?

Once again, We the People do not benefit and regardless of Spence-Farmer?s personal terms of reference, her commitment to serve Bermuda is more important.

Lastly, other than some excellent and informative submissions, the BIC Report deserves no further comment, however I hope that the 60-day quiet period allows sufficient time for the Commission to justify their obvious omissions and bias.

So, is Bermuda College?s decision crap or craps?

Now I understand

October 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

As one of the 14,000 Bermudians who were publicly insulted by the man who proposes to reduce our Country to a dictatorship, I now find I have to publicly thank him for making me realise why I did it. I was just stupid like the other 13,999 other people who wanted a chance to accept or reject Independence. Thank you, Mr. Premier, for clearing this up for me.

No small matter

October 17, 2005

Dear Sir,

I do not consider it a small matter that more than 130 white people turned up to have Tim Wise remind them of the advantages and access to opportunity available to them and denied to black people. Whatever ?serious drawback? maybe associated with his comments is a small matter in view of that attendance.

I do not recall Ms Helle Patterson being concerned about any ?drawback? associated with any other ?expert? and there is not one single issue in Bermuda life, good, bad or indifferent that has not had a foreign ?expert? imported to expound on it. Unlike many, NAR has, over a period of almost 15 years, used many Bermudians, black and white people, as Tim Wise did. I certainly do not recall Ms Patterson giving her support to NAR over the many years that it was calling upon Bermudians to discuss the issue.

I hope that among that 100 or more white people who chose to hear Tim Wise there will be those who will continue to think about and discuss the issue. In addition now, since Tim Wise has attracted more of Ms Patterson?s attention over the past week than NAR did over 15 years, and since she will not suffer from the same ?serious drawback?, I hope that she will join them and follow Tim Wise (despite any drawback) in his commitment to anti-racism discussions and activities.