Debate - not rhetoric

February 20, 2004

Dear Sir,

I'd like to address a cluster of letters that I've read in recent online editions of your paper, particularly the commentary of Dr. Amenemhet Tamerry.

Before I go any farther, I'd like to announce my whiteness. Dr. Tamerry, if you wish to stop reading at this point and write a letter dismissing my argument on the basis of my ethnicity, then by all means do so... still with me, Doc? Okay. I am proud to be a Bermudian, proud of our culture and people. My politics are centre-left and I would not rule out the possibility of voting PLP if they presented the better candidate in my district. Is there a place for me in your ideal, independent Bermuda? If you reply I would like for you to answer that question.

Unlike ‘Not Until It's Advantageous' I am repulsed by our history of rape, lynching, murder and enslavement. His/her dismissal of such injustices as natural elements of the historical dialectic represents callousness at its most chafing.

However, your invocation of said injustices as a means of dismissing Mr. William Cox's intelligently formulated arguments on the matter of Independence also prove callous.

One could postulate that Mr. Cox's convictions are subconsciously motivated by his ethnicity and social position - such is the nature of the hegemonic state within which he reached maturity - but many of the more pragmatic points that he makes prove valid regardless of one's ideology or ethnicity. Rather than dismissing the myriad opinions of all European peoples, why not compose a point by point rebuttal of Mr. Cox's argument?

Until we are ready to look at independence from a non-partisan (or at least bi-partisan), non-racial (or at least multi-ethnic) standpoint we will never come to a pragmatic conclusion. Perhaps independence would be best for our island, but nobody will ever find out so long as the bulk of debate comes from two polarised camps. Eventually the screaming propaganda must cease.

Remember that individuals must create their own consciousness based upon facts about their predicament. Remember what Franz Fanon refers to as the “liberation of the individual” (in his pamphlet ‘Decolonisation and Independence') - the willingness of people to independently begin thinking beyond the bounds of what the established order holds to be self-evident truths. Offer us debate, not rhetoric. Then, and only then, can large scale social changes take place.

CHRISTOPHER W.D. ASTWOOD

Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois

A housing solution

February 20, 2004

Dear Sir,

Please permit me space for an open letter to the Finance Minister and anyone interested in addressing the housing situation.

We are currently missing an opportunity to use Land Tax as an incentive to both encourage and support home ownership while at the same time placing a market constraint on the escalating cost of rentals.

I would propose that the Land Tax legislation be amended to change the basis for taxation to the following: Property is owner occupied: Tax basis is the ARV, less the interest paid on an existing first mortgage in the preceding calendar year.

Property is rented to a tenant: Tax basis is the greater of the ARV or the actual annualised rental in the preceding year, less the interest paid on an existing first mortgage in the preceding calendar year.

Property is vacant: Tax basis is the ARV multiplied by 1+ the number of years the property has been vacant (pro-rated).

In this simple adjustment of the rule you would support and encourage home ownership by rebating a portion of the mortgage interest, provide an incentive to keep rental prices within range of the ARV and penalise properties which are kept out of the market.

An added benefit would be all the additional revenue from the more appropriate taxation of rental properties which net far more than their ARV would suppose. I'm sure there are landlords who will blanch on reading this but an action on these lines would serve the greater public interest as a quiet hand on the tiller of a market which is spiralling out of control.

Stay tuned for a future letter proposing mandatory annual personal financial statement filings to verify Customs collection and identify the proceeds of the drug trade.

JONATHAN DYER

Hamilton Parish

Careful thought required

February 20, 2004

Dear Sir,

So, the “I” word rears its ugly head again, does it? I have no problem with the principle of Independence, but I implore the people of Bermuda (who must ultimately be the sole arbiters of whether we should be independent or not) to give very, very serious consideration to the pros and cons of full Independence.

I think one of the main questions we have to ask ourselves is, “In order to raise income, what have we got that anybody else wants that we can export?” and I'm very much afraid that the honest answer has to be “nothing.” I would also ask: “How many former British islands in the Caribbean are better off now that they were before going independent?” and I'd be very surprised if the answer was anything other than “none”.

Bermuda, please, please, think very, very carefully about this independence issue. Once such a step is taken, there's no going back.

VOX ORIENTALIS

St. George's

Three cheers for ZBM

February 20, 2004

Dear Sir,

As a very keen rugby fan I would like to express my deepest appreciation to ZBM on two counts.

I was one of many viewers still without cable service, due to Hurricane Fabian when the World Cup Rugby Tournament was being played and had become resigned to missing such an important event.

To my delight and I'm sure to many others in the same position, ZBM managed to get its transmitter up and running and then purchased the rights to transmit the semi-finals, plus the extremely exciting final with the added bonus of seeing England become world champions.

Secondly, ZBM has once again taken the initiation in obtaining the rights to show all the present Six Nations Rugby games, a tremendous coup, especially when noting that neither Fox Sports International or ESPN, have considered this extremely popular tournament which commands world wide interest, worthy of inclusion in their own transmissions.

Well done, ZBM, and congratulations to all at the station who negotiated so successfully to achieve such fine standard of programming.

P.s. The sponsors of this series should also be congratulated for making the transmission of these matches possible.

CAREY MADDERN

Ex-president Bermuda Rugby Football Union

A true Christian asset

February 19, 2004

Dear Sir,

Last week I had the good fortune to attend the collation of our new Archdeacon, Fr. Andrew Doughty, who is the new chief servant to the Bishop and flock of the Diocese and I hope one of the first things he will do is to intercede in the following.

A meeting of the congregation of our Cathedral is scheduled for the end of this month to consider:

A) Whether this 11 a.m. Sunday broadcast of Choral Mattins be scrapped, and

B) That the Synod has indicated that they no longer have the finances to pay for this broadcast.

I would strongly submit to the Vestry that they rethink item (A) as I am concerned that this service is an asset to the Anglican Church of Bermuda in a form of Christian outreach to:

I. Those sick in hospital or in their own homes.

II. Those aged members who cannot get to church.

III. Those in rest homes and hospices.

IV. Those in our correctional facilities.

V. Those who have to work on a Sunday but can listen on the radio.

It is without doubt that the attendance of this service has diminished over the years, but without a proper poll on the listening public we are at a loss as to how many tune in.

In my opinion the Anglican Church of Bermuda has an asset in spreading the Christian Gospel via radio with its rich tradition of choral music, liturgy and the singing of Canticles and Psalms .

In most Cathedrals in England and worldwide Mattins and sung Evensong make up the Sunday worship - I'm certain that the many visitors who come in the summer months will be disappointed that the 11 a.m. service will be no more.

Finally, let's rethink this action and see what we can do to build up the congregation at the Service of Choral Mattins, maybe the Civic Service (Members of the Judiciary) attend, the host of many service organisations attend annually will have a venue to turn out.

I appeal to the Bishop and Vestry, lets not abandon this Christian asset.

Persona wishing to voice their support for retaining the service can call: 295-7236 or 292-7155.

LAWSON E. MAPP, J.P.