At a crossroads

October 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

Speaking politically, I suppose every moment is critical, so when a political activist like me says we are at a critical juncture, you may ask, as to when the state of affairs was uncritical?

Bermuda is at a crossroads where it can move upwards to unprecedented levels of success and global significance, or it can slide into a morbidity that is often a characteristic of many underdeveloped nations.

Before anyone assumes that I am referring to the potential for economic decline, no, I am talking about the kind of morbidity that can exist even with increased economic activity. The business environment is threatening to become more hostile and perhaps it is by design. In hindsight the Government?s prohibition of Bermudians selling their real estate to foreigners may have been in anticipation that there would, at some point, be a rush to do so.

The issue is power and who wields it. In an ever increasing way, globalisation as a power is transforming our lives. The rate by which this change occurs and who benefits from the transformation is an issue of leadership. The truth of the effects of globalisation and the need for countries to democratise in the face of it cannot be over-emphasised.

Countries with effective participatory democracies will be leaders in the emerging new world. Fully democratised countries will make more efficient use of their human resource and the intellectual capital of all its citizens. Ineffective democracies will have too heavy a reliance on a selected few, fostering elitism, a diminished middle class and a burgeoning underclass.

Sociologically, 20th Century Bermuda underwent tremendous economic and political change. Racial strife manifest through mechanism of socio-economic control was most obvious under the UBP government and now similarly exercised by the PLP government. The spread of affluence over the last 25 years generated by the international business sector in the main was narcissistically channelled through the white elite sector. Fortunately for Bermuda, the spin-off was so huge, benefits to the whole island was unavoidable. As an example the UBP had two prominent black lawyers one being the first black Premier, the other a QC, and between them they could not solicit enough business from that booming international business to remain solvent, let alone prosper. Concurrent with their struggle and subsequent failure, their white legal contemporaries were building economic empires.

The PLP, a product of the same 20th century social ills, unwittingly is following a similar path as the UBP. In the PLP brand of social engineering it gets even thinner at the top. The politically orchestrated destruction of the black merchant class during the 60s and early 70s has left a very small black commercial base. Unlike the UBP with a broad white commercial base where the spread could appear innocuous, the issue of suspicion and limited trust by the PLP exposes them to cronyism as an only alternative. It was the case that black entrepreneurs in the past feared releasing their ideas to an oligarch who would seize their ideas. The new fear by black entrepreneurs is that a new PLP ?Poligarch? would do the same. Black entrepreneurs today openly state when ever they have a business idea, they need a well connected PLP person, in order to get their idea through.

The problem being for a group and party in power without capital is they are vulnerable as prey to the new-age cash of the multinationals. The equation is a perfect formula for a new elitism supported by an underclass. The dwindling middle class will face persecutions as the new cash multinationals take up their space with an efficient foreign work force. For the multinationals, it?s a ?perfect storm? because the PLP represents the very labour group that?s being exploited. The labour core support rather than react or resist will applaud their leaders for giving away their land and rights.

The UBP is so far out of the equation; the populace would rather be robbed blind than to return to their management. The situation is so grave; there is no visible leadership among either party that can take the population beyond the social schisms of the 20th century. Current leadership rumblings amongst both parties only reaffirm an out of touch partisanship and a political quagmire. Why aren?t those leadership rumblings in the public domain? If a party intends to develop a national leader, would it not make sense that those potential leaders expose their vision to the public? Horse trading behind the scene should be a bygone practice. I propose that because the issue and need for leadership is so serious, we need to have an American style run-off where the potential leaders each have a public speakers night to share their vision. It should be the public that endorses their choice. The UBP in particular cannot afford to mess this one up.

The need for a third party will never be felt more urgently than now. However, the prospects for a third party is possibly too heavy a risk. The better option, although most unlikely, would be for the UBP to fold. Another thought would be that the UBP went through a real reform with some reformers? interventions. A last but desperate move would be that the reform be carried out in public, by the public who, outside the parliamentary process, rewrite a constitution; re-envision a system of governance for Bermuda, seek public endorsement and through petitions engage the British government through its local representative, to demonstrably show Bermudian support for a new political contract.

Time for a referendum

October 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

Some people have become quite the learned scholars as of late, quoting both William Shakespeare by Alex Scott and now Sir William Churchill by Calvin Smith. I fear that both Shakespeare and Churchill would be turning in their graves to learn how their quotes have been so manipulated to make a point. Mr. Smith, are you seriously comparing Independence for Bermuda with the Second World War? Surely you must recognise the difference between a need for defending your country and a desire for independence. The former is done out of necessity, this is not the case with Bermuda. The PLP have always commented on the ?Doom Sayers? of the anti-independence population, all the while comparing Bermuda to ravaged and war torn countries who are being oppressed physically, mentally or economically. Do you not see the irony here? The Bermuda of today suffers from none of these problems, rather the opposite. How does Great Britain hinder us in any of these ways?

The PLP have not demonstrated any clear cut plan to independence. They are like a toddler wanting a puppy, yet having no idea how to take care of it. We have had plenty of comments, however, and if you notice these comments are published in the opinion section of the newspaper, such as yours, Mr. Smith. I have yet to see any realistic facts come forth on Independence. I have asked PLP supporters what gains Bermuda would achieve with Independence only to be left with silence. Where are the facts for any gains in independence? Where are the facts for any downfalls for independence? Where is the plan? You joke about the BIC report; however you fail to realise that the BIC report is in of itself a joke. Since you are of such a fan of Churchill, here?s another quote for you also in regards to the BIC Report ?The length of this document defends it well against the risk of its being read.? Maybe that was the BIC?s ultimate intention when drafting a ridiculously long report. I would like to see a condensed version simply with the facts.

Mr. Smith, to quote you: ?To me and many other Bermudians, Independence is the ultimate goal of democracy. And by democracy, I refer to a political system whereby each citizen of a state has the same right as all other citizens to select the government of his/her choice. Clearly, without independence, that right is compromised.?

Actually the ultimate goal of democracy is the right for each citizen to voice their wishes on what future their country undertakes. This would be in the way of a referendum, where everyone has one vote and everyone?s vote counts. I fail to see how our right to select the government of his/her choice is compromised. Surely an example of Bermuda choosing their government was in 1998 when the PLP came into power? If that?s not an example of democracy and freedom to choose one?s government, I don?t know what is.

I, like many other Bermudian citizens are against independence for the simple reason of there being too many unknowns. I do not have faith in the current government, taking us to the promised land, when they can?t get a grip on other issues, such as crime, housing and education to name a few. Nothing in the PLP?s seven year track record inspires enough confidence in me to want them to undertake something as massive as a countries independence, especially since they have failed so miserably with things like the Berkley project.

Mr. Smith, you write: ?However, no matter how much I choose to argue the case for Independence, a recent poll found that 66 percent of all Bermudians do not want independence. This percentage included 52 percent of black voters ? the PLP support base ? and 85 percent of Bermuda?s white voters. But what is most curious, from my point of view, is that these same Bermudians stated that if an election were to be held at the time the poll was taken, they would re-elect the PLP, the party that proposed Independence in the first place.?

What you should be asking is ?Why is the PLP so afraid to have the vote on independence a completely separate issue?? One has absolutely nothing to do with the other. Your answer is clear from your own comments. People don?t want independence; however the majority still wishes the PLP government in power. The government is a body which is to be the voice of the people; they are solely there to carry out the wishes of the electorate, not the other way around. Do you honestly believe that the reason for the PLP winning in ?98 was due to the electorate wanting independence? Independence wasn?t even brought up until after Alex Scott became dictator, crap, I meant Premier (Oops did I say crap out loud?), aside from it being on the books, it was a dormant issue, and I certainly don?t remember reading that in the last election platform.

Alex Scott, along with Independence, are two things that the PLP have rammed down our throats in the last few years whether we wanted them or not. Let?s end the independence debate once and for all by referendum. Then maybe we can spend all this energy that?s been wasted on independence on some of the other more important social issues that face our Island.

Hold Govt. accountable

October 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

It is time for this Government to be held accountable for the abysmal state of the public education system on the island. The academic and social needs of the island?s children must be addressed, and it is up to the public to ensure that it happens.

This Government has refused to publish any standardised, internationally recognised exam results from the public school system. How can it be that the people of Bermuda choose to re-elect a government that removes their ability to see how their children are faring in terms of their education compared to the rest of the world? recently reported that this Government will not financially subsidise a program ensuring that all public school children receive a balanced lunch at cost of less than $50,000 per year. The government, however, has no problem making sure that the island?s cricketers receive millions. How can the voters allow this to happen?

It is widely reported that this Government is spending almost $16,000 per year per public student on education ? more per student than any private school is currently charging. Why is it then that the private schools have a 98 percent pass rate on internationally recognised high school leaving exams while public students have a less than 60 percent pass rate on their respective high school leaving certificate examinations ? examinations which are of a lower standard and are only locally recognised? Why aren?t the parents of the children in the island?s public schools asking the same question?

The children of Bermuda should not be academically penalised by the financial status of their parents. It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure that every student receives an equal opportunity at a comprehensive education without prejudice. This just is not happening and the government needs to be held accountable. Building new schools will not solve the problem; hiring good teachers, fostering a safe and open minded learning environment, and creating and ensuring high standards of education are maintained by all schools will be the only way to break the current cycle.

It is impossible for the local economy to continue to grow and diversify without skilled labour to drive it. If Bermudians want to be a part of the island?s success, and not be left out in the cold financially and socially, they need to ensure that they are a part of the skilled labour force that companies require. Stop blaming the expatriates for taking over the Island ? companies need them to continue to function because there simply isn?t enough well educated and skilled Bermudians to hire.

If the Island?s education woes are actually addressed, the social issues created from the domino effect initiated by poor education, such as housing shortages and high levels of crime, will rapidly improve. Demand that this government addresses the problemthey should be the ones to suffer from their mistakes, not your children.

What about due care?

October 10, 2005

Dear Sir,

I?m assuming that Many Dangers On Road from Paget is a woman who drives while talking on a cell phone. I always thought this was against the law but then again,what exactly is DWDC* anyway(*Driving Without Due Care)? The seatbelt law is a $1,000 fine and it?s like nothing is being said that it?s wrong to drive this way even though it is.

Your letter was very sarcastic with you saying that the person should leave behind their number so that, cell phone drivers can call him or her for a ride. Is it because that person mentioned foolishness regarding cell phone drivers? You?re wrong to assume that a person has to be in a car or on a bike to notice people driving while on a cell phone yet, you?re right regarding those other wrongs on the road.

Unfortunately though, the same way you don?t find anything wrong with cellphone driving, apparently the police and judges don?t find anything wrong with those other distractions. Of course I know that one day reckless driving, no matter what it is, will be done away with forever.