November 12, 2003

Dear Sir,

Thank you once again for this space in your column so I can reply to a letter in the Wednesday November 12 issue titled "Stop the generalisations". Yes the world is full of foreigners and most of the world is a million times larger then Bermuda with lots of housing, lots more jobs and longer and wider roads and etc. and I'm more than sure where you are from I could not go there and be able to do some of the things some of you expats are doing after being here for only a short period of time and madam or sir you surely do not have to be here five years to qualify as a foreigner your first day here covers that.

When you are here for over 20 years and married to a Bermudian but that does not even happen much these days. Most come here for a few years make their money then leave after selling their household items to some Bermudians. By the way I used the cultures who are having gatherings as an example of how many are here and Cup Match has no bearing on it, and yes some foreigners maybe seen buying clothes and party dresses in Hamilton, Bless your Souls, but many go home on visits and shop till they drop, and it is not even about taking each other on any merits. Facts are facts Bermuda is overcrowded there are bumper to bumper traffic when you make 9'oclock to work and have to leave home 7.30 to assure yourself of a park or in case another mishap takes place on Harbour Road or another road that speaks for itself. And talk about the housing crisis once again I have nothing against you expats but like with anything enough is enough. Bermuda is only 23 square miles long. We are surrounded by water. Where you are from you can drive from State to State or country to country. The only place we can go is overboard once Dockyard and St. George's has ended. We can't build 20 storey apartment buildings and one day as you say you help keep the wheels turning one day the wheels will have know where to turn and yes I am a mature person but I'm as far away from being 60 as you are from home.

No way to treat a war vet

November 12, 2003

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter on behalf of my neighbour Mr. Graham Madeiros of 5, Frithcote Lane, Warwick, in an effort to get his cable TV connected. Graham is an 82-year-old Bermuda war veteran who fought bravely and gallantly with the Lincolnshire Regiment; and is not a man to complain. Hurricane Fabian tore part of his roof off. This was promptly repaired, Belco gave excellent service and soon restored power, and Telco were not far behind. But cable TV? What can we say ? numerous telephone calls personal visits to the Hamilton and Laffan office, all to no avail. The TV screen remains silent and blank.

Any help you can give in getting this long overdue service restored, would be greatly appreciated.

Sexism not the key issue

November 7, 2003

Dear Sir,

I had determined to refrain from commenting on the issue of sexism ? until this morning when a conservative black professional male, with great frustration and passion, engaged me in conversation. That made me feel that there are some comments that I should make.

Let me acknowledge at the outset that appearances do matter. The occasional photographs in the media of executive committees, financial committees and other committees and boards associated with the business and financial world, which are always made up of all white males, continually remind me of the fact that economic power is very much in the hands of the white community and, as a result, so is major political influence, even without direct political control. That explains why I hear so many reports of outspoken qualified young blacks who report sending out hundreds of resumes and getting no response. Although this seems to apply more to males, one such person at one time was the Honourable Neletha Butterfield. But I have heard scores of such stories since I first heard hers some years ago. It has gotten no better under the PLP.

Unlike the college professor, the outspoken blacks are not fired because they are not hired in the first place. They are not limited to terms of six or nine years, they have no term at all. They receive no publicity, no one comes to their defence, even when they can prove that a less qualified "guest worker" was employed instead of them. Their experience is both frustrating and demoralising. Only a very few of them succeed, as did the Honourable Neletha Butterfield in creating, after a great deal of effort, an alternative role for themselves.

This phenomenon concerns me far more that the expression of sexism in the Senate appointments, or even term limits. There are some women who hate women as much as some blacks hate blacks. One of them would be less likely to express concern about "women's issues" than some men, just as, even in Bermuda, there are one or two whites who speak more intelligently about racism than do some blacks. After all they were not Portuguese nor the political representative of most Portuguese, the UBP, who addressed the issue of long term residence. With all due respect to Mr. Robert Pires, it was the PLP. In fact that issue was addressed even though they have not addressed the issue of "blacklisting" outspoken young blacks ? despite the experience of one of their own Cabinet Members.

In reality, one would expect that it should be the responsibility of all women to address as issue of sexism just as it should be the responsibility of all blacks to address an issue of racism. Neither is likely to happen and as a result one or two voices of women in the Senate would be no more effective than the one of two voices on the issue of racism without very widespread concern. Sexism, like racism is a matter of power and control and, in Bermuda, there are white males who exercise the real power and control despite having a PLP Government. When the Finance Minister, with the support of the former Premier, changed the 60/40 rule for the banks without the promised consultation with any of the PLP constituencies, he merely exemplified our realities. That is why it always seems so incongruous when black women who never express concern about racism express such concern about sexism. Collectively black men are the most powerless in the society despite seeming to have direct political control. Their political power is hedged about by both the reality of economic power and the threat of economic penalties ? and, perhaps, also what in some countries might be called "bribes".

Thus the issue of women in the Senate is a matter of appearance and symbolism which is not without value but the black community still has far more challenging issues which go far beyond appearances and symbolism. Until those issues are addressed and actually solved, the PLP, with all due regard for the Leader of the Opposition, will always be able to get some of the desired response by electioneering on the issue of race. That is likely to be true even if that is all the consideration that the PLP gives to addressing the continuing issue of racism and white domination and control which, in fact, is likely to be increased now that they have invited in global racism and control by giving the bank permission to go "global". The only people that are likely to benefit from that move are the large shareholders of the bank, whose wealth (and power?) will be increased, and not too many black males or PLP supporters fall into that category.

Tag Day thanks

October 28, 2003

Dear Sir,

The Committee of Management of the Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association (LCCA) extend their thanks to the numerous members of the community who donated so generously to our recent annual Tag Day in September.

Special thanks to our "taggers" - the many volunteers from the service organisations, individuals, friends and special mention to the students who helped throughout the day with the counting of the proceeds.

A total amount of $13,140.00 was collected from this event. These funds are utilised in our General Assistance programme for the local needs of the less fortunate members of the community, particularly the elderly and for the benefit of children.

the LCCA has continued to carry out the ideals and philosophy that was initiated by Lady Cubitt in 1932.

Sincere thanks to everyone for their assistance.

LADY GIBBONS

Annual Tag Day Committee

Go with your instincts

November 12, 2003

Dear Sir,

In the life of any human being when ever a decision feels wrong, the percentages say you are probably right. Trust Your Gut Feelings!

The so-called global society that is now being touted as the key excuse for renovating, restructuring and realigning local economic development, which simply put, defines the notion of globalisation as:"The depletion of employment for one community to attain a position considered prudent and efficient for the prosperity of a business institution, by using the humans of another community with less financial wage expenses, and in some instances ignore what we in developed society consider are the fundamental human rights."

In the daily shifting of business growth, of course it is normal to constantly review the product, the functioning machinery, as well as the external forces that may hinder or in some cases curtail productive levels of movement.

I suppose the underlying question is, how do these institutions reward the loyalty of a society that has generated ample energy to create a positive image, and even ensure the product has a sterling reputation to build on. The evolution of merger monsters seems of little concern to politicians and community leaders in most societies, in respect of which, I deem it imperative that all segments of the relevant community have vocal input in relation to any mergers that might influence both negative and/or positive attributes on that community.

This is not to say the reigning political ambassadors are not demonstrating good governance, actually the contrary as this will ensure input from all residents in order to establish the majority consensus and explore a broader range of considerations. We must be aware that extreme shifts that piggyback mergers often conceal hidden agendas of astronomical proportions which only materialise in the future. Should it be required to amend any legislative formula to achieve this, I suggest we seriously consider the steps required especially since we removed the 60/40 protection clause.

I would also like to enquire as to the limit of local equity that can be in the control of foreign persons in order to prevent any unseen catastrophe, such as massive numbers of unemployment or displacement of large portions of a community.

Throughout America, Canada and Europe there have been large displacements of office personnel who have had to take employment in nonrelevant companies and even receive wages that are insufficient to give them a life that has any semblance of their prior existence, worse still puts them in a place where they cannot apply for assistance. Perhaps the most perplexing question is China is considering a bank bail-out due to bad loans, while in Japan the central bank remains concerned about the country's questionable financial system despite some signs of recovery. Until next time ? Blessings.

JOHN H. HOLDIPP III