Political hypocrisy

August 8, 2003

Dear Sir,

I have heard much about the deceitfulness of the 11 members of the Progressive Labour Party because they put aside party infighting in order to win the election.

This is strange talk from a UBP supporter who should be all too aware that his party called an election in 1983, two years after winning in 1981, for no other reason than its Premier, Sir John Swan realising that many potential PLP voters were not registered.

Two years later, that same Premier again called an early election in order to take advantage of PLP infighting and decimated the PLP parliamentary representation to a mere seven seats. In neither case, was there a deluge of letters accusing the UBP of "power grabbing" as many UBP supporters are now very self-righteously doing to the PLP.

That the incidents described above were clear cases of power grabbing, there can be no doubt. But more importantly, Sir John was clearly trying to obtain a majority of black UBP MP's in the UBP parliamentary caucus.

He ended up with 16 white and 15 black UBP members in 1985 but no black majority. In fact, the first time that the UBP party ever has elected a majority of black members was in the recent election. Thus, the 1998 election won by the PLP was the first time that blacks fully held the reigns of political power.

In my view, the fact that the PLP retained power 2003 was in no doubt due to fact that an overwhelming number of blacks decided they would not easily give up the power they had sought for so long.

Of course the UBP party and its leadership fully understood or else they would not have gone to such lengths to liberally sprinkle their party with black candidates. While this may have made the Opposition a black Opposition, it did so at the expense of depriving the country of a strong voice for business, the economy and the significantly large white minority.

In putting aside their differences and uniting in order to win the country reflected maturity on the part of the PLP membership that has heretofore been sadly missing.

Did you letter writers who are enthusiastically criticising the PLP expect the 11 dissidents to proclaim to Bermuda, "Look we are going into an election thoroughly disunited but we intend to correct this when we win the election by removing the current Premier"?

Since Ms Smith was all too aware that there was serious opposition to her premiership, should she have stated, "Look Bermuda, there is serious opposition to my rule, but I intend to make certain that my detractors will not get a Cabinet seat. However, you must still re-elect them, so that I may remain Premier."

And should the leader of the opposition, Dr. Grant Gibbons, have warned Bermuda, "I know that we have replaced many very competent whites with rather ordinary blacks in order to capture the black vote. But don't worry, your white interests will continue to be protected because the leadership of our party is solidly white."

Abundance of leaders

August 8, 2003

Dear Sir,

Now that the political dust storm is over and the political dust has finally settled, it is hoped Mr. Editor by the majority of Bermudians, I'm sure, that some can sensibly and calmly analyse, critique and hopefully understand the political events that politically handcuffed us all, two weeks ago.

Bearing in mind a quote by Dr. Albert Einstein, "an explanation should be as simple as possible and no simpler". It could be strenuously argued, Mr. Editor, that the unenviable or enviable problem that the PLP has, depending on how one may look at it, is it's surplus or super abundance of Premier leadership talent.

Mr. Randolph Horton, Ms Paula Cox , Dr. Ewart Brown, Mr. Terry Lister, Ms Renee Webb, Mr. Dale Butler, I could mention others, would all make great Premiers, in my opinion.

However, I would be remiss, if I did not add Mr. Editor, that regardless of what people might say about her personality or leadership style, Ms Jennifer Smith's political vision and political astuteness to introduce fundamental constitutional reform and establish single seats constituencies, one man, one woman, one vote, of equal value, in her one and only term as Premier, is great political leadership!

Not to mention winning a second term as government for the PLP and then having the political maturity and dignity to resign the coveted and much heralded premiership, rather than split up her troops, her party and cause political chaos for everyone in Bermuda.

If that is not extraordinary leadership, Mr. Editor, then I don't know what is!

Similarly, Mr. Editor, and let's not be naive about it, Mr. Alex Scott, already the great communicator, as Premier of Bermuda, will have his detractors but I have no doubt that he too will turn out to be another in the long line of great PLP leaders and Premiers.

Thus, I am like most Bermudians Mr. Editor, eagerly looking forward to his great leadership and his great premiership of our great island 'Nation' - Bermuda!

Graffiti aids mourning

August 13, 2003

Dear Sir,

I am writing further to this morning's news report regarding the sad road death of the young man at Watford Bridge.

Bermuda is creating a sub-culture, our youth need to express their grief and this is not going to happen in the letters to the editor or on the Shirley Dill Show. We see their expression in graffiti.

Would it be that difficult to allow them public space to do this? I say not. In cities around the world - subway stations and public walkways and walls are open for this.

The youth will race, cyclists will die but, at this time, energy should be put to keeping Bermuda roads and people safe but also equal energy should be spent in offering support, education, guidance and assistance to these young people grieving and expressing themselves rather than criminalising and harassing them at this sad time.

Let's practise peace and tolerance for all our valued members of Bermuda society.

Graffiti is not enough

August 13, 2003

Dear Sir,

Another young man is dead, and once again a wall is decorated with the remorse of his peers; RIP in lots of pretty colours.

Apparently the latest mural drew an uncommonly large crowd of participants.

Nice to know so many people care. If I sound cynical it's because I'm tired of seeing these murals on our roads.

If I sound blas?, it's not nearly as blas? as most who got back on their bikes as the paint was still drying.

How many of these young men "made de nip" through traffic in their hurry to reach the mural site?

How fast did they fly through traffic with their cans of spray paint? And how soon before the spray cans hiss again?

Today, I narrowly avoided some clown who was tearing toward me, in my lane, on a blind corner. Nothing new there.

Almost every day I have to slam brakes and yank the steering to accommodate the "skills" of others.

But on this occasion I happened to be listening to a radio report on the latest road death, when the handlebar clipped my side-view mirror, and I was struck by the irony, and the futility, of it all.

Creating a mural, paying homage to a fallen friend, is an honourable thing. But a mural becomes nothing more than paint on a wall when we ignore its message.

Police set poor example

August 13, 2003

Dear Sir,

In the wake of Wednesday's early morning accident I would like to express my concerns.

Ms Burch would like the police to get involved and enforce the law the help people to slow down. Well on that very dangerous corner, I really don't think that will ever happen.

How can the Police enforce the law when they don't obey it themselves? I was almost killed there in that same spot two years ago.

I was coming out of a private driveway at night when I was struck by a speeding police car travelling from Dockyard.

Luckily I owned a jeep so the impact was low on the driver's side door but he did almost push me off the cliff into the cold winter water. Of course he got away with it.

He lives in the area, knowing that there is a blind entrance but the judge just shrugged it off to that he is allowed to do excessive speeds without any sirens or lights on.

The other night I also witnessed three Police motorcycles literally fly around the corner.

The only thing that came to mind was that if there were cars on both sides of the street there would be not time to stop and one of them would be dead right now.

Too many people speed off Watford Bridge heading into Dockyard and overtake vehicles not knowing what may be coming around the corner at any time. There have also been near accidents because of this.

I have had my indicator on from the bridge to turn into the private driveway when a bike out of nowhere is trying to overtake me not seeing my indicator.

Now I practically have to stick my arm out of the window to give warning.