Many interesting events have occurred just prior to the last election and immediately following. It is clear that despite a powerful campaign against the PLP leader and Premier, Dr. the Honourable Ewart Brown, the PLP not only won the election but increased its absolute majority.

What piqued my interest in the election result was that many writers, whom I thought were well in touch with Bermuda's race issues, completely misread the attitudes of PLP supporters towards Premier, the Honourable Dr. Ewart Brown. It is now history that the PLP not only won the election but their leader increased his majority over his UBP rival in his constituency.

What perhaps was of most significance in the election result was that so many persons including myself were confident that the PLP would lose seats, at the very least. On my own part, I must admit that the thundering charges about the corruption of the PLP leader, with little or no rebuttal on the part of the leader or his colleagues, certainly had me convinced that the silence of the PLP, in the face of relentless attacks, would have the result of persuading a significant proportion of the PLP's almost 100 percent black following, to stay at home or actually vote for the UBP.

Given Bermuda's history, with respect to race relations, I knew that there had been many occasions that significant numbers of Bermuda's Black Majority had refused to support the PLP thereby throwing away the opportunity time and time again to correct their disadvantages that had resulted from centuries of severely restricted access to Bermuda's economy. However, since the election of 1998, when the PLP won the government with a substantial majority, I saw no reason why black Bermudians would allow the political control of Bermuda slip out of their hands by default after having to wait for almost 400 years to attain it.

Yet, my confidence was shaken by the comments of numerous staunch PLP followers who told me with complete assurance that "We will lose this election and it will be because of the corruption of our leader, Dr. Brown." They held this view despite my oft repeated claim that, Dr. Brown had never been charged formerly with corruption. In fact, when the claims were first made by certain members of the opposition UBP, Premier Dame Jennifer Smith requested the Governor to investigate the accusations immediately.

The Governor, who is appointed by the British Crown and has absolutely no allegiance to the Bermuda government, assigned his top judicial and law enforcement officers to investigate the complaints. These officials included the Chief Justice, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Commissioner of Police. These three most senior law enforcement officers were ably assisted by detectives from Scotland Yard, perhaps one of the most renowned law enforcement organisations in the world.

The investigation by Bermuda's top law enforcement officers revealed no grounds for bringing charges of corruption against the Premier. Yet the references to the corruption of Dr. Brown and by extension, the PLP, continued unabated, even among several otherwise staunch supporters of the PLP. Still, it was very reassuring that many members of the PLP repeated often to me, "Does the Opposition and their media supporters think that the more they repeat false accusations, the more likely people will believe them?"

I certainly did not share the confidence of the loyal PLP membership. I was only too aware that continuous repetition of a false claim without correction will certainly have the result that some people will be led to believe the falsehoods.

Personally, I also was not reassured by the Premier's indifference to the vicious campaign being run against him. When I asked why he was doing nothing about the continuous attacks, particularly in the light of the fact that the senior officers appointed by the Governor had found no basis to bring charges against him. His response was classic. He responded with a big smile "Cal, I have too much to do trying to lead the Government of Bermuda effectively. I really don't have time for fighting non-issues"

Dr. Brown undoubtedly had stronger faith in his Party supporters than I did. I could not release my mind from the thought that the justification given for enslavement of Africans by Europeans was the prejudice, repeated all too often, that Africans were inferior. Remnants of this belief emanates still, not only from white Bermudians, but also from their black fellow citizens who certainly should know better.

Well, Dr. Brown's faith was more than justified. The PLP won and Premier Brown also increased his majority in his constituency.

Following the election, I was taken aback by the fact that many commentators were surprised by the result – the PLP had remained in power with an increased popular vote. PLP detractors cried foul and fell just short of declaring that "the PLP supporters were obviously not too intelligent". What was even worse, in my opinion, is that they called for a period of healing even though they participated fully in the false claims against Premier Dr. Brown which contributed very much to any perceived need for healing.

For this reason, I find it difficult to support the claim that there needs to be steps taken to facilitate racial healing following the negative commentary that flowed freely during the recent General Election.

After the General Election, I continued to be amazed that the political opposition, joined by certain segments of the print and electronic media, continued to pursue claims of corruption by the PLP and their leader, Dr. Ewart Brown, long after Dr. Brown had been exonerated by Bermuda's most senior law enforcement officers. In so doing, a fundamental principle of the "The Rule of Law" was totally ignored.

Arising from this refusal to respect the "Rule of Law" it can be inferred that the authority of the top officers of the judiciary and law enforcement, as well as the officers of Scotland Yard, were made to appear as being under the influence of the PLP government. On the street these opinions were expressed verbally even though it has been stated on several occasions that the Governor of Bermuda has total control over the appointment and control of the senior law enforcement officers. In fact, there can be no stronger evidence of the authority of the Governor than when he refused to appoint Mrs. Norma Wade as Chief Justice even though she was the declared preference of then Premier Alex Scott.

In my view, the most important exercise that Bermuda's political authorities can undertake following the General Election is to develop as many ways as possible to enable the members of the Bermuda's major races to talk to each other without prior conditions. It has always been clear that race will become less and less a possible source of social and political unrest, if the ordinary members of both races were able to meet frequently and get to understand each other.

The current primaries being held by the Democratic Party of the United States has convinced me that people left to their own device will be more likely to develop lasting relationships than when this is not the case. In fact, I would be so bold as to suggest that the authorities of even free states are not bashful about creating reasons for people to be hostile to each other in order to retain power. The warm reception given to Mr. Barack Obama - a black man - and to Hillary Clinton - a white woman - indicates clearly that the population, when left to its own devices is not afraid to venture into unfamiliar territory. However, 'the powers that be' always are doing all they can to derail this movement in the United States and in other so-called free states.

We now see the race to select a Democrat representative to run for the presidency being slipped into the realm of race and ethnicity differences. The success of winning the populous states of Texas and Ohio is being portrayed as being dependent upon the Latino and African American voters. The writers seem to ignore totally the fact that the American white population has been very generous in its support of both candidates not only in terms of votes but also of campaign funds. America can be very proud of this fact and should be shouting it to a world that still depends unabashedly upon election strategies that include the mobilisation of voters based upon racial, gender, ethic and religious differences. Clearly, today's Bermudian has a real opportunity to be different.

LET US NOT BLOW THIS CHANCE.

csmith@northrock.bm