Level the playing field

September 17, 2007

Dear Sir,

Let me come straight to the point and ask a question. What is Mr. Michael Dunkley trying to prove by suggesting how Dame Lois Browne Evans should be remembered? Of all people, Mr. Dunkley flew out of the Island at a time when others were flying in for the Dame's funeral.

It was a blatant dishonour. It was a slap in the face to the Dame and to the black people of Bermuda. Mr. Dunkley is trying to jump ahead of the game and suggesting how the Dame, whom he blatantly dishonoured should be honoured.

Even if his suggestion is worthwhile, it is adding insult to injury. It was a cheap shot by him and his party, trying to cover up his dirt.

What I would ask of Mr. Dunkley, is that he would publish in this column, the names of the UBP sitting MPs and those running for election who attended the Dame's funeral and those who did not.

On another note Mr. Editor, when Rolfe Commissiong was introduced as the PLP candidate for one of the constituencies in Paget, he made an appeal to the Portuguese community to give him some support. The following day, Mr. Trevor Moniz was on the news on TV, replying to Mr. Commissiong's appeal.

Mr. Moniz said that the Portuguese community should not vote for Mr. Commissiong nor any PLP candidate. For Mr. Moniz to say that the Portuguese community should not vote for any PLP candidate, I find it absolutely fair to say that no black person should vote for Mr. Trevor Moniz.

Furthermore, Mr. Moniz should come back on the news on TV and tell the black people in his constituency not to vote for him because he does not want their votes. Mr. Moniz does owe this to the blacks in his constituency, so until he does this, blacks in his constituency should not vote for him. Even if they are made with Dr. Brown and the PLP, they should stand in solidarity with their fellow blacks and do not vote for Mr. Moniz.

"United we stand. Divided we fall." I know there are black people in every constituency who support the UBP, but there is more than what meets the eye in what Mr. Moniz said, and what he said gives strength to my call for the black community to once again stand in solidarity as a people.

The black community is under attack. We are being chased, hounded, singled out, and preyed upon. We are the victims. We are the prey, and the predator, the United Bermuda Party is like a roaring lion seeking all the black people that it can devour. The time has come again for us blacks to "wake up and smell the coffee".

We will never be white, and cannot be white, so let us be comfortable with being black. That is what we are whether we like it or not. Let us believe in ourselves after God. Let us believe in black people. If it means lifting ourselves by our own boot straps, let us do it. We do not have to be beggars and live by "hand outs" and "props" all of our lives. We have two feet. Let us learn and practice to stand on them.

Let me remind you again of the old adage . . . "What is good for the goose, is good for the gander:. I am calling for a level playing field. If the Portuguese community should not vote for any PLP candidate according to Mr. Moniz, it is only fair that the black community should NOT vote for Mr. Moniz.

RENDOL JAMES

Sandys