Barbadian when referring to runner Obadale Thompson.

Air of discontent September 27, 2000 Dear Sir, I risk repeating what few have said publicly but what is undeniably true.

The outbreak of xenophobia recently heard on all of the talk shows in relation to the Long Term Residents (LTRs) green paper is reminiscent of the sad period that existed in Europe before the outbreak of the Second World War.

Fuelled by a handful of self-made victims, failed political hucksters and others acting under personal grievances, the illogical, unreasonable, at times illegal venom coming out of these individuals is matched only by the talk show hosts' inability to add direction and veracity to the often false premises raised by the callers -- and accepted carte blanche as true by the hosts.

I must first of all declare that like many Bermudians, I am of mixed parentage. My mother was Bermudian and my father English.

Also, like many Bermudians, my skin would indicate one of my parents was black. I was born here, but made my living in the UK and the US, having left the country at the age of 14 years, several years ago, to accompany my father who was sent abroad to work by his local company.

My mind set is obviously different from those whose daily routine is to call the talkshows and vent their misguided, ill-conceived anger at `foreigners', as they sarcastically refer to the so-called LTRs.

The fact that there is even a debate regarding the immigration status of LTRs, some of whom have spent their entire working-lives in this country, is nothing short of scandalous.

There is nowhere on this Earth, except a few fundamentalist theocracies, where any such debate could sensibly exist with references to hard working individuals who have given 25 years (in some cases many more) of their lives, building this country.

Arguments such as `land would not be left for my children', or, `where would our children find jobs if these people receive status' must be seen as a smokescreen, silly, short-sighted, lacking credibility and morally-deprived.

What is conveniently forgotten is the foreigners already live in houses, have contributed significantly to the wealth of this country and that the Progressive Labour Party cannot give private land to Bermudians -- at least this is not in their election platform.

Furthermore, everyday in the newspapers, there are dozens of advertisements for accountants, managers, insurance executives, legal advisors, human resource managers, computer-personnel, drivers, shop assistants etc.

Indeed, it would appear that even supermarkets might have to consider recruiting staff from abroad. I need not mention that despite lowering the standard for entrance to the Police service, there has not been a flood of suitable Bermudians applying to join the Service.

Obviously, there is a feeling in some quarters that if the LTRs were made to leave the Island or lie under threats like second class citizens, employers would be forced to employ non-skilled Bermudians in these positions. This is nothing but fantasy born out of a local habit of divorcing one's self from the financial realities of the real world.

What is surprising in this shameful episode is the fact some persons, who should know better, are adding flames to the fire for what could only be a personal desire to make someone -- anyone -- pay for their ill-treatment in the past.

There is no doubt that the treatment Dr. Hodgson received from the United Bermuda Party (UBP) in the past was cruel and unjust, to say the least. There is also no doubt that the system of `status' handed out by the UBP was racist, corrupt and based on political patronage.

There was a definite attempt to bestow the vote on white Anglo Saxons at the expense of everyone else. It must not be forgotten however, that the black population voted the UBP into office.

A simple analysis of the racial make-up of the constituencies would reveal that the white population could not by itself have elected the UBP. There are several constituencies which have changed parties in elections over the years, these include, Warwick, Sandys, St. George's, St. Davids, and Hamilton Parish.

In one case, a white UBP member (Mr. John Barritt) won a seat in an area where it would have been difficult to find five white voters. It is also forgotten that approximately two decades ago, the PLP got 18 seats out of the total of 40.

One does not have to be a political scientist or a sociologist to realise that it was the black-Bermudian vote that kept the UBP in power for so long. The few safe UBP seats e.g. Paget, Pembroke, Hamilton Parish and Smith's Parish could not and were not sufficient to permit the UBP to hold on to power for so long.

Any attempt to suggest the contrary must be seen as a fraudulent attempt to subvert the facts. Dr. Hodgson needs to remind her fellow callers about this fact.

If one accepts that major economic strides were made in Bermuda prior to the PLP taking office and that the black population was mainly responsible for electing the UBP, Dr. Hodgson's comment to the effect that she wished the LTRs would leave so that there would be a true measure of the standard of living is ill-conceived, misplaced, irresponsible and smacks of demagoguery.

My reason for saying this is that almost all of the arguments put forward by the callers on radio are economic in substance. While I would not argue with Dr. Hodgson knowledge of black history, it would be wise for her to brush up the social science of economics -- particularly the concepts of the multiplier and the accelerator.

Curiously, in a recent call, Dr. Hodgson lamented the fact that the Bermudians who rented her apartments in the past often failed to pay the requisite rent.

She went so far as to say that she was surprised at the amount of rent she was able to receive after permitting a real estate to handle the rental of her property.

This is an admission that she too is partaking of some of the same benefits which many callers when it suits them, blame as an evil, and pin on the presence of LTRs and foreigners in Bermuda.

Dr. Hodgson should direct her anger at those individuals who deprived her of meeting her full potential as an educator, not at expatriates.

Another frequent caller, who stated that she is a teacher, once boasted of not having gone overseas to obtain any qualifications. Oddly enough, this lady sees this as desirably wholesome.

Is it any wonder many Bermudians -- of all races -- send their children to private schools? This is clearly someone who is confused. She contends that being born here conveys a special right.

When told that there are several persons who were born here whom she is advocating should leave the Island, she states that the government is not giving the populace sufficient information.

She once read the PLP's platform and by some astonishing reasoning, came to the conclusion that it stated that the PLP will not deal with the issue of LTRs.

Long on illogical and incoherent rhetoric and short on substance, this caller is typical of many who make it their daily business to blame all of society's ills on the presence of LTRs in this country.

There is no shortage of malcontents who use the airwaves as a vehicle for their personal and selfish agendas. Witness the would-be PLP politician whose personal business clearly indicated to the PLP and all of Bermuda that his rhetoric was much more digestible than his business affairs.

He is clearly angry with the PLP, but instead of confronting his issues with that party directly, he masks his personal dislike of the PLP under any topic that is discussed on the particular day. This obviously includes LTRs.

Needless to say, his credibility is worth as much as a three-dollar bill.

Mr. Editor, on a related matter, there is little doubt that the climate generated at all of the recent public meetings, except the last, must have been a little more than spontaneous. To say that there was an attempt to intimidate the LTRs would be an understatement.

The Minister, in giving her description of a Bermudian in St. George's, could have and should have used the moment to explain that a Bermudian is courteous.

Moreover, in order for democracy to flourish, there must be an airing of the various views, especially if they are meritorious.

The behaviour that was displayed at the first two meetings did not originate in anger, as some apologist would have us believe. That was pure and simple discourtesy with intent.

I am not here attempting to shore up support for the UBP. In fact, the current problem with the LTRs is directly traceable to their policy of giving status to their chosen lot; a dominant factor in receiving status being the colour of one's skin.

There are also some Bermudians who have suffered at the hands of the UBP, but a significant majority of the callers I hear on radio did not. This can be gleaned from listening to their complaints which have everything to do with making LTRs feel uncomfortable and nothing to do with missed opportunities.

The UBP failed to understand that doing what was right was a long-term achievement. Doing what is expedient never brings long-term success. They too, failed to appreciate that the sensible centre comprising mostly black Bermudians was their base.

Slowly but surely by inter alia, repressing criticism, instituting personal vendettas and giving undue weight to anything said or done by some hand-picked expert from abroad, they collapsed under their own moral iniquity.

Unfortunately, the same racist tendencies visited on the Bermudians and the LTRs by their policy were found to be alive and well inside the party -- even though many members for years denied it.

Even though I hold no brief for the UBP, the country did prosper under its control. This is undeniable.

My advice to the PLP is to build on that success rather than be guided by a handful of misguided individuals who are seeking revenge against persons who, for the most part, are victims too.

Mr. Editor, what prompted this letter was the outpouring of Bermudianess in yesterday's Royal Gazette bestowed upon the Barbarian Obadale Thompson, a bronze medalist in the Sydney Olympic games.

Mr. Thompson like yours truly, was forced to live abroad with his parents who felt comfortable enough with Barbados (warts and all), to allow their son to obtain citizenship in the country of his residence.

It is rather revealing that only after he placed in the 100 metres dash did it become necessary to carry out research, and that that research showed that his mother was Bermudian.

The irony in light of the current green paper discussions on LTRs, is distasteful and dishonourable. The sad fact is that many of the antagonists of the LTRs are advocating sending many Obadales to some country they know nothing or very little about.

Nevertheless I feel comfortable in the knowledge that the silent majority would show their displeasure at the government at the next election if such a scheme were adopted.

Putting any system in place that would result in anyone who has legally spent 20 years of his life in this country in a position where he/she through circumstances would have to return to their country of birth, must be wrong.

It certainly would be immoral, irresponsible and abhorrently ruthless. Surely, the new face of Bermuda must represent better ideals than this.

TYPICAL BERMUDIAN Warwick