A divided community

January 11, 2010

Dear Sir,

In the 1940s, when the black community began to react to their condition there were four injustices which impacted the entire black community that needed to be addressed. They were:

1 They needed to be rid of segregation.

2. They needed to gain the vote.

3. They needed to have a majority among the decision makers to represent their majority status.

4. They needed to narrow the economic gap between the two Communities.

They got rid of public segregation in a matter of weeks. They gained the vote after one or two elections. Then they formed a political party and began to spend their energy on party politics and fighting over who was going to be leader. That created all kinds of divisions within the black Community and as a result it took 30 years to gain a majority among the decision makers even though they now had the vote. Since that time. we do not even hear any discussion concerning the economic disparity and the suffering among those who feel it most. We are so busy fighting about who is going to enjoy the spoils of leadership.

In the last few days I have had another interesting "ah ha" moment about the implication of Party politics. Both Mr. Glenn Fubler and Mr. Dale Butler disagree with my emphasis on the evils of racism. I believe that most of us know that it is because Mr. Fubler is concerned with "reconciling" with whites and Mr. Butler, as a politician, wants white votes so that he can become Premier.

Because Mr. Fubler is concerned with "reconciling", and not about votes or becoming Premier. he publicly "recognised" me on Friday night (thus "reconciling" with me) – primarily for my book "Second Class Citizen". In the meantime, Mr. Butler, the party politician who wants to be Premier (and with whom I have worked closely in the past) attacks me publicly, thus sowing the seeds for, potentially, more conflict within the black community.

These two incidents convince me even more that we, as a black community, need to think seriously about the unified success that we had before party politics and the psychic energy we have spent on conflict and division since which, and our failure to even discuss the fourth issue that concerns the entire black community. We have spent our energies fighting about which single individual (and his/her friends) is going to enjoy the spoils of leadership rather than thinking about how to narrow the economic disparity between the two communities which would benefit the entire black community.

EVA N. HODGSON

Hamilton Parish

Weather presenter no more

January 11, 2010

Dear Sir,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity through the auspices of the Letters to the Editor, to thank my very many viewers who have watched me over the past 20 years as the Bermuda Broadcasting Company's Accuweather Presenter. It was with sadness that I was advised on Wednesday, January 6 that my services as presenter would no longer be required on a regular basis effective today, Monday, January 11 as Accuweather, located in Pennsylvania, would be packaging the complete show.

I have enjoyed the opportunity presented by The Argus Group and the Bermuda Broadcasting Company over the years to have members of the community join me on the Show, especially the young children in the earlier years. Memories of Hurricane Fabian and attempting to get home in high dangerous winds following my "interviews" to ensure the community was informed will stay with me forever. I have listened to "words of wisdom and advice" offered by many a stranger who welcomed me into their homes.

Thank you to the wonderful staff of Bermuda Broadcasting Company who set my lights and prepared the Presentation every evening, to Charlotte who filled in during my absences, but most importantly – thank you to the community for your love and support.

SEN. SUZANN ROBERTS-HOLSHOUSER

Ex-Accuweather Presenter

St. David's

PR lessons needed

January 13, 2010

Dear Sir,

There has been quite a bit written about Saltus Grammar School lately. There has been much more said and rumours spread in private discussions between parents, students and many other parties interested in the health of the school. Naturally, change is necessary sometimes and it is quite probable that changes are needed at Saltus too. Perhaps some of the changes that are coming to Saltus are good ones, but the way the new headmaster has handled these changes is nothing short of a PR disaster.

If the new headmaster is openminded and just as willing to learn as most of the studends of Saltus Grammar School, he would probably find it very useful to attend some basic classes in Management, Communication and Leadership.

You simply do not make fundamental changes at a well functioning learning institution without first informing parents, students and teachers. You don't make such changes without letting the interested parties know about them and have their say and you certainly don't introduce such changes mid-year!

It is possible that the new headmaster's intentions are good, but he has clearly dropped the ball on his very first attempt and has not shown himself as an experienced leader. It does not bode well for the rest of his tenure at Saltus. However, as a newcomer we should wish him well when it comes to his second try. Let's hope that he is better prepared then. Perhaps after taking a few informative courses in Management Communication and Leadership. Bermuda College is said to teach several of these courses and apparently, under certain circumstances, the education there is free!

A CONCERNED PARENT

Pembroke

Premier's courageous stand

January 13, 2010

Dear Sir,

I was more than a little disappointed in the comments made by the Premier's consultant, Rolfe Commissiong (Royal Gazette, January 12), expressing his view that MP Dale Butler's possible bid for the Premiership might fail because he supports the legislation banning discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, and that would go against the religious beliefs of members of the PLP.

It was a disappointment because Mr. Commissiong completely ignored the historical fact that Premier Brown, to his great credit, played a key role, along with a number of his PLP colleagues, when he voted in favour of the so-called Stubbs Bill in 1994. The Stubbs Bill, in effect, abolished homosexuality as a criminal offence in Bermuda.

The issue was decided on a "free" vote, that is, each member of the House could vote based on his, or her own conscience. It is noteworthy that every member of the PLP who has held the position of PLP leader from that day to this had the courage to vote in favour of the Stubbs Bill. That included Dame Lois Browne-Evans, Dame Jennifer Smith, the Hon L. Frederick Wade, the Hon Alex Scott, and our present Premier, Dr. The Hon. Ewart Brown.

For those who may not remember, Dame Lois (one of our greatest ever leaders and a champion of civil rights for all) made an impassioned speech in the House supporting the Stubbs Bill. Far from being passed solely by the UBP Government, as is often quoted on the talk shows, it was strongly supported by all of the major politicians at the heart of the PLP.

I hear people constantly complaining about our Premier, but I greatly admired him in 1994 for his courageous stand, and I have every faith that he will continue to lead by example in the march towards equal rights for all.

Far from straying from the PLP's core values, Mr. Butler is following the core values laid down by every leader of the Progressive Labour Party. He is championing human rights for all. For that he deserves a great deal of credit.

TRUTH SEEKER

Smith's

Wrong prescription

January 14, 2010

Dear Sir,

David Saul's suggestion of raising taxes during a recession seems to be at odds with the recommendations of economists worldwide. It could, however, help in the long term to reduce traffic.

JULIAN GRIFFITHS

City of Hamilton

Three who must go

January 14, 2010

Dear Sir,

Bermuda ... It's very, very simple. Nothing – absolutely nothing – will change for the good of Bermuda until we (I emphasise we in black and white) get rid of three people:

The Premier

The Minister of Tourism

The Minister of Transportation.

YELLOH SHURT

Paget