other blacks is a very disturbing development.

For some time now there have been deep concerns in Bermuda about the polarisation of the races and now we have a new element, polarisation within a race to suit some people's political agenda. It is being propagated by people who adhere to the Progressive Labour Party although it may not be the PLP's agenda. This behaviour could, of course, have been adapted from the way whites punished those whites who dared to go near the PLP.

Some of this action is a political ploy designed by PLP candidates to send the message to voters that successful blacks are ineffective unless they openly adhere to the PLP. In other words, blacks can have worked all their life, apparently in any field, tried their best, made the grade, often against tough barriers erected by white people, reached the top, and are now to be degraded, called tokens and called powerless, by other blacks just because they do not suit the PLP. That's a tough message for a great many hard working, successful and contributing black Bermudians to receive. It is a deeply disturbing message for all Bermuda because it degrades Bermuda's successes and the progress which has been made by Bermudians together. Bermuda is by no means perfect but it has come a long way and some of the long way it has come is evidenced by the fact that senior positions like Chief Justice and Commissioner of Police are occupied not only by Bermudians but by black Bermudians.

Whether or not one agrees with the politics or philosophies of the people who are being degraded should not matter, they have served Bermuda long and well.

They have worked hard. Most of them are self made and have had fewer opportunities and less free help than those doing the degrading. There has been a good deal of talk lately by the proponents of denigration about the need to respect blacks. We agree with that but we cannot find that they have any respect for other blacks if it does not suit their whim. We so often talk about role models, yet blacks are degrading the very blacks who are every day role models. Blacks beating up on blacks says to young people, don't waste your time and effort trying to succeed because when you get there someone with his own agenda will come along and tear you down.

We think some of the action stems from jealousy. There is a destructive philosophy which dictates that if you can't achieve success yourself, you can at the least drag others down. Some people have been given unlimited and unfettered opportunities to succeed in Bermuda, but still try to build themselves up by tearing down others.

It is interesting that most of those who have taken up this issue have been concerned about whether or not blacks in high places have power. For our part we have never doubted the power of the Premier or the Chief Justice or the Commissioner of Police but we do not think power should ever be sought after in a democratic society. A democracy should be concerned only with authority granted by the people and respect for that authority and not with power which corrupts.

Those who complained made it clear that they were concerned with power.