greatness, says former United Bermuda Party MP Mrs. Gloria Darrell McPhee.

Here the former Education Minister looks at what is wrong with it -- and how it is causing problems in the schools system.

A Government's main responsibilities are: 1. To establish and maintain law and order; 2. To protect the rights of the individual and those of the Community, and to adjudicate fairly when these are in conflict; 3. To provide a level of education suitable to the needs of the Community; 4. To provide opportunities of a livelihood for its citizenry; and 5. To protect the health of its citizens.

Unfortunately the present Government has fallen short on taking care of its prime responsibilities. However Government is not totally to be blamed. It is the victim of a most unfair political system. It is known that two systems shape a country and lead it to greatness or strip it of its potential for greatness: Its political system and its educational system.

Bermuda's Political System was inherited lock, stock and barrel from England.

Thus it was also in the British Islands to the south of us. In the 1960s Bermuda moved up the rank to the Westminster system of Parliamentary politics.

This system would continue with "Independence'' when Bermuda and its people will have stepped away from the internal and the external protection of the Mother Country; just as it continued in Jamaica, Trinidad, Antigua, Bahamas and the other independent Caribbean islands.

The following comments refer to the Westminster system: "Great Britain (substitute Bermuda) is governed by a party whose leaders possess dictatorial powers, which are subject only to the limitation that if that Parliamentary majority is lost, they must give way to those who have successfully opposed them.'' "Great Britain (substitute Bermuda) illustrates the dictatorial powers of a Cabinet in extreme form for, unlike the United States, it possesses no effective second chamber.'' "Parliament no longer governs. It criticises and sometimes checks government.'' "Virtually the whole of Parliamentary time available for legislation is now monopolised by the Government. Bills promoted by private members which eventually reach the statute books have the scarcity value of freaks.'' And a final comment of the Westminster System: "The tendency of the party system to become an increasingly powerful and rigid mechanism must be regarded with anxiety.'' All of the above comments are from a 1962 publication. Thirty years later when democracy is used in the same context as the Westminster system it should be regarded with fear and trepidation. "Democracy for all (of Germany)'', was Hitler's rallying cry and look what happened to millions of Jews, thousands of Christians and others.

To look closer at the Westminster system: All of the ministers have collective responsibility for all actions taken by any one minister. Should the incinerator fail to be what has been promised, and I am sure it will be successful, all ministers must accept the blame. If its operation is flawless, all ministers are to be congratulated, as the Government is a collective body.

Every MP in the ruling party must vote in favour of a Government Bill before the House. The Opposition MPs must vote according to the decision of their leader. Each side has a "whip'' constantly reminding members of their responsibility. Mrs. Ann Cartwright DeCouto MP is to be admired for her dedication to Bermuda. She has demonstrated that she is a person of strength and of principle. What can one say about those who denounce the call for "Independence now'', and at the same time help to hurry it recklessly on its way by voting for the machinery to put it in place? The Premier/Prime Minister is elected by the MPs of the ruling party only. In October last, the Premier was elected by 22 MPs. He decides all policies with the Cabinet that he alone chooses, and with that Cabinet rules over the full population of 65,000 people. He has complete domination over the country until the next election; at which time he may be reelected or replaced by the Opposition's chosen leader, who then would have his or her turn of complete domination.

Another example of power of the Prime Minister: Should the Prime Minister desire to call an election but fears that the existing boundaries could endanger his hoped-for victory, he can gerrymander the boundaries to rule out undesired voters or add needed voters. It was used in the Bahamas with success, until "the Great Fall''.

Let us look at an extreme situation that can arise. Should, after Independence, the Prime Minister and his chosen Cabinet decide to confiscate privately-owned islands in the Great Sound and sell these off, they can do so.

Who is there to stop them? Fortunately for the owners of these islands, our leaders would not even contemplate such an act.

In the Westminster System an Opposition performs only two services in the Parliament: 1. To highlight any wastage of the taxpayers' money; and 2. To complain about bad government. They take action on matters only when they become the ruling party. Unless we demand and get a change in the Westminster System before Independence, the Prime Minister and his hand-picked Cabinet will have absolute power. It was Lord Action who said "absolute power corrupts absolutely''.

Our Westminster System comes in from England. However, there is an additional ingredient which adds to its unsuitability as a parliamentary system for Bermuda. It has been created along racial lines. We have a white party and a black party; one fighting to hold on to power one way or another; the other, the black party, fighting for its turn to do the similar thing. Bermuda has been and always will be a bi-racial community. Most of our roots, both black and white are planted deep. Our Island was built by black and white working side by side. In both races there are thousands who have, and rightfully so, a sense of loyalty and dedication to Bermuda and pride in the accomplishments of black and white. There are many close ties between the races. Hundreds share the same direct lineage, established willingly by both parties concerned -- even since Emancipation! In the last 100-odd years there have been new Bermudians with roots elsewhere, both black and white. Most of these, both black and white, have contributed to the growth of Bermuda and have an allegiance to our little Island. We sometimes forget that they are due the same rights as Bermudians whose families have been here for centuries, both black and white. No one race, either black or white, is due any more rights than the other.

It is long past the time when Bermudians recognise the dangers inherent in the Westminster System. Bermuda is in so much deep trouble! For example: Hundreds of untrained foreigners brought in to work in the place of qualified Bermudian housekeepers and caregivers. And what of the Bermudian children that they are having? Foreign hotel staff keep multiplying when crash courses could be given to Bermudians to satisfy the needs.

A recently-created welfare state using taxpayers' money to support those who have been laid off because foreigners have their jobs.

An inadequate Police Force that became so to save money -- to save money to build a five-star hotel cum prison, which we the taxpayers are financing through additional levies, taxes and duties.

Millions of dollars of taxpayers' money -- more taxation due! -- being used to give a "new look'' to our educational system. First, black Bermudians were victims of an English system that created a psychological dependency on the white race. As a result the lack of self-esteem and self-confidence is evident in old and young. In the early 1960s, with the blessing of black teachers, planeloads of young English teachers with their undisciplined dress and conduct influenced the behaviour of black teenagers. Now, Canada is recolonising our beautiful Island. An over-sized secondary school in which to pack most of the black children, particularly the lower income that cannot speak for itself. A Canadian-designed and built structure, in which our teenagers will spend most of their daylight hours. A curriculum basically designed by a Canadian. A Canadian administration and Canadian teachers who will prepare our teenagers for a future career in Bermuda -- no, not Canada; it has a high unemployment rate in every field of endeavour. And Canadians are not particularly noted for racial tolerance. All of this is happening with the blessing of black teachers! Our political system and our educational system are both stripping Bermuda of its potential for greatness. The political system -- the Westminster system -- gives absolute power which generates what is happening to our educational system, our law and order, our security, our individual and community rights, fairness in the workplace, and, last but not least, that democracy which is heralded as the provider of the myth of equal justice.

Yes, Independence will come! Any politician who tells you that Independence will bring racial harmony or betterment in race relations is to be equated with the unlearned "native'' from the hinterland who thought Independence was the name of a big car or a large parcel wrapped in pretty paper and a big bow.

It will be a sad day for Bermuda if Independence comes before the people of Bermuda -- black, white, young and old, and those in between -- join hands and get an equitable form of governing. Remove the shackles of the Westminster System! Your only chance is before Independence. The independent islands to the south, Jamaica, Antigua and the Bahamas, are a few of those whose ruination can be traced mainly to the inequity of the Westminster System: The poor became poorer and the rich richer. In those islands there is no race problem because there are only a few whites. Quite different in Bermuda! Black and white Bermudians alike will suffer. And most of us have nowhere to run.

Let us glory in the new South Africa. It does not have the Westminster System.