Letters to the Editor, June 7, 2007
Explain it to us
May 22, 2007
Dear Sir,
The Government enacted the seat belt law to protect motorists from drivers using mobile phones. Last year the Parliamentary Registry produced advertisements with a sticker covering the mouth of various individuals proclaiming ‘your opinion doesn’t count if you’re not registered to vote’. With the present Government, there should be follow up advertisements that states ‘once you vote your opinion doesn’t count’.
Southampton
Is something missing?
May 18, 2007
Dear Sir,
I’m thinking something is missing, I just read headlines on the front page of the Mid Ocean News, May 18, 2007, Tourism backing of US high school golf fundraiser raises questions. Of course it a joke, right? I know the Minister of Tourism/Premier of Bermuda did not give away $25,000.00 of the Bermudian taxpayer money to sponsor a fundraising event for an elite private prep school in the USA. Okay, I keep hearing how the daily and MON is always reporting untruths about the PLP and its leader so I’m inclined to believe that this is another untruth. On another note, First Lady Wanda Brown must be elated to have Laverne Furbert who openly and boldly fortifies all of the present Premier’s actions.
Warwick
A powerful impact
May 24, 2007
Dear Sir,
I was one of approximately 80 people, who spent an afternoon in Tuckers Town, being shown around by members of the Tuckers Town Historical Society, consisting of the Chairman Keith Dubois, Denny Richardson Vice Chairman, Eugene Stovell (historical researcher) and Leoni Junos (narrator).
I am unsure if I can express how the experience had such a powerful impact on myself and others present. Being able to talk to the direct descendants of the original Tuckers Town community, recounting their oral histories and listening to their memories of what used to exist in that idyllic spot, brought home to me and every other person present the great evil of racism that was visited upon this thriving, spiritual community of black men, women and children, who are known to have lived and farmed that area as free men from the early 1800s.
I had not realised that Tuckers Town didn’t just begin down by the entrance to the Mid Ocean Club, but in fact consisted of where the Pink Beach Club currently stands, all the way across to Harrington Sound and Eastwards. That in 1920 a community of 400 black Bermudians, who owned hundreds of acres of land, and who had proudly built their homes, a school house, and Methodist church, were dispossessed of their property and forcible driven off the land so that it could be developed as the “Palm Beach” of Bermuda. The white community of the time described Tuckers Town as a backwater, primitive, illiterate and inbred, and the land of no great value. The true picture was that it was a thriving hamlet, beautifully maintained with orange trees and gardens, the people industrious, friendly and intelligent, all this as described in a letter to the editor written in 1849, which was read out to the people gathered.
There will be those who argue that they were ‘paid’ fair market value for their land and/or given property elsewhere but the reality is that the value of the property was mediated by the very people who were seeking to develop the area. There is also an argument that many took the money and left willingly, but in the Bermuda of the 1920s intimidation was all too common, and many just simply packed up and left. Those that petitioned the government found all too soon that they were ignored over-ruled and their land expropriated. They had no choice but to go. As we visited the tiny remnants of the old Methodist churchyard, located in the midst of the Tucker’s Point driving range, and viewed the few remaining grave sites which had not been buried under the surrounding greens, it was terribly poignant to realise that this historic grave site contained the remains of a group of early, hard working free Bermudians, who had worked the land they loved, and dreamed about their future. Their history now consisting of a mere plaque stating it was the site of the old Methodist Church’s grave site. Nothing about the people, their history, their lives, their loss.
I do not know how this evil can ever be put right, but I do know that we have a responsibility to acknowledge the true history of Tuckers Town; honour the incredible story of these early black Bermudians; ensure their burial place is cared for; and their true history displayed at the site. We can no longer forget what happened in this sacred place, and must ensure that their accomplishments become a living part of every Bermudian child’s education.
A member of Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda
curb[AT]northrock.bm
Questions for educators
May 20, 2007
Dear Sir,
“The education of African people is an urgent necessity. It is a matter of life and death. We cannot abide another generation of children who have no identity and who are ignorant about Africa. Trusting our own cultural heritage, ancient and modern, we are in the best position to solve our own problems. Self acceptance and self-determination is the only possibility for our development and enhancement.” — Asa G. Hilliard, III, Ed.D.
In response to the article entitled, “Teachers Union calls Hopkins Report shallow”, wouldn’t it be more beneficial to this country if the BUT recognised their responsibility to accept the seriousness of the indictment of the education review that states that the system is failing our children and take a pro-active stance to counteract the shallowness of the report with depth and forge ahead to turn the public school system into a world class education system? Shouldn’t the question be, “What can we do to rectify this deplorable situation in our country?” When children don’t learn, systems are deficient. We have lost generations of children due to a failing school system and the blood of Bermuda’s children is required at our hands.
We have not only failed Bermuda’s children but we have failed this country in terms of providing quality education for Bermuda’s children. I knew that the public school system was failing my children more than 20 years ago. That’s why I removed them from the system and taught them myself. As recently as 2004, I taught my grandchildren, a niece and several other children because their parents asked me to teach them. They knew that the system was failing their children. Lest there be a mass exodus from the public school system opting for the private school system, let me caution you before you do this. In my opinion, there are some very serious psychological challenges that children of African descent face in such a setting. I have written an article entitled, “Are the Private Schools Failing Our Children Too?” Feel free to e-mail me at mwadesmith[AT]blessed.bm and I will provide you with a copy. Due to the seriousness of the indictment of a failing school system, it behoves us to focus on the things with which we agree and forge ahead and provide quality education for our children. I have not read the report in its entirety. Several questions have arisen in my mind as a result of what I have read in the newspapers. They are:
How do we dismantle a system whose foundation is racist and is designed for the pacification, inferiorisation and functioning in a capacity of servitude for children of African descent? How do we purposefully transform teachers who have been mis-educated through a Eurocentric teacher education perspective and re-educate them through an Afrocentric education perspective? Have we addressed the African methods of education which emphasise tutorial, apprenticeship and social learning?
When will we produce an “identity curriculum” where children of African descent will be the subject of the curriculum and not the object of the curriculum as in a Eurocentric curriculum? How do we stimulate, motivate and challenge our students to make education a priority and to strive for academic excellence in this affluent society?
How do we stimulate, motivate, encourage and educate parents to be actively involved in the meaningful, effective educational process of their children? Are the 4-Root Elements that undergird Classroom Management Decisions, especially for children of African descent, addressed in the report? These elements include :
Emotional Literacy
Cultural Differences and Strengths
Unconscious Oppressive Assumptions and Behaviour
“Caught” and “Taught” Familial/Social Behaviour and Communication Habits.
In the best interest of this country and Bermuda’s children, everybody should work together to change Bermuda’s failing system of education. Let Bermuda be the success story and model for the world. Let’s make it a vibrant, productive and successful system. I close with a quote from “SBA: The Re-awakening of the African Mind,” in which Dr. Wade Nobles states, “True education occurs when there is that ‘divine dance’ between the teacher and the student. True education is caught in that instant that becomes a moment, the turns into a path of perfection. It is when the teacher ‘touches the spirit’ of the student and opens up the passion for knowledge and inspires the student to love learning.” For Quality Education for Bermuda’s Children,
International Education Advisor
Rob Peter to pay Paul
May 22, 2007
Dear Sir,
I am appalled at the statistics recently reported in your paper over the gross overspending done at my and every tax payer’s expense by minister’s travel expenses. Then the Premier had the unmitigated gall to stand up in today’s paper and say, “All that is required out of the workforce is a nominal surcharge. It would barely be noticeable.” For those who missed the article it was the article on easing the financial burden of seniors. Now, I agree that not having major medical is a major problem, however, “a nominal surcharge would barely be noticeable?” BS. Just before I went on my cruise, I wrote you a letter regarding the closing of the indigent clinic. In this letter I said that all though the government wouldn’t be footing this bill any longer, it would be those who are insured footing this bill? “A nominal surcharge”? My nominal surcharge from my doctor’s office for my well woman’s check in 2005 was $125 insurance only covered $43, I paid the rest. This year? The total charge was $170, my insurance company would only pay $102, I had to pay $68 if that is the “nominal surcharge” in preparation of the closure of the indigent clinic out of my pocket, I hate to see what the nominal surcharge will be coming out of my pay cheque to finance this “nominal surcharge”.
How to solve the problem because dropping major medical for anyone who hits 65 is a major problem. Hmm, cancel all government travel, put the remaining amount of money into an account as a down payment for starting a major medical plan for those turning 65 and older this year. Now we have to have more money then is currently allocated for travel, so lets see, the government has paid $10 million to this sports club, and $11 million to that sports club and $1 million to that cricket club, now I believe our seniors are more important then any of the sports clubs who have won this money from government, so that means that the additional funding money for this new medical plan for any over 65 years of age should receive additional funding to the tune of exactly what these sports clubs got that mean minimum that should be spent this year on Seniors should be $22 million. That would also mean that it would be enough to cover all Seniors and no more of my money would have to go to fund this serious issue. If invested correctly anyone who turns 65 in perpetuity could use this plan and not another penny would have to come out of my pocket.
But, oh, boy Mr. Editor that would mean that the government would have to be fiscally responsible and with the missing $580 million missing, well, guess fiscal responsibility is beyond those currently in power. Sigh, I guess I will have to continue to rob Peter to pay Paul as the government continues it’s lavish travels, while taxing me to fund a much needed item for the Seniors and to all over 65 I don’t begrudge, I will have to eat less or not go to the doctor myself as I have school expenses starting this year to the tune of $15,000. Sigh, I really can’t afford that “nominal surcharge” thanks very much.
AP
St. David’s
