I ALWAYS enjoy John Barritt's although given what is occurring in Bermuda's Parliament these days he should consider retitling his column . In my judgment, Barritt should be leading the United Bermuda Party. He has the political street smarts, strength of character and, perhaps most importantly, the common touch that is necessary to lead the UBP out of the political wilderness.

Dr. Grant Gibbons may be hard-working, dedicated and cerebral but he is uncharismatic and unlikely to attract the swing votes so desperately needed to win the next election. Like his uncle Sir David Gibbons, he has proved himself to be a most able Finance Minister and, unlike his uncle, he is a most personable and approachable individual.

But the Gibbons image is not very useful in the political arena. It is all too easy for the UBP's detractors to claim the party is based on the concept of Government by the Gibbonses, for the Gibbonses and of the Gibbonses.

In fact, this is precisely the approach the Progressive Labour Party took in the final days of the last General Election ? the "Don't Go Back to the Plantation" hysteria should have been interpreted to read: "Don't go back to the Gibbons family and, by extension, the 40 Thieves."

Never mind that this argument doesn't carry any real merit in modern Bermuda where the international sector has long since supplanted the old Front Street establishment as the chief economic power brokers. It was an appeal that still evidently carried a lot of emotional clout among voters.

While my pen is out and I am talking about outdated concepts, permit me to comment on two former Senators who clutter up the pages of newspapers with their tired, stale and not infrequently abrasive rhetoric.

Col. David Burch has clearly learned nothing from his brief sojourn in politics. He reeks of arrogance, bitterness and condescension. Those unfortunate characteristics continue to make him unelectable and contributed in no small measure to the downfall of Jennifer Smith as Premier.

His incendiary comments on Independence probably caused support for this ill-considered initiative to plunge even further. Maybe the anti-Independence lobby should encourage Col. Burch to speak out on the issue more frequently ? his frightening and truly disturbing rhetoric would soon make support for sovereignty virtually non-existent.

Then there is Calvin Smith, who is always suggesting that the reason Bermudians are against Independence is because "they don't trust black people to run the place". This is arrant nonsense. Bermudian blacks have been participating in the political process of this island ? running the place ? for decades.

Is he suffering from premature senility? Has he forgotten about Sir Edward Richards, Clarence James, Jim Woolridge, the late Stan Ratteray, Gloria McPhee, Sir James Astwood, Arnott and Albert Jackson, Cecil Dismont, Hugh Richardson and the many, many other black Bermudians who contributed so much to creating the "New" Bermuda that started coming into existence in the mid-1960s?

No one was afraid of "them" running the place.

Mr. Smith's problem is not with white people but Bermudians of both races who don't share his flawed ideas. The Premier is always talking about "building bridges" in the community but, in fact, he and his supporters like Mr. Smith are political dinosaurs who are most adept at building draw bridges ? draw bridges they immediately raise, further dividing and fragmenting this small island.

I would also like to congratulate Raymond Russell for his courage in his ongoing efforts to expose how the Bermuda Industrial Union is run. This has been going on for years. Both the UBP and the PLP have never had the fortitude to investigate the BIU or insist it abides by the rules that apply to every other individual and institution in Bermuda.

That is sad because it is the workers, mostly black, who ultimately suffer from the ineptitude of that organisation's leaders. Incidentally, wasn't Calvin Smith at one time in office at the BIU? Did he ever utilise his expertise in an attempt to clear up this ongoing financial mess?

AST year The Flyers Track Club joined forces with the Keep Bermuda Beautiful organisation and cleaned up a two-mile stretch with the KBB of the Railway Trail in Warwick. It was a resounding success and achieved significant publicity in the local media.

Parents, grandparents, young athletes and their coaches spent a Sunday afternoon giving back to Bermuda and helping our island. Letters came in from a wide cross-section of Bermuda supporting these children for choosing an event where effort and work will contribute to our island in a positive way. Funds raised in 2004 helped send over 20 young athletes last July to Baltimore to represent The Flyers and Bermuda in international competition.

As a club, we recognise the support we received from the community and are, in 2005, expanding our efforts. This year, on Sunday, February 27, The Flyers will double the number of participants by bringing along their friends and extended family members to participate.

At 2 p.m. on February 27, we will meet at the Warwick Post Office and fan out in six separate teams to areas designated by the KBB to clean up. These areas will include Warwick Pond, Middle Road, PHC area, The Railway Trail and Khyber Pass.

These children are working to make Bermuda a better place and we are asking for your support. Funds raised this year will help send these young athletes to Atlanta in early July to participate in the Dekalb County International Track Meet.

Please help us and support the efforts of these young Bermudians. They truly are working to make Bermuda a better place for us.

Please send your donations to:

The Flyers Track Club

Suite 101

48 Par-la-Ville Road

Hamilton HM 11

We appreciate your support.