House and field slaves

July 25, 2005

Dear Sir,

When I last wrote to The Royal Gazette, it was intentionally written in a riddle, but on this occasion, I shall be succinct.

This government has the slave mentality by managing to separate the house slaves from the field slaves - the government being the house slaves and the majority of the Bermudian community being the field slaves.

Whether you are black or white, if your job or jobs (the latter being more the case in so many families) can barely, if at all, pay your bills and the debt collectors are knocking at your door (that is, if you are blessed to even have a door to knock on), you are a field slave. If your sons and daughters are being imprisoned without any assistance through first class rehabilitation or a plan for their futures, you and your children are field slaves. If you are working your hardest, but still have no roof to cover your head, you are definitely a field slave.

This government has no plan for the average citizen, be they young or old. There are many examples one can point out. For instance, our incarcerated should be made to work - be it to help construct affordable housing, maintaining our streets etc. They should be made to work in order to give back to the community. In so doing, our incarcerated are possibly given a skill that they can depend upon once they are freed and, more importantly, they are given a chance to help themselves and others at the same time, giving them a sense of purpose that will most definitely benefit our community. As the old adage goes - give a man a fish and he is fed for a day but teach him how to fish and he is then able to feed himself and his family for a lifetime.

This is a rich country, yet we do not, as yet, have a world-class sports stadium nor do we have a world-class Arts Centre. According to reports, our education system is definitely failing us and it is a basic necessity! Why can't we provide specialty, separate schools. Provide a school for talented sports orientated children, another school for arts orientated children, while offering academic subjects and yet another school for gifted academic children while offering some arts and sports subjects.

Our academic students' abilities should be nurtured and explored to the fullest and not hampered in any way as there should be an atmosphere where iron sharpens iron. I'm sure all of us are astutely aware that not everyone is academically inclined and it is so important to produce well rounded children. It is beyond me why Bermuda Technical, a career orientated school offering academic subjects, was discontinued.

How can one expect our youth to have the incentive to improve themselves in the talents that God has given them, if our government does not give them the proper facilities to make those dreams materialise, be it in sports, the arts or education. Although our cricket team was recently honoured, honouring our own only happens on rare occasions. Our youth do not, in many cases, see our champions being honoured and encouraged as they should be. Violence and drug usage are occurring on our streets because many of our families are being torn apart with both parents having to work two or three jobs, unable to spend valuable time with their families and only having the ability to provide the bare necessities … if that! Imagine the single parent's plight! I must reiterate that our government must provide affordable housing for all. They must provide proper education in our public system and a decent insurance system for the old. Our list of urgent needs can go on and on.

How can one feel a part when we do not have a Government that has enough interest in the people to provide and discover how they can truly assist their own. But noooo….. house slaves want no part of a plan for field slaves since that would mean sharing a piece of the pie with them. Besides house slaves are given a sense of empowerment over the field slaves when they see the field slaves are unable to help themselves even though, in most cases, the field slaves want to have the opportunities to help and better themselves through proper education etc. House slaves do not want field slaves to have a sense of vision… besides that might raise them to their level….. God forbid!

I expect repercussions for writing this letter, but first I must answer the door. I suspect there is another debt collector demanding payment of monies I just don't have. I also suspect, like many of you, I'm not willing to dance or 'sing' to the music of the piper. And, by the way, there are reasons why I personally have not been performing, but you will hear from me in concert as soon as I am financially able.

As far as our government is concerned (unfortunately, I foolishly voted for the PLP in the last two elections), if you are not in their circle of "I is got mine", you are definitely forced to slave in the fields without any utensils to properly plough them.

We all need a government for the people. We don't need rhetoric … but action. God help us all. Just sign me: Regretfully a former supporter of the PLP and a proud but sad, disillusioned Bermudian.

MARCELLE G. CLAMENS

Pembroke