FROM time to time I have posed the question, "What is it that I, as a black Bermudian, have in common with my fellow white Bermudians?" The recent criticisms of the former Corporation of Hamilton Councilor Graeme Outerbridge concerning the scale and setting of the 15-foot Sarah (Sally) Bassett statue planned for the Cabinet Building grounds has led me to believe that we are far away from arriving at an answer to that question. In fact it is clear that the dual interpretations of Bermuda's history based on race continue to suggest there is no basis for any supposed commonalities between black and white Bermudians.

Mr. Outerbridge states that he hopes "the historical value of the Cabinet Office will be taken in full consideration before Planning permission is granted" for the statue.

I can state that I am in partial agreement with Mr. Outerbridge when he voiced his opposition to the erection of a Sarah (Sally) Bassett statue on the grounds of Cabinet Office. However, not for the same reasons.

The site where a Sally Bassett statue should be erected is on the sacred ground where she endured martyrdom for Bermuda's freedom. That is at the Foot Of The Lane, at the entrance of the City of Hamilton at Crow Lane. The Minister of Cultural Affairs, Dale Butler has given his explanation as to why this historical site was not chosen. But I have another opinion on that decision, one which I will elaborate on more fully later.

Let us examine why Sally Bassett is a genuine Bermuda national heroine, who gave up her life for the cause of Bermudian freedom in this case for the cause of the struggle against slavery in these isles.

I first heard of Sarah (Sally) Bassett from the lips of my dear departed grandmother who explained the meaning behind the Bermudian idiom, "Having a Sally Bassett Day". Next I sat at the feet of Mr. Mark Albouy, a St. Georgian and griot in the true tradition of his African ancestors,who told and retold the history of their villages and tribes to succeeding generations thus perpetuating and preserving that history. Those of you who had the privilege of hearing the late Mark Albouy relate the history of not only Bermuda but the world know whereof I speak.

One of the biggest myths about slavery in Bermuda is that it was benign and the slaves themselves accepted their lot. But the truth would suggest otherwise. There were many slave plots and attempted revolts here. And one of the most fearsome conspiracies faced by the white slave owners was the slave poisoning plot - a plot which Sally Bassett was accused of leading.

Some white historians, in an attempt to preserve this false view of the supposedly benign nature of Bermudian slavery, have suggested that Sally Basset met her fate of being burned at the stake at the Foot Of The Lane because she was believed to be a witch and not because she was the head of a revolt against slavery on these Isles, a woman whose intent was to eliminate Bermuda's white slave owning class by poisoning them.

As a mark of courage, Sally Bassett, as she was being led to her fate, was reputed to have said to the surrounding crowd who gathered to witness this grisly spectacle: "No need to rush, the fun will not begin until I reach there."

Now, to return to my reasons for placing a statue of Sally Bassett at the Foot Of The Lane, I would suggest the Minister balked at the idea of placing a memorial to this martyr to freedom in its rightful place because the area is now so prominently identified with Johnny Barnes and his one-man crusade of delivering morning greetings to the motorists who drive past on their way into the city.

A statue of Sally Bassett would certainly conflict with and largely contradict the feel-good message of Johnny Barnes. Nevertheless, I feel strongly that any statue of Sally Bassett should be erected on that sacred ground where she was executed on June 6, 1730.

One day, hopefully in the very distant future, Johnny Barnes will no longer be standing at the spot where he currently stands to greet commuters. And when that day finally comes I would suspect those who commissioned the statue of Johnny Barnes will attempt to place it on the traffic island where the living Johnny Barnes now stands.

I can understand their reasoning. But I would consider any such move to be highly inappropriate given the historic importance of the role Sally Bassett played in the resistance to slavery in Bermuda.

Frankly, I have no argument with Mr. Barnes and his self-appointed role as goodwill ambassador to Hamilton's workers. But I have always held the belief that those who commissioned the Johnny Barnes statue which stands near the entrance to Fidelity International were, perhaps unintentionally, playing to the stereotype of black people and, particularly, of black man in this country that is, portraying black men as being peaceful folks unlikely to disrupt society even if there was a just cause to do so.

As to Mr. Graeme Outerbridge's objection to the scale and height of the Sally Bassett monument? Sorry, Mr. Outerbridge, but this is what countries do when they want to honour outsized historical events and individuals. They create larger than life monuments. You only need to go to the American capitol of Washington, DC to witness that.

When I went to Africa I saw a larger than life monuments raised to honour important events and individuals in their history. While in the West African nation of Ghana I walked in a memorial garden spread over an acre or two and I stood beneath an imposing statue of Kwame Nkruma, the first Prime Minister of an Independent Ghana (the first black African nation to receive its Independence from Britain in 1957).

I saw a similar monument raised to memorialise women protesters who had marched on a French colonial governor who had imprisoned all the males in their community in the Ivory Coast during the days of colonial rule.

The French governor was obliged to release his prisoners and the women's monument today stands on the road appropriately renamed Pont De La Victoire, which leads towards the former French governor's residence in an Independent Ivory Coast (Cote 'd' Ivorire).

A monument raised to honour Sarah (Sally) Bassett would provide a symbol of hope to the descendants of all former captives - my ancestors who were held in slavery on these Isles. Its installation is long overdue.