May 20, 2014

Dear Sir,

F. John Barritt was undoubtedly a good man. There is something both sad and depressing when one reads the appeal which he made to the UBP Government in 1968 (RG May 15). He certainly did not see “old fashioned Bermuda unity” as apparently does your columnist (RG May 19). He saw the centuries-old and continuing racial divide and the “indifference or unconcern” of those who held power, despite the changes that had taken place. That was almost 50 years ago and despite any changes which may have taken place we are as deeply divided as we were then.

He recognised that Bermuda had not ”resolved its racial problems”, represented by the deep racial divide that was centuries old and continuing because it was instituted and maintained by the government’s policy and practice of exploitation and economic exclusion of the black community, that is, unabashed “white affirmative action” policies.

The only thing that could make the slightest dent in our deep racial divide, or even begin to offer “an equal chance regardless of racial creed or colour” would be an equally determined government policy of “black affirmative action” policies. Rhetoric and the positive actions of a few well intentioned whites, and there have always been one or two, cannot do it. The stance of the majority white community was seen by the strenuous objection to the rather feeble workforce equity bill, even if, at one time, they seemed to some to offer “a promissory note”.

No government, UBP, PLP, or OBA, has had either the desire or the courage to make any serious effort to address that racial divide despite the appeal of someone like the Honourable F. John Barritt.

EVA N HODGSON