May 18, 2012Dear Sir,I read with interest the letter by Anna Summers denouncing the PLP Government’s denial of the business owners’ vote in the election of the Mayor and the Corporation of Hamilton.I did not know that Mayor Gosling and his team had made representations to the PLP Government more than two years ago, proposing the extension of the franchise to all city residents on the Parliamentary Register, nor that no action was taken by the PLP to do this.Historically, when businesses began to move from the old town of St George’s to Hamilton because there was a better harbour, those who had the enterprise to buy property and create businesses and jobs in Hamilton thought that those who contributed to the growth of the town should have a say in how it should be run. Since early days, residents have multiplied and its fair that they should have a vote now.But it is not fair and very undemocratic that business owners today who pay most of the taxes have been deprived of their vote. For Mr Commissiong to comment that “the PLP needs to be commended for forging ahead and bringing democracy to the city” is disingenuous and false. Democracy means government by the people, that is, rule by the majority.But in the recent election of the Corporation of Hamilton, the people who pay most of the taxes did not even have a vote. That is taxation without representation and a classic example of the abuse of power.ELIZABETH KITSONPembroke