August 21, 2002

Dear Sir,

I would very much like to see the Progressive Labour Party win the next election. For that very reason I was more than a little concerned when I read that a spokesperson for the PLP hierarchy said that the branches did not know the reason for the disillusionment among many PLP voters. I could understand if they disagreed, but if they do not even know what the reasons are, they cannot know if they agree or disagree!

If the PLP is to win the next election surely the branches need to know what the voters think. Is it because they do not care, or are they deliberately uninformed? A PLP victory will need many more votes than those provided by the branches. Many people are so contemptuous of those who are so cowardly that they lack the courage and integrity to sign their names to their letters to the Editor that they would never acknowledge them.

However, in The Royal Gazette of August 19, 2002, there is a letter by "Observer" which all of the branches should read, as well as anyone who does not know the reason for the disillusionment of PLP voters with the Premier.

"Observer" implies that she/he is an ardent supporter of the Premier because she/he perceives that they have the same political values and are in political agreement. She/he commends the Premier for a "booming" economy. But, of course, if a "booming" economy was our only concern we did not need to change the Government because the economy was "booming" to the same extent under the UBP.

However, many PLP voters were concerned about social issues which the UBP ignored. According to Mr. Ottiwell Simmons our economy is okay and so is our political system, we do not have bloodshed, at election time, no military overthrows of the Government. All of our real problems are social problems, which impact disproportionately on the black working class.

"Observer" is very snide about, and indifferent towards, a number of social issues and very contemptuous of anyone who addresses any of those issues. She/he is snide about expatriates who replace Bermudians in the workplace and add pressure to our environmental issues.

Many PLP voters, however, are very concerned about this issue and gave very emotional expression to that concern at the meeting on long term residents. "Observer" is very snide about the need for an understanding of why we are where we are, while many PLP voters have repeatedly expressed frustration that our educational system has been so remiss when it comes to educating Bermudians about our complete history.

"Observer" was snide about the problem of housing for Bermudians and very contemptuous of those who have attempted to address that problem from the perspective of personal responsibility. She/he was very snide about our race relations while many PLP voters are very frustrated, and sometimes angry, about the continuing disparity between the two communities. "Observer" is particularly snide about the call for moral and ethical standards, while, at least, some PLP.

Voters are very concerned when they read about the promiscuity in our society, when they read about the family breakdown, the spread and consequences of AIDS, the violence and general lack of respect for other human beings. All of which impact specifically in the black community and consequently on the entire society.

"Observer" perceives the Premier to be as indifferent towards these issues and as contemptuous towards those who are concerned about them as is she/he. "Observer" may be completely wrong. But many PLP voters have exactly the same perception! While it makes "Observer" an ardent supporter of the Premier it has a different effect on PLP voters and they are disillusioned with the Premier.

They know that the point of view exists. But they are stunned that they have had to perceived it to be true of their Premier, the Premier of the Progressive Labour Party, a Party which professed to represent the interests of the working class, the interests of those who had been excluded from the benefits of the society. The Progressive Labour Party as going to address the social issues which had always impacted so disproportionately on the working class.

Now the Branches can know some of the reasons for the disillusionment. They, the Branches, may see the disillusioned as "politically immature", but the disillusioned see the hierarchy as "politically immature" because, beginning in 1998, many of the hierarchy behaved as if many PLP supporters and workers no longer had value and would never again be needed. The problem usually begins at the top.

EVA N. HODGSON

Bailey's Bay

Bromeliad brouhaha

August 23, 2002

Dear Sir,

I read with interest the front page story on bromeliad plants on Thursday, August 22, 2002. Having had an interest in these plants for the past couple of years, I can't help but notice how the lizards are constantly climbing on the tops of these plants. Wherever bromeliads are, there are either lizards on top of them or in very close proximity. Just as the guppie and turtle tackle any mosquito coming to the pond, the lizard by day and the frog (by night) help to keep to a minimum any mosquitos trying to enter or exit any bromeliad plants. Nature takes care of her own.

I tap the bromeliads regularly and don't see mosquitoes coming out. Before the Government troubles Mr. Carpenter about his bromeliads, they should first destroy the many bromeliads at the Cabinet Building (which are in full bloom at the moment), The Aquarium, and also at the Botanical Gardens.

D.D. BENTO

Devonshire

Government's role

August 21, 2002

Dear Sir,

The Salvation Army Emergency shelter, houses people from various walks of life, with specific needs. The question I ask is who is responsible for meeting these needs? Is it the Government of the day, or the governing body that makes up the running of the Salvation Army Shelter?

Citizens of any country have a responsibility to participate and contribute to the productivity of that country, but the Government has a role to play as well in the lives of these citizens, to help those without motivation and or low self-esteem to enhance them to reach potential goals.

There are several factors which contribute to low self-esteem - drugs, alcohol, but from where I sit, alienation from society or the so-called mainstream have people feeling inferior in their country, thus creating existing violent physical and verbal behaviour, because some may feel that they are treated in a demeaning manner because of certain comments made by workers in environments of this nature.

This creates a question. Why do people work? Why do people work in environments of this nature? People work to make money, for identity, to feel good about themselves, to be useful and to interact with others. If people are not working they cannot contribute monetarily or otherwise to the society even if they wanted to. In the final analysis, they only become an existing being from hour to hour, day to day, month to month, year to year until they exist no more.

People say it is not their problem, but whose problem is it? The high cost of renting an apartment is outrageous and the low-cost housing promised by the existing Government has yet to be introduced. I trust that the existing Government will introduce some of these issues in its platform when election time rolls around.

CYNTHIA WOODS

Devonshire

Wrong move, Minister

August 21, 2002

Dear Sir,

Surely with our markedly overcrowded roads, our Minister of Transport's larger vehicle pronouncement gives us cause for worry? Gives us cause to wonder how his larger replacements won't add too and escalate our already' too high' accident rate!... For in addition to the 'crowding' which will ensue, surely bigger vehicles mean larger engines and more pollution for our increasingly befouled planet?

No Minister, in place of worry - you will bring cheer to us all and get my vote if your sights become focused on making our twenty one mile long Bermuda the first island nation in the world to replace odious gasoline and diesel with silent non polluting electric vehicles!

WILLIAM SCOTT

Smith Parish