What of internal security?

November 22, 2003

Dear Sir,

I was interested to find an extremely well written letter from London in the last Mid-Ocean News, written by Mr. Julian Hall. Mr. Hall is certainly right on the money in much (if not all) of his observations concerning the British and American involvement in Iraq, his comments concerning George W. Bush and the prediction of the possibility of the British Government using the mantle of world terrorism to possibly make demands on what happens on this Island with regards to the threat of that terrorism. It may be of value also, to consider any possible involvement by the British Government in the affairs of Bermuda in the light of changes which have taken place right here on The Rock.

Bermuda is still a British colony or British Dependent Territory (if I understand the terminology in my passport correctly). This must surely mean that they take responsibility for the external, or international security of the people of the Island. Presumably, the internal security on the Island then falls on the Government of the day in this case, the PLP Government. However, it may not be inaccurate to say that as a British Colony, the Island's internal security ultimately falls to the United Kingdom should it prove that the same is immediate danger.

I find myself wondering if it might not be at all possible that the they, through their representative the Governor, are not voicing some concern about what is actually going on in Bermuda with regards to what they may perceive as a general downgrading of the guarantee to the people of Bermuda of a safe place to live and work.

Since the inception of the current Government, we have seen a substantial, not to say disturbing increase in violent crime on the Island. We have what certainly appears to be a judicial and legal system which is in a state of either ineffectiveness (the kinder term) or total disarray (perhaps more to the point).

We have seen that system hand out what amounted to a slap on the wrist to machete-welding killers ? as in the case of the fatal attack on a man outside a nightclub on Reid street a while back. A "we think he's served enough time verdict" to a man who viciously stabs a young woman in the stomach in the back of a taxi. "No case to answer" on a few occasions where (apparently) attorneys are either our to lunch, or having a late lunch, which ever the case may be.

We have three men who take it upon themselves to beat and seriously injure an officer of the Prison system of the Island rendering him partially blind. We have a man who decides to stab an unsuspecting tourist in the back on the main street of the capital city of the Island.

We have what can only be termed lethal chaos on the roads of the Island where one young man felt it acceptable to round a corner, at night and in the oncoming lane and others ride or drive as if they too have a death wish. The list on whey its getting more and more unsafe to be in Bermuda is being added to on a weekly basis, or so it certainly appears.

So, I would imagine that yes, the British Government may be trying to express a tad of unease with the way things are being run (or more specifically not run) on the Island at the present time. Senator Scott may find himself a bit miffed at what he (and presumably the PLP in general) feel is those dastardly British trying to interfere in the running of "this nation".

However, the hard fact of the matter is that this is still a British colony and protectorate, and strange as it may seem to some members of the PLP, the British Government is duty bound to take an interest in the security and well being of its subjects, particularly in circumstances which appear to indicate that the elected Government of the day may be dropping the ball on that count.

As I said in opening, I can agree with most, if not all of Mr. Hall's comments concerning Bermuda. However, it appears the "Trouble for Bermuda" is going to come from within the Island, before Osama Bin Laden and company get around to taking an active interest in us, and our British/American connections.

In closing I can also wonder if there are more Bermudians like myself who feel it tragic that a good mind like Julian Hall's is not put to constructive use here on the Island, rather than in England. We could certainly use "a few good men" in Government at the present time.

Enough expat bashing

November 26, 2003

Dear Sir,

Recent letters printed in prompted me to write this letter and agree that "enough is enough"! Enough is enough, with this hostility towards a group of people (expats) who have agreed to come to this Island to do nothing more than the job they were hired to do!

We do not want to take over the Island; we certainly do not want to see rents increase (you can thank Bermudian landlords who charge the rent for that situation); we don't want to impact how you discipline your children/dogs/cats/chickens anything? just do the job we were hired to do and save some money like any other normal individual.

The fact is that if the Immigration Department is doing their job correctly, then an expat should not have a job that a qualified Bermudian would like to have (key words ? "would like to have").

If we are able to get a job here that would mean a qualified Bermudian did not apply. It is not our responsibility to make Bermudians take the initiative and apply for a job or take the necessary steps to get a job i.e. education. For everyone that complains that qualified Bermudians cannot get a job ? take it up with the Immigration Department or your local politician ? it is their job to govern that area.

Which leads to my next point ? to those Bermudians that have a hatred for a group of people to an extent I have never seen ? it is time to stop passing the buck! Accept responsibility for yourself and stop blaming expats who have absolutely no control over your problems. We help "keep the wheels turning" ? definitely ? but with all of the complaining around here you would never guess it.

If everyone is so unhappy ? fine ? kick us off and watch every company leave this Island and see what is left and how your standard of living is affected with no jobs. Judging from what I have read in these editorials I would guess you would only find something else to complain about and a way to blame your problems on the ex-pats who were kicked off your Island.

Unsettling thoughts

November 18, 2003

Dear Sir,

I am not a great believer in conspiracy theories but something just does not ring true concerning the recent changes to our Constitution. I think there is more to this story. Two seemingly unconnected events occurred during the PLP's first term in office. The first event was the decision of the PLP Government to step aside and allow the British Government to represent Bermuda in the negotiations with the US concerning the transfer of the military bases. I for one was surprised, even shocked, when I heard about this decision.

Who would ever dream that the anti-colonial PLP would ever allow their "colonial masters" to assume responsibility for a matter as important as the return of the bases? It was totally out of character.

The second event was the decision of the British Government to allow changes in our Constitution without meaningful consultation with the people of Bermuda. In the past Britain has been very careful not to take sides when it comes to constitutional issues in Bermuda.

Any whiff of controversy and the matter has been taken to a constitutional conference. But in this single case, the British Government seemed absolutely determined to avoid such due process. Despite substantial pressure from many Bermudians, the British Government held firm and was totally inflexible on this mater. They even went to court to defend their rights.

Their intent was clear; they wanted to move these constitutional changes ahead at the fastest possible speed by reducing consultation with the people of Bermuda to the absolute minimum that would be acceptable. At the time it seemed peculiar that the British Government would go so far out on a limb to defend the indefensible. Again it was totally out of character.

So here we have two events where two related protagonists have acted totally out of character. The question is why would they act in this unexpected manner and is there a connection between these two strange happenings? Could it be that Britain wished to avoid a protracted dispute with the US on the environmental clean-up of the bases and in the process avoid any responsibility for this $60 million clean-up?

And could it be that the PLP were so anxious to get single seat constituencies and bolster their chance at re-election that they were willing to bargain away their position at the US bases negotiating table? Could it be that we are now the proud possessors of $60 million dollar single seat constituencies?

What brought this matter to mind this week is the turnaround of the British Government as expressed by our new Deputy Governor, Mr. Nick Carter. In a surprising interview in the Bermuda Sun last weekend, Mr. Carter clearly indicates that the British Government now recognises that consultation and due process was not well served in the recent constitutional changes.

As he puts it: "We recognise that at that time we hadn't properly thought through the most appropriate way for consulting the people of Bermuda." Three cheers for Mr. Carter! It is gratifying to know that the British Government has suddenly come to its senses albeit a bit late. But there remains this sense of disquiet. Is it possible that our Constitution was changed without due process as a result of a bit of political horse trading? It's an unsettling thought.