Race reaction

June 25, 2009

Dear Sir,

I have several very simple questions. Can you or your readers help?

Is Bermuda a racially integrated society or are we still a racially divided society? Why do some people become so furious when I point this out and give the historical reasons for this racial divide with all of its psychological and economic consequences in the hope that they will be acknowledged and addressed? Why? Can you suggest reason for this apparent anger when I address this social reality?

EVA N. HODGSON

Hamilton Parish

Sandys

We'll be judged by Brown

June 25, 2009

Dear Sir,

Dictator: A ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession. The last time that I checked, Bermuda was not a dictatorship.

It is true that we have a voice that represents us and that is meant to be the voice of the people as a whole. This voice is a voice that we depend on to lead us, it is a voice that we should be able to trust whenever we hear it. The person this voice belongs to is a person that should work selflessly and with the safety of the people in mind. With the recent events involving the four Chinese men who were detained at Guantanamo Bay, I am not so sure that the voice about whom we are supposed to feel so confidently about is one that could be heard. The person we so greatly depend on was not dependable.

Dr. Brown's independent decision to allow these men to be invited into our homeland was deceitful and had no support from anyone at the time but Sen. Burch. Dr. Brown failed to inform the Island, his own Government, and the United Kingdom about this possibility, thus raising many eyebrows as to why.

I am not going to make inferences or assume why Dr. Brown was so quick to allow these men to Bermuda.The point that he keeps trying to avoid, is the main point that the protestors and the people have been trying to make.

The protests were not against having these men in Bermuda nor were they about trying to get the men out of our country. The protests and the anger are directed towards the Premier's actions as a leader, as the voice.

The fact our leader felt he did not need to inform the public, let alone his fellow party members demonstrates that he has no concern for the people's opinion, that the selflessness that is an eternal asset and necessary quality for a leader was not present. I do not care about the Premier's possible ulterior motives, I do not care what the benefit was, because from where I stand, it seems as though this situation could only benefit one person, the decision maker.

People of many races watched and participated in the protests to do with this whole situation. The no confidence vote seemed to be a strong one from many people's perspective. I have never seen so many people be so passionate about something in Bermuda. It was incredible to see people from all over the Island coming together to voice their opinions, for it seemed that no longer could their voices be known through the Premier. Some tried to twist these protests as a racial protest again the Premier. If you truly believe that those protests were about race, go back to the videos and just listen. Listen carefully, look at the diversity, race was not mentioned. This is about the Premier's way of dealing with the situation, not his race. The man who is meant to be in communication with the people went silent when it came to this issue.

The success of the protests seemed to be almost forgotten when the debates that took place on June 19 began. It was not so much the debates that pushed the protests into the dark, as it was the Premier's apology for his actions; an apology that Dr. Brown could not give to Mr. Butler moments earlier in privacy, yet he was able to when the media was around. What does this say? Is it honest? So as soon as someone says that something like this will not happen again, it really won't? Ask yourself how many times you have heard something like that, how many times you have said that. Now that Dr. Brown has won his debate, hopefully he will not deceive the people because he has a lot to do to gain the trust back of the people and to prove that he can be the voice we so greatly need. People always say that no matter the type of person you are, you will always be associated with the people that you are around. Dr. Brown is the person that we will be judged by.

CAITLIN GORDON

Concerned Bermudian College Student

Smith's

A lack of judgment

June 15, 2009

Dear Sir,

Please allow me the opportunity of critically commenting on the Premier's decision to allow Uighur detainees from Guantánamo Bay into Bermuda. The internationalist in me wants to applaud this decision as a matter of principle, given the human rights atrocity that was Guantánamo and the less-than-stellar record of China. I am fully confident these individuals pose no public security threat to Bermuda. But I should not get to make that decision. Nor should any one person, including the Premier.

What assurances do we have that these detainees are safe? These individuals were picked up at training camps near Tora Bora in Afghanistan and early intelligence indicates that they may have been part the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement in Western China, a terrorist group according to the United Nations. If both the Bush and Obama administrations have cleared them of wrongdoing, then perhaps there is little to fear. But this is simply a case of Government officials saying: 'Trust us, they're safe. We know better.' How can we be sure?

What about implementation of their integration into Bermudian society and the obvious ramifications for our job market in Bermuda? And what does the grant of Bermudian status to these new arrivals say to the numerous Long Term Residents who have been stationed in this island who have no hope of gaining status? It certainly does not say that their government cares for them.

Where was our say, as Bermudian residents, in approving this decision? This move strikes at the very heart of the constitutional balance of powers that exists in Bermuda. The people are the font of Democracy on the island, as represented and mediated through their MPs. There was no Parliamentary debate, and it appears that Cabinet wasn't even involved. Further, that the Premier's authority has been diminished in his own party in recent weeks casts further doubt on the legitimacy of Dr. Brown to conduct foreign agreements. No one, it seems, was given any means of holding this Premier to account.

Under what authority does the Bermudian Government accept refugees independently of Britain? As much as Dr. Brown may hate it, we remain a British Territory and must continue to subject such overseas dalliances to scrutiny by the UK Government. The Premier of Bermuda may think that accepting these individuals is a purely internal matter, but someone needs to remind him that Bermuda is not a State Party to the 1954 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or the 1967 Protocol — but Britain is. Furthermore, there is an irreducible core of obligations owed to refugees stationed in third party nations — and the obligation to grant full citizenship rights is not one of them.

It seems that this move was hastily conceived and the Premier and Americans basically presented it to the Governor as a fait accompli. For all intents and purposes, it cannot be reversed since the only alternative at this point would be to return the refugees to China. Once refugees hit Bermuda's shores, certain international obligations were placed on the British Government to ensure their protection. These are the same international obligations that put these men in Guantánamo Bay to begin with since bringing them onto American soil would have triggered those obligations viz. the US.

Did we get something in return to justify this move? The Premier and Minister of Home Affairs claim there was no quid pro quo, but surely the hope of gaining diplomatic leverage with the US had to square in these negotiations. Especially, in light of any possible American threat to our offshore industry, one can readily understand the eagerness in wanting to ensure the dollars keep flowing.

But we must always remember that we remain a small country, whose interests are best served by active engagement on multiple fronts and in multilateral forums, as Minister Cox's recent efforts to have Bermuda removed from the OECD's list of tax-havens demonstrated to us. The hope that the Obama Administration's political capital can protect us from an assault on our industry is overly optimistic, especially since it is actually Congress and its powerful committee chairmen that write American tax law.

President Obama's political capital has been grossly overestimated in recent months and the fact that his administration could not get these Uighur detainees placed on American soil should serve notice of that. Just consider Virginia, where its congressional delegation (including a Democratic Senator of Obama's own party) was successful in pushing back on the Administration. Will he and his team come to bat for Bermuda when the time is right? Will they even be able to?

Dr. Brown is naïve to think that the issue can be neatly claimed as an immigration issue, and therefore, purely domestic. It is not. His decision would in theory give these individuals access to a British Passport, and places on the British Government's agenda new diplomatic rifts with the USA and China. The British, unlike Bermuda, have had real concerns with domestic and international terrorism. London was bombed, lest we forget, and the UK lost lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Islamic fundamentalist cells have sprang up throughout Europe in the last few decades. No doubt the recent news that deaths of foreign troops in Afghanistan have risen by 78 percent on a year ago should demonstrate just how on edge the British are (source: Guardian, June 11).

These actions also have to be placed in the proper diplomatic perspective. The British have been in intense negotiations with the Obama Administration (as have other European governments) over the repatriation of Guantánamo detainees in Britain proper. They had already agreed to repatriate all British citizens who were detained, and clearly Gordon Brown felt this was enough assistance on their part. Remember that this comes at a time when the British military has drawn down their presence in Iraq, and Nato is pushing for greater troop numbers from the UK and the rest of Europe. The diplomatic dance with Europe also involves questions as to whether the USA would be willing to take in Guantánamo detainees as a precondition to further cooperation on their part.

Many countries (including normally refugee-friendly Canada) have questioned taking in these detainees, rightly or wrongly. Irrespective of who approached who first on this important file, the US-Bermuda agreement will put back progress in resolution of the Guantánamo issue, contrary to what organisations such as Human Rights Watch may say. Political expediency triumphs over a long-term, sustainable conclusion – something Liberals and humanitarians the world over should be concerned about.

Such was the breach of diplomatic protocol this episode involved that it will have to be resolved at the transatlantic ministerial level. The Washington Post reported on June 12 that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had to discuss the matter with Foreign Secretary David Miliband to assuage British concerns. The British press are having a field day decrying this breach in the trans-Atlantic 'Special Relationship'.

None of this is to say anything of the position the Chinese have been placed in by this decision. You can bet that apparachiks on the Politburo are paying close attention to this and will have long memories. Should the refugees be repatriated to China? Probably not. But this is precisely the sort of thing that modern governments have extensive diplomatic corps for. This is the sort of issue that is analysed and pored-over by specially trained professionals with years of experience and numerous contacts around the world, before any final decisions can be made by the political class. Easy talk of 'humanitarian grounds' fails to grasp the reality of stepping on any number of toes, sensitive initiatives and active bilateral engagements.

The Governor recently pushed back on a story from the Guardian that the UK would suspend our right to conduct foreign agreements, but did admit to a review. This is truly frustrating for many of us who love Bermuda – in the Premier's quest to be 'independent,' there is a fear we may be losing some of the legitimate independent powers we had. But then again, this seems to be about independence through the back door. Dr. Brown knows he can't win the support for independence from the UK so he decides to stick his finger in Britain's proverbial eye in hope that they will just cut their losses. I would hope that both supporters and opponents of Independence are able to agree on the lack of wisdom of this approach.

The Governor recently stated "[t]he security is about the other implications to having the four arriving here at least for the time being. You don't have to be secretary general of the UN to see these other implications." How very true. Dr. Brown is not the Secretary-General, and indeed, he did not seem to see these implications. However, I'm more inclined to believe that he just did not care.

The hoopla surrounding this episode is not just the case of a Colonial Government getting uppity. The least the Governor and the FCO should have been given was the opportunity of vetting this decision. Even diplomatic equals afford each other that courtesy. Dr. Brown wants to think of Bermuda as just such a diplomatic equal to everyone else, but this isn't the behaviour of one.

The Premier has shown a lack of judgment, a lack of understanding and a lack of political maturity in this whole affair. His approach bares all the hallmarks of a siege mentality, complete with autocratic rule. And it's easy for a Premier who does not have to contend with international terror and military engagement overseas to make this kind of decision. In his quickness to make nice with the Obama Administration, the Premier just might be getting himself in way over his head. If Dr. Brown wants to play pretend-diplomat, there are a plethora of courtesies governments pay each other. He may like to pay attention if he hopes to do so for real in the future.

RICHARD AMBROSIO

London, UK

Agreeing with the decision

June 19, 2009

Dear Sir,

The Premier Dr. Ewart Brown recently agreed to allow four Uighurs from Guantanamo Bay to seek refuge in Bermuda. At first glance, this appeared to me to be a crazy scary move and I wanted answers to my many questions.

As more unfolded on the topic, I began to understand more and more about the situation and the Uighurs to the point where I am now agree with the decision.

How the decision was made may have some flaws, but a good meal is a good meal, no matter how it was cooked or who cooked it. Therefore it saddens me that some people the UBP included chose to take this act of humanity and use it as a political football and a chance to once again attempt to oust Premier Dr. Brown because they never have and never will support him.

Tuesday's protest was ten percent people who really had bad feelings about the Uighurs or the Premier and 90 percent people who are always ready to pick up a sign and march in protest of the Premier just because they do not want to support him.

And there is a difference between not wanting to support someone and not supporting them. When you don't support them that can change by getting a better understanding of them and what they are doing. When you don't want to support them nothing will change your mind because you won't let your mind be changed.

You never see these people joining anti-violence rallies or fighting for the rights of others. The sad thing about it is that if the ten percent had protested alone they would have been able to share in some healthy dialogue with the Premier and may have come to an understanding on the matters at hand. Instead the anti-Brown goons hopped on the protest like they did many other protests and destroyed the point. It's the same people every time at every protest. And THEY always make it look like a black and white issue because they are 98 percent white and always have a black face do the talking for them. Why is that? Why not just let a white person talk? If you have a point, speak your point. Don't use a black face to make it seem like it's not about race, because when the camera looks on the crowd it makes it look like it's about race. All you see are whites and the black person speaking comes across as a pawn in the UBP's game. Yes I said the UBP's game. Your supporters your responsibility. They Don't vote PLP.

UBP, you will never be the Government of Bermuda again, so call off your dogs. Even if you succeed in getting Dr. Brown out our next leader will still stand PLP all the way, all the way PLP. You can not beat us, your ship has sailed. Na na na na na na na na aye aye aye good bye back at you!

The PLP is a Government for the people and the people know this. You may stir the pot up for a minute but once it settles they see things for what they are. They know that the PLP are here to serve them and that our leader is strong and we will move together for the betterment of Bermuda.

I put the question to some on Facebook to show me how Dr. Brown is all for himself and how has he directly benefited for any decision he has made? I asked for facts only. No one has yet come through with an answer. I put these same questions to anyone who feels that way about him.

There are a few people that I need to speak on also.

Ms Janice Battersbee, I have known you since I was knee high to a grass hopper going to church. You have always come off as a wise women to me. However, your performance at Tuesday's protest was a disappointment to me. You say you are a long time supporter of the PLP yet you only speak out against the leader of the PLP at a protest against him. Why has your voice not been heard at public forums and meetings where he was in attendance? Why have you not requested a meeting with him so that you could voice your concerns face to face? If you are such a strong supporter of the party how could you not bring your concerns to the party's central community? Why must your first expression of how you feel be carried out in such a harsh manner? There are better ways of getting your point across than storming to Cabinet with a disrespectful crowd to read off a disrespectful speech? You taught me from the Bible in youth groups. You still take time out to teach the children of today from the Bible. So how could you disrespect the Bible as you did on Tuesday? You spoke on how a bad tree bears bad fruit. Some feel you were talking about the Premier's son, maybe you were? Maybe you were talking about his works? But whatever you were talking about you were casting judgement on the Premier which no person has the right to do.

Dr. David Saul, who do you think you are? Yes, you were once the Premier of Bermuda and a great many people on both sides respect you. However, you are not above God. For you to say that you don't care if God Himself told the Premier in a vision to make that decision he had no right to make it, shows you must not know who God is.

People of Bermuda, I know some do not agree with how the decision was made but you know in your hearts it was the right thing to do. Let's not condemn a man for a righteous choice. Let's move forward together to all do our part to insure the well being of our Island home.

I stand by Dr. Brown and feel that he is a great leader of a great Island of great people. I will say this in closing; Dr. Brown regardless of what happens in Cabinet I feel that you have served the people of Bermuda in a great way through all that your adversaries have thrown at you. I am honoured to have lived on this Island through your leadership. Thank you Doc. We need more strong leaders like you.

MAKAI DICKERSON

Sandys

Pray for Bermuda

June 16, 2009

Dear Sir,

Thanks again for this opportunity to share my thoughts on this very important issue that is on the minds of the people of Bermuda. As I watched the interview last night like so many others, I was very disturbed. As I watched and listened to Mr. Burch and his comments in reference to the people of Bermuda and the four men. It is amazing to hear him say how the people of Bermuda are a Christian-based people, and rightly so we are.

The problem is that we the people are as he said we are, BUT the Government per say is not. And forgive me if it appears that I am judging the Government, but according to the Book of Matthew 7:20 reads "Wherefore by their fruit you shall know them". The actions of the Government (Mr. Brown) is telling us the people that the fruit has gone bad and is now fermenting.

Would you believe that as I opened my "Every Day with Jesus" the topic was "Truth Hurts" read John 16:5-16, in "The Word For Today" the topic was "Rules for handling anger" read from the Book of Ephesians 4:25-32. For further support of God's word I then read in my cover to cover in the Book of 2 Kings 1:3-15 which tells of a wrong doing by a king. Readers I ask you to read it for yourself and prayerfully those of the Government (Christian-minded and Faith-based) will read it and share it with those that are not so Faith-based. It is so strange that the term Christian is so freely used for the convenience of men, but very rarely used in a adoration for God by those same men. But you cannot serve two masters, remember God's Word will never return void, it will always do the work that God proposes it to do in His time.

Men will always think he is getting away with something, but in God's time His word will overcome as good always overcomes evil. As I look back over Mr. Brown's track record there has been some good, but his wrongs override his good and in the Book of James 1 tells it like it is. And again in the Book of 2 Timothy 2 verses 15-20 tells of those that honour God and what happens to those that dishonour God.

Mr. Burch said last night that we do not know the terrorist that killed our young people and as yet the police do not know according to their information. And we sure do not know these people and their capabilities, and as the Book of Luke 12:39 reads as follows "and this know, if the good man of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through". So you see Mr. Burch IF does not cut it and an ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure. These people are so honest that they had been imprisoned and the Government that did so does not want them, the Mother country does not want them, but one person supposedly representing the people makes this decision all by himself. Mr. Burch says the people of Bermuda this and that, but we did not have any part in this decision nor did the Governor (the representative) of the Mother country. If Mr. Brown has his way there will be only him in all and above all and God forbid. We must control the spark before it becomes a greater inferno and further out of control. Too many are snoozing and if you snooze you will lose. Remember the story of the hare and the turtle.

People of Bermuda let me tell you something, the leader of this country is telling us "let me tell you all something and the fact is I do not like authority and the only authority is Mr. Brown and that is who in authority is as long as I am in power". You see people the only way a weak person feels strong is having weaker people under him and take a look at those who support him. They cannot see any wrong and if they do they are soon gotten rid of and the record is there and rears its ugly head often. So people I have said it before and I say it again "get your head out of the sand because the part that is showing is the only part your Mr. Brown wants to see, because he kicks and can always say that I did not know who it was that I kicked". So stand up and be accountable after all you are the Government and those appointed by you are there to serve the people with Integrity and All Honesty. If we the people do not stand for the things of God we will fall for anything or anybody that calls itself a God. Remember there are a lot of Gods around, but only one God our Creator. He created us in His own image.

In closing I share this scripture verse with you taken from Romans 1:28 which reads "and even as they did not like to retain god in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient". Now readers can you read the other three verses yourselves.

God Bless you always and let us continue to pray for our beloved Bermuda and those that govern for only what is done for God will last.

A.E. WENDELL (SCOPSIE) HASSELL

SandysRace reaction

June 25, 2009

Dear Sir,

I have several very simple questions. Can you or your readers help?

Is Bermuda a racially integrated society or are we still a racially divided society? Why do some people become so furious when I point this out and give the historical reasons for this racial divide with all of its psychological and economic consequences in the hope that they will be acknowledged and addressed? Why? Can you suggest reason for this apparent anger when I address this social reality?

EVA N. HODGSON

Hamilton Parish

Sandys

We'll be judged by Brown

June 25, 2009

Dear Sir,

Dictator: A ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession. The last time that I checked, Bermuda was not a dictatorship.

It is true that we have a voice that represents us and that is meant to be the voice of the people as a whole. This voice is a voice that we depend on to lead us, it is a voice that we should be able to trust whenever we hear it. The person this voice belongs to is a person that should work selflessly and with the safety of the people in mind. With the recent events involving the four Chinese men who were detained at Guantanamo Bay, I am not so sure that the voice about whom we are supposed to feel so confidently about is one that could be heard. The person we so greatly depend on was not dependable.

Dr. Brown's independent decision to allow these men to be invited into our homeland was deceitful and had no support from anyone at the time but Sen. Burch. Dr. Brown failed to inform the Island, his own Government, and the United Kingdom about this possibility, thus raising many eyebrows as to why.

I am not going to make inferences or assume why Dr. Brown was so quick to allow these men to Bermuda.The point that he keeps trying to avoid, is the main point that the protestors and the people have been trying to make.

The protests were not against having these men in Bermuda nor were they about trying to get the men out of our country. The protests and the anger are directed towards the Premier's actions as a leader, as the voice.

The fact our leader felt he did not need to inform the public, let alone his fellow party members demonstrates that he has no concern for the people's opinion, that the selflessness that is an eternal asset and necessary quality for a leader was not present. I do not care about the Premier's possible ulterior motives, I do not care what the benefit was, because from where I stand, it seems as though this situation could only benefit one person, the decision maker.

People of many races watched and participated in the protests to do with this whole situation. The no confidence vote seemed to be a strong one from many people's perspective. I have never seen so many people be so passionate about something in Bermuda. It was incredible to see people from all over the Island coming together to voice their opinions, for it seemed that no longer could their voices be known through the Premier. Some tried to twist these protests as a racial protest again the Premier. If you truly believe that those protests were about race, go back to the videos and just listen. Listen carefully, look at the diversity, race was not mentioned. This is about the Premier's way of dealing with the situation, not his race. The man who is meant to be in communication with the people went silent when it came to this issue.

The success of the protests seemed to be almost forgotten when the debates that took place on June 19 began. It was not so much the debates that pushed the protests into the dark, as it was the Premier's apology for his actions; an apology that Dr. Brown could not give to Mr. Butler moments earlier in privacy, yet he was able to when the media was around. What does this say? Is it honest? So as soon as someone says that something like this will not happen again, it really won't? Ask yourself how many times you have heard something like that, how many times you have said that. Now that Dr. Brown has won his debate, hopefully he will not deceive the people because he has a lot to do to gain the trust back of the people and to prove that he can be the voice we so greatly need. People always say that no matter the type of person you are, you will always be associated with the people that you are around. Dr. Brown is the person that we will be judged by.

CAITLIN GORDON

Concerned Bermudian College Student

Smith's

A lack of judgment

June 15, 2009

Dear Sir,

Please allow me the opportunity of critically commenting on the Premier's decision to allow Uighur detainees from Guantánamo Bay into Bermuda. The internationalist in me wants to applaud this decision as a matter of principle, given the human rights atrocity that was Guantánamo and the less-than-stellar record of China. I am fully confident these individuals pose no public security threat to Bermuda. But I should not get to make that decision. Nor should any one person, including the Premier.

What assurances do we have that these detainees are safe? These individuals were picked up at training camps near Tora Bora in Afghanistan and early intelligence indicates that they may have been part the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement in Western China, a terrorist group according to the United Nations. If both the Bush and Obama administrations have cleared them of wrongdoing, then perhaps there is little to fear. But this is simply a case of Government officials saying: 'Trust us, they're safe. We know better.' How can we be sure?

What about implementation of their integration into Bermudian society and the obvious ramifications for our job market in Bermuda? And what does the grant of Bermudian status to these new arrivals say to the numerous Long Term Residents who have been stationed in this island who have no hope of gaining status? It certainly does not say that their government cares for them.

Where was our say, as Bermudian residents, in approving this decision? This move strikes at the very heart of the constitutional balance of powers that exists in Bermuda. The people are the font of Democracy on the island, as represented and mediated through their MPs. There was no Parliamentary debate, and it appears that Cabinet wasn't even involved. Further, that the Premier's authority has been diminished in his own party in recent weeks casts further doubt on the legitimacy of Dr. Brown to conduct foreign agreements. No one, it seems, was given any means of holding this Premier to account.

Under what authority does the Bermudian Government accept refugees independently of Britain? As much as Dr. Brown may hate it, we remain a British Territory and must continue to subject such overseas dalliances to scrutiny by the UK Government. The Premier of Bermuda may think that accepting these individuals is a purely internal matter, but someone needs to remind him that Bermuda is not a State Party to the 1954 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or the 1967 Protocol — but Britain is. Furthermore, there is an irreducible core of obligations owed to refugees stationed in third party nations — and the obligation to grant full citizenship rights is not one of them.

It seems that this move was hastily conceived and the Premier and Americans basically presented it to the Governor as a fait accompli. For all intents and purposes, it cannot be reversed since the only alternative at this point would be to return the refugees to China. Once refugees hit Bermuda's shores, certain international obligations were placed on the British Government to ensure their protection. These are the same international obligations that put these men in Guantánamo Bay to begin with since bringing them onto American soil would have triggered those obligations viz. the US.

Did we get something in return to justify this move? The Premier and Minister of Home Affairs claim there was no quid pro quo, but surely the hope of gaining diplomatic leverage with the US had to square in these negotiations. Especially, in light of any possible American threat to our offshore industry, one can readily understand the eagerness in wanting to ensure the dollars keep flowing.

But we must always remember that we remain a small country, whose interests are best served by active engagement on multiple fronts and in multilateral forums, as Minister Cox's recent efforts to have Bermuda removed from the OECD's list of tax-havens demonstrated to us. The hope that the Obama Administration's political capital can protect us from an assault on our industry is overly optimistic, especially since it is actually Congress and its powerful committee chairmen that write American tax law.

President Obama's political capital has been grossly overestimated in recent months and the fact that his administration could not get these Uighur detainees placed on American soil should serve notice of that. Just consider Virginia, where its congressional delegation (including a Democratic Senator of Obama's own party) was successful in pushing back on the Administration. Will he and his team come to bat for Bermuda when the time is right? Will they even be able to?

Dr. Brown is naïve to think that the issue can be neatly claimed as an immigration issue, and therefore, purely domestic. It is not. His decision would in theory give these individuals access to a British Passport, and places on the British Government's agenda new diplomatic rifts with the USA and China. The British, unlike Bermuda, have had real concerns with domestic and international terrorism. London was bombed, lest we forget, and the UK lost lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Islamic fundamentalist cells have sprang up throughout Europe in the last few decades. No doubt the recent news that deaths of foreign troops in Afghanistan have risen by 78 percent on a year ago should demonstrate just how on edge the British are (source: Guardian, June 11).

These actions also have to be placed in the proper diplomatic perspective. The British have been in intense negotiations with the Obama Administration (as have other European governments) over the repatriation of Guantánamo detainees in Britain proper. They had already agreed to repatriate all British citizens who were detained, and clearly Gordon Brown felt this was enough assistance on their part. Remember that this comes at a time when the British military has drawn down their presence in Iraq, and Nato is pushing for greater troop numbers from the UK and the rest of Europe. The diplomatic dance with Europe also involves questions as to whether the USA would be willing to take in Guantánamo detainees as a precondition to further cooperation on their part.

Many countries (including normally refugee-friendly Canada) have questioned taking in these detainees, rightly or wrongly. Irrespective of who approached who first on this important file, the US-Bermuda agreement will put back progress in resolution of the Guantánamo issue, contrary to what organisations such as Human Rights Watch may say. Political expediency triumphs over a long-term, sustainable conclusion – something Liberals and humanitarians the world over should be concerned about.

Such was the breach of diplomatic protocol this episode involved that it will have to be resolved at the transatlantic ministerial level. The Washington Post reported on June 12 that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had to discuss the matter with Foreign Secretary David Miliband to assuage British concerns. The British press are having a field day decrying this breach in the trans-Atlantic 'Special Relationship'.

None of this is to say anything of the position the Chinese have been placed in by this decision. You can bet that apparachiks on the Politburo are paying close attention to this and will have long memories. Should the refugees be repatriated to China? Probably not. But this is precisely the sort of thing that modern governments have extensive diplomatic corps for. This is the sort of issue that is analysed and pored-over by specially trained professionals with years of experience and numerous contacts around the world, before any final decisions can be made by the political class. Easy talk of 'humanitarian grounds' fails to grasp the reality of stepping on any number of toes, sensitive initiatives and active bilateral engagements.

The Governor recently pushed back on a story from the Guardian that the UK would suspend our right to conduct foreign agreements, but did admit to a review. This is truly frustrating for many of us who love Bermuda – in the Premier's quest to be 'independent,' there is a fear we may be losing some of the legitimate independent powers we had. But then again, this seems to be about independence through the back door. Dr. Brown knows he can't win the support for independence from the UK so he decides to stick his finger in Britain's proverbial eye in hope that they will just cut their losses. I would hope that both supporters and opponents of Independence are able to agree on the lack of wisdom of this approach.

The Governor recently stated "[t]he security is about the other implications to having the four arriving here at least for the time being. You don't have to be secretary general of the UN to see these other implications." How very true. Dr. Brown is not the Secretary-General, and indeed, he did not seem to see these implications. However, I'm more inclined to believe that he just did not care.

The hoopla surrounding this episode is not just the case of a Colonial Government getting uppity. The least the Governor and the FCO should have been given was the opportunity of vetting this decision. Even diplomatic equals afford each other that courtesy. Dr. Brown wants to think of Bermuda as just such a diplomatic equal to everyone else, but this isn't the behaviour of one.

The Premier has shown a lack of judgment, a lack of understanding and a lack of political maturity in this whole affair. His approach bares all the hallmarks of a siege mentality, complete with autocratic rule. And it's easy for a Premier who does not have to contend with international terror and military engagement overseas to make this kind of decision. In his quickness to make nice with the Obama Administration, the Premier just might be getting himself in way over his head. If Dr. Brown wants to play pretend-diplomat, there are a plethora of courtesies governments pay each other. He may like to pay attention if he hopes to do so for real in the future.

RICHARD AMBROSIO

London, UK

Agreeing with the decision

June 19, 2009

Dear Sir,

The Premier Dr. Ewart Brown recently agreed to allow four Uighurs from Guantanamo Bay to seek refuge in Bermuda. At first glance, this appeared to me to be a crazy scary move and I wanted answers to my many questions.

As more unfolded on the topic, I began to understand more and more about the situation and the Uighurs to the point where I am now agree with the decision.

How the decision was made may have some flaws, but a good meal is a good meal, no matter how it was cooked or who cooked it. Therefore it saddens me that some people the UBP included chose to take this act of humanity and use it as a political football and a chance to once again attempt to oust Premier Dr. Brown because they never have and never will support him.

Tuesday's protest was ten percent people who really had bad feelings about the Uighurs or the Premier and 90 percent people who are always ready to pick up a sign and march in protest of the Premier just because they do not want to support him.

And there is a difference between not wanting to support someone and not supporting them. When you don't support them that can change by getting a better understanding of them and what they are doing. When you don't want to support them nothing will change your mind because you won't let your mind be changed.

You never see these people joining anti-violence rallies or fighting for the rights of others. The sad thing about it is that if the ten percent had protested alone they would have been able to share in some healthy dialogue with the Premier and may have come to an understanding on the matters at hand. Instead the anti-Brown goons hopped on the protest like they did many other protests and destroyed the point. It's the same people every time at every protest. And THEY always make it look like a black and white issue because they are 98 percent white and always have a black face do the talking for them. Why is that? Why not just let a white person talk? If you have a point, speak your point. Don't use a black face to make it seem like it's not about race, because when the camera looks on the crowd it makes it look like it's about race. All you see are whites and the black person speaking comes across as a pawn in the UBP's game. Yes I said the UBP's game. Your supporters your responsibility. They Don't vote PLP.

UBP, you will never be the Government of Bermuda again, so call off your dogs. Even if you succeed in getting Dr. Brown out our next leader will still stand PLP all the way, all the way PLP. You can not beat us, your ship has sailed. Na na na na na na na na aye aye aye good bye back at you!

The PLP is a Government for the people and the people know this. You may stir the pot up for a minute but once it settles they see things for what they are. They know that the PLP are here to serve them and that our leader is strong and we will move together for the betterment of Bermuda.

I put the question to some on Facebook to show me how Dr. Brown is all for himself and how has he directly benefited for any decision he has made? I asked for facts only. No one has yet come through with an answer. I put these same questions to anyone who feels that way about him.

There are a few people that I need to speak on also.

Ms Janice Battersbee, I have known you since I was knee high to a grass hopper going to church. You have always come off as a wise women to me. However, your performance at Tuesday's protest was a disappointment to me. You say you are a long time supporter of the PLP yet you only speak out against the leader of the PLP at a protest against him. Why has your voice not been heard at public forums and meetings where he was in attendance? Why have you not requested a meeting with him so that you could voice your concerns face to face? If you are such a strong supporter of the party how could you not bring your concerns to the party's central community? Why must your first expression of how you feel be carried out in such a harsh manner? There are better ways of getting your point across than storming to Cabinet with a disrespectful crowd to read off a disrespectful speech? You taught me from the Bible in youth groups. You still take time out to teach the children of today from the Bible. So how could you disrespect the Bible as you did on Tuesday? You spoke on how a bad tree bears bad fruit. Some feel you were talking about the Premier's son, maybe you were? Maybe you were talking about his works? But whatever you were talking about you were casting judgement on the Premier which no person has the right to do.

Dr. David Saul, who do you think you are? Yes, you were once the Premier of Bermuda and a great many people on both sides respect you. However, you are not above God. For you to say that you don't care if God Himself told the Premier in a vision to make that decision he had no right to make it, shows you must not know who God is.

People of Bermuda, I know some do not agree with how the decision was made but you know in your hearts it was the right thing to do. Let's not condemn a man for a righteous choice. Let's move forward together to all do our part to insure the well being of our Island home.

I stand by Dr. Brown and feel that he is a great leader of a great Island of great people. I will say this in closing; Dr. Brown regardless of what happens in Cabinet I feel that you have served the people of Bermuda in a great way through all that your adversaries have thrown at you. I am honoured to have lived on this Island through your leadership. Thank you Doc. We need more strong leaders like you.

MAKAI DICKERSON

Sandys

Pray for Bermuda

June 16, 2009

Dear Sir,

Thanks again for this opportunity to share my thoughts on this very important issue that is on the minds of the people of Bermuda. As I watched the interview last night like so many others, I was very disturbed. As I watched and listened to Mr. Burch and his comments in reference to the people of Bermuda and the four men. It is amazing to hear him say how the people of Bermuda are a Christian-based people, and rightly so we are.

The problem is that we the people are as he said we are, BUT the Government per say is not. And forgive me if it appears that I am judging the Government, but according to the Book of Matthew 7:20 reads "Wherefore by their fruit you shall know them". The actions of the Government (Mr. Brown) is telling us the people that the fruit has gone bad and is now fermenting.

Would you believe that as I opened my "Every Day with Jesus" the topic was "Truth Hurts" read John 16:5-16, in "The Word For Today" the topic was "Rules for handling anger" read from the Book of Ephesians 4:25-32. For further support of God's word I then read in my cover to cover in the Book of 2 Kings 1:3-15 which tells of a wrong doing by a king. Readers I ask you to read it for yourself and prayerfully those of the Government (Christian-minded and Faith-based) will read it and share it with those that are not so Faith-based. It is so strange that the term Christian is so freely used for the convenience of men, but very rarely used in a adoration for God by those same men. But you cannot serve two masters, remember God's Word will never return void, it will always do the work that God proposes it to do in His time.

Men will always think he is getting away with something, but in God's time His word will overcome as good always overcomes evil. As I look back over Mr. Brown's track record there has been some good, but his wrongs override his good and in the Book of James 1 tells it like it is. And again in the Book of 2 Timothy 2 verses 15-20 tells of those that honour God and what happens to those that dishonour God.

Mr. Burch said last night that we do not know the terrorist that killed our young people and as yet the police do not know according to their information. And we sure do not know these people and their capabilities, and as the Book of Luke 12:39 reads as follows "and this know, if the good man of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through". So you see Mr. Burch IF does not cut it and an ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure. These people are so honest that they had been imprisoned and the Government that did so does not want them, the Mother country does not want them, but one person supposedly representing the people makes this decision all by himself. Mr. Burch says the people of Bermuda this and that, but we did not have any part in this decision nor did the Governor (the representative) of the Mother country. If Mr. Brown has his way there will be only him in all and above all and God forbid. We must control the spark before it becomes a greater inferno and further out of control. Too many are snoozing and if you snooze you will lose. Remember the story of the hare and the turtle.

People of Bermuda let me tell you something, the leader of this country is telling us "let me tell you all something and the fact is I do not like authority and the only authority is Mr. Brown and that is who in authority is as long as I am in power". You see people the only way a weak person feels strong is having weaker people under him and take a look at those who support him. They cannot see any wrong and if they do they are soon gotten rid of and the record is there and rears its ugly head often. So people I have said it before and I say it again "get your head out of the sand because the part that is showing is the only part your Mr. Brown wants to see, because he kicks and can always say that I did not know who it was that I kicked". So stand up and be accountable after all you are the Government and those appointed by you are there to serve the people with Integrity and All Honesty. If we the people do not stand for the things of God we will fall for anything or anybody that calls itself a God. Remember there are a lot of Gods around, but only one God our Creator. He created us in His own image.

In closing I share this scripture verse with you taken from Romans 1:28 which reads "and even as they did not like to retain god in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient". Now readers can you read the other three verses yourselves.

God Bless you always and let us continue to pray for our beloved Bermuda and those that govern for only what is done for God will last.

A.E. WENDELL (SCOPSIE) HASSELL

Sandys