Corporation row

June 4, 2008

Dear Sir,

It is almost six months since the Corporation of Hamilton was formally asked to investigate whether two of its elected members, Alderman David Dunkley and Councillor Graeme Outerbridge, were legally entitled to be on the City's Voters Register.

Lawyer John Cooper, who acted as Returning Officer at the election when both men were elected to office, has made it clear that anyone on the Voters Register must be a "beneficial occupier" of a rental valuation unit in the City, and he publicly expressed concerns about the matter.

This is an important issue because if Mr. Dunkley and Mr. Outerbridge were not eligible to be on the Voters Register at the time of the election then they would automatically be disqualified from sitting on the Corporation and should have been removed from office.

The Municipalities Act 1923 sets down the procedure to be followed when investigating these issues, and provides the Corporation Secretary with legal powers to take evidence on oath from witnesses. The Secretary is also required under the law to carry out such an investigation "in a reasonable time".

Does anyone know if an investigation has been conducted? How long does it take to investigate a simple, straightforward matter? I hear that despite repeated requests for a decision, the person who called for the investigation has still not be informed of any result. Is it "reasonable" to take six months or even longer?

This should have been resolved within a few weeks at most. Fortunately, the law also provides for an alternative if the Corporation fails to take action. If the person who called for the investigation is not satisfied with the progress of the investigation he can serve ten days notice on the Corporation Secretary of his intention to go before a Magistrate to demand a ruling. It is time to demand a ruling.

CITY FAN

Smith's

Not 'out powered' racism

June 4, 2008

Dear Sir,

I am puzzled as to what relevance Smith's thinks that his remarks today have to my letter of May 23.

I drew a distinction between the Swastika, a symbol of a racist Government that had killed millions and the black power salute that is a symbol of encouragement and resistance to the same racism that encouraged and justified the enslavement and destruction of millions of Africans.

Why should I have made reference to the enslavement of Christians by Muslims? Or for that matter to all of those conquered who have been enslaved by conquerors since the beginning of time. It is only the Europeans who undergirded and justified their enslavement of Africans by the philosophy and practices of racism that declared Africans to be subhuman and inferior to all, giving whites the right to supremacy .

He rather smugly comments that whites have powered out the effects of enslavement. But how does he know since he is not the descendent of the Christians who were enslaved by Muslims, just as Obama and his African father are not descendents of the Africans who were enslaved by Europeans, which is why he could run the kind of campaign which he did. One thing is certain, Smith has not "out powered" the racism and its effect which has cursed this country even since slavery.

EVA N. HODGSON

Pembroke

P.s. Since Smith's is so interested in the topic of slavery he should educate himself by ensuring that he sees the lecture on Post traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy Leary.

Slavery blog debate

June 4, 2008

Dear Sir,

There is a debate going on right now on the Bermuda Rocks blog that should be of interest to every right thinking white person on the Island, and indeed every black person too. The subject – slavery – is hardly new. Indeed whether on Bermuda Rocks or LIB or any other blog, the subject has been hashed to death frequently.

The only reason I mention this particular debate as being of interest, is the call within it to put the "race debate" out where it belongs, in other words with – and between – the peoples of this Island.

This particular thread (blog speak for issue) started with a contributor making reference to one of my Letters to the Editor, a letter in which I essentially argued that for Dr. Hodgson to fail to mention "white slavery" in her letters was disingenuous, in other words black people have kidnapped slavery for their own ends.

Now, as Thaao Dill is very much in the public domain together with the fact that he has spoken on this issue frequently, I am hoping that he won't mind me quoting from his contribution to this particular thread. A few of the points he makes are:

"For me, and I think for black folk more broadly, there's a difference between slavery genetrally and race/ism as it affects contemporary society. To be more specific, as it affects us. The premise of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, from the European side of the equation (as there was African involvement, factually and by necessity), was that of inherent black inferiority. The difference between this premise and slavery generally is that the other instances of slavery worldwide (Africa included) weren't based on the presumption of anyone being subhuman. It was based on circumstantial needs, time-sensitive situations. No less cruel and evil and violent and absolutely indefensible, definitely. But, it came from a different, far less socially embedded idea. Africans held and sold slaves. But not because they were black. That was raw classism on show, in all its shameful muscularity."

The premise that "you cannot understand unless you have experienced" holds true here, and white people (I would suggest) by and large do not understand. Furthermore, unless you understand, you cannot go forward.

There are two directions society can take in life, i.e. going forward or going backwards. Standing still has never been a viable option. On the assumption, therefore, that we want to go forwards, let me say that to do so is not a means to forget one's history. One should never forget or dilute one's history.

We have to find a mechanism whereby black people power out of their feeling of being sub-human.

I can almost calculate that at the extremes of Bermudian society, there will be 15 percent of people at each end whose hatred for the other is so strong that such a concept is a non-starter. For the 70 percent of those who remain, however, it is an exercise that will bring rewards.

As to "how" we do that, I have no ideas. But, we must do it otherwise this festering sore in this society will continue to take us downwards and backwards.

SMITH'S

Make prisoners work

June 4, 2008

Dear Sir,

If the majority of the criminals on this island are repeat offenders can someone please explain to me why Bermuda has not adopted the GPS tracking bracelets used in the American prison reform system? Given the small size of our island it would be easy to track the locations of persons convicted of theft or child molestation. Perhaps court judges could impose a condition that requires those convicted of such offences to serve time in jail and upon release wear the GPS device for a period of a year or more.

I am sure Bermudians would be happy to see our taxes go to something that would benefit us all, for once. If a robbery is reported in Hamilton for example, the police could merely check the data on the GPS database to confirm if the crime was committed by a previous criminal.

Another point I often hear people complain about is the lack of man power which could be used from those prisoners "relaxing" up at Westgate, the Farm, and the Co-Ed Facility. Why aren't these prisoners being put to work? We, the taxpayers pay for them to eat and sleep so they should pay us back by contributing to society for no wages. KBB has expressed the huge trash problem on the island right? Well why not chain up their ankles and make them clean up the island (under the watch of officials of course)?

That might even deter people from committing crimes if they think it might result in them spending a few months/years picking up trash in front of the community! Bermudians have a lot of pride and most guys and girls would be mortified to be seen picking up trash while tied to another person wearing a matching tracksuit! It's all about deterrence!

This type of new hook-up could also produce more jobs for Bermudians as the Government would have to hire police officers or security officials to supervise the work. Then you might ask, what happens if a prisoner refuses to work or becomes unruly? Well increase the time served for his conviction or take away his visitation rights, etc. This isn't rocket science.

Why not bring back the Ducking Stool? Or the stocks?

Obviously our current system is not working. I used to feel relatively safe on this island and that was only ten years ago, so much has changed since then and I see nothing being done to help. These guys don't care about going to jail, so make them care!

SCARED TAXPAYER

Pembroke

Going nuts

June 4, 2008

Dear Sir,

Good to see that the local supermarkets are beginning to tackle the waste associated with one-use bags.

Not so good to see that each coconut at the MarketPlace now comes in its own plastic net.

Yours going nuts,

ANDREW R. DOBLE

Hamilton Parish

Support one another

June 3, 2008

Dear Sir,

I write regarding the recent tragic death of Ms. Rhiana Moore as well as the other deaths that have happened recently amongst our young people. It is indeed a tragedy and I send out my deepest and heartfelt prayers to Ms. Moore's family. Their grief at this time I'm certain is unimaginable. I can only pray that the sadness they are now feeling will eventually give way to joy as they remember not the horrible circumstances of her death but instead focus on her wonderful life. The scripture says he will "give them give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." We must trust that the word of the Lord will come to pass.

One thing that concerns me, however, in addition to the issue of the death itself, is that with the advent of the internet and other forms of electronic media, it almost seems as if these young people are being immortalised upon their death, and the inherent danger that presents.

Let me explain, before some readers get angry. I'm sure when the friends of the deceased open up the Facebook site, for example, they have the absolute best of intentions and are using this medium as a way to cope with their grief and honor the memory of their lost loved one. This is absolutely okay in my opinion. However, the flip side to this action is that it can almost help to desensitise our kids to the horrors of death and what is really going on in our island. Look around, as you read the paper, in today's Gazette in particular are the headlines about Ms Moore's death, the accused for Ms Ruth Binns murder appearing in court, and now a breaking news item labelled "Men in Court on Gun Charges". Our island is not the beautiful paradise it used to be, though it is on the surface, but there is truly something almost sinister going on behind the scenes and the violence and death as a result is on a rise.

I say to the young people, continue to remember your friends in your own way on Facebook or whatever medium you choose. However, do not forget the violent behaviour and sometimes careless acts which have led to their premature deaths. This is not true in all cases of course, but remember the phrase "All decisions have consequences, good or bad." Heed the warnings of your parents; look out for one another so that you don't have to immortalise each another in death, instead support one other in life.

I say to parents and guardians of the young people, me included, get a handle on where your children are and what they are doing. Keep the lines of communication open so that your children can talk to you and will not be afraid of telling you when they've done wrong or when they are heading in a poor direction. We must remember that our children, no matter how they behave, are gifts from God, given to us for a certain time so that we may help them grow and fulfill their purpose in life. We must pray for their safety and continue to guide them as they have been entrusted to us.

Again, to the parents and family of Rhiana Moore, my words of consolation are those found in the scripture, "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." We cannot determine why this happened to Rhiana, no explanation will ever be good enough I'm sure. Just be confident in the truth that God has a bigger plan in place and that Rhiana's spirit is safe with him.

CRYSTAL BURGESS

Warwick