HAPPY Birthday to me. Yes, I'm a Cup Match baby, born on a Cup Match that St. Georges won, back in 1964. Hopefully St. Georges wins again this year. Y'all be safe this Cup Match holiday.

Today, DJLT is 44! Thank God for blessing me with one more birthday. You know you're getting old when people your age start appearing in the obituary sections of the newspapers on a fairly regular basis. That being said, Bermuda is still blessed and is thought to be a rich country. We live in the land of plenty; well, sort of. My view is that this country is only perceived to be wealthy but is Bermuda really wealthy? I think not, but I will explain this perspective after the Top 20.

Up to number one is a former essential new track, Bust it Baby Part 2 by Plies featuring Ne-Yo. Ne-Yo is the man - home boy writes some beautiful songs.

On the way up at number two is Heaven Sent by Keyshia Cole.

Tumbling to number three is a former essential new banger, No Air, the new hit by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown.

Falling to number four is a former essential new track, Lollipop by L'il Wayne featuring Static Major.

On the slide at number five is The Way That I Love You by Ashanti. Now for some new tracks.

Improving to number six is Chris Brown's new single, Take You Down.

Up to number seven the interesting track I Luv Your Girl by up-and-coming artist The-Dream.

Jumping to number eight is a former essential new tune, Alicia Keys' Teenage Love Affair.

Navigating down to the number nine spot this week is 4 Minutes by Madonna and Justin Timberlake.

Tumbling to number ten this week is the new one from Usher featuring Young Jeezy, entitled Love in This Club.

Improving to number 11 is A Milli by L'il Wayne and up to number 12 is Trey Songz' new hit, entitled Last Time.

Dropping to number 13 is Touch My Body by Mariah Carey, which is hanging on in the charts largely thanks to the banging dance mix.

Now the soca section. Improving to number 14 is Love is Wicked (Soca Remix) by Brick & Lace featuring Kess.

Advancing to number 15 is another soca anthem, Defence (the anthem) by Machel Montano featuring L'il Jon and Pitbull.

Don't Stop the Music by Rihanna falls to number 16. The Wide Boys Remix of this song is so banging that I burnt a copy for a dude at work, who also appreciates good house music.

Up to number 17 is last week's essential new jam, Take a Bow by one of the hottest pop divas around, Rihanna. Poor Rihanna has a lot of haters. Why can't people just be happy for somebody who is cute, talented and making it. Jealousy has destroyed people and denied them their own dreams for years.

Climbing to number 18 is Put On by Young Jeezy featuring Kanye West. Kanye might be a bit of a diva boy but he has skills and this song is now one of my favourite house anthems. Up a touch to number 19 is Fall by Kimberley Locke.

And now, this week's essential new track. In at number 20 is When I Grow Up by the Pussycat Dolls. These chicks are really something else and their production team is truly awesome. They produce hits.

Now back to this week's word - the perceived wealth of this country. I have written on this before.

For the record, I disagree with the poverty line suggested in The Royal Gazette recently by the Bermuda Government (those who have criticised me for sometimes taking the Government's side in various disputes should take note of this: I certainly don't agree with everything this Government says or does).

They said it's a disposable income of something like $27,000 for a single person and some $50,000 per year as disposable income for a two or three person family.

I got love for the Government, civil servants and all that but they need to rethink that number.

If they think that a single person can get by on $27,000 a year, they should try living on that type of cash for 12 months and then write the report!

I am going to stand by my number of $100,000 as the poverty line and DJLT submits that if a family isn't earning $100,000 and they do not own their own house, they are poor and cannot have a decent quality of life in Bermuda. For a single person paying rent of at least $1500 per month (to live in a studio apartment), accommodation alone eats up $20,000.

Who can live on $7,000 in a year? That's $583 per month to pay food, electricity and clothing. The number that Government projects is flawed. Get real! Who does these reports?

Then there's the family of four. To rent a two-bedroom home it will cost at least $2,500 per month or $30,000 per year. If they are paying rent they will never own a home. If they have a mortgage, that will cost at least $3,000 per month or $36,000 per year!

A car payment can be anywhere from $500 per month up. That's another $6,000 plus per year which means we are now essentially eating up half their income.

Throw in utilities, food and some other expenses and the family's $100,000 per year is gone, long gone. And, God forbid that they should have an expensive family emergency!

I don't think I need to say or write any more on this - my theory is proved correct by statistics.

The real point I was trying to make is that Bermuda is not a rich country. It is a country through which a lot of money passes but little of it is touched, seized and grasped by Bermudians.

It's mostly foreign money in foreign hands, passing through Bermuda.

Sure, we get the crumbs from under their tables, but what is the point of maintaining a system that exists in Bermuda but primarily benefits guests?

Some people will not like me for thinking or writing this but why should Bermudians perpetuate a system which benefits people other than themselves or which benefits others far more than it benefits them?

I am convinced that whilst Independence might in the short-term challenge Bermuda's economy and drive up the cost of goods and services, in the long term Bermuda will be a more affordable country, the people of Bermuda will develop more national pride and we will be able to curb racism and all the other isms (because the perpetuators of these isms will probably leave).

Eventually, we will have a thriving economy but more importantly we will be able to rid Bermuda of a lot of its ills.

The poverty line in Bermuda is more like $50,000 for a single person and $100,000 for a family of three or four.

In order for this society to flourish, we cannot leave anyone behind in socio-economic terms.

We cannot have a country where the visitors and guests make more money and generate more wealth than the indigenous people and longest inhabitants, especially in a small place like Bermuda where the wealth is all up in everybody's faces.

It is different in countries where residents are spread out over hundreds of miles where people might not see the disparity, but that still doesn't make it right.

History is replete with examples of where economic systems structured in this manner failed due to revolt, coups, lawlessness, the natives getting restless and frustrated at being at the bottom and these societies exhibited serious antisocial behaviour.

We don't want this to happen in Bermuda but be warned - I see signs of the early stages of some of these revolutionary behaviours.

Let's fix it now before it gets out of hand and a great opportunity is wasted.

But in the meantime, let's enjoy Cup Match, have fair play, gentlemanly conduct, safety and a good time. Hopefully St. Georges retain the cup but it is also important that the fans are entertained.

Lastly, CURE and CURB are working to unite the races that make up Bermuda.

As we celebrate the Emancipation from slavery, let us also celebrate our similarities and be free to discuss issues with respect and fairness, not anger, hate or vengeance.

Let's not forget the past, but let's move forward together and create a level playing field, where everybody succeeds, becomes comfortable and able to share in Bermuda's wealth, with everyone living in peace and harmony. This is the only way that life and Bermuda will be sustainable for future generations.

Peace ...