Whites in the PLP

The Royal Gazette deserves credit for running what's shaping up to be a fascinating series of articles on whites in the PLP. Today's introduction set the scene:

When the Progressive Labour Party was formed in 1963 it was as a party embracing all races. It gained six seats in the House of Assembly and of those, five members were black and one was white. More than 40 years later, all of the public faces of the party – its 22 MPs and five senators – are black. So does the PLP have a white membership? And if so, why is it not more visible and vocal?

It was particularly interesting to read Michael Markham’s experience of being a white member of the PLP.

“There is a faction within the PLP that I believe doesn’t want to have anything to do with white people. They only tolerate me. Within the party I’m accepted by a lot of people but there are some people that don’t accept me within the party because I’m white.”

“Racism in the PLP is a major issue,” he says. “Unless the PLP overcomes the race issue it won’t be able to govern properly in the country.”

One of the reasons Mr. Markham remains a member, however, is because he believes the party can change.

“When we first took government in 1998, one of the political strategies that I was pressing for was to reach out to the white community. One of the reasons that I’m still a member of the PLP is because I still believe there are people who made that promise who are still in that party.”

I’m looking forward to reading the other articles in the series over the coming days.

Comments

[novote on 18.05.06 at 01:10]

Mr Markham - If you read this blog, please tell us who these people are that keep you clinging to the hope that the PLP will abandon its racist agenda.

[Ali on 18.05.06 at 08:24]

I would suggest that Dr.Ball was a member of the PLP because she had communist tendencies, there were no other choices. I found Mr. Markham's comments very revealing in the sense that we now have an insider's (not quite) view of what we all have known for a long time. Mr. Markham should try another party where he will be accepted for who he is.

[Lord Hee Haw on 18.05.06 at 08:41]

An innocent question: are they House Honkeys?

[silencedogood on 18.05.06 at 09:55]

I was pretty interested in this article as well.

If Mr. Markham was uncomfortable at PLP meetings before, I think he will be decidedly less comfortable after this article.

The toleration of some may turn to open hostility after he's exposed the general attitudes of the party. I hope not, but I'm a realist.

[Denis Pitcher on 18.05.06 at 11:04]

What I didn't get a clear sense of is why Mr. Markham chose the PLP as his party?

In the article it mentions that Mr. Markham is independently wealthy, and has never worked in Bermuda.

This seems to be in stark contrast of the PLP's ideals of being a labor and socialist based party. Unless I'm mistaken.

[SmokingGun on 18.05.06 at 11:15]

Or this honorable man just might be the catalyst for change.....

I truly believe that there are far more black people in Bermuda who have a genuine interest in making sure the whole island survives as one rather than worrying about which "party" they belong to. And that goes for whites too.

It's just as important to see evidence of white people supporting and taking a stand for the grass root policies of what the PLP originally stood for as it is to see black people showing they are willing to work within a predominantly white party in order to bring about change.

It's unfortunate that we haven't progressed further enough along so that we wouldn't even think it necessary to discuss the racial make-up of a particular party. But we might as well get ourselves in gear.
The issues are rapidly blurring and the parties themselves need to adjust to all those changes.

Today, it's more important that my kids get a solid education and I don't care if their teacher is black, white or anything in between.

[Ali on 18.05.06 at 11:40]

Like Smoking Gun, I don't care if the teachers or the politicians are black, white or other as long as they are competent. The problem is, as Mr. Markham has stated, that there is a core of people within Government who have a racist agenda and as long as they remain in the party the PLP will not progress. Unfortunately they must be a strong force within the party or the moderates would have outed or ousted them by now. Pray it happens soon.

[SmokingGun on 18.05.06 at 13:02]

From RG: Interviewing J Starling

He is hopeful that the Government will start to focus on this and follow a more traditional labour path.
“I’m not sure if they have gone slow to begin with or if they plan creeping social reforms,” he says. “I grew disillusioned with the party about two years after I joined it, in 2000. I’m active again now and I think they are doing more. I’m hoping they are laying the foundations for more social government.”

Well presented J Starling, however methinks the sweet taste of power has moved the core leaders above and beyond the bread and butter of the original social agenda.

[jake on 18.05.06 at 13:11]

Denis,

Help me to understand how being wealthy and supportive of Labor are contrary. I know that socialism is a charge that is levelled by the more right wing on this blog, but what policies are the PLP pursuing which are 'anti wealth'?

In the article it mentions that Mr. Markham is independently wealthy, and has never worked in Bermuda.

This seems to be in stark contrast of the PLP's ideals of being a labor and socialist based party. Unless I'm mistaken.

[lost in flatts on 18.05.06 at 13:41]

The PLP is far from 'socialist' these days, regardless of their roots. From my persepective, for a country whose livelihood depends on IB (at the moment anyway) the last thing we'd want to do as voters is put in a party who would do anything to inhibit letting the markets operate freely. The PLP of today do know this, hence their decidedly un-socialist approach. (Erm, the Burj, limited social reform, no income tax etc).

Given the reality I do wonder what really seperates, policy and belief wise, the UBP and PLP. Methinks, like most western countries, not so much.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 18.05.06 at 13:42]

Denis,

So are you saying that if a working class person who supports the PLP suddenly becomes wealthy, for example, through inheritance they should no longer support the PLP?

Just because Mr. Markham is independently wealthy does not mean that he cannot support the ideology of a labour party, or does it?

Mr. Markham's comments need to be recognised by PLP and addressed.

I fail to see how the PLP can be labled a socialist party. Has the PLP ever taken anything and tried to redistribute? Further, where has the party ever tried to deny private ownership?

[SmokingGun on 18.05.06 at 13:52]

Guilden - I think J Starling wised up to that circa 2000. ;-)

[Uncle Elvis on 18.05.06 at 14:08]

Amen, jake. You put it better than I ever could.

[silencedogood on 18.05.06 at 15:12]

The article in today's paper seems to toe the party line much more than yesterdays.

I found the statement "the PLP could not be elected without the support of the white community" amusing in its detachment from the island's demographics.

[ken on 18.05.06 at 15:45]

Silencedogood,

I don't understand your comment. Our racial breakdown is approximately 60-40. The election breakdown in 2003 was 52%, 48%. All 60% of the black Bermudians didn't vote PLP I can guarantee you of that. I would think that perhaps (and that is a big perhaps) 70% of the black population voted PLP. That would mean that out of the 52%, only 36% were black. I would be willing to go up a bit and say that 40% were black...which leaves an additional 12% as white.

I think this series is important, but very scary as it lessens the credibility of those that think the PLP is exclusively black and only interested in the black 'agenda'. When it is apparent that there are definitely white members and supporters. Most aren't vocal, and hopefully that will change, but that doesn't lessen their importance. In the past they have been stigmatized, harrassed and ostracized and therefore I am sure that has made some of them hesitant about revealing their identities publicly. I would dearly love for their to be some white PLP candidates in the next election.

[jake on 18.05.06 at 15:46]

I am not sure it is so far fetched.

Economically the PLP has been supported by several white backers, in the same way that may companies give to both Republicans and Democrats.

In that sense they need that financial support to maintain political power.

Numerically from a voter perspective I do see the point however.

[SmokingGun on 18.05.06 at 16:12]

I do not think anyone would argue that there are quite a few non-black supporters of the PLP party. It's just that there are none who seem to participate in the actual elected party and hold a public office.

Times have changed from when the average lower income person was most likely to have been a black person. Today income levels have no set colour or ethnic origin and yet the basis for the PLP vote is to improve the blue collar worker's quality of life. The UBP has tradionally been seen as the white collar side of the fence.

Seeing as Bermuda's economy has shifted dramatically away from the hotel/tourist trade to IB it can pretty much be assumed that most of our white collar workers are in many ways no different than their counter-parts who wear the blue. There is no reason why any party shouldn't be working harder at making sure their party is fully integrated. The UBP has been doing it and now the onus is on the PLP to start proving they can get the job done as well. For the betterment of Bermuda.

[silencedogood on 18.05.06 at 17:01]

Ken,

I'm not trying to detract or start an argument. I just found that one statement to lack credibility.

I think Jake and SG have fleshed out what I was trying to say, so I'll be brief. I'm not arguing the PLP is 100% black.

The 60% of the island which is black, assuming they vote, allows them to dominate at least one party if not both. Whites may vote for the PLP but they don't control its agenda.

That was the impression which I thought the statement "The PLP could not be elected without white support" was trying to convey.

Some might disagree, but I would say that while whites may exert more influence over the UBP, its a shared power and far from dominant.

Of course on race-neutral issues, such distinctions are irrelevant, but that's why race is such a powerful tool in politics.

[ace on 18.05.06 at 17:57]

"Economically the PLP has been supported by several white backers, in the same way that may companies give to both Republicans and Democrats."

Hell yea! Guilty as charged here.

I want to make sure that if I need some help from a government official and they actually check to see if I ever made a donation the answer will be yes.

Politics is a bitch, as my good friend Fornicator (who unfortunately no longer posts here) used to say.

[Denis Pitcher on 18.05.06 at 18:07]

Jake and Guilden,

You seem to have gone off on a tangent suggesting that I'm implying something that was by no means my intention.

I was only asking what were his motives for joining the party which wern't very clear to me when I read the article.

Traditionally supporters of the PLP have been of the working class and more focused towards the issues of the people, not the wealthy. My intention is to not cast this thread into another discussion of "socialism", the very definition of which can be interpreted in myriad ways.

Allow me to rephrase myself.

As I began: "In the article it mentions that Mr. Markham is independently wealthy, and has never worked in Bermuda."

The PLP's traditional following does not appear to match Mr. Markham's distinction, as he has never been a part of the Bermudian labor force and has never had the need to be.

Of the handful of white members of the PLP, what is it that draw's Mr. Markham to be a member of the party? Especially considering that he doesn't fit the traditional mold of other whites who pursue membership, like Mr. Starling, who clearly stated his own reasoning and is in a position of contrast from Mr. Markham.

Is Mr. Markham not a prime example that wealth and labor are not the only denominators for PLP membership? If so, why is he drawn to the party and thus does that not give even more credence to his advice that the PLP need to be more accepting of whites?

How damaging are racially motivated comments and actions towards whites and even other blacks in terms of discouraging people from joining who otherwise might have considered doing so?

[J Starling on 18.05.06 at 19:41]

Silencedogood worries that this series might cause its participants internal party repercussions at the hands of the black nationalist chauvinists in the Party. I do not think this will be the case at all. My feeling is that this series will encourage the non-active white members of the PLP to become more active. Also, it helps dispel the myth of the PLP as being an all-black party with all-black interests - paving the way for pro-labour whites who may have so far not joined the Party and been active to now do so. Additionaly, this gives the members of the Party as a whole to begin a wide ranging discussion about what the Party is, what is it doing and where is it going? Discussions such as these are valuable and necessary for a Party to engage in periodically. After eight years of power, our Party very much needs to clarify some issues.

There are many PLP members, both black and white, middle class and blue-collar, who grew disillusioned with the Party in 2000 along with myself. Most, if not all, remain nominally members, but only a few have chosen to become active again. This series should serve as a catalyst for the reinvigoration of the Party grassroots. I analysed the rise of the black nationalist/chauvinist capitalists in the "Politics of Division" thread. I sincerely believe they are a minority in the Party, but I also sincerely believe that many of them have - up until now - had a stranglehold over the formal mechanisms of the Party. A grassroots rebellion began against what was seen as an overly authoritarian, too little too slow rule by the first PLP government, drunk with triumphalism. This rebellion failed to organise itself properly and was symbolically crushed with the ousting of Arthur Hodgson. The repercussions of this event were seen in the 'coup' which led to Alex Scott becoming Premier.

The PLP is a broad church, in that it encompasses all of the politically active 'left' of Bermuda. This spectrum ranges from Blairite 'third way' social democracy, black nationalism (both positive and negative), doctrinaire socialism, christian socialism, environmentalists, democratic socialists/libertarian socialists (as I would call myself), and probably (though I haven't met them) Castroists. I'm sure the UBP similarly mirrors the PLP in covering the whole spectrum of the right, with occasional overlapping with the PLP in the moderate centre. The Party is only as good as its membership, and the grassroots are only as strong as the active support they recieve from the individual Party members. Any lefts, white/black/other, liberal to socialist, should become active in the Party and see the reality for themselves - and the same goes for the right and the UBP. I don't believe that we, as a people can afford the luxury of apathy any longer and must engage in real political dialouge in order to take our people forward.

[silencedogood on 18.05.06 at 20:50]

Jonathan,

I'm not skeptical because I doubt the appeal of a labour party to certain individuals of all races, I'm skeptical because people with power tend to dislike giving it up. You will have to deal with the Burch, the Scott, and especially the Brown prior to enacting your vision.

Time will tell, and although I'm no supporter of leftist governments, I hope you are correct. It would be a step in the right direction even if we disagree on where to go from there.

[ABP on 19.05.06 at 10:29]

"Times have changed from when the average lower income person was most likely to have been a black person. Today income levels have no set colour or ethnic origin"

I don't have a clue where you got that idea from. It's still that way. I guess going from 90% black to 80% black is a big difference then.

[Rossini on 22.05.06 at 16:44]

Ah Limey....at the risk of being deleted yet again...any follow-up on this topic in light of Saturday's Gazette and the comments of Cheryl Alves and the non-comment of Alex Outerbridge ?

[SmokingGun on 22.05.06 at 17:13]

"I don't have a clue where you got that idea from. It's still that way. I guess going from 90% black to 80% black is a big difference then." - ABP

I would say the numbers you present are a little biased and somewhat out of context. Unless you are considering all the portuguese and asians to be part of the black community?

I think the fact that there has been a steady rise in economic status for many black families and there has been an influx of lower income other (caucasian and others to keep it simple) families, one would be hard pressed to say just because someone was considered lower income there was an 80-90% chance they were black. However I do accept that there is a very strong possibility the lowest income group could become predominantly black considering the way some things are going. IE: Too many father-less families and a Government that supports it. Which is not just unfortunate but wrong.

[Pitts Bay on 23.05.06 at 07:19]

Interesting to read Dale Butlers comments in the RG today, to the effect that blacks who join the PLP want to be white. This is saying the same thing as Lt Col Burch, but with different words.

I wonder if he beleives that all whites who join the PLP want to be black?

I personally believe that for the most part people join the party which reflects their political beliefs - i.e. J Starling believes in a more socialist left leaning philosophy, so he would naturally join a more socialist left leaning party - the PLP.

Do Burch and Butler really find it hard to accept that a black person can have more conservative political views than them, and as such want to belong to a party on the right side of the spectrum.

This whole "they want to be white" / "they want to be black" thing is just stupid and ignorant and displays the political immaturity of the current PLP administration.

[SmokingGun on 23.05.06 at 10:47]

"to the effect that blacks who join the PLP want to be white."

Pitts Bay - safe to assume that was a typo? (UBP)

[Pitts Bay on 23.05.06 at 10:52]

Yeah that was a typo- far too early to be typing anyway - eyes were not open properly!!

[stuart J Hayward on 23.05.06 at 11:30]

I would rather we took note of Premier Scott's comment (from 19 May RG).

The Premier tells The Royal Gazette that the PLP, under his leadership, won’t be pursuing a white membership drive.
But he says: “We knock on every door. That’s a reflection of our policy when we are canvassing. It reflects a broader policy.
“I have learned over the years that we have to be very careful how we pursue any one group for political purposes, especially for membership purposes.

“If you use race as a premise for your strategies... you will find that it is like a quagmire, like quicksand. You get bogged down in it and you never free yourself from this pernicious social ill.”

He insists a shared goal of Independence is the only thing that can unite black and white Bermudians. And of alleged racism towards whites within his party, he says: “I’m acutely aware of the fact that the PLP and the UBP, any political entity, are grounded in our practices of the past. Not everybody has escaped it.
“Some have been mired by it to the extent that they still carry and act out prejudicial behaviour. I’m disappointed every time I see it happen in Bermuda in general. I’m working tirelessly to change it.”

This is a reasonable viewpoint, and I would like to think it is more accurate an indicator of how the PLP (and most blacks) look at race and politics.

[loki on 23.05.06 at 11:41]

"This is a reasonable viewpoint, and I would like to think it is more accurate an indicator of how the PLP (and most blacks) look at race and politics."

The viewpoint is a reasonable one, Stuart. However, Scott is being dishonest when he says,

“If you use race as a premise for your strategies... you will find that it is like a quagmire, like quicksand. You get bogged down in it and you never free yourself from this pernicious social ill.”

You only have to look at the PLP strategy in the run-up to the 1998 and, in particular, the 2003 election to see that race, racial rhetoric and racial division has been the only visible PLP strategy throughout this period.

How about this Howler, as well:

“I’m acutely aware of the fact that the PLP and the UBP, any political entity, are grounded in our practices of the past. Not everybody has escaped it. Some have been mired by it to the extent that they still carry and act out prejudicial behaviour. I’m disappointed every time I see it happen in Bermuda in general. I’m working tirelessly to change it.”

Really? David Burch made incredibly racially prejudiced comments as part of his weekly party political broadcast on HOTT107. Scott rewarded Burch for his comments by appointing him to Cabinet.

[SmokingGun on 23.05.06 at 12:00]

Interesting that he truly believes independence will unite the races.
Reminds me of a poem:

THE STORM
Neil Whitaker

Who's afraid of the storm?
Who's afraid of the storm?
Keep you back against this dark night
Your hands against this fire so warm
And who's afraid of the storm
I'm just a traveller on the road
Where I'm heading I don't know
But I'll keep you from the dark night
Hold back the curtain let you feel the warm
Who's afraid of the storm?
You've got pictures in your hallway
Of dark clouds rolling o'er the bay
Along a boat is set for sailing
Steer for the wave, hard fast and pray
Who's that knocking at you door?
The Devil, a salesman or St Paul?
If they're here to test your virtue
Will you sin or sell or pray for more
Who's that knocking at your door?
Turn your collar to the cold air
Ride the winds of your mistakes
To be a hero you must know fear
To ride the storm around the cape.

The Tempest is coming again..... and he wants us sailing with only half a crew.

[Uncle Elvis on 23.05.06 at 12:03]

"He insists a shared goal of Independence is the only thing that can unite black and white Bermudians"

You're kidding me, right?

The ONLY thing? THAT is the ONLY thing that can unite the races?

What he writes is absolutely reasonable.
Problem is, I honestly don't believe he means it.

Then again... a politician lying? Shock and horror. i

[lost in flatts on 23.05.06 at 13:23]

This is the same man that claimed Bermuda going independence would bring us more success on the sports field. He'll say anything to help his view, even its completely unfounded.

[silencedogood on 23.05.06 at 13:57]

Independence will bring whites and blacks together in opposition to the idea.

[Denis Pitcher on 23.05.06 at 14:04]

"We knock on every door. That’s a reflection of our policy when we are canvassing. It reflects a broader policy"

So wait, because the PLP knocks on every door they're not racially biased? Are you honestly telling me that the UBP avoids knocking on certain doors because there are black people in those homes?

"“I have learned over the years that we have to be very careful how we pursue any one group for political purposes, especially for membership purposes."

A nice play on words, the PLP hasn't focused on pursuing any one group, simply ONLY one group - Blacks. Black's are the majority, Black's are more economically disadvantaged, Black's appear more likely to be swayed by the "your a traitor to your race if you support, work or even associate with them (whites)" argument.

I don't even necessarily have much of a problem with this stance, though as a Bermudian of mixed racial decent who considers himself neither fully Black nor fully white, I do find it hard to accept it. I am all for Black empowerment, just not under the conditions as set out my the individuals presently leading the PLP.

In another article in today's Gazette Dale Butler is quoted as saying that "he believed many whites on the island - and in the UBP - still saw blacks as 'incapable, incompetent and unable'. He said: 'Blacks don't have a business plan because they have not been given the business education that they need. If we did we'd be opening up more businesses'".

The issue is that Black's seem to be assuming that only they are being disadvantaged in present industry when it is all Bermudians. I sat down with a foreign executive in International Business who very flatly told me (in front of his Black Bermudian colleague) that young Bermudians fail to communicate their thoughts and ideas on an international level. We essentially bastardize the english language in our own manner and despite how intelligent and capable we are, if we can't sell ourselves and our ideas we'll never be able to compete. On top of that we have an industry reputation for being lazy and complacent, and when we're competeing against the best in the world for the industries we host, we can't have a lackluster attitude towards hard work.

If Blacks "have not been given the business education that they need", then who's fault is it? We've had 7 full years of a BLACK government, what have they done to improve the education of not only Blacks, but Bermudians in general? All these middle aged people are sitting here still complaining about what the UBP did to them while what they fail to see is that MY GENERATION will be chastising them for what they're DOING TO US!

The excuse that Black's don't have a business plan is worthless. If so, why arn't we offering free government subsudized night courses to BERMUDIANS who wish to learn about business via the college so they can be equipped with the right tools?

"Black entrepreneurship hasn't stepped forward. The real talents of this country will not develop until we remove these racial impediments" - So wait, the support and assistance of the national training board means nothing? The openly publicized loans offered by the banks for entrepreneurs are only available to white people?

These statements seem like a walking contraction, because today's leaders are still too busy blaming the past for why they didn't get further ahead. They'll never actually look at the future and realise that very soon they will be the target of blame for their own failures to make the most of the opportunity they have.

I await the slow and brutal awakening our country seems to need to face before we wake up to reality. I just hope there is still something of a country left when we finally do.

[Zoom on 23.05.06 at 14:14]

"We knock on every door. That’s a reflection of our policy when we are canvassing. It reflects a broader policy"

Bullshit Mr. P.

Over the years, I have lived in several constituencies in Bermuda - including both PLP and UBP strongholds. I have been a registered voter at all those addresses.

Never once has a PLP candidate or MP knocked on my door or attempted communication beyond mass mailings. To the contrary, the UBP rep has come at every election and, depending on the individual, at intervals.

[Adjustah on 23.05.06 at 14:26]

"The Premier tells The Royal Gazette that the PLP, under his leadership, won’t be pursuing a white membership drive."

No shit?

[SmokingGun on 23.05.06 at 14:30]

Knock knock:
Who's there?
"P"
P who?
"P who - something smells like crap."

[Zoom on 23.05.06 at 14:37]

"The Premier tells The Royal Gazette that the PLP, under his leadership, won’t be pursuing a white membership drive."

There are a lot of things they aren't pursuing under his leadership.

Well, except for the ole independence-and-self-aggrandizement agenda. He's all over that one.

[ace on 23.05.06 at 14:49]

"We knock on every door. That’s a reflection of our policy when we are canvassing. It reflects a broader policy"

Bullshit Mr. P.

Over the years, I have lived in several constituencies in Bermuda - including both PLP and UBP strongholds. I have been a registered voter at all those addresses.

Never once has a PLP candidate or MP knocked on my door or attempted communication beyond mass mailings. To the contrary, the UBP rep has come at every election and, depending on the individual, at intervals.
------------------------------

Not one knock from the PLP here...ever.

Total B/S "P".

[Michael Taylor on 23.05.06 at 15:05]

Denis Pitcher writes:
"In another article in today's Gazette Dale Butler is quoted as saying that "he believed many whites on the island - and in the UBP - still saw blacks as 'incapable, incompetent and unable'. He said: 'Blacks don't have a business plan because they have not been given the business education that they need. If we did we'd be opening up more businesses'"."

Way to go Dale! Accuse "many" whites of believing Blacks are ability challenged when it comes to business and right after that, claim that blacks lack the necessary business education and thus may be incapable. "Walking contradiction" is right!

[SmokingGun on 23.05.06 at 15:11]

Good post Denis.

[Bob on 23.05.06 at 15:12]

Michael T,

I believe Dennis used "walking contraction" to describe Mr. Butler.

So perhaps he is lacking the same communication abilities he described earlier, right?

But wouldn't you agree that he is still a pretty smart kid and quite capable, competent and able?

[Michael Taylor on 23.05.06 at 15:20]

Bob,

Sorry, I'm not following your post or question. Who do you mean by "he"? My post was not directed at Denis in any way at all, only to Dale Butler's words which Denis kindly posted for us. I quoted some of Denis' text because I couldn't find text of the original interview and I wanted to make it clear that I am taking Denis' word for it.

[Denis Pitcher on 23.05.06 at 15:38]

Bob,

I wasn't necessarily just referring to Mr. Butler, but many of our politicians in general. They do alot of finger pointing at the past and the issues, but when it's they're turn to make a difference, they're still busy pointing.

The sad thing is that I have alot of respect for Mr. Butler. He is smart and capable, and he is one of few that I actually see walking the streets of Hamilton and talking to people. Overall I think he is one of our better ministers but I was quite disappointed by his comments in today's Gazette.

My overall issue is that we need to focus less on race issues and see the real picture. If you know even just a little bit about the international business community, you'll know that talented Bermudians who are smart and capable are very hard to hold on to. They're always being offered a bigger and better deal by other companies wanting to snatch them away.

The problem is that there are so few. I'm really disappointed when some members of the PLP go on about race being the cause of our problems. I certainly won't deny that they may have been the precursor to them, but they arn't the only cause today.

If our government truly wants to empower blacks, then why don't they stop talking about it and actually do it?

Instead of increasing the travel budget by $6.7 million how about our ministers stop pampering themselves and actually spend that money on "Blacks lacking business education".

If we subsudized $1000 to each Bermudian wishing to attend "How to develop a business plan" course, that'd amount to approximately 6500 people.

How about the $11 million spent on cricket? - there's maybe 10000 people.

How about the $70 million wasted on Berkeley? - Thats enough for a $1000 course for EVERY SINGLE BERMUDIAN.

I think it's about time we had manditory drug testing for our Ministers, at least then we'd know what they'd been smoking when they come up with this "race rhetoric" as an excuse to their own failures.

[Michael Taylor on 23.05.06 at 15:49]

Thanks Denis. Nice post by the way!

[Denis Pitcher on 23.05.06 at 15:55]

Bob,

I also meant to type "walking contradiction" (as in being contradictory to yourself and others), not walking contraction. Unfortunately when your posting on a break from getting work done, it doesn't leave much for proofreading.

[Bob on 23.05.06 at 16:16]

By "he" I meant Denis and he was used as an example.

[Rossini on 23.05.06 at 16:22]

Mr. Pitcher, I am reluctant to take you on in this forum but please don't make the mistake of thinking that race isn't "the real picture" in Bermuda.The fair shake eludes so many Bermudians of colour even today.In my own employment I am forced daily to confront white cliques devoted to keeping black Bermudians out of certain positions. Thankfully I can influence hiring practices and can provide the opportunity to fail for those blacks who come seeking it. This is not about affirmative action; I am not advocating special treatment, I am just talking about fairness.Even today I have people with Masters Degrees in their chosen fields who cannot get a job in their own country on the basis of those age old hang-ups..."oh we only advertised to renew the contract"; "ah...we need someone with a little more experience"...."oh, do you speak German....we have a lot of business there...". Extrapolate this to Cheryl Alves' interview in Saturday's Gazette where it sets out that she wouldn't speak to the reporter about her PLP affiliation until after she had secured her new job for fear of....race, sir, is regrettably the real picture in this country.

[silencedogood on 23.05.06 at 16:44]

Excellent posts Denis. I agree with everything you said. Don't let Rossini's poisoned viewpoint infect you.

Note how he claims his employer is discriminatory, yet he is apparently in a position of power with the ability to hire and fire. Talk about walking contradictions!