"Pathetic"

Having become a new father on Monday, I didn’t intend to blog much for the next few weeks. But I am so disgusted by the comments made by Deputy Premier Ewart Brown to the African Diaspora Heritage Trail conference yesterday, I had to write.

In his opening address to the conference, Dr. Brown said:

"Ours is a curious nation. In 2006 we are still forced as a government to defend policies that are aimed at empowering a majority of the population and made to consult with representatives of the minority to reverse years of economic injustice against the majority…

Even the suggestion of a programme [the Social Agenda] aimed at addressing the ills of a segment of this majority population is met by protest and accusations of undue favour.

We will continue to wrestle with these issues, but my hope is that the deliberations of the next few days along with the exposure which that will bring will go some ways towards curing the perception that to empower black people in this country is some sort of evil.”

Such cheap, racial politics is dangerously divisive. Dr. Brown’s implication that there is a perception that empowering black people is evil suggests that either he is completely out of touch with what most people think about black empowerment or deliberately distorting reality. Governments should be ready to defend all their policies, because even when their aims are laudable, reasonable people can still differ on the best way to achieve them. Governments should consult with minorities, even though in a democracy they do not have to, because it is a government’s responsibility to represent all its people. As Christian Dunleavy put it, "The aspiring Premier's autocratic tendencies are showing through again.".

In a statement, Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert (who, it should be noted, is black), reacted angrily to Dr. Brown’s comments:

“Dr. Brown’s inference that white Bermudians are blocking the Government from meeting the needs of black Bermudians is the worst form of scapegoating. It is a pathetic attempt to shift attention away from his Government’s principal responsibility to help people in need.”

Dr. Brown is, in my opinion, the most effective politician Bermuda has. That makes his readiness to exploit racial division for political ends, and his contempt for accountability, all the more disappointing. After all, this is merely the latest in a long line of similar comments. This is the man who remains unapologetic about evoking the days of slavery to make black voters feel that those who vote for the UBP are betraying their race; who admitted deceiving Bermudians about his coup to remove former PLP Premier Jennifer Smith; and who refuses to answer questions about his behaviour when he believes that no white man would be asked a similar question.

This country doesn’t need men like that, no matter how effective they may be. It will be a sad day for Bermuda if Dr. Brown ever becomes Premier.

Comments

[Tiger Bay on 29.09.06 at 21:04]

I am white and middle class and have respect for Ewart Brown's capabilities. But his speech has sharply reminded me that Ewart will never represent all Bermudians and he will always revert to the racial cheap shot. He's quite dangerous for Bermuda.

It is very ironic for Ewart to whip up the downtrodden black line. He's a wealthy and successful doctor. He and his brothers hold very high positions in Bermuda society. He owns a fancy pad in mid-town Manhattan as well as a place at Oak Bluffs on Marthas Vineyard (black America's Tuckers Town). He's been in power for 8 years. He is the elite.

With his racial potstirring, he just hopes the PLP working class don't figure out he is the new Forty Theives.

[prjohnson on 30.09.06 at 06:26]

And don't forget he has not explained away accusations of pay to play where he allegedly took in excess of $30k payable to his own accounts.

Dr B, you read this blog I know from people in yr office .......... haven't got the moral fibre to reply though have you?

Despicable.

PS - nice bill for the Al Burj at $8k - I saw it. ...and you never did produce that report you did you ?!

PJ

[island dweller on 30.09.06 at 09:56]

Limey and Tiger,

You make great points.

However, two points.

1) Ewart Brown will never publically state that in 8 years he has gotten his 40 acres and a mule and ammased 120 acres and 5 mules because he was voted in by the people. And many of those same people now cannot even pay rent.

2) What Ewart Brown stated is truth as he sees it. Ewart Brown/PLP platform has always been about blacks. Barabra Ball was a nice fit like John Swan was a nice fit. Stop waisting your time focusing on Brown. The more ink you give him, the more prominent and exhalted he becomes.

[SmokingGun on 30.09.06 at 12:15]

Dr. Brown seems to want everyone to believe that white people think black empowerment is evil. Think about that statement for a bit. How antagonistic a comment can you get? He's playing dirty politics and in a very public forum is using the ears of the very children you are afraid of hearing the honest truth from. It appears he purposely wants distrust amongst the races so he can say he's only in politics to help his people get ahead. Yeah right. He's doing dandy but how about the real people who truly are concerned about their ability to survive in Bermuda? Both black and white.

It's false leadership that takes care of just one segment of the people.

Doc Brown is feathering his extended families nest at the expense of a great deal of Bermudians and the only way he will be able to continue to do so is by maintaining political control. The more he has at stake the lower he will go. Connect the dots folks. It's not that hard to figure out who's making out like a bandit.

[Tony B on 30.09.06 at 13:07]

It is all about what is ok for the black brothers is OK...Even if it means bending the rules...or indeed breaking them !!

Meanwhile to all my black UBP brothers....a vote for the UBP will see all of us have FAIR government....Honest Government....

The days of the plantation are well and truly over...and it is time for Dr. Brown to stop his Farrakhan stytle rants....and perpetuating black hatred againgst whites.

[prjohnson on 30.09.06 at 16:39]

smoking - cldn't agree more + what's that I hear about Brown's connections with Cuba?

join the dots as you say !

God someone needs to dig the dirt here !

[thereyougo on 30.09.06 at 22:29]

I am not sure I agree with these comments. I believe that many whites are against "policies that are aimed at empowering a majority of the population" "to reverse years of economic injustice against the majority".

For many whites whose opinions I hear, the idea that blacks will be given preferential treatment is anathema. There is a fear that this means having something of ours taken away. It is not clear what but perhaps land, certainly job opportunities.

And yet for years we as whites have benefitted from a system which set us up to succeed over blacks and which still today has an effect.

An example is as follows:
I was speaking to a white real estate agent about three years ago. He made it clear that instead of advertising a particular property he would first try word of mouth so that the tenant would be white, the inference being that black tenants would be somehow undesirable. I also noted that he only seemed to hire white contractors for plumbing, landscaping, painting, electrical work, etc.

Not only does this benefit white renters but it benefits the white small contractors he hires who are not competing against a large portion of the contractors in the island and by nature of their colour are getting preferential treatment. Even though they may not be wealthy in the "old family" sense they are benefitting from their skin colour.

I know Dr Brown's use of the word "evil" is provocative. But for a minute consider what he is saying. He is saying that white people are against policies which favour blacks over whites. Isn't this true in any way of some white people? What policies is he talking about?

The question I would ask is, if you are white, do you see such policies as a good or bad thing? Are there perhaps some policies which you feel good about and others which you dislike because you feel they discriminate against you?

[Phil on 30.09.06 at 23:46]

thereyougo

I know Dr Brown's use of the word "evil" is provocative. But for a minute consider what he is saying. He is saying that white people are against policies which favour blacks over whites. Isn't this true in any way of some white people?

Yes, that's true of me. I do not support policies that favour blacks at the expense of whites. For example, I do not believe that it is right for a less qualified black person to be awarded a job at the expense of a more qualified white person to satisfy some arbitrary quota.

However, that's not to say that I do not support black empowerment. I simply believe that the best way to achieve economic equality among the races is by ensuring that both have the same access to opportunity.

This is what I meant when I said that reasonable people can differ on the best way to achieve certain goals. If Dr. Brown was serious about addressing economic equality between the races he would participate in this discussion in a mature fashion. He wouldn't be going around labelling people as "evil".

[Rossini on 01.10.06 at 08:05]

Wow, Limey. To say that you have taken what Dr. Brown said entirely out of context would be an understatement. He didn't call anyone "evil". Thereyougo is spot on.I don't know in what circles you operate but most white's are incensed at the suggestion of black economic inequality, never mind action at empowerment.Christian Dunleavy has devoted three of his posts to this speech,the Editor of the Gazette was spurred write a rare Editorial and on a Saturday at that, and the Gazette have been "following-up" this story for two days now.Methinks they doth protest too much.It amazes me how white people in this country respond to a discussion about race.All say they want it and we need it but when it comes its labelled as divisive. What you and others don't get can be summarised into two main thoughts. 1. A simple application of equality of treatment can not and will not reverse the 400 years we are trying to and 2. even if that were the approach, it would look like some kind of affirmative action programme to you because you'd then realise just how much of a minority you really are.Here's the dilemma....the reason that Wayne Furbert and Dunleavy can criticise this government for having done nothing to empower blacks is because they have not done the preferential thing, they have done just what you have suggested, treat people equally in terms of contracts,jobs, and policies.The result of that is that blacks have not done as well under the PLP as they could have done precisely because they have not sought to empower on group over another. So, what are Furbert and Dunleavy saying when they criticse the PLP and Dr. Brown on this issue, that they should have done the preferential thing which you describe as wrong ?! To cite the joke of an Economic Empowerment Bill that the UBP brought as some means by which to empower black people is sheer "fantasy", to borrow Mr. Zuill's latest label of the PLP.I don't recall the word black anywhere in that Bill.

Limey,you and others SAY you support black economic empowerment but when it does come I trust you will remember that and remind those who say so publicly too but who we hear while we serve them in Tucker's Town, at Robin Hood and at the Yacht Club, saying something completely different.

[silencedogood on 01.10.06 at 09:49]

I believe Dr. Brown to be crooked and self-serving, but I would never take away from him the fact he is an intelligent guy, and as the Limey says, an effective politician (is that a compliment? I can't decide).

So my inner cynic is not surprised that he's using race baiting when playing to his base. It's an unfortunate, stupid, and destabilizing for Bermuda but yet another proof that Ewart cares more about Ewart than he does for his country.

My inner idealist shudders because here's a guy who has a lot of potential to do a great service for bermuda but he spoils his potential through greed and excessive ambition. Such a waste.

Black empowerment sez he--improvement in public education sez I.

[NoVote on 01.10.06 at 10:07]

The key to this debate is discrimination versus empowerment.

Only the most narrow minded and selfish of individuals would oppose empowerment of a disadvantaged section of the population...even if it might increase the amount of competition that individual might personally face. This is because it's aim is to broaden access to opportunity.

Discrimination on the other hand does little to broaden opportunity for those that it favours, but actively denies opportunity for those at which it's targeted.

In my view too much of the current government's rhetoric focuses on denying opportunity to the white population rather than achieving empowerment for the black population.

[Phil on 01.10.06 at 10:23]

Rossini

I don't know in what circles you operate but most white's are incensed at the suggestion of black economic inequality, never mind action at empowerment.

Then I believe that you are as out of touch with mainstream white opinion as Dr. Brown.

It amazes me how white people in this country respond to a discussion about race.All say they want it and we need it but when it comes its labelled as divisive.

That's because Dr. Brown's comments were divisive. How will they help blacks achieve economic equality? If Dr. Brown really wanted a discussion, he would articulate what he believes needs to be done to level the economic playing field. If he suggested affirmative action, I wouldn't agree with him, but I would respect his position. If he said the key is improving access to capital and education for black Bermudians and he would do X, Y and Z to achieve this, I might even agree with him. But he's not discussing specifics.

The result of that is that blacks have not done as well under the PLP as they could have done precisely because they have not sought to empower on group over another.

Now, you might have a point here. But since you say that action does need to be taken to address economic equality, it begs the question: what policies do the PLP have to address this?

To cite the joke of an Economic Empowerment Bill that the UBP brought as some means by which to empower black people is sheer "fantasy", to borrow Mr. Zuill's latest label of the PLP. I don't recall the word black anywhere in that Bill.

Answer one question for me: had that bill been passed, do you think its effect would have been felt more by black businesses or by white businesses?

[Several Questions for Limey on 01.10.06 at 11:00]

Limey,

1) Do you think that there ever has been genuine economic benefits of being white in Bermuda? Do you think these benefits still exist? If not, when did these benefits cease to exist in your opinion?

2) Would you support an equally qualified black person or business getting a job over an equally qualified white person or business as a means to address past and current economic equality?

3) Do you think there are cases (past and present) where less qualified whites are given jobs over blacks?

4) What examples would you use to demonstrate that whites have actually tried to bring about economic equality? Can you cite examples within Bermuda organisations of efforts to address past and current discrimination?

5) Why do you think the UBP failed to use the word "black" in their economic empowerment bill? Do you think the UBP's failure to use the word "black" in their empowerment bill is an example of tip-toeing around the real issue?

6) Do you have any actual practical recommendations for addressing the years of alleged economic advantage that whites have gained over blacks?

[island dweller on 01.10.06 at 11:37]

All,

You continue to debate this.

Ok. All the white people raise their hands. All the black people raise their hands.

Now, there is no way a white person can say they understand what it is to be black. Likewise, there is no way a black person can say they understand what it is to be white.

Limey, because we have a "black friend" it does not make you or me all knowing. Same for Christian and William Zuil.

Your opportunities for education and wealth were never limited by race. Dr. Brown is an idot because of his approach, but he does have a point, which I hate to say.

Consider this: When the majority of your community is black and they have been educated in a public education system that we all know is a failure, what shall we expect of them when we ask them important questions like: sustainability - the environment, or about independence - a referendum? The fact is you don't ask ill informed people for answers. You educate them then ask their opionon.

You might not be aware of this, but slaves were forbidden education because Masters knew it created a sense of empowerment; so I have been informed by watching some of those TV programs.

Fortunately Limey, you are afforded opportunities and access because you are a white male with education.

And sad as it is, if you were a local black male with education, the opportunities afforded to you were significantly less.

Where do we go from here? Access needs to be provided to all.

[Phil on 01.10.06 at 12:06]

Several Questions

1. Yes, I’m certain that there have been economic benefits of being white in Bermuda. In some cases, those benefits will still exist. Some of that wealth will have been passed down through the generations and there are certainly still racist whites out there whose preferences may benefit other whites. However for most whites, who do not come from wealthy families, I think the economic benefits of being white today are considerably less than they used to be.

2. Hypothetically, yes. However, in reality no two candidates are ever equally qualified. Even if their paper qualifications are identical, any two people are likely to differ in their work experience and attitudes. Similarly, a business is made up of individuals, and the attitudes of those individuals is likely to have a bearing on which business gets the job when all other things are equal.

3. Absolutely.

4. I cannot give you any concrete examples. Perhaps others may be able to do so. All I can tell you is that when I am assessing candidates for software development positions at my company, I look for knowledge, interest, and a good attitude. The race of the candidate is irrelevant. Economic equality will happen naturally if a) most other recruiters do the same (and I believe they do) and b) blacks have the same opportunities as whites to develop those skills.

5. In my opinion, the UBP’s aim was to help small businesses, and wanted that help to be rendered based on need, not skin colour. Why should, say, a struggling Portuguese business be excluded? Nevertheless, I think black businesses would have been the primary beneficiaries. That being the case, it seems churlish to criticise the bill for not using the word “black”.

6. Ensure that blacks who have the aptitude but not the money are not prevented from getting a top-class education. Establish scholarships and bursaries as required to allow them to go to private school, and ensure that parents are aware of their existence and encouraged to apply. Consider scrapping the BSC and replacing it with a more internationally-recognised qualification. Encourage black Bermudians to make use of their British passports to get work experience in the EU before returning to Bermuda. Re-establish the old Bermuda Tech, so those who are not academically inclined have the opportunity to develop vocational qualifications.

[Rev. Goat(the bigot) on 01.10.06 at 12:34]

"Consider this: When the majority of your community is black and they have been educated in a public education system that we all know is a failure"

I don’t know if you have noticed this or not, but blacks have had majority control of all government assets for decades.

The schools are crap because the majority let them be crap. They let them be crap because they refused to take responsibility for their own destinies because it was, and is still convenient to blame whites and expats for their own shortcomings.

When you stop promoting hatred and blaming others for everything, and when you start being responsible for your family’s welfare and education and caring about what your children are doing, then your so called empowerment would happen, just as it has to all the successful blacks. I believe Burch calls them “house niggers”, see….the PLP puts down black people when they do well! You are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

The underlying fact is that Brown is not clever, he is ignorant and manipulative, and if he thinks he has garnered support he is wrong, many blacks are becoming disgusted with these liars and cheats that have been raiding the Bermuda treasury. Just because some don’t agree with him they are now stupid!

That Dubai trip Brown took could have paid for a semester at a US University! Do you think he cares a damn about Bermuda’s youth and their future! The only people that his statements will appeal to are the unfortunate and uneducated, and it is evident that the PLP is doing everything it can to ensure the blacks stay that way so that their little hate campaigns can win them elections. These people are so predictable, we all knew this was coming, after all…it’s they only chance they have to bull shit the voters because they are incapable of anything else!

[stuart J Hayward on 01.10.06 at 13:41]

Limey writes:
If Dr. Brown was serious ... [h]e wouldn't be going around labelling people as "evil".

Limey,
While you are entitled to disparage Dr. Brown's positions and statements, you cross the line when you distort or misrepresent what he says. Dr. Brown neither stated nor implied that any person was evil, nor did he lable anyone as such.

Your own quote from his reported remarks reads, "... my hope is that the deliberations of the next few days along with the exposure which that will bring will go some ways towards curing the perception that to empower black people in this country is some sort of evil.”

He spoke only to a "perception that black empowerment is evil", and his hope that that perception might be cured. I wish you hadn't attempted to retrack his comment as though he was "labeling people as evil" Your doing so raises questions in my mind about your objectivity and fairness.

I trust you will see the benefit to the debate, and to this Blog, of revisiting and revising your statement.

[island dweller on 01.10.06 at 15:10]

Stuart,

Are you OK over there? Brown is all about himself and those that serve him. He is the Master and he does have the House Niggers.

Hey Rev Goat,

Take your head out of the clouds. Blacks holding assets? Assest are worthless if you don't "KNOW" their value.

[Phil on 01.10.06 at 15:16]

Stuart

You are correct. I should have said "He wouldn't be going around suggesting that there there is a general perception that empowering black people is "evil"". The rest of my comments stand.

What do you think of Dr. Brown's comments? Do you agree with them? Do you think they're helpful?

[Several Questions for Limey on 01.10.06 at 15:16]

1) Limey, I do agree that the benefits of being white today are considerably yes, but do you think there are still significant advantages to being white today?

2) Point taken, but by equally qualified I meant that they had the education and experience to do the job, combined with a positive attitude in the work place. If all professional matters were as close to identical as possible, would you support a policy where a black person got preferential treatment as a means to address past and current economic inequaltiy?

3) Would you say that this happens to any significant degree today?

4) If you are not able to give a single example, then is Dr. Brown's notion that whites are resistant to economic empowerment that far fetched? Surely we should be able to point at one example? Let's assume that we all wake up tomorrow and there is not a single white person with a racial hang-up. If race remains irrelevant in job hiring, and decisions being made are completely colour-blind, then wouldn't you be dragging out a correction in the economy? Being indifferent to past racism is quite an effective means of perpetuating advantage is it not?

5) But isn't this sticking their head in the sand at one moment, and then waving a black empowerment flag the next? If this was about small business and race, then what point would Jamahl Simmons be making in his rebuttal to Brown when he mentions the UBP's economic empowerment bill? It offends me, and gives Brown legitimacy when the UBP won't come right out and say that we need to make an economic correction for past racism and benefits gained by whites.

One could argue that Portuguese Bermudians should be covered under a real initiative to correct for economic advantages gained and maintained by white Bermudians (though not to the same degree as blacks). Making the focus small businesses instead of directly addressing white privilege speaks volumes about Browns "evil" and how supportive whites are on this issue, does it not?

6) The problem I have with your recommendations, and the reason why I believe that Brown is not entirely off course, is that not a single one of your recommendations involves forcing an employer to change their behaviour and policies. It's that lack of perspective that leads me to believe that whites are exponentially more interested in saving botanical gardens, gay rights and banning smoking, than really dealing with race.

I come from a generation where blacks were educated and very talented, but nonetheless denied opportunities in the workplace. What I'd like to see is our workforce adopt a culture that condemns and is punative towards discrimination. I'd like to see corporate programs on institutionalised racism, sensitivity training and equal opportunity hiring/promotion practices. Bigots should be made to feel very unwelcome, and companies should be promoting diversity as much as they can. Indifference towards race doesn't work, and putting all the weight on the shoulders of blacks and the current government to fix things lays no blame or responsibility on whites and the corporate sector.

[Rossini on 01.10.06 at 15:36]

Thank you Mr.Hayward. Rev. Goat, I hardly know where to begin with your rant.Since the Limey is responsive only to real life examples...voila. Three pupil barristers....same firm, equal qualifications and performance. Two are off to Dubai and Isle of Man repsectively whilst the other is to remain in Bermuda. Guesses anyone.....you got it...the two with plane tickets are white and the one with the bus pass is black. I guess, Limey, we should just be grateful for getting the pupillage huh ? Tell me again how you have polite, sweet discussion about race in this country ? I guess my example is "divisive" too. For the avoidance of doubt, this wasn't 1976, 1986 or 1996...it was February 2006.

Further, I recognise that the architects of the piss poor education system we have today were black, the lone exception being Dr. Clarence Terceira. He, along with Gerald Simons, Dr. Marion Robinson and Jerome Dill are the main culprits of the modern fiasco. They have done exceptionally well, yes, but thier legacy is the system no-one has the courage to fix today. What they did to us as black people in this country was a second sale into slavery. As President Rawlins reminded us this week, white people had some help from blacks in doing what they did to us...why should Bermuda be any different ?

I wonder if in those circles you travel, Limey, that kind of truth is forthcoming or is it just my "out of touch" self at work ? Ask Dunleavy if he remembers those named in this post and let him try some revisionist history for those who think the history of Bermuda started on the 9th of Novemner 1998.

[Wickering Banker :-) -----: on 01.10.06 at 15:37]

Rev Goat. You got it right.

Brown's consistant race filled comments help nobody, least of all himself.

Pretty soon, only the extremely stupid will listen & believe.

[Phil on 01.10.06 at 16:26]

Several Questions

1. Significant? I think not. Beyond that? I’m not sure. I attribute my successes to my level of education and motivation. But perhaps I have benefited from my skin colour and just not realised it.

2. See my previous answer. Hypothetically, I would. But you never have two candidates that are identical. There are always differences.

3. To a significant degree, I think not. However I am sure that there are racist individuals here and there who do exactly as you say.

4. My inability to give an example speaks only to my ignorance, not to the validity of Dr. Brown’s point (and certainly not to the way he chose to phrase it). And just because whites who wish to perpetuate their advantage may not want to talk about past racism does not mean that the reverse is also true.

5. I don’t think that the UBP’s bill was intended as some form of reparations for the past. I think its aim was to provide equal opportunity to all in the present.

6. My list wasn’t intended to be exhaustive. I agree with all your suggestions about cultivating a culture that condemns and is punitive towards discrimination; about corporate programs on institutionalised racism, sensitivity training and equal opportunity hiring/promotion practices; about making bigots feel unwelcome. However, I think a lot of this exists already. If individual employers are discriminating on racial grounds then there is already legislation to deal with them. What I don’t support, however, is quotas. Don’t generalise to all whites based on my opinions though – there are plenty of white people out there who do.

[a thursday wart on 01.10.06 at 18:16]

The issue here is not white resistance but the PLP party's failure to even attempt to implement anything to achieve what Brown says they're being obstructed on.

Rossini has succeeded in putting limey et al on the defensive rather than Brown and his colleagues. Which is precisely what Brown intended.

Brown has drawn attention to the PLPs failure to act on what they profess to be their core value. Turning it on its head and putting whites on the defensive is hysterical.

[island dweller on 01.10.06 at 18:17]

You persist with this debate.

Why are white people attempting to decide what is good for black people?

Why are whites offended with what Dr. Brown has stated?

I don't agree with Dr. Brown's approach, but he does have a point. He speaks from a black perspective, something he knows about.

Who is the white person speaking out on the white perspective of this matter? Not critizing what Dr. Brown said, but what is the White experience of racisim.

Limey, it is rather silly saying how you hire based on education and ability. To be quite frank that is a RACIST statement in and of its self. How, you may ask?

- You had to "pre-qualify" your selection process.

If it were a white person and a white person vying for the same job, your selection process would be very different because you would already ASSUME that there was a high degree of education when applying for the job(because they are white), so to establish difference you would look at other attributes, like sporting activities and associations they belong to (THAT is why that was added to the Curriculum Vitae).

Take note of this: The Chamber of Commerce and the Bermuda Employers Council are white run institutions and they have not stated anything to acknowledge there is a racial problem in business. They establish the norm in business - such as where to hire, who to hire and give guidance on reasonable business policies. You will notice that they are the same organizations that ring the ALARM bell when you upset their institutionalized policies.

Racism is perpetuated, by someone, could that be You And Me?

[Pitts Bay on 01.10.06 at 18:24]

Rossini

I am only aware of one Bermuda law firm with offices in Dubai, but they do not have offices in IOM.

I am not doubting anything you are saying, but to me it sounds like your facts are a bit off - intentionally or otherwise. Helps your argument when the facts are right.

Pitts Bay

[Rossini on 01.10.06 at 18:36]

Several questions has hit the Limey..er the nail right on the head. How patronising a statement Limey : "Economic equality will happen naturally if a) most other recruiters do the same (and I believe they do) and b) blacks have the same opportunites as whites to develop those skills". Well damn ! That is the most compact statement of white power in this country I have ever heard.Your prescription is the age-old wait at the table and the crumbs will come. If the recruiters are mostly white how do we even get to opportunity ?! You've missed the whole point...if its down to white people to let blacks in the door it ain't gonna happen.....and that's the point of economic empowerment of blacks...removing the decision making power on black economic well-being from white hands. I for one refuse to accept that there has been some epiphany under our noses whereby whites are now colour blind and blacks are the racists. In fact its the reverse. In my experience, a white interviewer is clear on what applicant he wants for a particular job...its the blacks who are applying the equality thing..that's our curse in eternity to be nicer to others than we have ever been to ourselves.....but neither you nor your bloggers are ready for that discussion on the psycology of blacks looking out for whites.....that would of course be divisive.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 01.10.06 at 19:43]

Limey,

While I may not have used the word evil, the fact remains that blacks in Bermuda have been and are still economically disadvantaged. This disadvantage has much more to do simply with skin colour and appearance than anything else.

I recall there being absolute dead silence from the white community when Michael Collier, the than President of Butterfield Bank stated that blacks were not promoted due to a lack of education. Yet when Renee Webb stated that she wanted to award contracts to people who look like her she was loudly criticised by the white community.

By the way, Michael Collier never went to university, he was a white man who graduated from Mount St. Agnes, began as a teller and worked his way up to become President of the bank. Think the same road would be travelled by a black man?

[Rev. Goat(the bigot) on 01.10.06 at 19:47]

So what exactly does the PLP mean by empowerment? Is it a fist in the air with “yaw bye” being shouted?......That’s my interpretation…how can IB or any other employer respect that, who wants to hire people that hate you? I mean after all, the PLP make it clear on a regular basis.

What about empowerment within their own ranks? Thanks for the history lesson and blame being passed once again to the UBP Rossini but please enlighten me on the PLPs hierarchy.

Why isn’t Dale Butler the education minister? It confounds me how all the ministerial positions are taken by the same select few who have very little or no actual experience of the portfolios they hold. I will tell you why, they are a gang, a cabal, and the new 40 thieves. When Renee resigned, was any effort made to promote backbenchers? No way, instead Brown gives himself another portfolio, he controls all the fun and entertainment with tourism and all the fast speedy flash automobiles and boats. He uses the portfolios to sweeten the voters. Party, party and some more Party. How many government cars are there now? These guys are spending like crazy but can’t even put the most qualified individual in the education ministry, this to me is the best example of their double standards as they suppress talent within their own ranks.

Rossini, as for the little story on lawyers I cannot comment as I know nothing of it, but let me tell you something, the idea that whites get everything handed to them makes me laugh, this concept is so one dimensional and ignorant. I am so sick of hearing the same old bleeding heart story like there has never been an average working class white on this island. There are 300 million whitey’s 700 miles away and many of them come here and the very rich ones like to live here. They had nothing to do with the state of your houses and schools around the back of town, in fact their presence has made the Bermuda economic miracle a reality, but the PLP love to use them as an example of the economic disparity within our society to get votes.

People like Brown deliberately try to squeeze as much cash as they can from IB, his behavior is nothing more than political manipulation to just get more. He forgets one thing though as Kramer says on CNBC every night “Pigs get slaughtered”. What I mean by this is that he is going to kill the goose that lays the golden egg and every time that stupid gang open their stupid mouths it becomes more of a reality. Who wants to stay here with a bunch of racist hateful people running it that are constantly leveraging for more money and hand outs .

Wake Up! Bermuda is a pimple on the ass of the world and it can be popped in a heart beat.

[Linda on 01.10.06 at 20:17]

He once told a bunch of protesting taxi drivers that to compare him to Fidel Castro is to pay him a compliment. I, like Limey also find it disappointing that Dr. Brown reverts to these dividing tactics. The man is intelligent, an effective politician, has charisma, and could well be re-elected on his record. I sometimes think he pulls this crap to ensure that his party get back in. They'd never see a third term without playing the race card and reverting to divide and conquer. It's sad.

[island dweller on 01.10.06 at 21:07]

For all those complaining about Dr. Brown.

You do have the ability to vote him out in the next election.

All of you complaining about the PLP, should realize, as Bermudians, it is your own fault. You voted the PLP, directly (casting your vote) or indirectly (not encouraging others to vote).

[stuart J Hayward on 01.10.06 at 21:28]

Rev. Goat writes:

Why isn’t Dale Butler the education minister? It confounds me how all the ministerial positions are taken by the same select few who have very little or no actual experience of the portfolios they hold.
These guys ... can’t even put the most qualified individual in the education ministry

I am quite certain that Dale isn't Education Minister by HIS choice.

An understanding of the Westminster Parliamentary System might help here. Remember, candidates for election have no idea a) whether they will be elected, b) whether their party will gain a majority and thereby form the government, or c) whether they might form part of the Cabinet. If the system depended on people with experience or skills in a given area getting elected, being part of the majority and then being made a Minister, it would be a total crap-shoot.

The system depends instead on the skill sets of civil servants whose expertise and advice should guide whomever is made Minister to the most effective decisions. The best Ministers are often those who are effective decision-makers, even if they are devoid of prior knowledge in the area of their appointed portfolios.

When David Gibbons was Premier, for example, he frequently shuffled his Cabinet for the very reason, as I recall, that he didn't want his Ministers to become too wedded to their portfolios' content.

You are onto something about what you call "the same select few". Given the competition within the party, the current Premier has a limited number of candidates more or less loyal to himself from whom he can select Cabinet Ministers. The choices for Cabinet may well be more about maintaining his majority ...

[NoVote on 01.10.06 at 22:14]

Rossini,

30% of the Bermuda workforce are expatriates...a large proportion of whom are white.

Many of these people have hiring authority within major employers in Bermuda.

The vast majority of them do not come to Bermuda with all of the racial-baggage that seems to permeate the indigenous population.

Why is it then that you assume that every white person applies racial bias when they make recruitment decisions?

This is simply not the case.

The US, UK and Canada, from which many of these expatriates hail, have matured a great deal more than Bermuda has in terms of attitudes to race, and you should not assume that the skin colour of these expatriates is a reflection of their attitudes just because you've seen in the past Bermudians who look similar behaving unacceptably.

[stuart J Hayward on 01.10.06 at 22:18]

Limey writes:

What do you think of Dr. Brown's comments? Do you agree with them? Do you think they're helpful?

Dr Brown has a history of making remarks that are at worst inflammatory and at best insensitive or ill-thought-through. He also, and here I agree with you, has an autocratic streak that I find disquieting. If however, I deal only with the quote you cited, Dr. Brown’s comments resonate with me (and, I would imagine, with many in the black community).

Dr. Brown spoke of “being forced to consult” with the minority. This is very different from voluntarily consulting or doing so as part of a mutually agreeable process. I interpret this comment as pointing to the power wielded by the minority — a power disproportionate to their numbers. I ask you to think about any of the institutions we consider healthily democratic — clubs and associations, boards of directors of companies large and small, democratic governments. Wouldn’t you think it curious in any of them if a minority wielded the power? Why not in a country?

And on the next point, don’t we consider it fair that if a football player on one team commits a foul then the other team should get a free kick? Why is that sense of fair play so difficult to accept for foul play in society? Granted, the situation in society is much more complex than on the football field, but if we accept that one group has been held back (and I will list evidence of actions and results if need be), should there not be some attempt to even out or cancel the ill-gotten advantage? I think yes, though my own dislike for foul play would prohibit eye-for-eye type redress.

I agree with you that governments should be prepared to defend their policies. They should establish policies and enunciate them clearly as a prior step. Our government has not done much of this well, and should be called on it.

Just because Dr. Brown’s style may be offensive does not mean that the points he is making should be defaulted as untrue. All of us will benefit, especially those among us who believe ourselves to possess abilities of clear thinking and good judgment, if we wade through to the core ideas and spend our attention on working them through. If we get sidetracked to heaping emotion-laden reaction upon an already emotion-laden topic, we can miss the chance to make real progress.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 01.10.06 at 22:52]

Rev Goat,

"It confounds me how all the ministerial positions are taken by the same select few who have very little or no actual experience of the portfolios they hold."

Dr. Tessie Teceira, a dentist, was Minsiter of Works, Jim Woolridge, a plumber by trade was Minister of Tourism, John Irving Pearman, a mechanic, was Minister of Home Affairs, etc. So what is your point?

"...instead Brown gives himself another portfolio, he controls all the fun and entertainment with tourism and all the fast speedy flash automobiles and boats."

Last I checked Cabinet Ministers were appointed by the Premier not the Deputy Premier.

"People like Brown deliberately try to squeeze as much cash as they can from IB,..."

So just how much cash has Dr. Brown squeezed from IB?

[Carol Shuman on 02.10.06 at 03:33]

The US, UK and Canada, from which many of these expatriates hail, have matured a great deal more than Bermuda has in terms of attitudes to race, and you should not assume that the skin colour of these expatriates is a reflection of their attitudes just because you've seen in the past Bermudians who look similar behaving unacceptably.

Posted by NoVote on 01.10.06 at 22:14

I don't pretend to understand what Ewart is getting at with some of his comments. Having known him professionally, I found him to be open, intelligent, caring about Bermuda, and a fun man to be around. When the Bush/Gore fiasco occurred, his discussion was enlightening, far beyond anything the media in the U.S. observed.

But I'd like to know who in heaven's name has even the perception that empowering blacks is "evil." Limey, I think a few people are missing your point about equality; perhaps they can't understand it because of seeminly cult-like thinking that goes on in some circles. Remember, cults gain their powers by convincing their members that others are out to get them, evil, and total adherence to the leader's philosophy will save their souls...anyone for Kool Aid?

However, there's one area (among more than a few) that I'm particularly concerned about--his complaint about "consulting with the minority."

This is one of the statements that I find startling. Said in the U.S., Canada, or the UK, I suspect a listener would simply shake his or her head and wonder, what the heck is this about? Every voice deserves to be heard. EVERY voice.

And, both in politics and medicine, it's very important to listen.

[newbie on 02.10.06 at 07:38]

Limey, it is rather silly saying how you hire based on education and ability. To be quite frank that is a RACIST statement in and of its self. How, you may ask?

- You had to "pre-qualify" your selection process.

If it were a white person and a white person vying for the same job, your selection process would be very different because you would already ASSUME that there was a high degree of education when applying for the job(because they are white), so to establish difference you would look at other attributes, like sporting activities and associations they belong to (THAT is why that was added to the Curriculum Vitae).

I give up. It would appear that Limey is being 'damned if he does' and 'damned if he doesn't'.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 02.10.06 at 08:02]

NoVote,

"The US, UK and Canada, from which many of these expatriates hail, have matured a great deal more than Bermuda has in terms of attitudes to race..."

I don't necessarily disagree with you about the UK and Canada, especially Canada but the US? The US is the country that still struggles with the issue of race. The US is hte most racially divided country in the western hemisphere.

[Bill Cook on 02.10.06 at 08:43]

All racial problems are human problems but not all human problems are racial problems.

That opens the door for perception, which in my opinion is error prone and subject to manipulation to further ones agenda.

Stuart makes some balanced points and I would just add that defining the disadvantaged be inclusive rather than exclusive.

The Portuguese were and some still are disadvantaged, as indeed are some LTR who have resided and worked in Bermuda for over 30 yrs without status and virtually no chance of ever receiving it, in spite of being told that they would be eligible to keep trying even after being repeatedly turned down.

Being disadvantaged is real to those affected.
I wonder how the Chinese felt all those yrs treated as they were ?

I agree with Linda's comments which I feel most agree on, but the desire for power and control often overide the best interests of a harmonious society and quality of life which should be our first priority in my opinion.

Guilden I think you raise an interesting point with the opportunity afforded to some over others in banking etc. and my own feeling is that ability to produce results trumps all else and so I would be less concerned at starting from the bottom and working their way up with the one proviso that EVERYONE has been allowed equal opportunity to do so.

[polixenes on 02.10.06 at 10:21]

"And on the next point, don’t we consider it fair that if a football player on one team commits a foul then the other team should get a free kick? Why is that sense of fair play so difficult to accept for foul play in society?"

My answer to this is that I don't believe society is made up of a black team and a white team. Comments like this might incite racial divisiveness, Mr. Hayward.

[SmokingGun on 02.10.06 at 11:33]

Guilden- in just the past month at least $400,000, but hey who's counting... ;-)

The major issue I have with Doc Brown's speech is that he's standing up in front of an international crowd for the purpose of discussing the African Diaspora. He has used a great deal of Bermudian's tax money to help promote and organise this event. And yet he very clearly used his opportunity to speak as a way to promote his own seperatist political propaganda.

His words of "evil" and "being forced" convey the message that those who are not of African decent are to this day purposely acting as "white colonialists" trying to maintain "ownership" of all black people. The forum was manipulated and used and President Rawlins could very easily have been talking about Doc Brown with his comments.

As Limey pointed out, here he had an opportunity to talk about what the Diaspora is really all about and if he wanted to politicize it then he should simply have spoken of the real actions that he and his government are doing to help those left along the route. And what he and his people in Bermuda are doing about helping those they left behind in the mother lands.

But he should be extremely careful about how he chose to insult those that are not of African decent. Because if one chooses to believe it or not there are many others who have their own Diasporas to deal with. After all how do you think places like the US and Australia ever got started.

[thereyougo on 02.10.06 at 11:34]

"I am so sick of hearing the same old bleeding heart story like there has never been an average working class white on this island."-Goat.

The issue is not that all whites are super wealthy and major land owners. The issue is that working class whites were given more opportunities to succeed than working class or middle class blacks in the first many decades of the 20th century. (And yes, the economy was not strong then for anyone.)

Many jobs were not open to black people, for example I believe that only whites worked the post office and were allowed to be nurses in the white hospital, etc, etc.

And yes, Portuguese Bermudians were impeded in their progress, but, just like in the rest of the world, because they look more like white Bermudians they assimilated more easily, eventually.

Neighbourhoods were not open to blacks, schools were not open to blacks, jobs were not open to blacks, mortgages were not open to blacks, etc. Whites may not have all been born with a silver spoon in their mouths but the reasons for them not succeeding do not mirror the reasons for some blacks not succeeding.

[Tiger Bay on 02.10.06 at 12:44]

The constant finger pointing and recriminations over race slow down Bermuda from demanding good government (from whomever happens to hold the power) and creating opportunity for Bermudians.

[Shark on 02.10.06 at 12:55]

What Ewart said was misinterpreted by Limey I think. He's not ignorent hes a politicion hes acting as politcions do.

As to the UK, US and Canada i cant speak for the US but i know Canada is far better then Bermuda in progresion with race as is the UK. Especily London which is the most ethnicly and culturaly diverse city in the World.

[thisgrassman on 02.10.06 at 13:06]

The US is the country that still struggles with the issue of race. The US is the most racially divided country in the western hemisphere.

Posted by Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 02.10.06 at 08:02

I agree entirely.

Isn't this the same country in which Dr. Brown spent much of his formative years - no doubt absorbing the political thinking of many in the radical black intelligentsia

Is it necessary to point out Bermuda is not America? Transplanting the political critiques of the black experience in that society to Bermuda shows a lack of sensitivity to Bermuda's unique cultural context.

[Lost in Flatts on 02.10.06 at 13:45]

Stuart, "And on the next point, don’t we consider it fair that if a football player on one team commits a foul then the other team should get a free kick?"

I think this point is a very nice analogy on paper, but in reality wouldn't it be more akin to a player on another team in another match a few weeks ago committing a nasty offence, and then somehow trying to work out how to apply to the match today?

Perhaps a better way of thinking about it would be that one team was never properly trained and had crappy boots, while the other had access to good facilities and the best gear. Surely the answer is therefore to give both teams the same kit and training, rather than award arbitrary goals? And surely if the people who both build the training ground and supply the boots choose not to give these to the disadvantaged team, then that is the problem to be addressed today?

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 02.10.06 at 13:49]

Bill,

"...so I would be less concerned at starting from the bottom and working their way up with the one proviso that EVERYONE has been allowed equal opportunity to do so."

That is the point, blacks have not been afforded the same opportunity to work their way up. Remember it is only in the last 15 or so years that the banks had any senior managers of colour.

[stuart J Hayward on 02.10.06 at 14:09]

polixenes writes:

My answer to this is that I don't believe society is made up of a black team and a white team. Comments like this might incite racial divisiveness, Mr. Hayward.

Do you really read into my analogy an incitement to racial divisiveness? Lord help us...

[abc on 02.10.06 at 14:22]

I also am not understanding how Dr Brown can be thought to have given himself another portfolio, as stated by Rev Goat. Dr Brown is not the Premier. He is therefore not responsible for assigning Cabinet responsibilities.

[silencedogood on 02.10.06 at 14:24]

Guilden, all three of those countries are in fact lightyears ahead of bermuda in their outlook on race. And the US is not the most backward of the three I can assure you having lived and worked in all three.