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Dear Sir,

I was very surprised at the content of the Bermuda Sun article of September 5 by Stuart Hayward. It was headlined 'The race debate is being distorted for political gain' and accused Rolfe Commissiong of being "One of the most racially divisive souls in the community".

I find it difficult to understand why Mr. Hayward seems determined to blame the black community for creating racial division in the community. Whites were never slaves; whites were never segregated; however they certainly instituted both practices. Why then does he accuse Mr. Commissiong and the PLP of creating racial division?

Surely, Mr. Hayward remembers the very real hardship that his family suffered when his blind father and his crippled uncle protested discrimination at the Eagles Nest (now Top Of The Town) when the management refused to serve a Puerto Rican at the Hotel Bar.

At the time, his Uncle and Father were directing an excellent choir called the Hayward and Hayward Ensemble. As a result of the action of the two brothers, they were unable to get employment in any of Bermuda's hotels. In fact, his father had to leave Bermuda to find employment in New York.

If Mr. Hayward has forgiven the movers and shakers in Bermuda for what they did to his father and uncle, he should at least remember that his father was prevented from getting work anywhere in Bermuda because the major hotels were owned and managed by white men who were governed by the wide spread white racism that existed.

The lesson here is that to have prejudice is one thing but to be able to give effect to that prejudice requires power, something that was possessed by white Bermudians in abundance, then and now.

By winning the government in 1998, the PLP gave black Bermudians a big push up the ladder of opportunity. It is now true that at least in the civil service and in government managed projects, opportunity is at last equal.

Still, the PLP prefers to open up opportunity to the whole community based only on ability. This is perfectly in line with black psychology which is very competitive.

Nobody in the PLP control structure is likely to tell whites to join the PLP to prove they are without prejudice. More likely they will be asking whites to join them in order to create something that is better than either race could create alone.

Dr. Brown believes this and so does his advisor on race relations, Rolfe Commissiong. Both are actively encouraging white Bermudians to join the PLP because they recognize that in order for Bermudians to survive in this Global community we need everyone doing the best they can.

If white Bermudians are encouraged not to join the PLP as seems to be the objective of Mr. Hayward, then his stated concern at the conclusion of his article is almost certain to be realized. That conclusion was: "Any suggestion that race or ethnicity should determine partisan affiliation or casting of votes is divisive and should not be entertained." Then why on earth is Mr. Hayward doing just that?

Calvin Smith

[email protected][[In-content Ad]]

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