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Anti-Racism Meeting at Vasco July 13, 2006

Last night I went to the anti-racism meeting which discussed Rui Maderios and racism in general in Bermuda. I was quite pleased to see MP’s from both sides of the bench there, to include Wayne Perincheif, Wayne Furbert, Walter Roban, and Dale Butler to name most of them. There was also a large contingency from the Portuguese community as well as white and black Bermudians, which I was happy to see. The room was about three quarters full, which was disappointing as this issue affects us all and I was hoping for an even larger turn out. Hopefully at Friday’s rally at City Hall we will see a larger portion of the community from all walks of life there. At the very least there was a feeling of solidarity in the room, from all Bermudians, regardless of colour, background or culture, and it was a good start.

The meeting was in a town hall style, with a group of various panelists from the club. It was then opened up to the floor where anyone could speak. It started off with our various panelists speaking, throughout the night we heard everyone’s perspectives. Many stories were told and a lot of criticism was said, however I was disappointed that no real solutions were put forward, just many good intentions. I was also disappointed that more of our MP’s didn’t get up to speak. We only really heard from Wayne Perinchief, while the rest only defended an accusation that the issue of racism and violence in Bermuda wasn’t being discussed. This was immediately shot back with “Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words”. Too right, everyone is talking and no one is doing. Here are my thoughts on the matter:

Start at the top

I’m referring to our ministers and senators. The ones that sit every Wednesday and Friday up on the hill and apparently legislate down to us commoners. The actions and most importantly comments that are flung out of the mouths of our “leaders” are embarrassing to say the least. At the most they are also alarming and inciteful towards the breakdown of society. Quite frankly they should be ashamed. I issue two challenges to our ministers. The first is for the two leaders of the parties, Alex Scott and Wayne Furbert. I challenge them to keep their party ministers in line, ensure that their ministers do not partake in abusive commentary, available for all the public to hear, that one would expect to hear in a kindergarten playground instead of our House of Assembly. I task them to hold their ministers accountable, as apparently a select few of them act responsible themselves. Let them know that there will be consequences for their actions or words, aside from the consequences that they have on society. After all if we can’t look to our leaders for an example, then what are they there for?

Instead of talking about doing something, actually do something. Right now, our Police Force isn’t working and neither are our various laws. The Police force is under-maned and apparently suffering from a moral problem, as such they are becoming an ongoing joke. We need more police on the streets, and I think that everyone can agree with this. All the laws in the world won’t help us if we have no one to enforce them. Our laws are antiquated and need to be revised. This was recently made painfully obvious as certain ministers words were able to go unchecked due to a technicality on the phrase “public area”. Any law regarding basic and fundamental human rights should be written to encompass all people, regardless of race, colour, creed, and yes sexual persuasion. No one should be able to fall through any loophole where as any one’s individual human rights are not covered. This especially goes for crimes of hate.

As our current representatives, regardless of PLP or UBP or even Independent, while you can’t legislate Peace and Love in our hearts, you do have the power to legislate rules to govern our society properly as well as ensure that they are correctly enforced. This brings me to my second challenge. I challenge our ministers to focus on this issue, as it is more important than fishing licenses, pay raises and or various other issues you are currently discussing, or not discussing. You have to set the example, no longer can we be in denial over these issues and you have to act together with the community to stop this violence which is plaguing our Island.

Role Models

One thing that I have noticed for awhile, and which as gotten to the point where it is also an ongoing joke here is that the family unit is in complete and utter disarray. We have entered into the second cycle of broken families where as last generations father figures weren’t there, we have raised a large group of men on the Island without the proper guidance that only a strong father figure could provide. Now we have this generations male youths suffering from the same problem, and so the cycle continues. In my opinion, this is probably the largest contributor to the utter lack of control being exhibited by our younger males, from all walks of life. We need to evolve from the Baby Father attitude that is all to prevalent in our society. Even separated, father’s still need to provide proper guidance for their child and instill the moral values needed for them to make the correct decisions.

Several teachers were present at last nights meeting, and their words hit out strongest. Their message was plain and simple, parents need to get involved in every way shape and form in their children’s lives. They should know exactly what they’re children are doing at all times, especially in their teen years. Schools also need to take responsibility of their students. One comment made by one of the panelists was that back in the day, if a student was still wearing a school uniform, they were representing that school. As such if caught doing something wrong, even after school, they would also get into trouble with the school as well. This was true when I went to school, but doesn’t appear to be now. Schools have taken on the mentality that their responsibility ends once the bell rings. While parents should be the main role models in their children’s lives, the teachers have to also play a part in reinforcing the moral values as well.

We all need to take part

Each and every member of our community needs to take stand against racism and violence if we are ever to overcome our differences. We as Bermudians have been looking the other way for too long. If we all rise up against these acts, then these violent acts will once again become rare incidences. Bermuda is too small and too populated to ignore the issues plaguing us, the last 15 years alone is proof of this. One thing is for certain, if we don’t all act together on this, we are doomed to live with the constant threat and fear of violence. If we act together as Bermudians, we might just also gain a better understanding of each other in the process. While we may individually be white, black, Portuguese, Caribbean, Philippeno, English, AME, Catholic, Christian, Muslim, Atheist, from Somerset, from St. Georges, from everywhere in between, we must never forget that we are all Bermudian first.

Update: Here is the RG Article

Update: Politics.bm has a good review on the meeting as well

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