Opinion: Bermuda And The Clash of Cultures
[Written by Alvin Williams]
In the wake of recent controversy surrounding the supposed insult of the Minister of Labour, Home Affairs, Housing and Immigration; Colonel Burch to the Filipino community, in a statement that in reality was never made; accusing female nationals from the Philippines, Dominican Republic and Panama being used in a sort of sex trade in Bermuda.
And in the wake of the Filipino community’s withdrawal from the annual Bermuda Day Parade for fear that their women will be subject to harassment and heckling from the Bermudian people?
I think that the reaction of the Filipino Association was an overreaction.
That is not the way most Bermudians have acted towards the many foreign nationals that have over the years come to work in this country.
I doubt very much that the type of tolerance displayed by the Bermudian people towards the foreign migrant workforce that has come to live among us and now has reach a figure of 30% of our work force, would be tolerated by any other country without severe social and political unrest. That would include the United States, Canada and any European country including Britain.
I think the real motivation behind the reaction of the Filipino association is in fact the new immigration policy put in place under Minister Col. Burch which will now require foreign nationals from the Philippines, Dominican Republic and Panama to attain visas to come to Bermuda; a policy that did not go down to well with in particular with some in the Filipino community which felt that they were being singled out.
But again the new policy came about because of certain discretions seem to be happening involving migrant workers from certain countries in getting around Bermuda’s immigration laws and policies.
And Bermuda is not alone in that regard around the world, nation after nation is adjusting and in some cases closing their national borders .
Bermuda is not immune from the forces that have been impacting this world in the way of economic decline and dislocation as a result of the worldwide economic crisis.
Who would have thought that Bermuda would find itself facing unemployment where it once found itself in the happy position of over employment which necessitated the importation of our large migrant population.
All of this has had its impact on the social dynamics that has allowed Bermuda to open its employment market to a globalized work force.
The term guest worker unfortunately over the years in Bermuda has had the effect of down playing the value of the Bermudian worker.
It has always been the case that the Bermudian worker has been judged by the worst of us and not the best, that is the backbone of this country.
In recent times I have heard politicians from the ruling government who should know better engaging in the same criticism of Bermudians who demand that they must come first in their country. One even went so far to tell me when this unemployment crisis began to hit our country and Bermudians that we can’t just sent foreign migrant workers home and this particular politician continues to bring up the short comings of the few and compare them to the work and social ethics of the foreigners who come to seek employment in Bermuda.
This economic down turn is creating a culture clash in Bermuda and is tearing at the treads of a Bermudian way of life that once had a lot of tolerance to the presence of a great mix of foreign cultural influences of which the Filipino community is only the newest addition.
- Alvin Williams
“in a statement that in reality was never made”
I don’t understand that comment. Col Burch labelled the females of these nationalities as prostitutes and it was recorded in teh various media outlets. Must have been true because I haven’t heard Col. Burch deny these slanderous comments which can easily equate to racism and hate speech. He also stated on a radio show that he had to protect Bermudian men from themselves and concluded that “you can’t make a whore into a housewife.”
He said it and no one else.
Jesus, does any PLP supporter/member ever take personal responsibility for their words or actions? Or do they constantly seek to blame others or blatantly lie by denying their actions/words?
I only could imagime the response from Mr. Williams if one of those nationalities labelled black Bermudian women in such a light. Hypocrites!!!!!!!
Historically, thw whites did it to us Gees and the blacks so this too shall pass……onto another generation.
**That is not the way most Bermudians have acted towards the many foreign nationals that have over the years come to work in this country.**
That’s beyond hysterical .. Alvin , where has your head been for the last 40 years ? huh ?
Tell you what , get your post office to hire 10 Brits , 10 Canuks and 10 Acoreans
all of them white , and you’ll see exactly how ‘foreign nationals’ get treated by ‘Bermudians’ .
But you’ll probably still say nothing happened and it’s all ‘normal behaviour’ .
Oh yeah, right:
Guess you didn’t hear the news. Racism and derogatory remarks/treatement are only reprehensible and disgusting when directed towards black Bermudians. Get with the times mate…
People are not to be just tolerated Alvin!
They are equals! Once they become residents and workers in Bermuda.Bermudians are not superior to guest workers, nor are guest workers superior to Bermudians.
Bermudians come second in employment considerations in their own country. Sorry but this Government is playing a game with Bermudians over working in their own country. The ten year work permit should alert every Bermudian that they come second in their own country.How permit renewals are handled is a joke too^^
Is this another individual with the same name as the former Mid Ocean columnist or an uneducated imposter? What happened to the eloquent writer who presented views that I didn’t always agree with but that were written so well? That Alvin Williams suporrted his opinions with historical research and references that saw many ideologically opposed individuals actually open their cemented minds?