Sir: By the time this letter is published, I trust
Bermudans will have voted `no' to independence in another of their periodic referenda. Malcolm Gladwell presents a good case for maintaining the status quo, but fails to go to the heart of the problem. Perhaps a short spell in a country like Kenya, that chose to be independent 32 years ago, would highlight the grave disad- vantages of living in a country where the head of state also holds untrammelled political power.
However odd it sounds to this genera- tion, countless numbers of individuals in our former colonial possessions felt they came under the protection of the Crown. Now there is a never-ending battle to wrest power from a ruthless executive and restore it to the people.
The abuse of power and the widespread corruption that results from it are bringing Kenya to its knees, for political indepen- dence has meant the departure of honest government and the rule of law. Bermu- dans are not just materialists; they know that political independence has nothing whatever to do with individual liberty. I wish we did in Kenya.
R.A. Massie-Bloomfield
Cavina School, P.O. Box 43090, Nairobi
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