October 23, 2006

Dear Sir,

The UBP were very vocal opponents to the raises for MP's that went through a few months ago. They made their displeasure at the idea of raises very loud and clear, saying that they disagreed with them and that any raises received by UBP MP's would be donated to charity.

Well, the raises have been given, and although I peruse this paper daily, I have yet to see the UBP in the paper presenting their raises to charity as promised. Surely our friends in the UBP would not be so hypocritical as to keep these said raises after making such a fuss about them. If they do decide to keep the money, then we the public can only conclude that they decided that all MPs deserved the raises after all. If that is the case, then surely an apology to the PLP for all the cries of greed that were made is in order.

I can only hope that the UBP is not as hypocritical as they are appearing to us, the public. We may have short memories, but they are not that short. We, the public, will be waiting with the expectation that this promised donation to charity will be forthcoming shortly.

A warning to parents

October 26, 2006

Dear Sir,

I would like to bring your attention, and the attention of all parents in Bermuda who are considering placing their children in overseas educational institutions. Many parents, seek to place their children in overseas schools due to the very real lack of appropriate schools to choose from in Bermuda. Some parents also seek to place their children in overseas schools to help them experience the culture and society of a larger country.

I would like to caution all parents prior to placement to really do their homework before placing their children in such schools. Schools are businesses and their continuation depends upon parents garnering excessive fees for the purchase of educational programmes. Parents are the consumers, not the other way around. Parents please check beyond the glossy materials and promises and be discerning. Ask many questions, be assertive. What type of community is this school, is it safe, where are the residences? Are they safe? Curriculum, how many graduates attend university and actually graduate? What is their philosophy? How student centred are they? What support and academic staff are on hand? What are their credentials? Bottom line is to ask, visit, look, observe and then ask for references outside of the school. Do not accept the information from the school until you have verified it outside of the institution. Find a student who attended the school and interview them on everything. You are not purchasing an education but a lifestyle for your children.

Be wary of glossy style accreditations, even national and international associations are nothing more that private clubs that use member schools to critique member schools.

Please do your homework and don't get burned.

An open invitation

October 26, 206

Dear Sir,

The winter weather is almost upon us, and some of us are very, very concerned about the plight of our homeless. Everyone deserves somewhere decent to live; shelter, food warmth; these are just a few of the basic necessities that we so rightly need.

This present Government has not and appears will not provide these bare essentials ? which they themselves enjoy. Remember, not too long ago, Senator David Burch stated on television that it's not the Premier's house, it's the people's house; so you've been extended an open invitation and opportunity ? accept it ? now. Make a beeline to your house, you can stay indefinitely.

"Grab your hat and grab your coat, bring your worries to the door-step. Just direct your feet to the sunny side of the street" "Clifton" # 8 Middle Road Devonshire DV03. To my knowledge, it is (Clifton), presently occupied by non -Bermudians, What? No home grown onions in my house; if a new Premier is elected/appointed, we'll have all of Beverly Hills; the Uncle Jed's the Grannies, the Jethro's and the Ellie May's ? not to mention US Congressmen, Senators and others we haven't heard about yet. "Jingus what's we lot gonna do?"

If there is any member of this current Administration/Government who possesses an iota of Godliness, Honesty, Integrity, Humility, Compassion, Trustworthiness and Loyalty, please stand.

What? Nobody standing ? case closed.

Laughable statement

October 27, 2006

Dear Sir,

Does the UBP think that all Bermudians have some form of Alzheimer's or is this their latest bid to prove they've changed. I find statements made in an article in today's newspaper laughable! And I quote: "Right now we have a system that is 'father knows best' in style, where the public is often ignored, where political leaders talk down to people and where public concerns about questionable Government are suppressed."

How dare you make such a statement with the glaring hole in public education widening because of past decision-making! Where was this concern when the former Government decided to demolish the credibility of public education by moving to the mega-school format? Did I misinterpret the former Government's disregard as parents marched in protest against the changes of Northlands and Dellwood? People took to the streets in protest and the system was changed anyway.

This is the first time in my recollection; Government has come to the people and asked how we feel about their position on critical issues by way of public open forums. Public forums, I might add, that do not significantly tax the public purse! Referendums have their place but simply deliver a result of yes or no. Public forums open the doorway to discussion and provide substantive information for consideration. The public has had an opportunity to share their views and in many cases decisions have been modified or at the very least opened to change ? Independence and the Hospital to name a few.

It is in this time of governance that the public has been given access to the decision-making process. If we as Bermudians decide not to attend forums and share our views, we have no one but ourselves to blame for the lack of accountability. I'm sorry to inform you, Leader of the Opposition, but not all Bermudians have short memories, so please try a new one!

Definition of 'Bermudian'

October 26, 2007

Dear Sir,

I think it is perfectly legitimate for PLP leaders to want to empower blacks and to say it so everyone can hear it. Julie Gunther who wrote the letter in (October 26) "What is a Bermudian" says she also supports black empowerment but is worried, as probably many whites are, that they will be left out. She wonders if whites are included in our leaders' definition of Bermudian. I will leave it to Calvin Smith whose speech alarmed her and Brown and Scott if they wish to respond to her question.

I see this letter as an opportunity to examine our usage of the word "Bermudian". We all know that it has long been a practice of white Bermudians to define "Bermudians" as black Bermudians when the context is negative and blacks have learned to do the same. Indeed it is so common a practice that I have often wondered if whites regard themselves as Bermudians. It appears to me to be a negative characteristic that both races share perhaps for different reasons.

If we want the definition of "Bermudians" to be inclusive of all who have the legal status of Bermudian then it needs to start with each individual and of course we would like to see it reflected in our leaders. Here is an exercise for all Bermudians (and non-Bermudians too because many of you pick up our bad habits and use it to your advantage). Try to be conscious and honest about who we are referring to when we use the word "Bermudians" and the context in which we use it. Do I mean all Bermudians or do I mean one race in particular? To which Bermudians do I habitually attribute good traits and which Bermudians get most of the bad?

Target real speedsters

October 23, 2006

Dear Sir,

It looks like the Police are going after poor granny again with the new "over 35k crackdown" (nice soft target). Wouldn't it make more sense to start with the "over 70 kph" crew - the fines from them alone would pay for a new pair of Italian hand-made shoes our Premier so badly needs after putting his feet in his mouth so often.

We're not imbeciles

October 18, 2006

Dear Sir,

Many Bermudians at this time are finding it difficult to find a home they can afford, and if they do, they then have to find the money to buy food. Of course it doesn't end there because one needs communication, especially in cases of emergency, so you need a telephone.

Among many other expenses, one needs power in order to cook the food and make the house a home, and that's where Belco comes in, and that's the killer. It appears that the more one tries to conserve energy, the higher the bills get. Last month's fuel adjustments charge was 44 percent of the energy charge and this month is down a fraction standing at 43.4 percent.

We read in your newspaper that these charges will slowly (very slowly) decrease in the next couple of months. With gas down almost a dollar a gallon at the pumps Stateside over the past six weeks, one has to again wonder why it takes so long to happen here? I find that when Government or company officials make a report or statement they always come up with some "logical reason" why these charges are made, and it usually comes across like we are a bunch of imbeciles.

What did Belco do before they started imposing this "fuel adjustment charge" upon us? Maybe they didn't use "fuel" or maybe they tied horses to a large wheel and made them gallop around in circles to generate power? Of course, this is being facetious, but one thing we can bank on, like all taxes, once they are here they will never go away, regardless of how low the price of oil goes. The sooner a cheaper, cleaner (the filth coming out of Belco's chimneys is totally unacceptable) source of energy can be found the better it will be for all of us.

Let the Bible guide us

October 10, 2006

Dear Sir,

Kindly allow me space to respond to the remarks made by the Anglican Bishop published Monday, October 9, 2006.

Mr. Editor, my spirit was troubled when I read the remarks stated by the Bishop that the Faith Based Tourism initiative was inappropriate. So, I sought to enlighten myself on the matter, particularly, about religious folk. I searched the Holy Book to guide me into All truth. I am using the King James version. Look what I found in the book of Matthew chapter 15 verses 8 to 11, "This people draweth nigh into me with their mouth, and honoured me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

This book of Matthew is such good reading, that I carried on into chapter 22 verses 35 to 40 which read, "...A lawyer asked him a question tempting him, and saying, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all they heart, and with all they soul, and with all they mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love they neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." But wait! Look at chapter 23 verses 1 to 6, "Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, saying, "The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be born, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, Verses 13 to 34 has sharpened teeth!

"But woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees , hypocrites! For ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows" houses, and for a pretence make long prayer; therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell then yourselves.

Verse 25 - Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisees, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Verse 31 ? Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that we are the children of them which killed the prophets.

Mr. Editor, these words are penned straight out of the Bible! What a reading! I am breathless! Ms Webb's remarks tell me that her Bill, under the disguise of Human Rights, is deceptive in nature. For further reading, Deuteronomy 30 verse 19 says, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose life that both you and your seed may live." Hosea chapter 8 verse 7 says, "For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind..."

BERMUDA be not deceived, God is mocked!

I am more then ever convinced that the Scriptures are true. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh ." Matthew 12: 34

"A tree is known by its fruit." Matthew 12:33

"As a man thinketh in his heart so is he: Eat and drink saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee." Proverbs 23:7

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: "Fear God, Keep His commandments, for every secret thing, whether it be good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12 verses 13 and 14.

This is my choice. I suggest every household have the Bible and on their table every day; so that we may be guided daily into ALL truth.

ROOKES

Teach your children well

October 26, 206

Dear Sir,

Last week I was at a children's park and there were about 7 children there upon my arrival ranging in age from three years old to ten years old (all who seemed to come from the same car). A few of the older children proceeded to chase the ducks in the park quite viciously and started to fling sand into the faces of the ducks. They also swung t-shirts at the animals and one time hit one of them quite hard. The mother, or who I assume was the caregiver at the time, was sitting in the SUV and was parked in visible range of the children. She continued to talk on her cell phone and gave no instruction whatsoever to the kids to stop what they were doing.

I then proceeded to instruct them not to hurt the ducks. My three year old son was saddened by their actions and kept asking "why are they doing that?" I feel sad that parents today are too busy or are obviously too ignorant to teach their children right from wrong. Please teach your kids that it is not acceptable to hurt any animal!

CONCERNED

Southampton

Mess left behind

October 23, 2006

Dear Sir,

I am a young mother of two children under the age of four. I just returned from the Aquarium and was disgusted to see raisins squashed all into the carpet and lying all over the floor in the aquarium near the North Rock tank. Don't people have any idea that the staff at the Aquarium are all volunteers and should not have to pick up after moms who are either too oblivious to see what their toddlers are doing or are too lazy to pick up after their own children? If you are going to feed your child in somewhere other than your own home, please pick up after them! Or, better yet, get your children to pick up after themselves!