Belco out at sea?

February 24, 2006

Dear Sir,

Thank you for publishing my preceding letter titled ?Unprepared, Vulnerable? on electricity surcharge billing and (lack of) forward-looking energy policy in Bermuda. Those who thought the business of ?hope in order to get our vote? was the monopoly of elected officials have been surprised to see Belco?s CEO singing (and selling) to the media the ?Power of Dream? after dancing earlier on TV the ?Power of Love?! There is no doubt that ocean flows and waves is an energy source that may add a viable generation option to the strategic portfolio of Belco for the bedrock of a robust electricity system is a diversity of energy sources that is consistent with the needs and financial affordability levels in Bermuda.

However, the technology has suffered from a history of grand goals, claims and? disappointments. Many ocean-based energy prototypes and pilot plants are currently being tested in Europe and the US to assess their technological feasibility and commercial viability but the jury is still? way out!

For Belco to therefore label an untested submersible energy-generating technology a ?dream machine? when no prototype, pilot plant and commercial viability assessment even exist is bordering hype and could seriously backfire given the public high expectations their announcement has created among Bermudians officials and consumers. Should this dream machine prove to be anything but just another inventor?s dream, Gary Madeiros will have wasted corporate time and money and set himself (and Belco) up for a rather uncomfortable credibility backlash.

Apart from ocean energy conversion failing to pump up so far, there are many other reasons to remain cautious at this stage if only because of the lack of full disclosure on the ?dream? technology provider(s) by Belco. The only fact I could confirm was that Dr. Manfred Kuehnle, in his late 70s, effectively lives in Lincoln, Massachusetts. The rest of the facts on the deal could not be confirmed at all via either the Net or expert contacts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the best research centre in the US.

Although there are several compelling arguments for investing in ocean flow energy which may be the lowest cost renewable energy source given its power density and grid compatibility, it is important for Gary Madeiros to stop looking for a silver bullet and to stay focused on proven ways of protecting the Bermuda consumer against future oil increases (via risk mitigation using futures energy markets and options) in the short term, for the Government to start working on future energy sources and policies and for Bermudians to start conserving energy and looking at alternatives like solar and hybrids. After all, the last thing we would wish Belco?s CEO is to be forced into dancing the Last Waltz and the Government to have to turn the Bermuda lights (and Blackberries) off!

Truth, lies and print

February 23, 2006

Dear Sir,

On 15 February 2006 Mr. Calvin Smith wrote an ?Opinion? published in this newspaper. With this letter I intend to shed the light of truth on the myths propagated by Mr. Smith in that ?Opinion?. Myth: The UBP is attempting ?...to gain power by exploiting the fears and prejudices of the electorate.? Truth: The following are a few of the appalling instances of the PLP?s attempt to retain ?power by exploiting the fears and prejudices of the electorate.?

Remarks by Dr Brown during the 2003 election that a vote for the UBP is a vote back to the plantation and further more recent remarks on answering ?plantation? questions from the Press; the Colonel disconnecting a caller on his radio shows ?Bermuda Speaks? because she was white; the Colonel?s remarks regarding ?house ni**ers?; the remarks made by Renee Webb that contracts should be awarded to people who look like ?us? (presumbably African Bermudians); P?s errant Blackberry message. I don?t recall UBP MPs/Senators making such remarks. Truth does not see colour, Mr. Editor.

Myth: The UBP is running a ?...well organised campaign to win the next election by exploiting the long standing and well nutured belief... that African Bermudians cannot manage anything substantial?.

Truth: Criticisms would be made of any Government, no matter the racial background of its members, particularly when one considers: projects such as Berkeley overrunning by tens of millions of dollars; failure by P to produce a receipt for the Berkeley performance bond; revelations of a sweetheart deal being made for the Stonington facility; the signing of secret memorandums with Cuba; a housing policy that has had no real results in seven years; an education system that sees more students fail than pass.

These facts show that certain members of the PLP Government are incompetent. It matters not what colour the person is who is mismanaging public funds. Mismanagement is mismanagement irrespective of colour or race. UBP Ministers, many of whom were African Bermudians, were often criticised by the Press for mismanagement in the past without bleating racism. Truth does not see colour, Mr. Editor.

Myth: ?The PLP Government moved swiftly to resolve the charges of corruption...? at the BC and that there was ?...no evidence of any form of criminal activity...? by Government members.

Truth: Although there has not been a finding of criminal activity by Government Ministers the following must be considered: The Auditor General, uncovered deals involving two Government Minister that in his opinion breached the Government Code of Conduct; there will be no independent enquiry into the fiasco, despite promises of transparency by P; a Government Minister lost his portfolio not long after the affair was uncovered by the Mid Ocean News.

Was the behaviour of the Government Ministers illegal? Apparently not. Unethical? Yes, admitted by the then Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr. Smith must have been suffering from convenient amnesia or perhaps he did not read the Auditor General?s report published in this newspaper. Should not all Bermudians expect ethical behaviour from their representatives? Truth does not see colour Mr. Editor.

Myth: ?There has been a vast increase in personal freedom since the PLP took office.? Truth: Critics of the Government are accused of being racist (for example the Auditor General); newspapers that uncover scandalous Government practices are dismissed as biased (and not ?credible? by the Colonel); P and his spokesman Senator Roban threaten the muzzling of the press; the desire of the majority of the electorate for the use of a referendum to decide the issue of independence is ignored; proposals are made on the curbing of the independence of the Auditor General; Julian Hall is given an Orwellian warning regarding his opinions of his own party. Personal freedom? I think not! Truth does not see colour Mr. Editor.

Myth: ?Current threats being made by some African Bermudians to remove the PLP from power at the first opportunity because of real or perceived wrongs that the party has not addressed....? is evidence of ?dominance by Europeans? (presumably ?Europeans? is Mr. Smith?s way of saying whites). Truth: The PLP has failed to deliver on many of its promises. Lack of Government accountability and the continued dismissive and arrogant attitude of the majority of Government members is what will drive the PLP from the seat of power, not any misplaced perceptions about ?European dominance? The fact that some African Bermudians would ?dare? to vote against dominance?.

The fact that some African Bermudians would ?dare? to vote against the PLP has nothing to do with race or any other amateurish psychological diagnosis. Mr. Smith?s comments essentially mean that all African Bermudians should vote for the PLP, no matter their political ideology. Suppose a ?daring? African Bermudian believes in, for example, a free maket economy, and less tax. Is that African Bermudian considered a traitor to his cultural and racial heritage if he votes for another party? I thought Mr. Smith believed in personal freedom. Truth does not see colour Mr. Editor.

Mr. Editor, although I accept that African Bermudians were treated appallingly in the past, and many still bear the emotional scars of that poor treatment, it cannot be continuously used to explain away the shortcomings of the PLP. The facts speak for themselves. Obviously Mr. Smith is entitled to his ?opinion?, but it should be properly researched before putting pen to paper, otherwise it is mere propaganda. After all Mr. Editor, truth is colourless.

BA needs competition

March 1, 2006

Dear Sir,

I have just received my Executive Club statement from British Airways which showed a credit of 861 miles to my account. As I have just returned from a trip to London I telephoned BA to enquire why I hadn?t been credited with the full 3,500 miles for a trans-Atlantic flight.

I was informed that since my economy class ticket was bought in a seat sale, ($729 is hardly a bargain!), all I was entitled to in the way of mileage credit was 25 percent of the actual miles flown. I wonder how many other frequent fliers are aware of this rip-off? The sooner British Airways has some competition on this route the better!

End cruelty to all things

March 3, 2006

Dear Sir,

I?d like to respond to the letter from Voice of Conscience. He/she had a very valid point. I missed the letter referred to so I can?t comment on what it said, but the notion that kindness to animals translates into kindness for people is nonsense. As I understand it Adolf Hitler adored his dog. And many so called animal rights activists have no qualms attacking and even in some cases killing people who don?t share their ?love? for animals.

At the same time there is a lot of proof that people who are cruel to animals will also be cruel to humans. We all have the freedom to support who we want and give our money to those causes we like, but attacking someone who doesn?t share you zeal is not a decent thing to do. I would say cruelty to ALL living things is wrong.

Clean Police Beach up

March 6, 2006

Dear Sir,

Having read the article in the Mid Ocean News about the ?misplaced restrictions? placed on Police Beach by the current homeowner, I applaud the Works and Engineering Minister, Mr. David Burch for taking the stand, ?the beach is a public beach and every step will be taken to ensure that the public knows the fact and use it?.

Living in Flatts and using this beach frequently, we walked to Police Beach this past week-end and while there were no trespassing signs at both the main entrance to the beach and at a secondary entrance, access to the beach can be made by taking the clearly marked Railway Trail path that leads directly to the beach. I assume that government is responsible for this trail since it appears well maintained.

The real problem is when you reach the beach itself. Police Beach is currently unfit for public use. There is garbage along the total beachfront area to the extent that from the waterline to about eight feet back, you could not or would not place a picnic blanket. There is a huge pile of debris at one end of the beach that contains chain anchor fencing, empty buckets, plastic containers of all sorts, blue tarp pieces and more garbage than one can describe.

It?s totally disgraceful. Why can the grounds surrounding the beach area be so pristine, yet near the beach itself you see only filth? If you want us to use it, clean it up.

A breach of decorum

Dear Sir,

I have to state my shock and surprise to have heard the shouting and screaming from the Hon Minister Paula Cox during her rebuttal reply to the budget and economic debate this past week. I have always had a great deal of respect for the Minister since she entered politics, but I have to say her outbursts were not of the decorum I ? and the public ? would normally expect from Bermuda?s Finance Minister.

This brings to mind the old expression?. ?If you can?t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen?? This year?s budget is the largest ever spending budget by any Government and indicates to me that the Finance Minister does not have the where-with-all to control the spending sprees of the other Ministers in Cabinet. And neither can she rely on her Premier for support to control the spending.

No wonder her temper was at the boiling point as she tried to defend such heavy spending against an Opposition reply that was measured and spot on. Whilst our economy has seen the biblical equivalent of seven fat years, a more sensible budget would try to squirrel away some savings and reduce the tax burden to not only prepare for the lean years, but also to make up for the huge financial messes that have occurred at Berkeley and elsewhere.

Then again, we know that an election is ?round de corner? so don?t expect any fiscal prudence anytime soon. I just hope the Minister can behave a bit more befitting of her position as the guardian of the public purse, both in policy and in debate.

Three observations

February 28, 2006

Dear Sir,

On the area now commonly called The Club Med Property, three successful hotel chains operated on that site and failed, and that was at the very peak of our tourism era, so what does any new buyer think he can do to make it work? Strangely enough, when those companies failed, (Holiday Inn, Loews and Club Med) nobody bothered to ask why.

On another note, those of us who have complained for a number of years about the irresponsible, lousy drivers on our roads will just have to resign ourselves that nothing is ever going to change, along with crime, drug abuse and tourism, among other things mainly due to the mismanagement of this country, although it is gratifying to see that more and more drunk drivers are being taken off the road.

Finally, there appears to be a shortage of dentists on this island. I find it ludicrous that one has to wait six months to get an appointment. What are we supposed to do? ? chew on Tylenol until someone can squeeze us in?

?Mind boggling?

March 5, 2006

Dear Sir,

A 27-year-old unemployed father of four children impregnated a little girl of 14 and his lawyer has the nerve to stand up and say she ?will also have a memory ? but for all of this ? of one of the most pleasurable experiences of her life?. What is the world coming to?

This little girl will certainly have memories ? the memory of having to tell people of her pregnancy and the memory of having an abortion at 14! It?s hard to believe that any lawyer can forget that the law is in place to protect little girls and boys from predators like his client and to try to turn it around and make the accused the victim, is mind boggling!

Mr. Scott, how would you feel if this little girl were your daughter? Would you then think the age of consent should be lowered?