Danger of People Power

March 2, 2007

Dear Sir,

I have talked about “People Power’ many times and how dangerous this power can be if ignored. We have had in History many tragic example of this power ie Russia , France, Rumania, to name a few. A lesson in point is when the UBP went deaf ,and lost the election to the PLP.

There is a dangerous element in our midst of disenchanted youths today, demonstrating their People Power. It is this very group who have been neglected by the educational system; allowing them to move up from grade to grade, never having reached the established standard, and to allow them to graduate without being literate, or able to read, write, or speak grammatically ... What a disgrace! It is too late for them. So here they are, thrown into the community without any tools. Angry? You bet, so they resort to that very danger — People Power. Their anger spills out into the very fabric of our daily existence and out onto our tourists, who have come to this lovely island for a peaceful, safe and happy holiday. More damage can be done with one or two muggings than anything else. The violence must be stopped and quickly, with more visibility from the police, I must ask, where are they anyway?

So come on you teachers and educators play fair and stop cheating our children, honour your commitment to deliver a child to adulthood with the tools and equipment, so they may take their rightful place in any society they choose and not criminality.

I am not saying for one moment that it is easy, being a nurse is not either, but it is my profession, and I wouldn’t dream of short changing patients,so don’t short change these innocent children who have no idea what they will have to face till they get there and suddenly find they are treading water and eventually drown.

So listen up, Educate Educate and Educate, less you find what damage people power can do and remember there is only so much cake !

DIANA WILLIAMS

Pembroke

Cartoon was spot on

March 3, 2007

Dear Sir,That was a nice cartoon by Peter Woolcock showing a huge car crash as a result of people on cell phones while they drive. Maybe the cell phone drivers hated seeing that, but who cares. Cell phone driving ought to be against the law anyway and, that cartoon shows what’ll likely happen if the Bermuda Government continues to allow that insane driving to go on.

LOOKING FOR A LAW

Pembroke

Is Burgess off the mark?

March 2, 2007

Dear Sir,

Mr. Editor and other thinkers, please help me out on this one as I may be on somewhat of a sticky wicket.

It seems to me that if you ask to come into my home and then you decide to tell me how I should arrange my furniture and run my household, then that is poor behaviour and warrants me asking you to leave my premises. Should not a guest in your home respect the way you operate it and if he does not like what is happening to leave of his own volition?

How different is this position to that of an expatriate who goes to another country to improve his economic wellbeing and who then criticises the way the country is being run.

When I was in school in Canada, I made the mistake of speaking against one of the political parties running for election at that time and was told in no uncertain terms that Canada’s business was for Canadians. I respected this position and held my tongue thereafter. I decided that only if I became a Canadian citizen, would I then feel free to engage in all aspects of Canadian political life

So, Mr. Editor, is Mr. Burgess so far off the mark in his request for guest workers in Bermuda to stay clear of politics? Should they not respect the rules and regulations of the country they are in until such time as they gain citizenship?

On reflection, perhaps my thinking is the result of how Bermudians of colour view the world. Foreigners and white Bermudians have to a great extent some knowledge of their history which has, in my opinion, given them a world view. They know that at one time in history, their ancestors controlled vast swathes of territory. The English in particular can visit any territory in the world and feel that he is a citizen of that country. This includes the USA and Canada. And the French, Portuguese, Spanish, etc, must to varying degrees feel the same way. Thus they can come to Bermuda and voice their opinion of the country based on their historical position in the world. But should they? And how far can any country allow free speech? (Remember the old cliché about crying “fire!!” in a crowded theatre).

So Mr. Editor, is Mr. Burgess so far off the mark?

GATHA’S SON

Devonshire

A dismal testament

March 8, 2007

Dear Sir,

I read with great interest the letter dated February 24 from George Burcher in which he called me by name and urged me to use my energy to get whites to support the PLP.

I say to Mr. Burcher, the sooner we get over black this and white that and think more about the content of one’s character, what the individual has done and is capable of doing, the better off we as Bermudians will be! Plain and simple!

The PLP is perceived to be a black party and the UBP as a diverse party, attacked by the PLP over and over again because of that fact. I have no problem with blacks or whites joining the party of their choice as long as they do it for the right reasons. Mine being working for the people of Bermuda as a whole and not working to protect their own interests or business connections.

I do agree on the final point that Mr. Burcher made re the lack of housing and I quote “ There are people living in the streets on a greater scale due to lack of foresight” I agree totally; the last nine years of PLP government has seen a total lack of foresight in housing, bungled housing projects, fraud at the BHC still unaccounted for that reached to the very top of government, more homeless than ever before, families split just to have a roof over their head and many Bermudians losing hope that they will ever get a piece of the rock. A dismal testament to the PLP as a government.

SHARON DESILVA

Devonshire

The price of inefficiency

March 2, 2007

Dear Sir,

I woke this morning to the smell of smoke, a headache and longing for a breath of fresh air.

Due to a complete lack of efficiency, and proper maintenance, the second incident has occurred creating a health hazard to the community in only a few short months - the first being the mould at Cedar Bridge Academy and now the fire at the Pembroke Dump.

When will this Government take responsibility for the good health of the community?

MONICA BERRY

Pembroke

Flawless performance

March 7, 2007

Dear Sir,This past weekend the Somerset School of Dance held their bi-annual recital at Whitney Institute. In fact it was their bi-annual recital delayed a further three months due to the problems at the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium, the original location. In these times it is always a pleasure to be treated to a quality production put on with our talented youth front and centre.

The performance I attended was flawless. Girls in various age groups, performing with passion and dazzling us all with their well refined skills and abilities. I was proud of each one of them, each dancer, each piece being given the best by this highly talented group. What makes it all the more impressive is that this production was run with the assistance of volunteers who gave freely their time to do the lighting, sound (after not having had any previous experience!) and various other tasks required. Their efforts were huge and it was greatly appreciated by everyone in the audience.

More importantly, I would like to publicly thank Jennifer Mazza for her production, choreographers and teachers, Jayne Burnett and Deana Di Francescantonio, Toni Ferreira and Julia Kempe. Your endless dedication and amazing talents provided a wonderful evening filled with inspiring dance. It is comforting to know that our kids are being developed with such wonderful grace and style!

Last I need to acknowledge Sal Hodgson, who has continued to provide such a high standard of dance education for our kids. It is a huge asset to have her love, dedication, amazing experience, and commitment to excellence as our beacon. It is an honour to be associated with you, and I look forward to many more productions and more importantly many more years of your amazing spirit.

PHILLIP RAY

City of Hamilton

Quite right, Mr Hayward

March 8, 2007

Dear Sir,

I write in support of comments made by Mr. Stuart Hayward on the television evening news in which Mr. Hayward heightened awareness of the huge impact that building Southlands (and the like) will have on our environment.

The infra-structure is not provided by Government. It is privately owned: the cost of extending our already over burdened infra-structure will fall on the people who live here. For example, there will be constant disruption on the already over crowded roads, it will overstrain supply of electricity and water, trash and waste treatment services, etc.

We are already over taxing the natural water resources provided by the fresh water lens which does not replenish itself at the rate that we are drawing from it.

The proposed development of Southlands is not consistent with a policy of “sustainable development”.

L. MARTIN

Smith’s

An asinine comment

March 8, 2007

Dear Sir,

This is in response to “Watching You Like An Eagle”, whose letter appeared in your newspaper today, asking us to “Please remember that free speech cannot possibly mean that you can say what you want.”

This is truly the most asinine comment I have ever read in this newspaper.

“Eagle”, I would love to hear your perverted definition of free speech, so that we can all be enlightened.

The beauty of free speech, “Eagle”, is that you have every right to say what you have said today — no matter how ridiculous or oxymoronic — just as I have every right to call you a fool for having said it

SEAN P. DURKIN

Devonshire

A shocking realisation

March 8, 2007

Dear Sir,

Allow me to share this experience with the public.

It is Wednesday, March 7, 2007. I am driving along Harbour Road. It is approximately 4.10 p.m. I am driving at a speed which is quite fast (about 45 kph). Did I say that this is Harbour Road? You know, where there are plenty of tricky bends and narrow roads.

Here one comes! I look in my rear-view mirror. I see them coming closer. I hear the engine get louder. Oh, no they didn’t! Yes, they did! With oncoming traffic no less! With a car almost directly in front of me, they overtake me anyhow! And guess where they end up? Right in front of me, going absolutely no where fast.

Was it worth it? They are five feet further than if they had never passed me on Harbour Road with another car coming in the opposite direction!

So what was the most surprising thing about this whole brief episode. This was not a male. This was not a young person. This WAS an adult female Caucasian person. I was in shock. (I still am as I type this letter). This messed up my logical thinking.

So today I want to thank the woman driver of a grey Atos for allowing me to realise that it is not only young black males who drive absolutely crazy!

LESSON LEARNED!

Pembroke

Let us get back to basics

March 8, 2007

Dear Sir, It has been quite some time since I have put pen to paper, but recent drivel about the education of our children has jarred me to make the following observations.

I am a retired teacher and worked for 38 years in the local public school system. I take immense pride now as in my retirement chair I hear about all my successful former students, all now in their 40’s and holding down responsible jobs in all areas of the island’s economy. How they achieved this is blatantly simple.

They were taught in a primary school which refused to be manipulated by the Department of Education as it progressively introduced programme after programme destined to bring basic education to its knees. That group saw themselves as the great promoters of progress and each Education Officer just had to introduce some stupid, inane plan to give the impression of genius and forward-thinking.

Most of the idiocy came from the almighty USA, a country whose education system was even then abysmal in comparison to many countries in the world. One good example was the enforcement upon schools of the Writing-to Read programme, hailed as the magnificent cure-all for Primary education, but removed within five years from the California system, which had touted it as the marvel of all time. Why? Because they concluded that it was not a good idea. Nevertheless, five years of our Primary students were forced to endure a rubbishy, failed programme.

I have written so many times before on this premise, but nothing changes. Get rid of the Department of Education and let the principals and teachers decide how to educate children. Next, go back to simple basics in primary education. That simply means, devote the six/seven years at this level to teaching children Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. Nothing else matters in school at this age. If you don’t achieve success in these fundamentals then all is lost. What is so difficult to understand about this fundamental principle? Instead we read in the papers now of College students, who need coaching in Engish and Maths. If that is so, they should not be in college. Take a look around the real world of education today and you will very quickly see that the countries who are producing the best of the world’s educated are in the Asian world and be assured, children there are not taught in the airy-fairy lands of Primary education. They are taught the basics, until that is ground in and from then on it is success.

I certainly concur with what was said by Mr. Dean Furbert in his recent article. We worked together for many years and his no-nonsense approach was on the money. Parents should be a lot more supportive than they are nowadays too , but the life now is a rat-race.Children at Primary ages are sponges, dying to be steeped with sound knowledge and if only we would drench those minds with the fundamentals at this age, what a difference we would se

NOSTRADAMUS’ MATE

St. George’s

Hats off to Ettrick staff

March 2, 2007

Dear Sir,

We would be grateful if you could afford us the space to express our thanks and gratitude to the staff of Ettrick Animal hospital, and in particular to Dr. Colin Manson, for the care and compassion they have shown to our two Dalmatians, William and Charlie, over the period of some 14 years. From bouncing puppies that fit in the palm of my hand to sedate old men with aches and pains, they were treated with care, love, enthusiasm and compassion, whenever at the vet or boarding.

When we finally and heartbreakingly lost William earlier this week, Doctor Colin, who was called out in the middle of the night, went above and beyond the call of duty and did everything humanely possible to save him. For this, we will be forever grateful, and it is a real comfort to us to know that it wasn't for want of trying that we lost a dear old member of our family unit.

So to all the staff at Ettrick, when the queue is out of the door, the phone is ringing off the hook, an over excited puppy is peeing on the floor and you remain focused, compassionate and professional throughout, please be aware that it does not go unnoticed. We take our hats off to you.

Meanwhile, somewhere in a dog rescue home in the States, there are a couple of young Dalmatians who need a loving home and we're coming soon.

JONAH JONES AND JO STANTON

Somerset