Thanks for the helpNovember 10, 2005Dear Sir,And We Thank You! Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Bermuda is grateful, and again sincerely thankful to the entire community for their participation in two of our major events, namely our annual Tag Day which was held on September 24 and 25th and our Annual Big For A Day which was held on October 1, 2005 at the Warwick Regiment Camp Grounds, for the purpose of recruiting new Bigs into our programme. Your support for these two events continues to confirm to us that our mission of creating and sustaining positive one-on-one mentoring relationships makes a huge difference in a child’s life. At some point we hope to have a forum where we can share with you the many testimonials about how and why this programme works for the individual matched relationship and the community at large.

Notwithstanding, I must bring to focus our need and desire to match our 57 unmatched Littles along with several other parents desiring to have their child/children participate in our programme. We therefore could use your support and your participation as a Big Brother or Big Sister in our programme. You can surely make a “Big” difference in a child’s life. For further information about our programme or regarding an application, please contact our office at 232-2802. Once again, we extend our sincere thanks to all members of the community for their continuous support and commitment to our organisation.ESME WILLIAMS

Executive Director

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Bermuda

P.O. Box HM 3261, Hamilton HM PX<$>Response to Lt. Col. BurchNovember 23, 2005Dear Sir, I am the young man who was directly called a “house n***er” by Lt. Col. David Burch, on-air during his talk show on Hot 107.5 this past August. I was verbally attacked for my stance against independence. As a black Bermudian, I found his comments scathing and unfortunate but not surprising. Lt. Col. Burch showed himself to be bitter and somewhat of a hypocrite. I find it absolutely extraordinary that he labels other blacks as “house n***ers” given the fact he spent most of his career in the Bermuda Regiment swearing allegiance to our beloved Queen, and the colonial legacy he all of a sudden is against.

No wonder why Lt. Col. Burch cannot get elected to parliament, no matter how many times he tries. In reference to independence; it has nothing to do with race, everything to do with economics and common sense. It’s about if Bermuda wants to remain a robust model as the jewel of the Atlantic and the envy of the world, or on the failed corrupt banana boat. It’s a no-brainer!

I cannot wait to see the look on Lt. Col. Burch’s face when he is once again out of a job, and his government defeated by the United Bermuda Party come next general election. One Bermuda in the 21st century is where I want to be!M.TROTT

PembrokeA true Bermudian heroNovember 23, 2005

Dear Sir,May I just say that I think Mr. Colin Lee should be posthumously awarded the highest honour his country and fellow man could ever bestow on him. His life was not wasted as there are many young people who will today now have a true Bermudian hero to look up to. A person who turned their life around and gave so much of themselves in order to help others. Even in sorrow his family can only be forever proud of this truly wonderful human being.DEREK A. G. JONES

Boston, Massachusetts<$>Project reconsideredNovember 17, 2005

Dear Sir,I have been away for more than a month and have now had an anonymous letter which you published on October 28, 2005 entitled “Where is Old Bermuda” brought to my attention. The letter is clearly aimed at me. Despite out of time objections to condos on the site and a petition which people were clearly entitled to sign even though they were not entitled to object, planning permission was granted for eight townhouses. During the delay caused by the petition, I had time to take a hard look at the development.

I learned that under the regulations, I am allowed 22 townhouses or 24 block condos on the site. However, I decided that there are, right now, too many condos on the market and coming on the market. Therefore I am currently providing tender, loving care for what your letter writer called the “small pink cottage” and its garden. When I think there is a need for more condos, I will apply for 22 family-style townhouses.DAVID L. WHITE

PagetFocus on gov.bm portalNovember 15, 2005

Dear Sir,While speaking yesterday at the House of Assembly, Mr. Dale Butler provided several examples of how a Government-run TV station might inform the public of the inner workings of the Government. For example, the Minister said, such a station could communicate the details of Government’s 11-million dollar gift to Bermudian cricket, about which most sportsmen and women, taxpayers, and voters would quite like to know. However, although Government’s effort to communicate information to the people is an admirable goal which meshes nicely with their recently proposed PATI (Public Access To Information) initiative, a TV station is not the right way to do it. Instead, they ought to concentrate on taking better advantage of new technologies like the Internet, and improve the Government Internet portal with real information, above and beyond giving it a facelift.

TV stations are very expensive to build, operate, and maintain . Any video or audio content that might be broadcast on a TV station could be made available much more cheaply and conveniently on the Internet. It is true that not everyone in Bermuda has access to the Internet at home, but soon they will be able to access it through the Post Office and libraries. And, Bermudian residents would be able to actively choose among the available videos and information on a website, rather that the unlikely scenario of sitting and waiting for the particular piece of information they desire to be broadcast on the TV station.

As a sweetener, Bermudians who are overseas would also be able to access Government information from such a website, which could also act as an electronic archive.

And if for some reason a TV broadcast is truly required, Government can buy the time on one of the Island’s existing commercial stations. Finally, by scrapping the TV station idea and redirecting any earmarked resources to improving the content and services available on the Internet portal, Government can avoid the overtones of totalitarian propaganda which often accompany Government-run broadcast stations, which tell you what they want you to hear, when they want you to hear it. Unless, of course, that’s the point.DOUGLAS S.J. DECOUTO Ph.D.<$>A note of gratitudeNovember 22, 2005

Dear Sir,On behalf of the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB), I would like to convey to your readers how much we appreciate the work being done by the Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda (HAB). The HAB is a registered charity, raising funds and providing volunteer services for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI).<$>As our single largest donor, the HAB raised $981,765.38 for the BHB this past year alone. Through the operation of its four businesses, The Barn, Pink Café, Gift Shop and Hospitality Cart, the HAB raises money that goes toward significant improvements at both hospitals.

In 2005, these donated funds purchased a mass casualty vehicle to treat critical and urgent victims in the field, telemetry and bed modules for the ICU, a pure water plant for the dialysis unit, defibrillators for the emergency department, a stress treadmill for the cardiac care unit, colonscopes for the operating room, bariatric beds for the medical wards and blood pressure monitors for MWI. In addition to their major financial support, the HAB plays a huge role at the hospitals, providing hundreds of volunteers who log over 40,000 hours annually, working in dozens of departments. We see “Pink Ladies and Gentlemen” every day, handling a variety of responsibilities and contributing to the quality of care we provide.

They help out on the wards, at the Information Desk, in the medical clinic, in sterile processing and by delivering flowers, all while providing a warm smile, kind word and sympathetic ear. Their efforts touch the lives of patients and their families, while offering assistance and support to members of our staff. The important work done by the HAB makes a tremendous difference and the BHB is very proud to partner with these dedicated volunteers. We all benefit from the services they provide and the funds they raise. We are pleased to express our gratitude to them for their commitment and generosity.JONATHAN P. BREWIN

Chairman, Bermuda Hospitals Board