Too much 'discretion'

December 1, 2002

Dear Sir,

At the recent Child Watch forum two ladies (MP Kim Young and Penny Dill) gave what I consider great advice to men/fathers.

They, men need to avail themselves of information on laws if they expect to have a ghost of a chance needed to traverse the court child custody system. They should not rely on the "family" Social Service worker to portray the importance of a father because it won't happen, nor will most lawyers enter court to fight with vigour for the father to retain a meaningful relationship with his child. The lawyers, you see, has long come to the consensus that it is half as much work to represent a mother and you always emerge a winner, because as all honest legal personnel agree "it's a done deal".

Only when "a" Government musters the conscience to remove child issues from the court, where the same judge deals with violent crimes and your child in the same day, will we really save our children.

The social ills of this country have gone way past the time where we need qualified mediators (men and women) to put the child of Bermuda back on track. The Government by giving a child equal rights to both parents will only be successful if the "discretion" is taken away in law from judges.

FATHER

Hamilton Parish

Let's climb this mountain

December 3, 2002

Dear Sir,

It seems that some fathers have at long last have joined together and decided to fight for what is so plainly the greatest human rights mountain left to climb, that being to allow a child to have a parent/child relationship. This mountain is not as tall as it seems because this is not a right isolated to men, the vast majority of women/mothers are educated to the fact that the child they love, will be far better of if dad is on board.

The PLP Government has taken steps to amend the horrible damage caused to children by the women who use court decisions which allow them to manipulate their obvious advantage into making fatherless children prime candidates for some type of rehabilitation.

The question is, are these steps far reaching enough to make a difference, and will a great opportunity be missed to really make Bermuda, a place where people will travel to see "a country that has the model for shared parenting". On the other hand, will this whole issue be left in the hands of the judges and the wide range of discretion which will continue to clog up the courts and keep the lawyers smiling?

Make your views known to your MP.

REAL SOLUTIONS

Warwick

This isn't natural

December 16, 2002

Dear Sir,

Thank you for printing a portion of my earlier letter regarding circuses and the animals involved.

On Sunday, I took photographs of Tarzan Zerbini's elephants chained up. TZ Productions' General Manager is quoted as saying: "Most people generalise when it comes to circus animals, we invite the public to come along and view our animals."

I ask again, what kind of natural and humane life can an elephant have when it is constantly chained between "performances" and during transport? A chained elephant cannot adequately exercise, socialise, or roam (home ranges for wild elephants can be up to 1,000 square kilometres).

How does Tarzan Zerbini's "successful" captive elephant breeding programme really benefit elephants? Is Tarzan Zerbini doing anything to improve the plight of wild elephants and ensure that future generations will be able to appreciate elephants in their natural environment? Breeding captive elephants only to force them into circus performers does nothing to benefit elephants' welfare, only Tarzan Zerbini's pocketbook.

I am happy that the Tarzan Zerbini elephants were deemed to be in good health, but this point is relative. Put yourself in the elephant's shoes (or shackles, in this case) and ask whether you would rather live out your existence in your natural habitat with your natural herd, or live "twice as long" with your feet chained by people who use you to make a profit.

ALEXANDRA RECK

Paget

Stop this circus

December 15, 2002

Dear Sir,

Like many others, I am appalled at the decision to allow an animal circus perform in Bermuda.

I am certain that if people knew the real suffering endured by these animals, most of them would never again set foot inside a circus.

How unconscionable, therefore, of Esso to permit such a publicity stunt last Saturday at its Par-la-Ville gas station.

Was having a caged tiger on the premises really necessary to its profits? Funnily enough, their advertisements don't include caged tigers. There is a reason for this. The idea of keeping wild animals imprisoned for their whole lives to perform meaningless tricks is abhorrent to every right-minded person. I will never again buy anything at Esso. I am encouraging everyone I know to act likewise.

UNA GRIFFIN

Paget

War and peace

December 17, 2002

Dear Sir,

I'm confused. Today in the newspaper I read about a "war" going on between Jamaican and Bermudians. Apparently this is not a drug war, but a conflict that has arisen out of cultural differences between Jamaicans and Bermudians, as quoted in your paper.

Yesterday I read that the Government pushed ahead with the move to apply to Caricom as an associate member. Apparently this move has nothing to do with economics and it was stated that it was done to maintain our cultural connection with the Caribbean people. Logically this would include Jamaicans.

Can someone please explain this dichotomy to me?

CONFUSED

Warwick

Caricom 'a useless joke'

December 17, 2001

Dear Sir,

Having read some of the banal logic expressed n the recent Parliamentary debate on membership of Caricom , I am reminded of a conversation I had on this subject during my last visit to the Caribbean.

I had the good fortune to be introduced to an extremely articulate and well-educated man from the region, of a much darker hue than Renee Webb, who I spent the best part of the day with touring one of the islands. The conversations were far reaching and varied about the Caribbean, Bermuda and World matters, and I might say very enjoyable and informative.

I asked a question concerning Caricom and what purpose it served to the region, and in relation to the fact that Bermuda was actively seeking membership. This gentleman scoffed openly and described Caricom as a useless joke, adding some other remarks which are not printable.

I have never seen the need for Bermuda to join Caricom and now realise the old saying "birds of a feather flock together" describes the application for membership admirably.

PHIL CRACKNELL

St. George's

That's a fitted dinghy

December 12, 2002

Dear Sir,

I was just wondering if your reporters aren't required to have,at least, a basic knowledge of the island? To call a Bermuda Fitted Dinghy a "model yacht" is inexcusable (front page Royal Gazette, Thursday December 12). While on the subject of errors,do you actually have somebody that proof-reads the articles or do the reporters just 'do their own thing'? Some of the spelling and grammar mistakes are right out of Primary School level.

PONDER

Paget

Where's the Echo?

December 12, 2002

Dear Sir,

I am saddened to see yesterday's line regarding your photo of the boat outside ACE.

That's not a model yacht - that's Echo the Bermuda Fitted Dinghy - all that handcrafting and care that goes into building something important to our national heritage and your paper calls it a model yacht.

I admit she's not been out sailing for a few years but she's the best beast in the fleet in heavy wind having sailed as part of her crew for several seasons. Sniff - it's a minor thing but hey...

NICOLE BUTTERWORTH

Southampton

A question for Mr. Smith

December 13, 2002

Dear Sir,

I like Derrick Burgess, had a grandfather, William Smith, who owned the property known as In-A-Garden in Tuckers Town which extends to the public wharf, which few Bermudians know about.

My grandfather, was one of the first students to attend Berkeley Institute so he was not an illiterate man. He told his wife Teresa not to leave the home, when he returned from work that day her employer had moved her out bag and baggage, which resulted in the break up of their marriage.

Mr. Tony Trott lived on that property until his death. So my question to Mr. Peter Smith: Why was Tony Trott the only black man to live on my fore parent's property until his death between the late seventies or early eighties?

JAM

Sandys Parish