June 15, 2004

UPON reading the View from the Hill in the June 11, 2004 edition of the Mid-Ocean News, I was extremely disappointed to note the attempts of my colleague, the Hon. John Barritt, JP, MP, to trivialise the Ministerial Statement that I made in the House of Assembly on June 4, 2004 with respect to the beginning of the 2004 hurricane season.

In Mr. Barritt's view, a Ministerial Statement on that subject was insignificant and fell into the 'anything goes' category as the advent of the new hurricane season was not a matter of national importance.

I strongly disagree. Is it possible that the events of September 5, 2003 have completely receded from Mr. Barritt's consciousness? Perhaps his extended experience on the Opposition bench has completely destroyed his ability to recall Hurricane Fabian. I therefore offer as a reminder to Mr. Barritt and for the consideration of your readers the following extract from my Ministerial Statement of June 4, 2004:

"As the new hurricane season unfolds, it is both timely and appropriate for us to recall the events of 5th September, 2003 when Hurricane Fabian brought tragedy and devastation to Bermuda. It was an occasion when the island was buffeted and bruised. But it was also an occasion that saw the Bermudian spirit prevail as never before.

In the wake of unprecedented storm damage, we rallied as a community, shared ideas and resources and together effected a return to normalcy that made us the envy of the world. Even as we recall with profound sadness the four lives that were lost during Fabian, we are strengthened by the memory of our resilience as a community, of our belief in our abilities and of our faith in one another.

"I am taking this opportunity to urge all residents of our beautiful island to take sensible hurricane preparedness measures in good time. The fact that we experienced a direct hit from a major hurricane last year does not mean that our chances of experiencing another major storm this year are any less. We must be prepared for any eventuality. We must take the necessary steps to ensure that should a hurricane strike, we are prepared."

I believe that the island's ability to weather a ferocious storm is a matter of national importance, one that is certainly deserving of address from the floor of the House of Assembly, the People's House. Additionally, I express the hope that upon careful reflection, Mr. Barritt will agree that I would have been derelict in my duty as the Minister with responsibility for public safety had I failed to heighten the public's awareness of the beginning of the new hurricane season on June 4, 2004.

THE HON. K.H. RANDOLPH HORTON, JP, MP

Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety

Bike noise goes on and on

June 15, 2004

I AM writing to you on the subject of noise terrorism. In particular, that noise generated by two motocross bikes; one bright lime green, and one fire-red equipped with the kind of engines which generate a pitch and frequency designed to egg-beat the cerebral cortex.

These two unlicensed machines repeatedly traverse the green Southside "recreational space", at least what is left of it, every single day, but especially on Sundays and holidays with breakneck, leaping speed (usually just as I lower my head to my pillow for a snooze.)

Despite numerous calls to the St. George's Police Station, most of which are greeted with the now expected languid remarks or barely concealed amusement, and despite the near proximity of the police barracks for single officers, the terror and danger to those of us who would like to traverse the not-so-green rolling hills of Southside without risking having our brains smashed out of our skulls, goes on . . . and on . . . and on . . . and on . . .

I am driven to the conclusion that the police do not care, and that those officers resident in the neighbourhood are devoid of anything that could be egg-beaten. My next strategy is to strategically span the space between trees with high-gauge fishing nylon, but I suspect there is a law against this, which would be enforced.

Small wonder that tourists are becoming as rare as cahows.

ST. DAVID'S ROAD RESIDENT