December 29, 2005

I am so ashamed with this hospital and every one in Bermuda should be too. Mr. Barber?s treatment he received at the hospital was disgusting, what ever ward he was in should hang their heads in shame.

He is so well known for what he has given this hospital money wise that his name should be recognised and they should have given him a private room and waited on him like a prince that he is.

The doctors and nurses should be ashamed. He gives and the hospital ?takes? when they had the ?chance? to ?repay? what he has given them. As a volunteer worker for over ten years I withdraw my services ? is it worth it?

Too bad this is our only hospital.

DISGUSTED

Devonshire

December 22, 2005

Dear Sir,

The Bermuda College did not just become arbitrary (Robert Stewart, December 22). ?WE? did not just become indifferent to the injustices and outrages that do not touch us.

Dr. O?Connell is, in fact, ?the future? resulting from ?the trouble that we stored up for ourselves? when we ignored, and the College ?got away with?, the outrages? inflicted on others as long ago as in the Eighties.

The College is a Bermudian Institution and many Bermudian institutions and policies and practices have often been arbitrary. Very often the players change but the game remains the same and so do the policies and practices.

Dr. O?Connell has, in fact, had far more support from a greater variety of people than most. Who could be more different that Robert Stewart and Lavern Furbert?

Both of whom have supported the concept of an ?impartial hearing?. But the College has a tradition of doing what it chooses and the Human Rights Commission has never had any influence on what it does during the decades that I am aware of. Unfortunately, Mr. O?Connell showed less interest in the human rights of others over the decades than others have shown in his, hence we are where we are.

EVA N. HODGSON

Hamilton Parish

December 30, 2005

Dear Sir,

Front page December 30, 2005 article ?World?s local bank strips building of parish crests?.

Didn?t I tell you, this would happen? Honestly, it is just a matter of time before China owns Bermuda, and the Government of Bermuda are stupid enough to sell it to them and not even know they are doing it.

They bought the Bank of Bermuda and then Trimingham?s and Smith?s, three of the biggest companies on the Island, now everything else on the Island is just ?small fish? to them.

Stop them from buying anymore of Bermuda before it is too late.

Oh, have you noticed that the HSBC Bank of Bermuda is now all red. Uniforms, decor etc.

Just because China is buying up parts of Bermuda does not give them the right to change Bermuda?s heritage, a small thing like removing parish crests and photos of past Bank Officials is truly a monumental step in stripping Bermuda of very proud moments and accomplishments.

STOP SELLING

Sandys

December 4, 2005

Dear Sir,

I understand that the Minister of Transport has put a deadline of February for all taxis to have a G.P.S. unit in their car.

It is a considerable cost for the individual drivers with rising fuel prises, cost of licences, replacement cost of the cars, etc... But it is deemed that they can or must afford the units. These drivers or owners have to buy their own cars, maintain them, fuel them, etc.

I want a GPS unit in every Cabinet Minister?s car ? I, and we, the public pay their salaries, pay their fuel, repair their car and when we have finished with them, or is it they are finished with us, we have to pay their pensions. To make sure they can be installed immediately, and we don?t have to wait for a budget allocation in the next decade or two, I will pay for the installation.

I did not have a lot of time for the UP Cabinet, but this one has lost the plot entirely. They, and the Civil Servants, serve us the public. So further, I want a roll call in the House, every session, to see who is at ?work?. I would ask for an individual vote sheet of each Member, but that would be a waste of time ? with a party political system, that would not be newsworthy ? except to see how they wiggle and squirm on Renee Webb?s bill on the issue of homosexuality.

SANDERS FRITH-BROWN

Warwick

P.s. Ask Lee Tucker and the taxi drivers if they agree!

December 28, 2005

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to thank the kind contributors to Prospect Primary school fundraiser at our annual Christmas play.

On behalf of the school I would like to thank the various establishments, Market Place, Lindo?s Fine Food, Howard?s Mini Mart, Hamilton Pharmacy, Hunts Food Supply, Elbow Beach, Red Carpet Restaurant. Lobster Pot, Arnolds Supermart, Butterfield & Vallis, Kiwans Club International, Pitt & Co., Hill View Variety, Little Venice Group, John Barritt & Son and Dunkleys Dairy.

The school fundraiser was a success again. On behalf of Prospect Primary School a warm thank you.

TERRY FLOOD

Director of Fund Raiser

Prospect Primary School

January 3

Dear Sir,

Is Bermuda?s glass half-empty or half-full? Sir John Swan imagines it near to over-flowing. He qualifies this perception with honourable concern for special needs and interests ? education, seniors, health, and community relations ? before acknowledging this bald truth: ?We depend on one industry ? International Business. The economic engine of Bermuda is driven primarily by non-Bermudians. They are the captains and owners of International Business.?

Expatriate businessmen should be welcomed, because they are the condition for Bermuda?s well-being.

It is harsh, but not inaccurate, to say that Bermuda, so described, has surrendered economic and political autonomy to these captains and owners for benefits Sir John details.

Independence from Britain is still a live topic, but the reality ? one championed by Sir John ? is that Bermuda is now a satrap of HSBC and its associates.

They preside. Government is their instrument.

Sir John concedes one troubling cloud in this otherwise blue sky: ?The USA and the EU could pass punitive legislation that would not be advantageous for international business to stay here.?

What would Bermuda do if its goose were to stop laying golden eggs?

What alternative economic base remains when every dimension of Bermudian life has been graciously altered to suit the interests of international business?

Bishop Berkeley of Cloyne, describing Bermuda in the early 1700s, wrote that Bermudians were dirt poor. Palmetto leaves, he said, were Bermuda?s only export. International business may thrive in Bermuda for five, ten, or 50 years. But what would happen were it to leave?

Sir John doesn?t tell us, though we know the prospect troubles him, because he emphasises that Bermuda must do everything possible to make itself congenial to its captains and owners.

Concessions to them may not be sufficient. International business might find other platforms more profitable than Bermuda whatever inducements it offers.

Does the Island have a fall-back position: tourism, palmetto leaves, something else? Sir John should finish his essay with a paragraph that thinks the unthinkable.