Learn from Sir John

July 10, 2008

Dear Sir,

Sir John's comments in Thursday's Royal Gazette deserve serious attention. John Swan was Premier when Bermuda was strong, elegant, well governed, proud and a beacon to the rest of the world. It is time to return this fine country to the position it deserves.

ROBERT L. DELENSCHNEIDER

Tucker's Point

We cause weather extremes

July 4, 2008

Dear Sir,

What's so fair about the fact that every time it's summer it has to be humid? What's so fair about the fact that the ozone layer has a hole in it? Did it ever occur to you that although Tropical Storm Bertha isn't a threat now it's still heading our way? Something to think about huh? Human activities are likely the cause of the unusual weather we keep facing year after year. Whether it be fireworks or something else, the sky has been ruptured to the point of insanity. Therefore it's likely Bermuda will become about 90 degrees come August and don't be surprised at what the humidity is either.

SOMETHING 2 THINK ABOUT

Pembroke

The office deserves GP1

July 7, 2008

Dear Sir,

One thing your newspaper and the Bermuda Sun does not get or realise is that regardless of our many opinions of the present Premier, the office of the Premier is deserving of a car like GP1. Not surprisingly, very little was reported or said when a similar car was purchased for the Governor, yet you both aggressively report the fact that Dr. Brown has a new GP1 car. Dr. Brown does not own the car. It belongs to the office of the Premier! Please get over it, and respect the office, even though the present Premier may not be deserving of respect.

SAM

Warwick

Fish poachers beware

July 4, 2008

Dear Sir,

It had been drawn to my attention today (July 4) that either someone, or some people have taken it upon themselves to disregard the laws pertaining to the protection of fish that have been added to our endangered species list.

In this case I'm speaking about the Grouper or commonly known as Rockfish. There was recently discovered by a local part-time fisherman who'd, while out searching for his boat (that was missing from its moorings), did through fate stumble upon an area (obviously secluded) used by a person or people, who'd quickly filleted (he'd counted 35 racks of various sizes) Rockfish/Groupers.

To see this, my friend told me he'd been 'teed off' to put it mildly. By law a person is permitted to only extract one Grouper/Rockfish from the waters per day. Yet, because of the hasty manner they'd been cut-up and left visible, the racks lay at the bottom of an enclosure off of Boaz Island, just beyond the fuelling station, but on the Sound side.

Today, I contacted the Marine Police to bring this to their attention, so if who is doing this form of poaching, can now think twice before venturing back into that shady business they've been doing.

SON OF THE BEACH

Tuckers Point

Do you remember this?

Dear Sir,

This is directed to the gentleman driver of a black BMW. The afternoon of June 26, my four children and I had just left the Youth Library, and were halfway across the nearby zebra crossing, when you disregarded us and continued to drive along. The speed bump eased your speed and offered me the slim chance to notice you were not stopping. For that, we are very thankful. Because you were preoccupied with your cell phone, you may not even recall this incident.

However, we are also thankful that your car is obviously equipped with automatic pilot and somehow manages to operate when you are otherwise occupied. Although the cars to the left of you had already stopped to let us cross, and the front of my baby's stroller was merely inches away from the left side of your lovely ride — you still did not notice us. Gratefully, we felt compelled to report we did arrive safely to the other side — lives and limbs intact.

SIMPLY GRATEFUL

Devonshire

An opportunity to clarify

July 11, 2008

Dear Sir,

Re: Tourist apartments approved next to Tom Moore's Tavern. As President of the Bermuda National Trust, I respectfully request that this letter to be printed in The Royal Gazette to provide the Trust with an opportunity for clarification.

Concerns have been expressed to me of what would appear to be, on the Trust's part, a lack of action with regards the recent planning approval of four units at the rear of Tom Moore's Tavern. It would seem that the article "Tourist apartments approved next to Tom Moore's Tavern" printed Friday, June 20, has been misinterpreted by some who, having read the article were left under the impression that the National Trust did not object to this development following an amendment to the planning application.

For clarification, I wish to inform your readers that the National Trust did object to this most recent planning application and following amendments made to that application our objection was not removed. In fact, over the last four years the National Trust has objected to four such planning applications at Tom Moore's Tavern and has also been party to appeals made to the Minister of the Environment. Tom Moore's Tavern, or Walsingham House and its surrounds, are of such extreme importance historically and ecologically that the National Trust pays particular attention to all applications that affect this area. The historic house is one of Hamilton Parish's oldest, dating from the late 17th Century and is architecturally prominent.

The property abuts Walsingham Nature Reserve, undoubtedly one of Bermuda's most important ecologically significant areas that accommodates an extremely diverse range of natural habitats that in turn supports many rare and endangered plant and animal species. Our objections to the numerous planning applications for development in this area have reflected the above and the Trust is extremely concerned that this latest planning application has been granted approval.

WILLIAM HOLMES

President

Bermuda National Trust