Make mine a double August 12, 2002Dear Sir,The bull dogs must have passed their temperance test. Thank God! I would have been very unnerved if I was in the seat next to one at my AA meeting.

THANKFUL

St. George’s<$>Barn bathroom off limits August 14, 2002Dear Sir,I am writing to you in regards to the new Barn in Devonshire that belongs to the Hospital Board.

It has been of great improvement compared to the old one and I would also like to add that it has air conditioning — which is great — a children’s area to play and draw, also a lot of room to breathe might I add.

But there is one thing that really does not seem right; the fact that there is no bathroom that one can use. Or maybe I should rephrase that there is a bathroom, but only the staff are allowed to use it.

Last Saturday I went there with my children like I do every Saturday, and my daughter wanted to use the bathroom, but when I asked I was told no. It is not as if we go there every week and ask to use the bathroom but I feel it is pretty unfair that being a regular customer of theirs — and spending money each week there for a good cause might I add.

It would be interesting to know whose rule is it not to allow customers to use the bathroom, or have the staff made their own rule? One of the helpers understood my daughter’s request but when she tried to ask for the key, she had just the same luck as myself. I feel young children especially should not been told they cannot use the bathroom, as in their little minds they may just look at that the wrong way. Also if an accident did occur, who would they ask to clean it up? The parent of course.

CONCERNED BARN SHOPPER

St. Davids.<$>Greed greased the wheels August 15, 2002 Dear Sir,The front page story covering the conviction and sentencing of Mr. (Vidar) Lunoe for swindling several Bermudian “investors” out of their hard earned money made interesting reading.

It was interesting not only for the people involved and the sums of money involved, but for the apparent lack of any common sense shown by any of the “investors”. It is too bad, but the only fuel that drove this faulty financial engine was greed.

BILL NEARON

Pembroke West<$>(Tourism) ads nauseum August 14, 2002Dear Sir,The hot air that comes out of the Department of Tourism makes global warming seem like a minor inconvenience.

The latest examples were in The Royal Gazette <$>of August 12, where two full page advertisements extolled the virtues of the Department of Tourism. The first in conjunction with the Police and Fire Services (who?), and the second patting itself on the back for winning some self-congratulatory award. To make matters worse, the Department of Tourism praises itself for stealing the taxpayers’ money to support millionaire condo owners at Tucker’s Point when poor Bermudians struggle to pay rent and educate their children.

It is difficult to believe that this fiasco of a department, that has been an abysmal failure for years, has the effrontery to advertise itself as ‘Mr. Wonderful’. What on Earth happened to the truth-in-advertising laws?

The promotion of government by government goes on all the time — drugs ads, education ads, environment ads, sports ads etc. It is a clear case of propaganda being used, and your tax dollars being made to work lobbying for even more tax dollars.

The result is that taxpayers are being lied to, made poorer and the political class is made richer and more powerful. Even the Ministry of Finance produced a self-serving booklet extolling the virtues of the budget whilst picking the taxpayer’s pocket for record amounts. One exception to the advertisement gimmick was when Dr. GPS had a beach party at the expense of taxpayers for the employees of the Department of Transportation.

Can the public have equal time to make the point that, based on achievement (not wishful thinking or public relations gimmicks), many Government departments should be wound up, not congratulated.

ROBERT STEWART

Flatts<$>Tired of taxi trashing August 14, 2002Dear Sir,I am a part-time taxi driver and a full-time daughter of two hard-working taxi drivers. I have grown up surrounded by taxi drivers and a business that the majority love, honour and respect. I grow tired of letters printed from people hiding behind pen names, spouting negativity about the taxi industry and stereotyping taxi drivers.

The last straw (came from) Oscar the Grouch, of Paget. Would you have written in if someone in a private car had thrown trash out? Did you stop and pick it up? First and foremost taxi drivers are human beings — complete with the faults and flaws of everyone else.

Because they have chosen the profession of taxi driver doesn’t elevate them to a notch beneath God. We do our best to be good ambassadors for the Island. But so should every resident. To all readers — if you feel so strongly about a disservice, you have the right to report the licence plate — or badge — of any driver of a public service vehicle to TCD. Exercise your rights!

The Royal Gazette <$>should be your second stop. I challenge those of you with positive stories to do the same. To those of you that feel the need to malign the taxi driver to justify GPS, take your best shot.

SHARI-LYNN PRINGLE

Smith’s Parish<$>Fortress USA an eyesore August 8, 2002Dear Sir,I agree with your correspondent signing himself “Neighbour” in the August 7, 2002 issue of The Royal Gazette.

“Neighbour” wonders how the awful additions to the American Consulate could have been approved. I am curious about that myself.

I do not recall seeing anything in the newspaper which would have encouraged the residents in this neighbourhood to express views on the proposed changes to the Consulate property. The American Consulate is starting to look more like “Fortress America”. It is hideous!

Apparently vehicles are no longer permitted on the property and the parking lot for the Arboretum Park on Montpelier Road is now full of vehicles belonging to visitors (and staff?) for the Consulate. In addition, I have seen cars and cycles parked in First Avenue, on the sidewalks at the entrance to Montpelier Road, and I have found vehicles parked on my lawn at times. (Listen: my landlady doesn’t want me driving vehicles on my lawn. I’m not happy to find strangers doing it.)

Is the Consulate paying rent for the use of the Arboretum parking lot which does, after all, belong to the Bermudian taxpayers?

I don’t know much about methods for attacking American consulates. It seems to me that a building set back only 50 yards from the main road, and that can be approached from the other sides, cannot be made all that secure, despite the fortress-like defences. If a terrorist really wants to explode a car bomb, or shoot a rocket over the fence, the consulate is going to come down. Unless there is a bunker under the place, it’s really useless.

Is it too late for the Bermudian Government to tell the Americans that they should take this monstrosity out to South Side? If it is too late, I have another idea. Let’s start storing all the asbestos and toxic and hazardous waste the Americans left at the US bases on the property surrounding the Consulate here in Devonshire. The neighbourhood’s gone all to hell anyway!

ROSS ELDRIDGE

Devonshire