Upset with appointment

August 1, 2007

Dear Sir,

This evening, I listened with disgust and dismay when I was told of the appointment of the new Permanent Secretary of Education.

How can the powers that be expect us to accept the Premier's brother leading the interim educational board and now the Education Minister's sister as the Permanent Secretary. The BUT leader rightly questioned what checks and balances would be in place to monitor the decision making process between these two.

The Hopkins Report stated that nepotism was one of reasons for the downfall of the current Education system and now we have improved on this by....hiring the Minister's sister!!? As an educated Bermudian, I feel as though I am sitting on an airline watching the slow but steady descent into a mountain range with no control over what happens to me.

Yet, the stewardesses are all smiling and saying our lives are safe in their hands and that drinks will be served momentarily. Over the intercom, I hear the pilots, brothers of course, saying that this is normal behaviour for a plane and that is not a mountain range that I see but a better life!

Help!!

Still just wondering, and putting my head between my knees!

WONDERING

Devonshire

Dunkley an honest man

July 25, 2007

Dear Sir,

Mr. Maxwell Burgess' swipe at Mr. Dunkley in his most recent statement was yet another example of people trying to play the race card against the white Opposition Leader.

Mr. Dunkley did not attend Dame Lois's funeral and it has been held against him endlessly. I have heard his explanation on more than one occasion and yet there are those who still want the matter to live on. I for one accept it and give credit to Mr. Dunkley for admitting that in hindsight he made the wrong decision.

Not often you hear someone admit a mistake! Mr. Burgess believes this "snub" will cost Mr. Dunkley his seat in the next election. What does Mr. Burgess think bout Dr. Brown's "snub" of education, or affordable housing? What does Mr. Burgess feel about Dr. Brown snubbing the Queen's Birthday celebrations?

Or what about Dr. Brown's snub of any sort of explanation on the BHC scandal, instead we have a gag order. What about an explanation from Dr. Brown on "pay to play", snubbed again, is this openness, transparency or accountability? Are these issues not as important to Bermudians?

Pat Gordon Pamplin was absolutely right to wonder what the consequences of the absence of Mr. Dunkley would have been if he was black. Mr. Burgess believes "you have to understand the needs of black people if you want to represent them".

What has Mr. Dunkley done to show that he doesn't understand the black community? An American can understand a Canadian, a child can understand his elders, and to the PLP's shock and dismay black people and white people can understand each other if they only choose to have empathy, care, listen and the desire to work together. Problems are problems, no matter whose they are.

It appears that Mr. Dunkley is tackling them with a colorblind strategy; he seems to be genuine in his desire to make a difference and to do the right thing. If Mr. Dunkley is running in a predominantly black constituency with a strong belief that he can win, I find it impossible to believe that he has a "disconnect" with the black community.

To say Mr. Dunkley is not going to win his seat is jumping the gun. At the end of the day it is up to the voters. Others can speculate all they want. From what I see of MR. Dunkley he is not one to lose.

He thrives on challenge. The feedback I have received from the area has been very positive, so positive that it seems the PLP are beginning to realize what they are up against.

The claws have come out, shameless politicking has begun. But I wait for the day that the PLP realize the race card will not work against Mr. Dunkley.

Mr. Burgess says that three visits to a house will not give you the connection you need to win people's support. Agreed. It is not about the number o times you visit it is about the relationships you build and the trust a voter put s in one as a candidate to get things done for them.

Seems like Mr. Dunkley has strong credentials in this regard. I consider him a man of honesty and integrity; I suggest it would be in our best interests to keep him in the House.

SMITH'S NORTH VOTER

Minister not qualified

July 19, 2007

Dear Sir,

Last week Thursday July 12, 2007 at approximately 8:10 a.m., I was listening to Mr. Thaao Dill Radio Talk Show. On his radio talk show, he had a high ranking Government official, Mr. Derrick Burgess, Minister of Immigration.

A female caller, called in to the radio talk show and asked Mr. Burgess, two simple questions. I will focus on her first question, which she asked Mr. Burgess, "How long can a tourist or guest visiting Bermuda, stay on the Island." Mr. Derrick Burgess replied "Three weeks, but do not quote me on it, I am not sure." When the Minister uttered those words, I was extremely disgusted with his inadequate answer to her question.

It was a simple question put forward to Mr. Burgess, if any question, he should have known, it was this one!

It is apparent from his answer, Mr. Derrick Burgess ¿ Minister of Immigration is not qualified to run this department. It's like asking the Minister of Transportation, "What is Bermuda's speed limit on Bermuda's roads and he, or she has no inkling to this question. Get my point. Please, Mr. Premier, tell us, the Bermudian people in your own words, what academic credentials is needed to head-up and run a Ministry in Government of Bermuda.

The reality is painfully clear, that simple question the female caller asked him, exposed him, of his knowledge, regarding the laws, policies and regulations of this Ministry. His wisdom in the management of affairs for Bermuda is frightening.

I encourage the Premier to employ the best person for the job. Sometimes the best person is not always in ones party. (PLP). It may be an opposition candidate (MP) from the (UBP) Party.

It is Bermudian people who will benefit. Lets all strive for excellence. We should not hesitate to hold our elected officials accountable for wrong doing, while in office. Elected officials have a moral duty and social obligation for the citizens of this country.

We the people, have the power for change. Vote for a better Bermuda. In this game we call politics, there will always be rhetoric and propaganda on both sides of the political fence. With that in mind, politicians please, clean-up your act!

P.s. If candidates, running for office knew their jobs did not pay! How many of them would still run for office.

DES MINORS

Pembroke

Meteor sighted

July 29, 2007

Dear Sir,

I wonder if you have had any reports about the very bright Meteor seen streaking east to west across the sky at 10:10 last night (Sat 28/07).

Dining with friends on their outside porch on Lighthouse Hill, with clear views overlooking Riddell's bay to Spanish Point we had the lighthouse just above us to the right and an almost full moon a little further right, about SE.

Four of us saw a magnificent streak shoot across the sky, parallel to the horizon, at a level lower than the lighthouse top.

It almost looked as though the object came from just behind the lighthouse but we were slightly blinded by the combined lights of lamp and full moon with no idea of how far the streak had previously travelled. Any viewer located away from lighthouse might have a better opinion on this.

Unlike most shooting star objects, which are mainly white and have a bulbous head tapering back to a point, this vision was of equal width and was in technicolour with red,orange,yellow and white patches but having a predominantly green shade throughout - I have no hesitation in describing it as a green streak.

This was the brightest shooting star (meteor) I have ever seen and it was brighter than Venus, which is currently blazing in the south west evening sky at -4.5 magnitude.( At this magnitude we should technically be upgrading the object from meteor to fireball, however I didn't observe any head nor was there any smoke trail behind nor did we hear any sonic boom).

The event only lasted about one or two seconds making detailed description very difficult. Although all four of us basically agreed with this outline I spoke to someone else this morning who observed that they had seen the event from Morgans Road in Warwick as the object (described as a Comet) passed over Warwick academy and was yellow in colour as it disappeared into cloud.

As described above , this object is definitely a bit different from the norm and it might be argued that it is actually a piece of space debris from the past or from current Chinese or Iranian space shots.The bright green colour could be from some copper component of such a craft whereas green is not too common in shooting stars (meteors or fireballs).

The parallel to horizon trajectory and low level (from our viewpoint ) made it look as though the bright image had streaked straight up the harbour and across the sound before evaporating but it is possible that it was a much brighter object located very much further away to, approximately, north east and foreshortening only made it look closer to the ground.

My own conviction that it was a fireball is enhanced by the fact that the Delta Aquarid meteor shower is seen at this time and the green streak came from that radiant.

Note: August is a good month for observing shooting stars and Monday, 13th should see a good display of the Perseid Meteor shower.

EDDIE MCGONAGLE

Let's end party politics

July 24, 2007

Dear Sir,

It is with great concern for my country and my fellow Bermudians that I write this letter.

I have been calling for an end to party politics for years now and I have never been more sure about anything especially with the events over the last few days, weeks and months.

Party politics is dividing our country along racial lines and in my opinion is promoting racism.

With the lead up to the next election all you have to do is listen to the talk shows to know what I mean.

The unfortunate thing is, we will probably never get rid of party politics however, we can force a coalition government by having a third party or a group such as the All Bermuda Congress (ABC) to help independent members get elected.

As long as we have a two party system things will get worse and we the taxpayer will not get the representation that we deserve and pay for in the form of taxes.

At least with a coalition government no party will have the majority and therefore, the elected members of parliament will be forced to work together and represent their constituents.

We can then get the best of the PLP, UBP and independents/ABC to form the cabinet in proportion to the number of seats won in the next election.

I have never been a member of either party as I do not believe in party politics however, I have voted for both the UBP and the PLP however, do not want either party to win the next election.

After 30 years of the UBP and almost nine years of the PLP, I realise that there is not much difference between the two with regards to how they run the country.

They both mismanage our hard earned money paid in the form of taxes, have gone over budget on many capital projects, have set up companies to award government projects to either themselves or their family and friends, have done unethical things that would have been illegal in other jurisdictions or the code of conduct in these other countries would not have allowed and yes in my opinion there have been corrupt politicians in both parties.

I know there are many registered voters who are very loyal to their respective parties but I call on the voting public, the party leaders, all members of parliament, all those running in the next election to take a good hard look at what is happening to our country and our people and do what is best for our future, our children's future and generations to come before it is too late.

We need a coalition government made up of our elected members of parliament to represent us, earn the title of honorable and to work together on the important issues of the day as follows:

Education, Social problems/Drugs/Crime, Affordable Housing, The Environment, Traffic problems/Lack of police presence, Human rights for all God's children.

JOHN E. THORNE

Paget

Legislation short-sighted

July 27, 2007

Dear Sir,

As the spouse of a non-Bermudian I feel the need to question the Government on yet another short-sighted piece of legislation, the 2007 Bermuda Immigration & Protection Amendment.

This Amendment will only punish the innocent. How is applying (and paying $1,271) for an application going to curb the illegal acquisition of property on the island by non-Bermudians? The Spouse of Bermudian (SOB) application was supposed to prevent marriages of convenience (so that non-Bermudians could work here); that process is clearly flawed as such arrangements exist. What makes the Government think this latest one is going to work?

I understand the need to prevent the exploitation of Bermuda's finite properties but the solution is the enforcement of current legislation and identifying the wrong-doers. Adding another layer of red-tape is not the answer.

The fact we have to apply for licenses for my wife to live/work and own property on this Island is over the top. What's next, a license to have children?

KENT SMITH

St. George's