July 26, 2004

Dear Sir,

The image of an old Marlin withering away at the bottom of the ocean versus an allegedly honourable death at the end of a fishing line has a few flaws:

Marlins of over 700-800 pounds are often females at the peak of their productive capabilities. They are also still fertile when they are over ten years old. So, Mr. Boat Driver from Puerto Rico, you are therefore robbing the ocean of many future inhabitants by killing a current one, not only of a creature which is just prey to fellow ocean dwellers.

And even if the fish you caught was not a productive female, but an old one beyond its prime, how do you know the creature was withering away? Also, what's wrong with getting old? Is old age an excuse for us to kill a creature? I have a distinct feeling I would not want to retire in your neighbourhood.

Most amusing is what you have to say about honour: I am not so sure whether the fish will understand your concept of honour, which is one of being caught and put on display, but I know the creature certainly has at least a neural sense of extreme pain and fear once hooked by you. Remember, it's always very easy to talk about honourable death when you are not the one who is doing the dying.

In your view of our global habitat we evidently all get to send our kids and grandkids to “The Museum of Extinction” to see the former beauty and riches of nature in an exhibit the taxidermist has just delivered your great Marlin to. But then again I guess you don't care much about kids and grandkids anyway, because we all know what you think of growing old.

In your letter you go on to say the Marlin also had the honour of aiding Bermuda in attracting people like you to the Island in the future, those game fishers who come here to see the beauty of the natural resources and then go on to deplete them. Sorry, man, you got this all twisted, because many people in Bermuda are very much against your type. Hardworking Bermudian fisherman, who eke an honest living from this Island's waters by catching what they need to eat and sell to fishing licence fees for your type should be increased to prohibitive levels. In my opinion, should do the honourable thing and not allow your killer boats to find a safe harbour here. If you only come her for the thrill to kill, then do the honourable thing and drive your boat somewhere else, Mr. Boat Driver.

JENS ALERS

Southampton

From bad to worse

July 5, 2004

Dear Sir,

The community had been waiting so long to get PLP in power, now they are in power they have proven zilch to the community but being selfish and unreliable. Situations have gone from bad to worse, and they are not getting any better. They have disappointed the community! Government's issues are on less important fixations. For instance, why waste money on a GPS system when you need money for low cost housing, recreation centres to keep youth out of trouble, crime, etc. Taxi drivers spend a whole lot of money on permits, that's not enough money for you? And how could anyone say who needs a taxi anyway. How dare they, because if that was they way of living they would not be saying no such thing. Power to the taxi drivers, they deserve respect like everyone else.

Government's wasting time on issues that aren't necessary and not of any importance. Listen to and take in what your community has to say. Our opinion is just as superior as yours, and you need to take that into consideration.

Government is destroying our community. I feel that if Government can't get a piece of the pie (money), you can't have it. For instance the game machines, they want to stop it because they made over $1 million in the past year, so what! So they shut down the machines because they didn't get any of that money? Larry Mussenden proved that on the news the night of June 30, 2004. I feel that if that's how people want to spend their money let them. By shutting down the game machines because it's gambling, they need to stop all gambling completely. Like Crown & Anchor, Bingo etc. If they want to shut down one, shut down all. So if its nothing wrong with Bingo or Crown & Anchor, Horse and Football betting, etc. There's nothing wrong with the game machines. Does the Government care how many people are going to be out of a job? Obviously not.

Government is partially the cause of violence today. Prime example when Government basically took over disciplining our children. Now you find that children are more disrespectful and have no fear for authority, now look at the outcome of that.

Another example, here you have both parties meeting in the House and you have nothing but arguing and insults. What kind of mirror image is that? What they fail to realise is that people and youth are only products of the image they see on a regular basis. The head is supposed to be the leader of the body and when the head cannot lead then the body will fail and become the product of confusion and chaos. Now think about it, look at the Island, what do you see ...

DISAPPOINTED IN GOVERNMENT

City of Hamilton

Turn the music down

July 3, 2004

Dear Sir,

I predict that the next generation of senior citizens will probably have a high incidence of hearing problems. I came to this conclusion based on the following. While visiting a friend recently I noticed that throughout the evening the noise emanating from passing vehicles is horrendous - not just the noise from the altered motors on many cycles and cars, but the noise from sound systems in most cars.

The noise starts as a dull thump in the distance that increases until the windows are shaking and the house is vibrating in its foundation. My friend's home borders a main thoroughfare and he lives near a traffic light, which results in these vehicles waiting for the light to change right outside his house. The music is blaring and the tinny whinny of the tweeters is so loud that one could not even hear the television or conduct a reasonable conversation. Long after they have passed, and due to the fact that one's ears have been tuned to the offending noise, you hear the Doppler effect of the dull thump as the car recedes in the distance. This continues - don't even talk about weekends - well into the early hours of the morning. Why anyone who has been out all night needed to drive home at 4 a.m. with blaring music is beyond me.

There seems to be a preponderance of this behaviour going on nowadays with nothing being done to stop it. Motorists drive around with sound equipment in their cars that could rival the Front Street night club systems. It is really ridiculous how these people continue to disrupt the tranquility that Bermuda was once known for. While they seem to have a desire to inflict damage upon their own eardrums, why should they be allowed to do the same to their passengers? Quite often their children are forced to endure it while the offenders are disturbing the peace of the people they pass. I predict that in a few years time we are going to see many of these same people reaching their mature years with hearing problems.

When I got my first Mobylette - way back in the 1970s - may of us were booked for having ‘loud parts' and received fines or had to appear in court for the offence. Sometimes the offending vehicles were impounded until modifications were made to them. The Police would also pull over people for playing loud music in their cars. While I recognise that the Police have a lot more important issues to deal with in these times, why can't they kerb this behaviour from motorists?

As your ‘Letters' column is highly read, I am hopeful that some of these offenders will recognise themselves and their actions and make the effort to be more considerate of others while driving around listening to their music. Ultimately, we all will be forced to pay higher taxes to cover the burden of increased healthcare costs for what may very well become a rapidly increasing senior citizen population with hearing problems. Turn the music down, guys!

MUSIC LOVER

City of Hamilton

Keep up the good work

July 26, 2004

Dear Sir,

I'm replying to a letter that appeared in your paper a little while ago after the End to End trek this last May.

The writer was complaining about placement of the Porto-potties, or loos, along the route from St. George's to Dockyard.

It would appear to me, after the many years that the End to End has been taking place, the success rate each walk has achieved and with the vast amounts of money that have been raised for the various charities around Bermuda, a dig at the way the walk is organised goes beyond words. As a participant myself for over ten years, I have had the pleasure of working with some of the major organisers of the event. I take my hat off to all of them. It's no easy task. A lot of personal time is given from start to finish to make the walk the success that it is.

As far as the toilets are concerned, I'm sure they try to obtain as many as possible and place them where they think they are best suited to all the walkers. They can't place them according to each walker's bladder. If a Porto-potty hasn't been at the advertised location, I'm sure there's a logical reason. If they had requested ten and were only supplied eight, then they would have to make other arrangements as to where they should be placed. And quite possibly, it may have been to late to change the advertisement.

The writer needs to expand on the positive side of this walk, and give credit where credit is due, such as the many wonderful things they are provided for each of those who set off on such a trek. The numerous water stops where cheerful volunteers give encouragement to each walker who passes their water station. Some of the volunteers provide music, along with the orange wedges, bananas, cookies and even chocolates. But the best thing of all is their smile.

Besides all the many volunteers who are manning these water stops, a big thanks should also be given to all those thoughtful residents along the route that also supply water and fruit, and even sometimes the use of their own bathrooms. To all of them, I say thank you. I know all the gals appreciate you.

And, most importantly, the money that each walker raises for the many deserving charities. Look at the many unfortunate individuals that have had their lives made brighter from all of our efforts and the wonderful people of Bermuda that give money to each walker. A big, big thank you from all of us.

Keep up all the good work, End to End organisers and participants!

GORDY GIBBONS

Paget East

Streets ‘a disgrace'

The following letter was sent to Kelly Miller, secretary of The Corporation of Hamilton, and copied to The Royal Gazette:

July 21, 2004

Dear Ms Miller,

The Streets of Hamilton are a disgrace. They are dirty with trodden in lumps of chewing gum making unsightly black patches. The pretty Chancery Lane is about the filthiest, with grease, areas from the restaurants' garbage and the handrails untouchable.

I suggest that the streets are pressure washed at night and the gum removed as is done at Disney World.

Surely there are many who would appreciate the night job.

ANNE POWELL

Warwick

Missing from photo

July 28, 2004

Dear Sir,

Last week there was a full page spread in one of the daily papers regarding the Teen Beauty Queens and their upcoming pageant.

There were individual photos as well as two group photos - the group photos appear as though they were taken on different days as the girls are wearing different outfits, some with different hairdos, etc.

My query is this: there are, it seems, four white (this includes Portuguese) entrants. These four are not in neither group photo and I am simply wondering why not?

JUST CURIOUS

Southampton

Waiting for a response...

July 14, 2004

Dear Sir,

I was determined not to write a letter to you about my growing frustration with our Department of Tourism but feel compelled to do so now to expose to your readers the absolute lack of response from various sections of the department in the last few months.

Earlier this year I was the only international director of a Canadian financial planning organisation with over 1,200 members and was told by the managing director that they were strongly considering locating their 2006 or 2007 annual conference in Bermuda. As a resident of Bermuda, I thought I would be able to help bring the conference here. The number of delegates attending the conference would be 200-plus. Assuming most delegates would bring their partners and children I believe approximately 400-plus people could be brought to Bermuda.

After various enquiries locally I tried to reach the manager of the Toronto office, leaving three messages for him to call me. The messages contained details of why I was calling. One of these messages was left in the Bermuda office as I discovered that he was on the Island at the time. I did not receive a response from him. As a result of this I tried to reach the Acting Director of Tourism three times also by leaving messages in her office. No response was received from her either.

On May 25th I wrote two letters. One was to Dale Butler regarding the May 24th Marathon Derby and the other was to Renee Webb regarding the lack of response from two senior people in her department. I received a response signed by Mr. Butler several weeks ago. The letter to Ms Webb contained details of my attempts to refer business to her department and the absolute lack of response from senior people in that department. It is with more than substantial regret that I must let you know I am still waiting for a response from the Minister of Tourism.

Can I assume from this lack of response from seven different attempts to promote tourism that no one is interested in this business? I sincerely hope not. When is the Minister going to take responsibility for this poor showing of her department?

JOHN BARNETT

President

Life & Annuity Services Ltd.

P.s. I would strongly recommend that someone from the Tourist Department calls the Toronto office. The person who answers the phone should not be representing our Island as she is awful and did not make me feel welcome at all.