Pathetic public greeting

November 26, 2004

Dear Sir,

“Good-morning-how-are-you?” “How-are-you-today!” They pass with a quick smile, not slackening pace or waiting for a reply. Flung over the shoulder, replies are lost in the snarl of traffic, “Have-good-a-to-nice-see-day-you!” A twinge of guilt? Hardly.

Reid Street rhetoric. Meaningless. Bad enough, but the most pathetic response to a thoughtless rubber stamp inquiry has to be: “Not as good as you!”

“Not as good as you” should be intended as a playful reminder of one's amazing good fortune to be walking, clothed, and fed at this particular moment in history on Reid Street instead of, say, Darfur or Bosnia. But it's not. Begrudgery has become an art form in Bermuda, so ingrained it is now not only baseline politics, but a public greeting.

“Not as good as you” is an accusation implying that somewhere, somehow, you ought to feel guilty - not so much for being in an appalling state of good health, or nauseatingly well-dressed, but rather that you are not accompanying your friend in his or her inertial existence. Misery loves company, demands it, and pouts when she does not get it. “Not as good as you” backfires, as it shouts “Victim! Pathetic! Boohoohoo!” Really small violins.

Try “Better for seeing you!” instead and watch someone's face light up in surprise. It's impossible to say without at least some degree of mischief. A little thing perhaps, but it implies you are better off for having encountered them.

Next week we'll discuss “Not a problem”, a particularly loathsome entity hatched in the Bermuda Regiment's armoury.

SKINK AND LOBSTER PARTY

City of Hamilton

Unpleasant winter ride

November 14, 2004

Dear Sir,

During my disco days the small fast ferries and I would have run neck and neck as to who was the best dancer. These boats can truly rock and roll, twist and shimmy the seas like no other. Interesting enough, their display is evidenced on a mild day when the wind is gentle and their dance floor has a minimal chop, whilst my stomach is moving in tandem with it's rhythm. Whoaaaa! I think I'm going to be sick!

The thought that I am consumed with at this precise moment is …are the smaller fast ferries conducive for the transit route from Rockaway during the winter months? If they can dance the way they do on a good day, I will admit I don't eagerly look forward to swing dancing during the winter months. Already I'm considering driving my car during the colder season with the intent of resuming ferry transport during the spring and summer months especially when I don't know which ferry will be in service at a given time. Will it be the larger ferry or the smaller today? I guess it is a chance that I take for the convenience of avoiding traffic congestion.

I am a proponent of the fast ferries. They are a welcomed and embraced feature for those of us in the west. Truly we thank Dr. Brown for his initiatives in this matter, it makes for a less stressful morning on a “good day” as one is enveloped with the artistry of God's hand in nature, especially as you sit on the top deck and inhale the crispness of the morning air. However, I can't help but wonder whether this is my own personal challenge or are these smaller ferries not constructed in a way that makes for a more pleasant winter ride.

I in no way have an elementary understanding on the science of this technology; I can only formulate my thoughts based on my experience. I'm just curious whether there is any technological validity to my mere observation. If so, I'm not sure we should invest in any more of the smaller ferries as it would not be wise value for money.” Just a thought to ponder!

AMAKA B

Sandys Parish

Increase the speed limit

November 15, 2004

Dear Sir,

Yet again, I'm hearing calls to increase the speed limit from its present 35kph. As the Police very rarely book anyone for travelling at less than 50kph, I suggest increasing the legal speed limit to 45kph, but have the Police continue to issue tickets for speeds of 50kph and above. Let's be honest; today's cars are simply not designed to travel at 35kph.

VOX ORIENTALIS

St. George's

No room for scare tactics

November 16, 2004

Dear Sir,

Please allow me space to respond to Mr. Michael Marsh who was referring to one of my recent letters to this column.

Clearly Mr. Marsh has missed my point regarding coinciding a referendum on Independence with a General Election. I will break it down even further for him so that he can understand the point I was making.

Mr. Marsh, you are correct that I agree with determining Independence by way of a referendum. However, as I said in my earlier letter it is more than a simple yes or no answer because I would also want to determine who will govern Bermuda after the decision on Independence is made. Let's say the outcome of the referendum is a resounding “Yes”, where do we go from there? Do we then have wait for the next General Election to determine who will lead us in Independence? I would rather go to the polls once and cast my “Yes” vote on the referendum and at the same time cast my vote for the PLP to be the Government that leads into Independence. Rather than vote “Yes” on the referendum and they be left waiting to see what happens next. Surely, you do not think the Bermuda electorate are so ignorant that they can't do both of these at once.

You say you do not vote for politicians and hope they keep their promises after they are elected. If this is the case I guess you have never voted in an election. Elections are won and lost on promises made by political parties and candidates.

You say I am confusing scare tactics with economic common sense and historical reality. What historical reality are you referring to? I still contend that your reasons for Bermuda not taking the route to Independence are based on scare tactics. You again bring up the issue of currency devaluation. But as I said in the past devaluation is only done where there is massive unemployment in conjunction with hyper inflation. Go back and read why the Jamaica dollar was devalued. You can also review the Brazilian example while you are at it. If you have no knowledge or understanding of economics leave the economic discussions to those of us that have an understanding.

I still don't understand why International Business would leave an Independent Bermuda. Are the companies not in Bermuda because of the legislative framework that is in place along with the political and economic stability? I will remind you that the legislative framework was not put in place by the UK, it was put in place by the Bermuda Legislature. Remember Bermuda is self-governing. Was the same argument regarding flight of International Business not used in efforts to prevent the PLP from wining the Government? International Business has grown under the PLP Government, which makes the comments about International Business taking flight nothing more than scare tactic.

In a recent letter I stated that Bermuda is currently in a position of strength with regard the International Business sector. Sure the business could leave Bermuda overnight but the options for relocation are severely limited. Firstly, Bermuda's success has been based on political and economic security but secondly, and maybe just as important is Bermuda's geographic location. Most of the Fortune 1000 companies are based on the US eastern seaboard and it takes, at most, two hours to reach Bermuda.

It would be contradictory for the sector to move to the Bahamas or Barbados because these countries are already independent and according to you they will leave an independent Bermuda. Further, Barbados has an income tax regime. The Cayman Islands have shown that they cannot withstand a severe hurricane, The BVI does not have the topography that would allow for the buildings that are required and the Turks and Caicos Islands do not have the infrastructure in place.

What real benefits do we get from the United Kingdom? We set our own legislative agenda, while the UK has responsibility for internal security we manage and pay for it ourselves, we handle our own external affairs for which the UK has final signing authority. External security is a non-issue because as I have pointed out in the past any threat of invasion from another country will be thwarted by the US military due to Bermuda's strategic location. If you want evidence of US military support do some research on the invasion of Grenada. I am sure Mr. William Cox can provide you with the information on this occurrence.

I am confused Mr. Marsh, what does Cuba and the British Labour Government have to do with this discussion on Independence for Bermuda? Care to explain this?

With regard to Bermuda becoming a banana republic, you clearly have no faith in Bermuda and its people to safeguard it for the future generations. Further, I ask you this, When you moved out of your parents home and began your own life, which equates to Independence, did you fail miserably or did you realise that in order to succeed you had to push yourself to succeed? Independence for Bermuda is no different, at some point in time you must grow up and be responsible for yourself.

As I stated in one of my recent letters, I am open to publicly debating the pros and cons of Independence the next time I am at home, would you be open to such a challenge Mr. Marsh? As I also stated, I will only debate facts; scare tactics and what-ifs are not acceptable and I will not respond to them. So if you can bring your facts bring them and let's have a healthy debate.

GUILDEN M. GILBERT, JR.

Nassau, Bahamas