Tired of 'door knockers'

May 29, 2009

Dear Sir,

I write this letter in the hope that just maybe, one of our politicians will read it, concur with my position, and then go to the Parliament to try and make it happen! I am speaking about the solicitation by certain religious (I use the term "religious" here quite loosely) fanatics who insist on spending their Saturdays being a pain in the lower rear anatomy of others. It is difficult to understand why someone, after knocking on a door one Saturday morning and getting an emphatic negative response would come back the following Saturday bent on pushing their "religion" down that same person's throat.

So I am proposing legislation that would make such behaviour illegal. If a certain group wants to entice new members, they can simply put an ad in the local paper listing when and where their flock meets. By the way, I am also proposing that persons caught breaking this law be stoned to death, which is about in line with some of the punishments handed out in the big book from which these door-knockers get their inspiration.

MAM

Sandys

Explain the 'discrepancy'

May 30, 2009

Dear Sir,

Could someone please explain to me why Bermuda grown potatoes ($18) are twice the price of potatoes exported from the USA? Especially given that potatoes are a symbol of inexpensive eating. I simply do not understand why goods and services, which are completed on this Island should be vastly more expensive than goods and services which have travelled thousands of miles to get here? This happened in the UK in the early 1980s when it was cheaper for coal to be exported to the UK, than to produce it in the UK. Within two years, the UK coal industry had pretty much folded! Maybe a Lindo's representative could address my question, since this is where I found this incredible price discrepancy? I guess it's a case of "You're stuck with us, so we can charge it!" A great attitude to have in this current economic climate.

MOTHER

Southampton

Powerful performances

June 1, 2009

Dear Sir,

Last Thursday and Friday evenings I experienced the privilege of watching two live performances of "Birth", a play that tells eight women's birth stories. The most incredible aspect of the play was that seven of the eight actresses had no acting experience, yet each woman played their parts from their hearts like pros. The real message that packed audiences observed was that these women were acting out the births of eight other women – they demonstrated the powerful emotional impact that the birth experience has on women.

Another personal plus for me was in seeing the fruits of the birth doula training that Andrea Schwarz, Angela Sainsbury, Danika Pereira, Melony Kendell, and Lisa Bagchi completed last fall. They have discovered that supporting women during childbirth is what they want to do – they have joined thousands and thousands of women all over the world; in fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Reproductive Health Library states that continuous support during childbirth leads to slightly shorter labour, greater likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth, and a reduced need for intrapartum analgesia, and that women who receive continuous support are less likely to report dissatisfaction with their childbirth experience.

One last (but not least) applaud goes to Sophia Cannonier, the director and producer, whose passion and commitment to better births in Bermuda has truly made a difference. Hurrah to all of the behind the scenes volunteers that made the performances a huge success, to Barbara Harper and Lisa Dalporta for their commitment, and thank you everyone for sharing you're your heart and soul for mothers and babies.

RAE DAVIES, BSH, CD (DONA),

LCCE, IBCLC

DONA International Birth Doula Trainer www.dona.org

Lighting the way

May 31, 2009

Dear Sir,

St. David's Lighthouse is looking very smart in its new coat of paint. Of course, had it been painted dark green it would look even more spruce. Yours arboreally,

ANDREW R. DOBLE

Hamilton Parish

Trouble at US border

This was sent to the Executive Director, Border Security and Facilitation, US Customs and Border Protection in Washington, DC and copied to The Royal Gazette

May 25, 2009

Dear Sir,

On April 30 2009, I flew from Bermuda to Boston, Massachusetts on Delta Airlines, going through US Customs and Immigration at L.F. Wade International Airport, Bermuda. I was asked how long I would be in the United States and informed the officer about 24 hours because I was flying to St. Thomas the next day, to sail a private yacht from Tortola to Bermuda and then on to Portsmouth, Rhode Island. I had a return ticket booked on Delta airlines for Monday May 25 to fly from Boston, Massachusetts to Bermuda.

We arrived in Portsmouth on May 14, 2009 and the skipper of the SY Mantra, called the Customs and Immigration authorities to obtain clearance. (This is about the 14th time I have sailed into the United States from Bermuda, clearing in Portsmouth, Portland Maine, or Falmouth, Maine). Whilst the officers were very polite and professional, I was told (having checked with their supervisors) I did not have the correct paper work because I had not arrived on a Signatory carrier. I was given two choices:

1. Be escorted to Logan airport and be placed on the next flight to Bermuda, or

2. Pay a visa waiver fine of $545 in cash. (No credit card or other form of payment being acceptable.)

Officer Trevino was not quite sure how the situation should be resolved, and at first said I could enter the United States because of being Bermudian. However, he checked with his supervisor, Mr. Stroh, who informed him that it was one of the above two options. I asked if I could call the US Consulate in Bermuda, and was told I could not make any telephone calls until the officers had departed! Even a felon can make one telephone call to his lawyer before being charged!

I am a British National, born in Wales and have lived in Bermuda since 1961. I obtained Bermuda status in 1968 and Bermuda is my permanent residence. My passport if stamped by the Passport Office in Bermuda, with the stamp "Holder is registered as a Bermudian". In January 2009, I applied to the US Consulate for ESTA waiver, application number R6937WR7X74SVSTH, Expiration date 23/12/2010. I had also completed an I-94W Non-Immigrant Visa Waiver.

I was under the impression that Bermuda had a special relationship with the United States of America, but this does not appear to be the case. I am concerned that with the number of yachts going to and from Bermuda with such races as the Marion to Bermuda race this year and the Newport to Bermuda race every other year, that Bermudians arriving by sea, will find themselves in a similar situation to what I encountered. I was very fortunate insofar that the skipper of Mantra was able to help me gather $545. Normally one does not carry that amount of money when sailing.

As stated in the first paragraph, the US Immigration officials at L.F. Wade International Airport were fully informed of my travel plans. Any policy changes which have come into effect in the past year would have been brought to my attention and I could have been given the opportunity to take the necessary steps to facilitate my entry into the United States of America.

Is there any recourse for me and if so, how can I make a claim for the refund of this $545 fine imposed in the I-93?

ANTONY SIESE, FBCO

City of Hamilton

Time to do something!

June 3, 2009

Dear Sir,

The recent revelation by Government MP Mr. Wayne Perinchief that hard-core drug pushers had been caught red handed but let off, should send shivers down the spines of all right thinking citizens in Bermuda. Increasingly we have become a drug-ridden and violent society under the PLP government. There seems to be little or no solutions offered to rid us of these scourges. Praise should be afforded to Mr. Perinchief as he calls for "outside help". He indicates current law enforcement agencies in Bermuda are somewhat ineffective. Should we demand that our politicians take action and import foreign Police officers and other law enforcement personnel to fight the menace of drugs and violence? Our politicians should stop paying lip service and actually do something! Bermuda's future and well being, as a safe society is at stake. In the event that immediate action is not seen to be done, I look forward to the day when we have new leaders who are capable and willing to get Bermuda back on track.

EX-PLP VOTER

Smith