July 13, 2005

Dear Sir,

"Bravo" to the Minister of the Environment for her courageous and firm stand against Dr. Brown in upholding the decision to deny planning permission for another captive dolphin display.

In the name of these innocent and magnificent creatures, we thank you, Minister Butterfield. There is integrity in this Government after all.

ANIMAL DOCTOR

Pembroke

Give O'Connell a voice

July 14, 2005

Dear Sir,

The situation involving Dr. Sean O'Connell's unfair dismissal from the Bermuda College needs to be corrected. His dismissal, some two years ago, was and remains an injustice in that Dr. O'Connell was not afforded the benefit of defending himself. In fact, Dr. O'Connell's accuser was himself later dismissed for falsifying his own professional credentials - what is it that is said about the "fruit from a poison tree"?

Dr. O'Connell had been a professor of math at The Bermuda College for some twenty-nine years and throughout those years had earned an impeccable reputation among his students and colleagues alike. He has been an upstanding and law-abiding member of our society and has contributed much of his time and efforts towards the betterment of our community. His credentials are legitimate and he, like anyone else, deserves to have "his day in court".

As I understand, the matter now rests with the Chairman of The Board of Governors of the Bermuda College. Apparently Minister Horton has recommended early arbitration as a result of an investigation into the handling of this case, however because this matter does not involve essential services, arbitration needs to be agreed by both parties.

The Board of Governors of the Bermuda College needs to do what is right and just by affording Dr. O'Connell the opportunity to defend himself against the accusations of his since discredited accuser. This injustice should not be allowed to continue.

J. EDWARD SOUSA

Warwick

Time to slow down

July 9, 2005

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to respond to an article entitled "Perinchief calls for faster speed limit" that was printed on page 7 of your July 6th edition. Did Mr. Perinchief think before he spoke? The last thing we need to do is increase the speed limit on Bermuda's roads. They are not safe now. Mr. Perinchief states that road accidents are caused by frustrated drivers taking risks when stuck behind slow drivers. Those frustrated drivers should realize that they are not only putting their lives at risk but also the lives of others. It is time for them to slow down, obey the speed limit and thus obey the law. Has Mr. Perinchief never heard the slogan "Speed Kills"? How about "Driving is a privilege, not a right"? Maybe Mr. Perinchief, will also call for all licenses of those over 60 years of age to be cancelled and then all the slow drivers would be off the road! How about the helmet law? No one likes to wear a helmet anyway. Why doesn't Mr. Perinchief call for that law to be done away with too since he doesn't seem to care about safety?

Accidents are not being caused by slower drivers, they are being caused by impatient drivers. Here is a solution: Try leaving five minutes earlier. Maybe the elderly drivers whom Mr. Perinchief claims are part of the problem are still driving for a reason. They drive cautiously, obey the speed limit and obey the law. The biggest menace to the orderly passage of traffic is those "idiots" who overtake on corners, tailgate and race because they are late.

I also find it hard to believe that Opposition MP Michael Dunkley is in agreement with Mr. Perinchief. Mr. Dunkley stated, according to the article, that "it is ridiculous to have a law that no one obeys or is expected to obey and it leads to a general decline in respect for the law" Is he serious? It is time to enforce the law. If drivers are to respect the law, there should be more police presence on the roads enforcing the law. A recent Royal Gazette article pointed out the effects of setting up speed traps when some 121 people where caught speeding in one evening alone. In fact one woman was caught three times! That is an example of blatant disrespect for the law.

Statistics provided by Bermuda Road Safety Council chairman Joseph Francioni show that a small increase in speed leads to a massive increase in road accidents. A small increase in speed, of say ten percent, can lead to an abrupt increase in deaths of up to 24 percent. Of the numerous road fatalities in Bermuda this year, I am willing to bet the majority were caused by people speeding. Bermuda is averaging over one road fatality a month. As a former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Perinchief has probably attended the site of a road fatality caused by speeding. Maybe he should ask the parents of the young adults who have been killed on Bermuda's roads this year or the emergency staff at the hospital who tend the accident victims if the speed limit should be raised.

Let me offer two solutions to help. Firstly, increase the fines for speeding. Obviously, a $250 fine is not enough of a deterrent. Hit the offenders in the pocket. Maybe people will think twice if the fine is $500 or higher. A second solution to use in conjunction with the first is to ban offenders more frequently, not just those caught at speeds in excess of 70kph, from driving vehicles for a significant period of time.

SLOW DOWN

Warwick