Read Galatians 3: v1

May 28, 2010

Dear Sir,

I hope the Premier and Deputy leader the Hon. Paula Cox eyed on page 52 of The Royal Gazette on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 which stated Ministers encouraged to use public transport for their travelling throughout the country, and also air travel, first class seating, that would be saving the country millions of dollars of taxpayers money, which this Government has failed to do. I would not even talk about the Ministers using the GP cars and just what for because everyone knows.

Ask and some people will say from shopping for groceries to nightlife, and so called bodyguards, for what? The Premier has already taxpayers money by going all over the world, every time you hear or read, the Premier is leaving for some country in the world, India, Russia, down the islands and others. I guess next might be North Korea, Iran, Baghdad. People are suffering and the Premier is overboard with the taxpayers money. I once heard a young lady say and I quote, her words were Dr. Brown and the rest of the PLP should read Galatians Chapter 3: Verse 1. She was very correct.

GEORGE BREMAR

Sandys

Friends of Hospice profile

June 11, 2010

Dear Sir,

Further to the letter submitted by Rosemary Jones and printed on June 10, Friends of Hospice would like to take this opportunity to respond to the comments made regarding our biggest fund-raiser of the year, the Rubber Duck Derby. We would first of all like to thank Ms Jones for drawing attention to the issue of oceanic pollution. Friends of Hospice and its many volunteers are very cognisant of the impact of debris on our fragile ocean environment.

You will be pleased to note that our wonderful volunteers clean the Ordnance Island inlet of flotsam and debris before our races are even launched. Following each race, with the help of our swimmers and kayakers, we remove each of our non-toxic ducks from the water, ensuring any ducks that may have sunk are also retrieved.

The ducks are in the water for no more than five to ten minutes during a total of four races. Additional trash that inadvertently falls in the water from spectators during this time is also removed. We therefore feel confident in stating that our event does not further pollute our waters, but rather helps to keep them cleaner.

Furthermore all of our ducks are individually washed, dried and stored after each event in a painstaking operation that ensures that we can reuse the ducks year after year. This is our 14th year of the Derby and we are proud that this wonderful community event has raised over $1 million for our island's only hospice, Agape House. We strongly believe that Ms Jones has a valid point to make and encourage all Bermuda's charities to examine the environmental impact that their event may have on the environment and to take steps to lessen that impact.

TIM HUNT

Chairperson

Friends of Hospice

The charity supporting Agape House and hospice care in Bermuda

The whole story

May 26, 2010

Dear Sir,

Dr. Ewart Brown, the Premier has not given you the whole story on gambling. Gambling addicts soar by 25 percent under labour's Lax Laws in the UK. The number of people seeking help rocketed by 25 percent since labour relaxed the laws and the average amount of debt soared from 13,800 to 17,500 in 12 months. In Miami, like many cities in the US, hotels are starting to draw in debt. Even with travellers being entered all year with deals up to 50 percent of Five Star rooms.

Even free nights have not stopped occupancy from dropping. The resort hotel loans have begun to fall into delinquency faster than any other kind of commercial real estate. Most of the 1,231 US hotels with troubled loans are remaining open. Extended stay hotels LLC filed for bankruptcy protection in June with 7.6 billion in debt, on July 28, 2009. Station casinos filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. The filing listed 5.7 billion in assets against 6.5 billion in debt.

RAYMOND RUSSELL

Pembroke

Sad state of affairs

June 8, 2010

Dear Sir,

I'm writing your column once more after a lengthy absence, it's not because I had nothing to write about, each morning I read your newspaper at what's happening in and around Bermuda, one could send a letter to the editor for years, with the many sad topics to choose from. I can't believe the state of affairs Bermuda and it's people at the moment are facing. It's like something out of a horror movie. In our streets of our beloved Bermuda, shootings, stabbings, home invasions coupled with robbery and injury.

It seems, our young people have no value at all for life, they're held bent on destroying everything our people of generations past, worked so hard to create. An island that's been so good to each of us, in so many ways. People from all walks of life were so envious of our way of life here in Bermuda. Now days we are proving to be just like any big city elsewhere in the world. Murder, rape, rubbery, drugs and crime in general has escalated to the highest point in our existence.

Residents, we need to come to grips with all of these issues and find the common solution to each of these problems, or we all shall sink to the bottom of our tranquil sea. I for one, am very proud to say to anyone I'm Bermudian I love my island and her people we have all faced adversity in our faces at sometime and won. I've seen how we all gelled together when it was needed such as, hurricane Emily and Fabian. this matter concerns us all. We must stand together on these issues. I know we can prevail. This past Sunday I had the opportunity to attend a concert in Victoria Park and through that concert it compelled me to write this letter. I was beginning to lose faith in my fellow Bermudians until this concert.

The concert was emceed by such a lovely young girl. A breath of fresh air, she was absolutely wonderful. She had everyone in Victoria Park, from children, teenagers, and the adults all races, embracing her efforts at having a good time. Everyone had a smile on their face and laughter in their hearts. Nice to see!

We could sure use a few more of this girl in and around Bermuda. Not only does she emcee at venues such as this concert, she is also on our airways as Patrina aka "Power Girl" Power FM95 to which I haven't heard her show, if on air is like her presence at the park it can only be good. I will now tune her in. She gives major time at her job with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda as Fund Developing/marketing Communications Director. Not just a pretty face. Much talent.

Mr. Editor, I must give this girl's name for all to know. She indeed has Bermuda in her heart. Her name is Patrina O'Connor-Paynter, she worries about the direction that our young people are taking. this statement she made on stage to everyone, present in the park, especially all the parents. That our children are Bermuda's tomorrow, and children needed to be able to play in all our parks, playgrounds, side walks, beaches, etc. without any fear of the unknown.

Concerned with the present conditions in and around Bermuda that prevail on a regular basis, it seems parents are hesitant at letting their children be children. Sad really, nothing warms my heart more than children laughing and having simple fun. So I say to my fellow rockites Let's do it! We need to.

GORDY GIBBONS

Paget

Worried about oil spill

June 4, 2010

Dear Sir,

I write this letter as a concerned citizen about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, that I wonder can it affect Bermuda and what can we do as individual citizens of Bermuda and what government can do proactively to stop the possible destruction to our natural ecosystem our livelihood. I am asking can the authorities in the environmental services go to the International Oceanic Science and see if the flow of oil will possibly come near Bermuda and the probability of it directly coming in contact with our natural marine landscape?

If so can government get the funds, the people, the tools, to protect our delicate and beautiful seas, reefs, marine life, plant life, birds, and beaches. I believe that the need to act should be thought upon as vital for us to exist productively.

CONCERN CITIZEN