Idiots surround us!

September 30, 2006

Dear Sir,

I just finished reading in today's , that ridiculous, tongue-in-cheek letter written by "A Disgusted (and Sarcastic) Bermudian," in reference to the "Go Home Foreigner Fliers!"

This letter was a waste of time, print and paper ? and the only thing that was intelligent about that letter was the fact that the idiot who wrote it did not sign their name! The fliers and this letter are both on the same level.

I really don't think this letter was written by a Bermudian. I think it was a foreigner who is trying to "stir the pot" as they say ? and if I am wrong, and it was written by a Bermudian, than God help us because we are in bigger trouble than I thought!

We are surrounded by idiots!

Land and race

September 29, 2006

Dear Sir,

Recently a number of public meetings have been held to discuss the new hospital plan to build in Botanical Gardens. It has not gone unnoticed that the vast majority of those attending these forums has been white. The question has been asked by a number of white Bermudian public figures, columnists and bloggers, "Why are there no black people at the meetings?" Fair question.

Equally however, I am obliged to ask the following questions:

Where were all the white people when it was proposed that Tucker's Town be conveyed out of the hands of the Talbots and the other black Bermudian families for the benefit of wealthy foreigners?

Where were all the white people during the forced removal of the residents of St. David's to make way for the airport and US base and now further low cost housing?

Where were all the white people when the people of Devonshire complained about an incinerator being built in their back yard?

Where were all the white people complaining when it was proposed that the Pembroke Dump be put in its location just north of TCD?

Where were all the white people complaining for the plight of the thousands of residents in the area who have had to live for decades with the smell of rotting garbage and toxic chemicals being absorbed into the soil? Where were all the so-called "environmentalists"?

Where were all the white people complaining when further to this it was proposed that it be named after one of our greatest civil rights leaders, Dr. E.F. Gordon? A dump named after a national hero!

Where were all the white people at the latest forum in the wake of the shooting of an innocent black victim on Ord Road?

Where were all the white people on the demonstrations with respect to Anchorage in St. George's?

Where were all the white people during the Perimeter Road meetings when it was proposed the Prospect site would be the location for more low cost housing?" (This to go along with the already existing low-cost housing , a mega-school, Police headquarters and the National Sports Centre).

So now you have these town hall meetings and email petitions to maintain the status quo for Loughlands in Paget and the Botanical Gardens and you don't see black people en masse and you say, "Oh how curious, where are all the black people? Do they not care for their environment?"

You have the gall to ask such a question?

If it was proposed that Somerset Cricket Club or Western Stars sports facility was to be demolished and the hospital was to be put in any of these locations I wonder if the complexion of these town hall meetings would still have such a fair hue. Somehow I doubt it.

Most black people who have an opinion on this probably are against the hospital being built in the Botanical Gardens. They probably fear for the congestion that will result at the site near Loughlands. But you know what? North Shore Road is pretty congested too. So is Parson's Road. So is Happy Valley. So is Middle Town. So is Till's Hill. For generations our neighbourhoods, our black neighbourhoods, have had to accommodate or just plain make way for every commercial, industrial and residential development without any support from the vast majority of white Bermuda.

It is quite apparent that our environmentalism in this country does not go beyond NIMBYism (not in my back yard). It is equally apparent that certain people's social consciousness in this country does not go beyond saving the dolphin, the cahow, the skink and now the Eucalyptus tree. Is the pollution a young black child may have suffered from growing up near the Incinerator or the old Pembroke Dump of less importance to many of you? So before we venture to ask: "Where are all the black people at the meetings?", let us take a brief moment to reflect upon our contribution, or lack thereof, to preserving the environment that has led us to this point where we now are even contemplating building a hospital in the Botanical Gardens. It is disingenuous to ignore the fact that race has always been a major factor in determining the use of land in this country.

A great opportunity

September 27, 2006

Dear Sir,

We would like to share with you our excitement about the arrival of the on Saturday September 30. We have seen and heard first hand the positive impact this ship will bring our young Bermudians. The crew that is bringing the ship home has been working hard (some for two months as volunteers) to secure her as a safe and beautiful vessel that all Bermudians can be proud of. On board the the crew have had to learn basic skills like cooking, cleaning, and sailing but even more valuable they have learned life skills like teamwork and leadership.

We were able to attend the launch of the in Maine on August 13 at which 5,000 people attended the historical event. It was an exciting and emotional event and the many Bermudians that attended promised to make the party of her arrival in Bermuda even better.

This is the beginning of a great opportunity for Bermudians.

A dictator's model

October 1, 2006

Dear Sir,

On Ewart Brown's perception that there are people who believe "empowering blacks is evil".

Throughout history, dictators have made up stories about parts of the population, in order to create unjustified hatred against that group. Doing this gave the dictators power by distracting people, who thought about the hate instead of all of the ways the dictators were manipulating them.

Ewart Brown is following this model. He has made up a story about a non-existent group of people who thinks that "empowering blacks is evil". It is easy to say that there is a group that thinks that empowering blacks is evil, and many people will believe it just because it was said.

In another country someone once said that the Jews were stealing all of their jobs and money. It worked perfectly, and the population backed him in getting rid of the Jews. There was no more truth in the stupid statement about the Jews as there is in Ewart's statement about people thinking that "empowering blacks is evil".

I would suggest keeping the dialogue honest, but you first have to know what honest means.

Can you imagine?

September 30, 2006

Dear Sir,

Please imagine the Hammersmith Hospital in London inviting foreign hospital design experts to advise them on what modifications the Hammersmith Hospital should do in order to sustain the hospital for the next 30 years. After a year of research the foreign experts present their findings to the Hammersmith Hospital Board and advise them that a new hospital must be built. They have three recommendations for the site of the new hospital. Their advice in order of their preference is Hyde Park, the existing hospital site and then Kew Gardens. Their findings are then presented to Mr. Tony Blair and his Cabinet. Tony Blair then after several months of further analysis with his Cabinet announces to the public that a decision has been made. Mr. Blair announces: "It has been decided that 30 percent of the centre of Kew Gardens will be the location of the new London hospital." What would Londoners say?

Now please imagine a very similar situation for a New York hospital that is being analysed by the very same foreign experts. The experts come to a similar conclusion. This time the experts advise Mayor Bloomberg that the hospital should be built either on the existing hospital site, the New York Botanical Gardens or in Central Park. Mayor Bloomberg after much discussion with his council members announces to the public the decision to build the new hospital in the middle of Central Park. However, he states that it will only take up 30 percent of Central Park. What would New Yorkers say?

One no longer has to imagine any further. A similar situation is actually happening in Bermuda. Our Premier has recently informed us that after listening to the advice of foreign experts, local consultants, the Bermuda Hospital Board and then discussing the options with his Cabinet that the new hospital will be built in right in the middle of the Botanical Gardens, however, only utilising only 30 percent. What are Bermudians saying?

Shoddy treatment

September 27, 2006

Dear Dr. Brown,

I would like to begin this letter with an apology for any anger that you may sense in my writing this, but I am quite upset with the manner in which the travelling public was treated this morning. I will explain.

I am one of those faithful members of the public who uses public transportation as much as possible and am very grateful for the efforts that you and your staff have put into making our commute as effective as you can. Although I did not agree with your closing the Boaz Island ferry terminal and now have to arrive at Watford Bridge 15 minutes early to ensure that I am able to find a parking space, I can accept, on the whole and so far, your vision for Bermuda's public transportation.

I arrived this morning at Watford Bridge, found a suitable spot to park and sat in my car to await the arrival of the ferry at 8.15. When this time came, and went, with no ferry in sight, I was not disturbed as this is quite a normal occurrence. At 8.25 I spotted the ferry heading towards Dockyard. Obviously, it was quite late, and I decided to call in at work to advise that I may be delayed as the ferry was running behind schedule.

Finally, at approximately 8.35, the ferry rounds the bend at Boaz Island and all the commuters head towards the dock to await its arrival. We were all expressing our dismay at the lateness of the ferry, but the regulars also figured that the vessel had yet another technical problem. These are becoming quite common as well. The ferry docked and with nary a word to the commuters, the crew ushers us on board. Not even a "Sorry we're late folks" to ease our frazzled nerves.

The ferry then proceeded at an alarmingly slow speed, and no, we're not spoiled by the new fast ferries, to Cavello Bay. At this point, I asked one of the crewmen if an announcement could be put over the PA system, apologising for the delay, possibly due to a problem beyond their control, and that they would get us to Hamilton as soon as possible. I was assured that once we had left Cavello Bay, the pilot would be consulted in this regard. Once we left Cavello Bay, I awaited the announcement, but to no avail. I then knocked on the wheelhouse door and entered to inquire as to whether this announcement was going to happen. I was then told that although there was a PA system on board, there was no microphone attached and therefore, the announcement could not be made. Quite shocking ? what if there was an emergency? How would the passengers know what was going on?

I then asked the crewman standing right in front of me if he would at least say something to the passengers. I told him we understood that they were having issues with the ferry, but at least say 0to acknowledge our inconvenience.

The crew man turned his back on me and not one word was said.

I was thoroughly taken aback by this. Even now, it angers me to recount that moment. I write a cheque every month to pay for a pass, which I'm sure works its way into that "gentleman's" salary. I extol the virtues of ferry transportation to everyone I meet, comparing the monetary savings and sanity savings of water travel vs road travel. I send my daughter, who is abroad in school, photos of Bermuda taken from the ferry, and now her friends want to visit Bermuda, just from seeing the photos (are you hearing me Mr. Minister of Tourism)?

To be treated in such a manner certainly deflated not only my spirits about the ferry service, but I'm sure many of the other commuters as well and also the tourists who were aboard and heard the complaining. And of all days, it has been promoted that our Civil Servants were to use public transportation today. Well, I wonder if any of them were on board today?

I would appreciate your dealing with this matter Mr. Minister and I feel that the Watford Bridge and Cavello Bay commuters deserve one free morning ride in return for the shoddy treatment we received today. Unfortunately for me, I already paid for that ride with my pass.

While you are dealing with this matter, would you please finallyaddress the matter of smoking on the ferries, as the passengers are doing it as well as some of the crew? You assured me on one of Mr. David Lopes' talk shows that the ferries are non-smoking ... but you seem to be the only one who thinks so.

I thank you for your attention and await your prompt action.

MRS. JANICE BATTERSBEE

Sandys Parish

Give us a break

September 28, 2006

Dear Sir,

I am responding to your article "You can run, walk or cycle ? just leave your car at home! Mrs. Deputy Head of the Civil Service Judith Hall-Bean said that she intended to catch the ferry from Rockaway in Southampton in order to do her part. I also did my part. I caught the ferry yesterday September 27.

I was encouraged by the continuous sustainable development debate. Nevertheless, I feel like government and the traffic wardens or the police are not working together to promote this initiative. I was outraged upon my arrival to the Rockaway ferry to discover that a "nice" Government official had left me a parking notice for not parking on a bay.

The Rockaway parking was full to capacity and many cars, not only mine, were parked on the main road ? Sea Express Lane. Some cars were ticketed, others were not. Where do you expect us to park when all the parking bays are full? On the sea, on rocks or over the fence? How do you expect us to take an "environmental friendly way to work" if you do not make the provisions for parking at a very congested Ferry dock?

I would like to ask government to please forgive the offence of parking on Sea Express Lane. Please do not make us pay for something we have been encouraged to do in the first place. Otherwise I do not see many people taking the ferry at the of cost $50 plus the ferry fare to get to work everyday. It does not make economical sense. You do not even spend $50 day in gas driving to town everyday.

All government bodies must work together to allow this "sustainable development " initiative to take place. This is the only way that you will receive the support necessary to maintain this beautiful place for our children.

As a suggestion, can you take down the fence and build a bigger parking lot?

MRS. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sandys

An affordable vacation

September 28, 2006

Dear Sir,

Responding to Ann from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, who only sees rooms for $600-2000 per night, surely the pleasures of Bermuda are to be found outside of the five star hotels.

One should still be able to get comfortable accommodations in the range of $150 to $200 per night, assuming that a person is fairly mobile and has the benefit of 17 years of visits to know their way around. Just get on the Internet and type "bermuda accommodations" into the search engine. We had a lovely private (light housekeeping) apartment for $125/night during the low season.