Leaders-in-waiting

August 30, 2010

Dear Sir,

We all know leopards do not change their spots, so with Paula Cox having been in Ewart Brown's pocket for the last four years, signing away The People's purse like a drunken sailor, one can only hope that she will not be considered for the Premiership, only to deliver the same!

Mr. Lister blotted his copy book by supporting her budget 100 percent, when he should have kept quiet, or told the truth at great risk to himself, by chancing his best opportunity to be considered when the time was right.

The other motley group can jockey for position all they want, the very fact that they all sat still all these years, proved that they did not have the stomach or the appetite to do their duty and honour with integrity and service, let alone ability.

We are left however with a light at the end of the tunnel with two decent (there is that word again) possibilities. Dale Butler, if he can light the fire in his belly, and Kim Wilson who is brilliantly capable and honest. Both could bring that longed for healing from the scars and damage that has been inflicted on this lovely little Island's reputation, and both could redeem the People's respect for their Government.

DIANA WILLIAMS

Pembroke

Islanders' good deeds

September 9, 2010

Dear Sir,

Last Saturday, our very first day as visitors in Bermuda, my husband and I decided to rent bicycles in Paget Parish and bike the Railway Trail. Little did we know how strenuous it would be and how hot we would get.

Foolishly, we did not pack water, thinking we would purchase it at stores along the way. Soon it was a further distance to travel back to the bike rental then to persevere forwards in search of a store. By the time we reached Barnes' Corner Fruit and Vegetable Stand, my husband, who has several health issues, was in trouble with heat exhaustion, and about to collapse.

That's when the kind people at the stand jumped into action to help us, giving him water for rehydration and then bananas to get his electrolytes up. The Divine Ms C promptly used her cell phone to request the bike rental shop send someone to come and pick us and the bikes up. This required more than one call but she did not back down in getting us help! In the meantime the kind gentlemen at the stand offered to take us back in their truck! Ms C was truly an angel to us that day and as we were driven away I made a promise to myself that I would "pay forward" her good deeds several times over in the future.

When reflecting upon our misadventure, my husband and I are very grateful to the gentleman at the Barnes Corner stand and the Divine Ms C and feel that is was a great privilege to meet such wonderful Bermudians.

DEBBIE FOSTER

Tallahassee, Florida

Collaboration makes sense

September 10, 2010

Dear Sir,

In today's Royal Gazette, amongst the "Letters to the Editor" is one from Dr. Eva Hodgson that I for one feel makes perfect sense. She suggested the three PLP candidates running for the premiership should unite and set an example of "collaborative leadership".

This makes perfect sense to many, I'm sure. But I would like to take it one step further, "my fellow Bermudians".

Party politics has always been time consuming and as Dr. Hodgson has suggested, "the motto of one man, one vote, each vote of equal value" is a mockery; as it contradicted by the "House" You see, each member doesn't share the same responsibilities' and consequently some members have more "power than others".

I personally believe that if we (as a country) were to call an election seeking the best of all that participate (disregarding party politics) focusing on what is best for all, this will be for us here in Bermuda the correct style of Governing.

We can be an example to other countries worldwide if we were to "shuffle the deck" and deal all over again.

RAYMOND RAY

St. George's

Spelling slip

September 7, 2010

Dear Sir,

Regarding today's front page photo (Slip and Slide), may I (humbly) offer that the word tarpoleon does not exist and that the writer may have meant tarpaulin, which is obviously what said kids are laying & sliding on!

I also (humbly & seriously) beg to offer my services for consideration as a proof reader for this newspaper. While having no prior professional experience to speak of, my enthusiasm for reading & the spoken word, as well as a G.C.E. certificate (English language) circa 1981 from The Berkeley Institute, may well hold me in good stead as a contender!

DISTURBED

Devonshire

Drugs and prisons

September 10, 2010

Dear Sir,

I simply do not understand why it should be any surprise that drugs find their way into prison.

Instead of lamenting this fact and being disgusted, prison officers might do better to have the temptation removed by lobbying to have drug-dependent people sent to medical and health professionals rather than prisons, where personnel are not expected to have the skills to deal with them.

It is a little like putting very disciplined foxes in charge of the henhouse; with the best will in the world, some are bound to stray. A betting person's money would be safe on the wager that, notwithstanding no arrests of this nature having been made in the last ten years, drugs have been getting into the prisons all along ... and it is not impossible that that prison officers have been involved. This is not to demonise prison officers who work under very trying circumstances. Rather it illustrates the fact that prison officers, while possibly held to a higher standard, are nonetheless drawn from the general population among whom there are those who would be tempted. Prison officers are just human like the rest of us. It is cruel and unusual punishment to send a drug dependent person (read 'addict' if you must) to prison: at the very least it corrupts prison officers.

DELAEY W. ROBINSON

St. George's

Koran burning consequences

September 9, 2010

Dear Sir,

As an American citizen living overseas, I implore law enforcement officials to take immediate steps to stop a conspiracy to incite violence against Americans.

Fact: Florida is a target-rich environment.

However, a Pastor in Florida may be allowed to conspire with his parishioners to incite violence against Americans by committing a hate crime. Will he then take responsibility for the ensuing acts of retaliation against Americans at a theme park, a sports stadium, a college campus, a crowded city centre, or Americans living overseas?

We can and should debate the freedom of speech and freedom of religion issues that have arisen, but we should do this in the courts after this dangerous threat to public safety has been stopped!

The local Sheriff, Florida Governor, or State and US Attorneys General should find the courage to step in now to stop this act before it is too late. Then, we should show the ensuing courtroom debate(s) to the world as a true example of how a free constitutional democracy settles it differences.

RON CAMPBELL

Somerset

Editor's note: Since this letter was written, the pastor agreed not to burn the Koran after a personal appeal by the US Secretary of Defence.

Stuck for gas

September 8, 2010

Dear Sir,

The "other day" there was this nun that was driving to the Catholic Church down de country, when she ran out of gas on the Causeway.

Fortunately for her the gas station nearby was open... So she walked over to the attendant to borrow a container to carry some gas back to the car, but the attendant told the nun he was sorry, the last container is already out and wouldn't be back for at least an hour, but she couldn't wait and walked back to her car to retrieve from her car trunk a bed pan and used it to carry some gas back to her car which was stuck down de Causeway.

Well as she poured the gas into the tank two fellows were driving by; one said to his mate: "If that car starts I'll be in the front row of church come this Sunday!"

RAYMOND RAY

St. George's