Thank you so much

April 15, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am writing today to thank everyone who has been involved in my case against Albert Antonio Wolffe for sexual assault.

First of all I send I send special thanks to Sgt. Cheryl Watts who was in charge of my case and did a really good job.

I want to thank His Excellency the Governor, the French Consul M. Edgar Humann, the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Mr. Kulandra Ratneser, Ms Oonagh Vaucrosson (Crown counsel) the CID and DPP Departments and Mr. Craig Attridge of Juris Law Chambers.

Special thanks to my Good Samaritan Chevon Outerbridge.

I also thank my witnesses Nicolle Nailers, Kim C., and friends Andrea T., Keith W. and Nicolas N., who supported me during this long and painful trial.

I want to encourage all victims of rape like me to lodge a complaint against these monsters. Have faith in justice!

This was a huge battle for me and I know how hard, painful and traumatic it is to go to Supreme Court but you will feel much better to know that at least you tried everything to punish your oppressor. Don?t blame yourself if it is too late, you should be proud to fight every single day and carry on living ? you are brave and strong persons.

Even if I am frustrated and feel heartache because I will never know the whole truth about the night on which I was raped and that I am still going to have to live with my fears and nightmares, I feel relieved that people believed in me and finally brought justice.

Remember that ?what goes around comes around? and we women have to fight and and make use of our rights to stop these criminals.

Why I protested Blair

April 13, 2004

Dear Sir,

I wish to comment on the ?unofficial? visit to Bermuda made by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Firstly I am aware that there has been a variety of reactions to the protest, which I am very proud to have organised, last Thursday. I am actually pleasantly surprised at how many people have come up to me and shown me a great deal of respect and admiration for going out on a limb.

However, may I assure all concerned that the only reputation on the line here is Mr. Blair?s and not Bermuda?s or my family?s.

I was sure to leave Mr. Blair?s family well alone and I would expect others to do the same for mine. Some people have attacked me for having a detrimental impact on Bermuda?s tourism but I am afraid that this is doing very badly all by itself and I believe that having a protest in support of a popular view is anything but bad for the island. In addition to these kind of attacks, why is it that some people shun the idea of Bermudians having opinions about issues beyond our shores?

While we were all flying kites on Good Friday, Mr. Blair it seems was hard at work creating yet more spin on the war in Iraq. He wrote an article for The Observer, a newspaper in the UK. This is my favourite bit that Mr Blair wrote while drinking (obviously far too many) rum swizzles by the pool at Government House:

?But our greatest threat, apart from the immediate one of terrorism, is our complacency. When some ascribe, as they do, the upsurge in Islamic extremism to Iraq, do they really forget who killed whom on September 11, 2001??

My response to the Prime Minister is this: No Mr. Blair, nobody forgot but maybe you did? It was al-Qaeda that planned and orchestrated the 9/11 attacks Mr. Blair, which had nothing to do with Iraq. What was that you said about complacency Mr. Blair? It?s our greatest threat isn?t it?

Can somebody please hand this man a resignation form!

I listened to the VSB news for 10 minutes today while someone talked about what Mr. Blair said while he was playing tennis. ?I never give up? Tony said, ?...finish me off?. Funny how the PM plays tennis just like he does his career. Never quit while your ahead, eh? Well I hope he doesn?t blink because he could miss his career going down the toilet the way he?s carrying on.

Today, after much consideration I decided that I?m going to give Blair the send off that he deserves, especially after hearing how much some folk here in Bermuda have been kissing his lying behind. So I?ll be there on Thursday just like before, to see Blair off (to go pandering to Bush?s oil driven demands?

?Hey Tony, Iraq?s got lots of oil and we need quite a bit, so whaddya say we link Iraq to 9/11 and claim they have some weapons of mass destruction, d?ya think anyone will notice we?re lying??).

As far as I know the PM leaves on the AA flight to New York at lunch time.

Good riddance!

ANDREW TRIMINGHAM

Warwick

Re-zone primary schools

April 6, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to the letter in Saturday?s (April 3rd) newspaper from ?St. George?s Parent of an Impending P1 Student? regarding the St. George?s Preparatory School class cut. While the writer has solid reasoning, he or she may not have had all the facts in the case. I would like to take issue with a few of his or her points.

1. The decision to cut the class at St. George?s Prep and add it to East End Primary was made three weeks after the application process for Primary One entry class therefore the parents did not make an informed choice.

2. While the decision to ?rotate the P1 class? has justifiable reasoning, the parents are not asking for St. George?s Prep to keep it as opposed to East End Primary, rather, it is in addition to East End Primary as the number of applicants this year was extraordinarily high (84 for the three east end schools).

3. The need for a second P4 teacher in the school year 2004/2005 is due to the Education Department asking St. George?s Prep to take three extra children in each P1 class in their entry year (2001). At the usual rate of attrition (five students) this meant there were still too many for one class at the P4 level.

4. If the extra class or classes were to be placed at St. George?s Prep, the bill for the physical structures (class room etc.) would be footed by the Trustees and not the taxpayer because it is an aided school. Anywhere else, it would be part of the cost to the Ministry.

5. As for second choice, many parents did not have a second one, but the applications would not be accepted without it. Several were not offered their second choice either. (Some of these children are expected to attend West Pembroke Primary and Victor Scott!)

6. The census figures show high birth rates for this entry year and next. The census is for forward planning therefore the Ministry needs to plan accordingly.

7. We must not forget that parents have the right of choice and most make an informed and very personal choice for their child/children. If this is not going to be considered, the entire Education Act must be rewritten, but until that time, they have the rights.

One of the main concerns is to keep these children within their community (among relatives, friends and in a comfortable, familiar environment). It is on this basis that the Ministry should take a strong, long look at rezoning the Primary schools in a similar way to the Middle schools (five zones instead of three) to reduce the size of each zone. This would allow for better anticipation of numbers and ultimately better accommodation for students.