Sad loss of a real asset to the Italian community

March 12, 2003

Dear Sir,

On behalf of the Italian community of Bermuda, I would like to express our deep sadness at the tragic news of the loss of Mr. Ado Balia last weekend in a marine accident. When his disappearance was brought to our attention there was an intense search for his body. During this time, we were fortunate to have the expert assistance of numerous people and we would like to thank them all starting with Inspector Mark Bothello, the Head of the Marine Department of the Bermuda Police, and his team consisting of Sgt. Keith Senior, PC Alan Gorbutt, PC Paul Watson, PC Derek Berry, PC Christopher Taggett, PC Travis Powell, and PC David Bird. Searching, watching and waiting was a very stressful situation to us all, but the Marine Police Team were patient, caring, informative and empathetic. We can only salute them, along with Superintendent Sinclair White and Public Media Relations Officer Mr. Dwayne Caines for being so professional during this very difficult time. When Mr. Balia's family arrived, Sgt Marlo Santiago was very compassionate to the family who would also like to express their deepest appreciation for helping them during this very difficult time. They were impressed with her and all of the assistance they received.

I would also like to thank the Bermuda Hospital staff, all of Aldo's friends, and Bermudians as a whole, who came to offer assistance and later condolences when we received the dreaded news.

Aldo was an asset to the hospitality industry in Bermuda and we are glad he had the opportunity to serve Bermudians and our valued tourists. May his soul rest in peace.

GIOACCHINO DI MEGLIO

Hon. Italian Consul

Does he think we're fools?

March 3, 2003

Dear Sir,

I read an article quoting ex-Director of Public Prosecutions Khamisi Tokunbo in the Bermuda Sun over the weekend with a growing sense of astonishment.

He acknowledged that there is in the community, a growing sense that his Department is failing to secure convictions in court because it is not very good at its job. But he said people are basing their opinions on misinformation being spread by two or three people with “political motives”. The real focus, he added, should be on why people are committing crimes in the first place.

Does Mr. Tokunbo think we are all fools?

I would suggest to him that those who are asking questions about his ability to do his job are trying to make sure that Bermuda stays clean and healthy, and whether or not they are politicians is entirely beside the point. There are certainly more than two or three of them. I'd say the possibility that the Department of Public Prosecutions can't do what it is paid to do scares the pants off most of the population, and a great many others outside Bermuda.

One of the things that happened at about the time we acquired a political Attorney General, and the office that Mr. Tokunbo runs was created, was that a large number of experienced lawyers left Government service - many of them non-Bermudian. The word around town at the time was that the Government thought it could get along without non-Bermudian legal help. It seems to have been a miscalculation.

We can't blame Mr. Tokunbo for it, because the general public has no idea whether he played a part in that process or not. But I certainly did not hear his voice raised in objection.

I suspect that a number of people need to take their rose-coloured glasses off and take a long, hard look at the reality of what they have created. The fact that Mr. Tokunbo's contract is not being renewed seems to indicate that someone in the system has done just that. Thank goodness someone is compos mentis.

As to Mr. Tokunbo's remark about the reasons people commit crime in the first place - in context, it seems about the most disingenuous red herring anyone ever drew across the face of an issue. Was he trying to say that the defendants he and his staff weren't able to convict should have got off anyway, because society had driven them to it?

Having already made himself a laughing stock in Bermuda's legal fraternity, he now seems to want to broaden his triumph to include almost anyone over the age of 14.

BIG JOHN

City of Hamilton

The safest bar none

March 12, 2003

Dear Sir,

In Dr. Farquhar's letter, in today's Royal Gazette, he says that chronic use of marijuana contributes to disease.

OK. But I was not discussing chronic use, I was talking about responsible recreational use. And I agree with him that anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol should not drive a vehicle or operate industrial machinery. However, I have occasionally driven a car under the mild influence of cannabis and have never even come close to an accident.

I suggest that many traffic accidents attributed to marijuana consumption may also include an alcohol component. Mixing the two drugs indeed can be deadly. But I again remind the good doctor that we are discussing responsible recreational use here. Anything done to excess is bad news, including eating. Reverse reasoning has been a ploy of prohibitionists for decades. Yes, I agree that many hard drug addicts at some point smoked cannabis... and cigarettes and drank alcohol. But only a very small percentage of pot smokers move on to harder drugs to become addicts. As Catherine Cryer, of Court TV, recently stated on air, “marijuana is no more a gateway drug than Budweiser causes alcoholism!”

I still contend that cannabis is the safest recreational drug of them all, bar none. And it should be decriminalised at least, legalised at best.

JOHN Q. PUBLIC

Sandys Parish

P.s. Restoring a regular supply of ‘weed' again would surely curb some the violence so prevalent among our youth over the past few weeks.

Thanks from Teen Haven

February 25, 2003

Dear Sir,

The Teen Haven Tag Day was held on February 14, and 15, 2003 and as always the response from the community was positive.

Special thank you to Mrs. Christine Caton of The Bermuda Junior Service League for coordinating the Haven appeal letters to the business community. For many years you have assisted us with this project and we greatly appreciate your support. We would also like to thank Ms. Catherine Brangman and Ms. Myra Bristol for coordinating the tag day in St. George's and Sandys parish respectively.

We also express gratitude towards Mr. Gerald Smith, Mrs. Vera DeShields, Mrs. Velma Small, Sonia Williams, Mrs. Debbie Byrd, Steve Wilson and Willard Fox, (Bermuda Physical Handicap Association), Somers Lioness Club, Delta Sigma Theta, Kiwanis Club of Hamilton, SPCA, Camp Coconut, Big Brothers and Sisters, PRIDE, Bermuda Red Cross, Continental Society, Bermuda Police Cadets, and the many individual taggers, who volunteered their time to assist us.

Teen Haven, which is operated by Teen Services, is the only residential facility on the Island that offers accommodation to homeless teen mothers and their children.

The Teen haven programme receives no direct grant from government, therefore the proceeds from the tag day and the appeal letters will help to meet operational and programme expenses.

On behalf of the Board, staff and residents of Teen Haven, we would like to say thanks Bermuda for your support. We look forward to your continued aid and encouragement.

SHIRLEY SIMMONS, MA, MSW

MICHELLE JOHNSON, MSW, ACSW