Sharing the rewards

December 14, 2004

Dear Sir,

I?m writing to thank Mr. Randy Horton and Derrick Burgess for trying to implement the new overtime law which would see at last some fairness in the workplace.

Heaven help us, we are supposed to live in a civilised society and we can?t pay workers decent wages in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Do you know what it?s like to have a pay cut from a boss from who also took away your meals that were already paid for? The only food you got was the food thrown over your uniform. Employers have to start realising that you cannot set up a company just to milk everything for yourself and that everyone matters and everyone is valuable.

I am so disappointed and sick at the UBP?s attitude towards this legislation. Do you know what its like to work 62 hours a week without a break? That doesn?t include two educational classes in order to better yourself. No you don?t. Why doesn?t your party take a pay cut?

Remember Proverbs 17:5 ?Who ever mistreats the poor insults their maker, who ever enjoys someone?s trouble will be finished!

And just to finish this letter, also remember what the great Bill Shankly once said: ?I believe in a kind of Socialism. No, not about Politics but about life, where everyone works together and shares in the rewards at the end!?

Think on UBP, the Lord?s watching.

Cart before the horse

December 20, 2004

Dear Sir,

This letter is directed to the person or persons who pushed for mandatory certification of all local technical tradespersons.

As a young technician in training I appreciate and welcome the idea. I am however rather interested in how the NTB (National Training Board) intends to help these men and women reach the level of national certification.

Currently the Bermuda College has very little to offer up and coming tradesman in the way of ?recognized and accredited? technical training. As a victim of a ?Mickey Mouse? (thrown together) course I know first hand the frustration of completing a course offered by Tech Hall at Bermuda College. The programme, Mechanical Engineering Competencies, was initially started as a City and Guilds Course. City and Guilds Certifications are well known, respected and recognised world wide, yet the course was suddenly and unexplainably discontinued. The supplementary course was a combination of two separate courses married in a well-intended, yet misguided and ill conceived attempt to provide us (the students) with a well rounded education. Unfortunately neither the institutions that ordained the original two courses nor the Bermuda Government recognised this hybrid course. So after three years of study the students were left with a piece of paper that has less worth than the fancy red folder in which is was presented.

There was a City and Guilds Automotive course offered at Bermuda College. It too has been laid to rest with no substantive course to take its place. The Bermuda College Spring 2005 Schedule, advertises a Motor Vehicle Course that does not include modules on automotive engines. That?s right, a course where potential mechanics will not learn to diagnose, trouble shoot or to do repairs on automotive engines.

The horticulture course (also City and Guilds) and its lecturer Fiona Doe (who received accolades locally and abroad for her contributions at Tech Hall and to the trade) have not been retained. The programme has been reduce to a non-credit, three module course that appears to be fit to equip one with just enough skills needed to spend a Saturday morning on your knees in the backyard.

My questions are as follows: Now that legislation has gone through making it illegal more over punishable for technical trades persons to work uncertified, what vehicles do you (the NTB) currently have in place to facilitate such a requirement?

What courses do you offer locally or abroad to aid in the cause and what standards do they meet when compared with those of other technical trade certifications, such as BTEC, National and City and Guilds?

Who on The National Training Board is in a position (i.e. Certified Engineers, Technicians, Tradesman) to standardise these courses?

Is there any reasoning behind your (The National Training Board) repeated discontinuing of international recognised courses?

If so, we the victims eagerly await answers and an end to your madness. In all seriousness though, the community is all for National Certification; however the problem arises when you make it mandatory and fail to have in place a vessel through which certification can be achieved.

Mike Stowe and the Honourable Terry Lister seem to be blessed with the magical power of appearing at engagements where the likelihood of camera flash is high. Let?s see you pull a few accredited trades courses out of those metaphoric hats of yours. I can?t promise your images will be captured in a ?Kodak moment? like fashion, but you would be doing what you?re paid to. Believe it or not, to the workers who are directly affected by this new legislation that is more important.

Mike Stowe, straighten up and fly right and quit playing guinea pig with our educations.

Hurting black landlords

December 14, 2004

Dear Sir,

Earlier today Minister Ashfield Devent commented in response to concern being expressed about developers scheming to profit from or exploit his housing programme. He said that this is a capitalist country and people have a right to make money.

That principle apparently applies to everyone, including the very wealthy who have enormous houses to rent to CEO?s and executives, but not to those struggling, hardworking, middle class individuals who are not developers and who learned too late of other forms of investments, so they sacrificed to build a small, or larger, apartment to supplement their income and as security for their old age. Most of them are black. That class of people do not have a right to make money in this capitalist society. They are responsible to ensure that others, most of whom are black, less shrewd, less hardworking, less prepared to sacrifice, are, nevertheless, appropriately housed. They are being forced to undertake the Government?s responsibility of housing these people because housing is a ?basic need? and a ?human right?.

There is little doubt that some of this hardworking middle class will do as others have done and take their houses off the rental market and so reduce the stock that is available to black Bermudians.

A waste of money

December 18, 2004

Dear Sir,

While applauding the basic idea behind the Bermuda Independence Commission, I can?t help feeling that it?s just another waste of time and taxpayers? money.

Back in 1995 we had a referendum on the matter of Independence, and roughly 75 percent of those who voted were firmly against the idea. I am hearing absolutely nothing from out on the streets to convince me that there?s been any substantial swing one way or the other in those figures, and, with all the other problems that we?re presently facing, I honestly don?t think that now is the time to embody a 14-person commission to enquire further into the pros and cons of the matter.

It strikes me that this is simply another Governmental ploy to encourage Bermuda to go independent, whether the public wish it or not.

Opposed to ?Oasis?

December 21, 2004

Dear Sir,

The area for the proposed new dolphin show is too naturally beautiful to be destroyed for another dolphin show.

Ever since the horrific Hurricane Fabian struck us, the rocks to the east of Wyndham seem to be eroding by a measurable amount monthly. Take a stop above the Wyndham and see the new growing portion of ?white? shavings. I pass by there every week and see the damage.

This present damage was caused by natural occurrences. Why have a ?man-made? destruction of the same area, which may be only a temporary business, but with everlasting effects!

Dangerous cell phones

December 18, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am in agreement with what G.W. said about the dangers of driving with a cellular phone; it can cause an individual to lose focus of the road, should be considered illegal to do.

Dr. E. Brown should probably look into this more. Yes, people will be vexed about that change but then again, people shouldn?t be speeding and yet,when they get stopped they get vexed so, what?s the difference? He insists people should be careful on the road. Yes this is true, however, the road by Gorham?s is still messed up (any individual riding a bike should already know this). In fact, that road claimed the life of somebody and could easily take out more (especially a tourist). Other roads need better drainage since every time it rains, Sunset View Road, Woodlands Road and a few others become waterlogged. Couldn?t you get a road crew to eliminate these problems?