Editorial was unfair

November 7, 2005

Dear Sir,

I must disagree with your editorial of November 5, which unfairly criticised the Bermuda Independence Commission's treatment of the potential drawbacks to Independence.

In your editorial, you stated: "What would change, which the BIC report glossed over (my emphasis) ... was the question of the right to a British passport, which Bermudians would undoubtedly lose, along with the right to live and work anywhere in the European Union."

I would draw your attention to section 3.2.8 (see page 14) of the BIC report, where the whole question of citizenship was covered extensively. This includes the point that our enjoyment of British citizenship, fortunately for us, is non-reciprocal as far as immigration rights are concerned.

On page 15, the report quotes directly from documentation provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office ? that the usual practice was to withdraw British nationality (upon independence except those who have a residual connection.

There is yet another paragraph which states "... British citizenship is expected to be withdrawn along with all the attendant privileges: the right of abode, the right to seek employment as well as the right to visa-free travel throughout the UK/European community ...."

No doubt the reason it says 'expected' is that the FCO report states that it would be inappropriate to speculate on how such matters might be handled in the future and that the 2002 British Overseas Territories Act does not give voice to any assumptions ... etc.

After reading all the pages, I am having difficulty comprehending how one could conclude that the report glossed over this citizenship point.

Section 3.7.2 on page 52 also makes the point again that on the question of citizenship. Should Bermuda proceed to independence, the UK Government does not expect that a different approach would be taken in Bermuda's case ...

On page 53, one reads ... Bermudians would need to apply for visas to travel to Europe where they do not have to now).

Did I misunderstand this section of your editorial?

In closing, I would urge all Bermudian voters to read the BIC Report. Copies are still available or you can download the report from the Government portal at http://www.gov.bm/portal/server.pt

FOR FAIRNESS

Paget

Let's vote for decency

November 26, 2005

Dear Sir,

We seem to be like a bunch of rabbits caught in the headlights of an oncoming catastrophe. Talk about inertia (with apologies to Tim Hodgson's insightful article in the Mid Ocean News No. 25th under the heading "Opinion") whereby Newton's Law of Motion is hurtling us head long into a quagmire of destruction, straight over the cliff, to Greed, Indifference and "What's in it for Me?" An attitude of paralysis that has numbed us out of speech, objection and action. Action whereby every citizen of this glorious little Island should write, talk, rabble rouse and march, and let their MPs know to say simply "Enough is Enough". What will we say to our children? What will we say when they ask "what happened Daddy, where did all the land go?

Sustainable Development ? who is in charge of the meaning of sustainable? Who is in charge of the meaning of development? Do you in know? Do I know? There is one thing I do know; already we have gone past sustainable and not a word of restraint. True there were the "Forty Thieves" and they looked after themselves, but they also guided the Island as the Founding Fathers of Bermuda, with an understanding of the environment, a sense of beauty and wisdom incorporating good taste, architecturally and socially. I once looked out of my bedroom window every morning to see a magnificent Royal Palm Tree swaying in the breeze; I now look out and see a mammoth crane swaying in the breeze, a sign of the times? Where did that palm tree go?

Why cannot we take our blinkers off? If enough of us did, the swell of discontent and indignation would be heard from one end of the island to the other. The money clogged economy might falter for a while but we would then have time to take a deep breath and say "No More".

Where do we want to be in 25 to 50 years time; what do we want for our children? All I hear is a pregnant silence, a silence that is frightening of itself; are we going down by default?

The word I long to hear is Decency. A lovely word. A word to be associated with all things decent ? economically, environmentally, judicially and above all spiritually in this island; so that once again we can say with pride "Yes, Bermuda is another World".

That is why we should put out faith in the decency of Grant Gibbons as our future leader to take us there, he can and will, with our support, give it, and let your voice be heard.

DIANA WILLIAMS

Pembroke

Needless brutality

November 25, 2005

Dear Sir,

On Friday I was at the Botanical Gardens sitting on a beach with a friend eating our lunch, when we witnessed something that was not called for.

Four large ducks were crossing the road at the South Shore Entrance, one of the ducks was standing right in the middle of the road on the yellow line, we saw a taxi coming down the road, he never slowed down or tried to avoid the duck, he just mowed it down, all we could see were feathers flying and the flapping of wings, as the poor duck tried to get up, my friend and I ran to help, the driver never stopped, and so did all the other motorists, I could not believe this was happening, I almost got run down myself trying to help the poor animal, which died in my arms, the other three ducks were so traumatised, they just stood there. My friend and I moved the dead duck and then rounded up the others and moved them to safety. Animals have feelings too, even ducks. We as humans are becoming so selfish and noncaring about the well being of animals.

DEBORAH A MASTERS

Paget

Unclog Bermuda's roads

November 25,2005

Dear Sir,

Re: Traffic on the roads.

An acquaintance of mine bought a new car in July. Yesterday, I noticed that a neighbour had also purchased a new car. Looking at the car numbers, I can determine that there have been 600 new cars coming on the roads in 5 months. That is 120 new cars per month! Over a year, that means almost 1,500 new cars on the road and I haven't included any cars with vanity plates! Some of those new car owners may have had their old cars cut but, I imagine, the majority would have sold their old cars on the second-hand market.

The traffic problem is getting worse each month. All one has to do is try to get to Hamilton along south Road anytime after 7.45 a.m. Sometimes the traffic is backed up from the Paget traffic lights to beyond the entrance to Coral Beach Club!

Something has to be done to start limiting the number of new cars coming onto our roads even if it means going back to the time where one could not buy a second-hand car and one's old car has to be cut before buying a new one.

This is a plea from a concerned Bermudian.

ROBERT MASTERS

Paget

Where is God's love?

November 21, 2005

Dear Sir,

This month marks the 30th Anniversary of the sinking of the ore-carrier Edmund Fitzgerald during a severe storm on Lake Superior with the loss of the entire crew of 29 men. An excellent article centring around the ballad written by Gordon Lightfoot, appeared in the Royal Gazette recently. The words of the song were described as "haunting, comforting, wistful yet powerful, mystic yet real". With this I agree however the article did not mention for me the most poignant lines of the song. "Does anymore know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours".

These past 12 months the world has experienced catastrophes of monumental proportions including Tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and landslides.

Following these tragic events millions of people must really be wondering where the love of God does go. I certainly wonder too.

ALASTAIR M. JOHNSON

Pembroke

Don't stifle opinions

November 25, 2005

Dear Sir,

I disagree with much of what was said by Mr. Commissiong on TV 24/11/05. He called names of those who have goodwill in their hearts in his condemnation of criticism of the Independence Commission report. While I appreciate the time and thought put in its meetings by them. It is human nature to have criticism from people if a glaring mistake shows up in the report. I certainly would not enjoy a situation in this country that is backward to many years ago having opinions stifled. It is important that people of all persuasions and opinions be heard both black and white and middle thinking, no matter who might be upset by that.

I am sure that that kind of situation was not what the great Dr. E.F. Gordon, Dr. Cann, Walter Robinson, Bishop Berkeley, Sir Edward Richards, Leroy Tucker, Mr. Elliott, R C Crawford fought for. There were other too numerous to mention.

Yes I have been an Independence proponent since the sixties and still am but I am still watchful.

I remember being acquainted with Bermudian Mr. George Brown who had served as a senator in St. Lucia who I found to be quite thoughtful. I had already know other things about him.

Once gain through our medium I say I am not one of the callers to the daily talk shows and have never called.

MR. ROSS TUZO

Warwick

The integration obstacle

November 25, 2005

Dear Sir,

We talk a good deal about race and race relations but we never face one major fact.

There can never be real integration in Bermuda as long as we have the divisions created by private schools and private clubs.

WATCHING

Paget