Education is the key

August 27, 2003

Dear Sir,

I have been following your coverage this week of 'Life in the Fast Lane', and must commend your reporters on their coverage, although many are still referring to crashes as 'accidents'. Although these events may have been unintentional, the instigators have not done enough to prevent them, nor have they 'Known' enough. This does not qualify as an 'Accident'.

Sadly, the recently announced crack down on bad riding/driving practices has failed to materialise, and the police presence as perceived by this writer appears to be scarcer than ever. While I have the highest respect for the police service, and particularly Inspector Spencer's diagnosis of our problems, I find it ironic that the necessary investigations of the recent fatalities are impeding the very implementation of measures specifically designed to prevent future tragedies!

The police service is an agency of our government, and functions to enforce the laws and regulations of our society. In other words it tends to go where it is pushed. Until our politicians, and all the movers and shakers of our society decide enough is enough, the carnage will continue, and probably worsen. Empty promises and declarations only serve to disappoint and endanger all, and are a slap in the face to the loved ones of those who have perished on our roads.

In today's edition, the Acting Senior Magistrate comments on the number of traffic offences actually dropping. How is this so, when most peoples perceptions are of ever increasing anarchy on the roads, and we have suffered nine fatalities in eight months? Could this possibly be that there is nobody to catch the offenders in the first place? We, the public, need to tell our politicians that we have had enough of this, and hold them to organising the relevant agencies responsible so that these agencies can do the job they are supposed (and would like) to do.

The clear solution is to provide Inspector Spenser's unit with help so that it can get on with the promised 'Crack down', as promised, (with lots more than just radar), and embark on time lined programmes to realign all school bus stop crosswalks, and most importantly investigate/develop meaningful education for riders/drivers which not only teach how to ride/drive, but teach street strategies and the ability to think while driving, of what is going on around you, why, and what you are going to do about it.

This education needs to be taken to the schools ASAP. Education instead of legislation is the way to solve this problem in the long term. Until we get serious about it, the wrecked lives will continue to accumulate.

THOMAS TRIMINGHAM

Paget

Taking Poet to task

August 24, 2003

Dear Sir,

Like most contributors to your letters column, I don't usually answer letters that are signed using a Nom-de-plume. However, I shall make an exception in the case of the letter submitted by Poet (August 21, 2003) because I found some of his comments not only inaccurate but very insulting. I shall comment on two of his comments, "most of the PLP leaders are full of hate" and the PLP Cabinet Ministers "are being paid more than they have ever earned themselves". Why does the writer think the PLP leaders are full of hate? Even a cursory examination of the major legislation and policy decisions taken by the former PLP administration do not give an indication that such decisions were based on any thing other than what was in the best interests of Bermudians.

For example, under the direction of lawyer, Ms Paula Cox, long-term-residents were given solace that had not been given in the thirty-five years of the former UBP Government. Then there were the very imaginative policies implemented by Minister Dr. Ewart Brown to upgrade and generally improve the Ferry Service. Although Dr. Brown's policies were at first much maligned, they were eventually recognised by all (the possible exception of Poet) as badly needed improvements to our very vital Ferry Service.

The recently deceased Minister Mr. David Allen legislated The Hotel Concessions Act 2000 by which tax rebates to assist the revival of the Hotel Industry were tied to positive changes in the employment of all Bermudians. Surely, POET does not believe that this very important legislation originated out of hate. Or does Poet believe that monumental hate inspired former Premier Ms. Jennifer Smith to implement "fundamental changes" to Bermuda's constitution which made each Bermudian's vote of equal value.

Remember, America invaded Iraq in order to implement something far less... Not satisfied with the obviously false claim that the PLP leadership is full of hate, Poet is insistent that this same leadership "is being paid more than they have ever earned themselves". This is a thinly veiled assertion of incompetence on the part of the PLP leadership despite the much needed and well thought out legislative and policy initiatives outlined above.

A cabinet minister makes less than $80,000 per year. This so-called princely sum is far less than the earnings of Permanent Secretaries who answer directly to the Ministers who earn in access of $125,000 per annum. Obviously, whatever motivated any MP (PLP or otherwise) to accept a Cabinet post, it is certainly not the salary. However, what bothers me most about Poet's letter is the implied insult to the voters who supported the Progressive Labour Party.

If, as he claims, Bermudians who supported the PLP, selected men and women who are full of hate and unable to earn a decent wage outside of government, then the people who support the PLP leadership are 'abysmally stupid'. Since at least ninety percent of the people who support the PLP are black than he is implying that black Bermudians are abysmally stupid. "Is this what POET intended?" If he/she did not, I believe he/she owes Bermuda's voters a very sincere apology. Looking forward to seeing a written apology.

CALVIN J.M. SMITH

Pembroke

Was the dog chained?

August 23, 2003

Dear Sir,

"Get over it". Those are the first words that came to mind as I read today's (Saturday, August 23, 2003, Royal Gazette) Letters to the Editor from the Manning family. Okay - so it is sad to lose a family pet. Over the years, I have lost several, one dog who was hit by a car so I do know how it feels. Whoever did hit your dog must, by now, feel so terrible and perhaps even threatened by your words such as - "evil act" , "deliberately hit", "cruel" or "without conscience".

I say - you are to blame! Did you keep your dog leashed or fenced in? I think not. You are the one's responsible for the safety of your pet. Should they, by chance escape and run off, then I know the risks. I would totally blame myself if they get hit or run over. Do you really expect someone to come forward now? Your anger is overwhelmingly evident and anyone wold cringe at the thought of your wrath. By the way, I did not hit your wandering pet and while I am sorry for your loss, I feel even more sorry for the person who, did cause this unfortunate accident. One thing I feel sure about - he or she did not commit premeditated doggie murder!

H. MEDEIROS

Hamilton Parish

Burchall's vitriol

August 22, 2003

Dear Sir,

I refer to Larry Burchall's disgusting diatribe against you Mr. Editor and the Editor of the Mid Ocean News in the Bermuda Sun recently. It is interesting to note that Mr. Burchall does not take issue with the content of any of the various articles or opinions to which he supposedly refers (issues of corruption, inefficiency and waste, constitutional correctness) but merely resorts to personal attacks on the individuals concerned.

I would suggest that the electorate may have, and indeed has, matured but Mr. Burchall obviously hasn't. The electorate, by a very small margin in the total number of votes cast, decided to give the PLP the benefit of the doubt despite its various problems, some of which were not made public until after the votes were counted.

Problems of corruption, inefficiency and waste have been shown to exist and we now learn of further problems at the Bermuda College. The news media's job is to keep the people informed of what is going on in the country even if the government of the day would rather these matters were kept from the public. The issue is not one of race but of good governance.

The country may have moved on but Mr. Burchall appears to be stuck in the past. His personal attack on both you and Tim Hodgson is a classic example of - if you don't like the message shoot the messenger. I am indeed surprised that the editor of the Bermuda Sun showed such poor judgment as to permit such a vitriolic and vicious personal attack on his fellow editors to appear in his newspaper.

DISGUSTED

Bailey's Bay