Shame on narrow minds May 28, 2002Dear Sir,I just wanted to publicly thank all those who worked so hard to make our Bermuda Day activities the success that it was.

Being one of those who helped put a float together, (Opportunity Workshop, sponsored by PTB entry) it was an “eye-opener” for me, for the amount of hard work and long hours that can go into those beautiful creations.

Hats off to all those who worked so hard, so that the general public could come out on the big day and be treated to a real feast of multifaceted talents that exists in our Island home.

Thanks also to the “foreign” contributions that brought a cross culture of talents to make the Bermuda Day Parade a joy for everyone — both foreign and locals alike.

And shame on those narrow minds who act as if Bermuda is an Island unto itself. We need from time to time, to remember that we Bermudians can go anywhere in the world and compete, and be allowed to excel without being reminded that we are from somewhere else.

Whether we like it or not, Bermuda is a multicultural society and everyone who is contributing to make it the great country that it is should be recognised and appreciated not only for what they get by being here, but also for what they are contributing. Again I say a big hats off to everyone and God bless you all.

P.s. To Mr. Smith and all of the PTB staff. Thanks millions for sponsoring the Opportunity Workshop and all the hard work you guys put into our float. The end results and awards speak for themselves.

G. S. LAWRENCE

Smith’s <$>Listen or leave May 27, 2002Dear Sir,I was listening to the talk show Sunday Morning on 1450 Gold AM. Many of the callers were criticising the newspaper’s decision to put a colourful picture of the Filipino entry on the front page of Saturday’s paper. While it was a beautiful picture, surely the paper can understand their displeasure at that decision.

However, that is not the reason I’m writing. I’m writing in response to a lady with a foreign dialect that called the programme to express her views on Bermudians constantly complaining and grumbling about everything. I was a little incensed at her remark for obvious reasons.

Madam, with all due respect, many foreigners have come into my country and have taken our jobs that were once deemed for locals. We won’t even talk about affordable housing. That in itself is a fiasco.

Foreigners have also been instrumental in alienating our overall self-esteem. And now you want to take away our freedom of expression? I hope you rethink your stance on that issue.

Lady, you were way out of order. If you don’t like listening to locals complain you can either turn off your radio or you may consider going back to your homeland where you are not allowed to express your mind.

Always remember you are in my country. When I’m, in your country I’ll play by your rules, OK?

EXPRESSING MY MIND AND LOVING IT

St. George’s<$>Learn from the past May 29, 2002Dear Sir,Under normal circumstances I would consider the situation at the East End none of my beeswax.

But with that said, I happen to know that a number of their hooligans, used to be my hooligans and that that learned most of their tricks in the West.

St. George’s residents and business people are pointing their fingers one way. Young people are pointing back. Minister Lister is wagging his, “softly, softly”, and Police Commissioner Smith is packing his bags, prior to moving out of Dodge.

All this when the East End has what the rest of us would just love to have, a working bridge, the better to isolate themselves. Let me tell you a story.

Way back in the 1960s, there was a degree of unrest in the Country. The Bermuda Regiment was embodied and the Rifle Company I was attached to dispatched to Fort Hamilton,. My nights were spent manning a roadblock on the outskirts of Hamilton and my days at the Fort.

After a couple of weeks, tensions started to ease and by way of relieving boredom, I and five others were sent on a night patrol to St. George’s, of course fully armed. Reaching the bridge, we found it open.

“Ahoy, this is the Bermuda Regiment and we have orders to patrol the Old Town.” “Eff off!” came the reply.

Again, the same command, with the same undiminished response. “I can shoot you right out of that box, close the damn bridge!”

You will never guess what he did. Coming out of his hut, the sucker hurled a full can of beer at me, cold.

The troops on patrol thought this was a great trick and took turns insulting the bridge operator, with the same result, more beer. After a beer each we went home, but not before pelting his shed with empty cans as a parting gesture.

Further enquiry revealed that each night, just after curfew started, the bridge was opened to cut off the rest of the Island. An Inspector, Sergeant and some Constables were in charge, with a lively group of civilians assisting. Any hooligan apprehended was promptly thrown overboard for cooling off.

It was considered that a couple of hours of quiet contemplation, while treading water, was a sufficient alternative to incarceration.

What to do? Here are some suggestions. Kick the Town Crier out of his office and turn it into a Police Sub-Station . This is to be manned 9 to 5 each day, drawing from those Police officers that only want to work the day shift and there are plenty of them.

The down side would be that the Police presence would have to dress in eighteenth century Bobby’s uniforms, give up their cool “flack jackets” and all motorised vehicles. Our visitors would love it.

The remaining 16 hours would be in the hands of officers that take Police work seriously. They might even consider themselves a great deal safer. I know that locals will be. What to do with the present Police Station?

After renovations, turn it over to Tourism Minister David Allen, to be used as the World Headquarters of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail. It would make a great site to impart information and knowledge, about a terrible period of our human history. It might even become the focal point of the healing process.

DOUGLAS C. ROBERTS

Sandys ParishA Royal concern May 29, 2002Dear Sir,Can anyone say what preparations have been made by the Government and the schools, be they private or Government, to celebrate the Jubilee for the 50 year reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during the week of June 3, 2002?

This is all part of our heritage and should be recognised.

J. MELLO

Smith’s <$>A voter’s warning May 21, 2002Dear Sir, I am really fed up with these high priced rental accomodations. Bermudians are in housing crisis and nobody cares.

The one thing promised to us by the PLP was affordable housing, where is it?. It is bad enough everything else goes up every year and now we have the Housing Corporation that’s been mired in corruption. The PLP needs to do better than this; if they don’t, they can count my vote out.

FRUSTRATED

Southampton