Letters to the Editor
Indisputable negligence
March 5, 2007
Dear Sir,
May I begin this letter by stating my very immediate interest in the following issue beyond and unconnected with the political haymaking, which so has surfaced.
The catastrophic dump fire was not only predictable but also inevitable, and the fact that there have been no associated explosions is a miracle.
I have waited a little before writing this, to see whether integrity might possibly, and against all the odds, surface. Someone from Government could have publicly admitted the fact that methane is one of the commonly produced gases from landfill dumps, decades and decades after they are no longer actively in use. Someone from Government could have realised that even a ten year old with access to the internet could have worked out the predictable danger of placing heat — generating, smouldering compost — and very large amounts of it — atop of ground known to have vents discharging garbage gas (the most combustible of which are methane and hydrogen sulphide.)
The negligence on behalf of this Government is in my (and for the benefit of our intimidator in chief) Bermudian opinion, indisputable.
Anyone who has ever worked or lived on a farm can tell you about the heat generated in a compost heap. Putting that atop of a packed, confined garbage landfill covered by tons of rubble when the dump was closed, and as a result forcing the highly combustible gases such as methane to ‘seek’ and force vents to escape, must be one of the most obvious cases of criminal negligence it is possible to dream up.
Perhaps ‘our’ Premier may have scored more ‘brownie’ points by pouring the tax dollars into contemporary, European methods of waste management, sewage disposal, landfill management and generally acceptable effluent and emission controls. Instead he has invested them most recently into jetting off (with body guard?) to court construction kings and periphera US senators while Hamilton burns.
Anyone left with the courage to care about the very precarious future of Bermuda’s environment (our only capital) or protest against a list (at the top of which is Southlands) of what can only be termed green crimes, will be treated to a dose of the very New Bermudian, and acceptable traits of abuse and intimidation.
DR. A.M. WARE M.R.C.V.S.
Owner of 68 North Street for 17 years
Why are whites afraid?
February 24, 2007
Dear Sir,
Jane Correia believed in the direction of the PLP. I also believe in the Brown administration. So I say to Sharon DeSilva and others who share her mindset.
And to Toppy Cowen: Use your energy to encourage whites to support the PLP and help bring about change, and put an end to the belief by whites that the PLP is predominantly black. It’s only commonsense — the white community is responsible for the PLP being labelled all black, due to them not wanting to join. The white community needs to support the PLP on a large scale to help bring about change. I get the impression whites are afraid to make a move. For example if the white community decided to support the Brown administration, the vague notion that the PLP is an all black party would go away. I’d like to see thousands of Jane Correias come out in droves to support the ruling party.
Priority didn’t come into play when the government offered $11 million to the cricket players. (I stand corrected if I used the wrong digits — ($11 million.) Whereas it should have been given to provide housing for those in the lower income bracket, the renters. There was too much emphasis on home-ownership.
There are the people who have been put on the back burner. There will be people living in the streets on a greater scale due to the lack of foresight.
Thank you Mr. Editor!
GEORGE BURCHER
Hamilton Parish
Tackle violent crime
February 22, 2007
Dear Sir,
I implore the Brown administration to take the drug related crimes serious. We are experiencing violent crimes, still no punishment in place. A felon laughs all the way to “Westgate Hotel” — this is what former felons call it with a smile. Incarceration is a big laugh, a joke to most felons. There is no punishment in the prison system — it’s “paradise”. I urge the legislators to make it so that a prisoner would never want to return. What you have now is a “revolving door”. Whenever a felon is released, he tells his friends getting locked up is a “piece of cake”.
Use the prisoners to remove the debris from the coastlines and in the bushes along the road sides. Wipe the smiles off their faces, let them work for the victims — hard work!!
Thank you!
GEORGE BURCHER
Hamilton Parish
February 20, 2007
Dear Sir,
Your biased newspaper knows no shame!
In your February 19 editorial, you were so desperate in your attempts to embarrass the PLP, that you’re clinging to one-sided stories that I don’t even think you believe.
Consider these three occurrences:
Canadian Curtis Macleod
It is obvious from your own reports that this guest worker disrespects Bermudians period: workers and Parliamentarians alike. He knew exactly to whom he was talking when the union officials approached him on the job site. He really thought he could act with impunity and I blame his bosses at Globe Construction for not correcting his behaviour earlier, unless of course, they shared his opinion. He needed to be sent home.
K.E.M.H. Doctor
I would be shocked if this doctor had not been required to sign an agreement as part of her employment contract, indicating that she not comment to the media on matters of policy. Why should she be exempted? You can’t fight against your employers and expect to remain on the job.
Chef’s Death Threats at the Elbow Beach
Making a death threat on the life of the leader of a country is serious business in this terrorist world, no matter how frivolous it might have seemed. In America, the chef would have been arrested on the spot and jailed awaiting an investigation. He got off easy.
I see that the new rallying cry for anti-Government and anti-PLP forces is now “freedom of the press” and “erosion of rights”. Please remember that free speech cannot possibly mean that you can say what you want. The Government is doing what we expect them to do; protecting Bermudians and our way of life in ‘the sunshine of public scrutiny’, rather than trying to whip up anti-expatriate sentiment.
By the way, I noticed, as did everyone else, that none of your recent editorials dealt with Jamel Simmons’ departure from the UBP, when it was topical. Now doesn’t that speak volumes!
WATCHING YOU LIKE AN EAGLE
Sandys
Successful Trash-a-thon
March 2, 2007
Dear Sir,
On February 24th and 25th, students of the In Motion School of Dance braved the wind and rain and held their Tenth Annual KBB-assisted Trash-a-thon, collecting trash and recyclables from Warwick Playground and Shelly Bay Park.
Students gained a better appreciation of the litter problem in Bermuda, and were able to do their part in the restoration of Bermuda’s landscape, in addition to raising funds for the purchase of costumes for their Annual Dance Showcase to be held in May. By providing positive experiences like these we hope that our students gain a better understanding and appreciation of maintaining our Island’s beauty and realise the importance of not littering.
Despite the efforts of small groups such as ours, the litter problem is a large one, and will continue to escalate unless we all show a bit more respect for our Island and its beauty. The number of glass bottles and cans being thrown into the bushes is alarming and further brought to light when participating in a cleanup. Keeping Bermuda clean is everyone’s responsibility and we all need to work a little harder to help.
In Motion would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those students who participated for a fantastic job, and especially thank those parents, teachers and friends who took time out to assist in the event. Thanks also goes to KBB for their guidance and support, and to those persons who kindly donated towards keeping our Island beautiful and supporting our youth in the arts.
Congratulations on another successful Trash-a-thon and let’s all do our part to Keep Bermuda Beautiful all year long!
LIZZ PIMENTEL
Founder, Director
In Motion School of Dance
Dear Sir, It is Sunday morning as I am driving to pick up a pack of smokes from nearby Social Club, as I am a resident of the Parsons Road area, that’s right the same area that has been covered in ash for the last few days. So needless to say, I and my daughter have been busy boiling water to make drink or whatever else for that matter. So it was quite a pleasure that as I passed the parking area adjacent to Parsons Road Park that I saw Michael Dunkley and Tillman Darrell passing out water. I would like to use this opportunity to thank them and the UBP for having concern for the residents as well as saving me personally a bit of time and finance. On a personal note: I will be voting for Mr. Darrell to represent my constituency in the next election because I can see that he, not just because he comes from Middle Town, is genuine in his belief for the betterment of this community. LuVINCE CANN Pembroke P.s. Michael Dunkley should be the leader of the Signs of dictatorship? March 1, 2007 Dear Sir, Are we becoming a communist country? Is their a dictatorship in our midst? Is this why the Government is so close to Fidel? They certainly are learning how to rule just like him, no freedom of speech. This Government has said that no ex-pat should get involved in the daily running of the business they work for or the Government business. What? You have got to be kidding. What democratically run country does not allow freedom of speech? Is Derrick Burgess living in outer space? How can He make such outrageous comments and not expect to be lambasted by people. There is a commercial which comes on television paid for by the Human Rights Commission, which says you have the right to freedom of speech without fear of reprisal. Does not say except for ex-patriots living, working and giving to Bermuda. Where is the Human Rights Commission now? Why haven’t they jumped all over Mr. Burgess’s statement? Let’s get it right. Anyone has the right to freedom of speech in this country. Anyone. That’s what our constitution says. Why doesn’t Derrick Burgess read it? It just goes to show what the Human Rights Commission is a big farce of a department and cannot possibly be objective because it’s put there by this Government, yes, the very same ones who are disregarding it. Obviously Mr. Burgess speaks for all of the Government Ministers because none of them have said a single word to defend our rights. None of them have the guts to come out and say Mr. Burgess has it wrong, we do practice freedom of speech here and anyone can use it. It is very disturbing when our freedom is being slowly taken from us. It’s happening every time you turn around. Look at Southside and the famous under cover SDO which will be issued there. It’s just a matter of time before the land is stripped and building will commence, no matter what anyone says. It is democracy at it’s finest. Before we get like communist China and Cuba we had really better pay attention to what is going on around us. Things like this happening and persons getting away with it just goes to show that this Government, the people’s Government is certainly not for all the people, but a select few. M. DUBOIS Pembroke A big surprise coming March 5, 2007 Dear Sir, Under the present PLP Extremist leadership, one hears “Black, White, Racism, Slavery, Black, White, White, Black, Black, White” — an hardly ever ending chant of racial this and racial that. BUT, and I repeat BUT, I believe that those supporters of the PLP’s ‘Racial Bias Programme’ are in for a very big surprise! Dr. Brown and his team of ‘stirrers-of-trouble, discord and tension’ amongst us Bermudians of good-will think that race is going to win them the next election. Well, they are wrong and seriously mistaken! Bermudians with common sense do not want racial issues to come out the winner. I believe Bermudians of good-will want equal chances to get ahead and decency towards one another to be the ‘winner’. YES? Furthermore, Dr. Brown and the extremist faction of his government is going to find out that good solid Bermudians will not support his plans to divide us Bermudians so that they can dominate and control all of us. No sir. Bermudians do not want that; do not want a dictatorship when all we really need is to work together to solve the problems which we all share. United and clear-thinking Bermudians will stand together and will win against those who offer negative, racial themes of hate and division. I am convinced of this. You have a surprise coming Dr. Brown. The people of Bermuda see you, see your past, and see YOUR future plan for us for what it is: power for you and the extremist group in your party. The majority of us Bermudians have worked too hard to let all their gains and the island’s gains be hoodwinked away from them by those with such a thirst for power and control. Nice try! But, you will fail because you underestimate the essential goodness and good natures of the majority of Bermudians. (Perhaps you spent too much time in the USA and too little time with us everyday Bermudians?) Whatever, but you are going to lose the next election. NOSTRADAMUS Pembroke We need space February 26, 2007 Dear Sir, Preserve the integrity of Bermuda's remaining Open Spaces on Beautiful South Shore In preserving the integrity of our remaining Open Spaces, and in particular, access to the calming ocean surrounding us and the few remaining forests — we work to preserve our sanity. This request in the form of a statement is very likely abhorrent to the profit hungry developer and indeed an affront to the private property owner who is technically within his or her right to propose a structure to his or her own liking. However, let us not underestimate the healing impact of space and beauty on our over-stressed minds and bodies. In an island where anger, violence, greed and division are becoming the hallmarks of our existence, I write to implore consideration of the humanity in each of us that longs for spaciousness, peace, beauty and connectedness. Develop responsibly with a longer term view than receipt of the first dividend cheque! DEBORAH L JACKSON Warwick Feeding off destruction February 28, 2007 Dear Sir, Did you catch this: Mr. Guy Crawford, CEO of the Jumeirah Group, on the television news after a tour of Southlands saying, in essence: “I am not a spiritual man, but I was deeply moved today by the spirituality of this very beautiful place.” Right on, Mr. Crawford! This, too, is my church. Too bad you didn't stop there. Instead, you conclude that you are therefore thrilled you've been invited to take part in the planned development of that lovely piece of land. Remember the merchants and money changers in the temple? They, perhaps, knew not what they did. You however make it perfectly clear you know exactly what you do: feed off the destruction of holy places. A proper punishment for you, therefore, is a lifetime in some kind of purgatory, like the one planned for the Southlands “site”. Unfortunately, we are all condemned in the process. TRUE BLUE BERMUDIAN Somerset
