Discriminatory practices

August 24, 2007

Dear Sir,

Does Dr. Brown really think he can dictate to these large companies here on the island, to force them and even fine those, who refuse to change their so-called "discriminatory practices"?

Dangerous ground, Dr. Brown, and you have walked this path before and continue to challenge with your planned "Workforce Empowerment Conference".

There is no mystery here, the applicants, if qualified AND Bermudian, would obviously get the first bite of the cherry, BUT and (as always there is a BUT) if they cannot reach the standard of expertise that these companies require and demand, the next applicant she/he black or white, whatever, with their qualified credentials to fit the position, should be hired — regardless.

Does Dr. Brown really expect anything less?

Push too hard and there will be nobody to debate in the series of workshops with Senior Management in September or any other time.

Then see how the chambermaids (old fashioned word), waiters and taxi drivers will feel with no one to serve!

DIANA WILLIAMS

Pembroke

Where was Dr. Brown?

September 4, 2007

Dear Sir,

Gee! Gosh! and Oh My! Can you imagine?

The Leader of the Progressive Labour Party and — oh yeah — also the Premier of our country did not attend the Labour Day Celebrations.

How disrespectful to the Labour Movement of Bermuda.

How disrespectful to all of our hardworking citizens.

Does this begin to sound familiar? Good for goose and gander and all that.

Anyway the speeches by Cox and Dunkley were both very good. The really important message by both was that we must pull together and that we have to bring every child up to a good standard.

UNCOMMON SENSE

St. David's

Thank you, everybody

September 4, 2007

Dear Sir

Re: Committee of 25 for Handicapped Children: Tag Day — Friday, August 17, 2007

We would like to ask The Royal Gazette through the Letters to the Editor to publish our sincere thanks for the overwhelming and generous support we received from the Bermuda Community, as this event makes it possible for us to assist children in our local community.

Thanks to everyone from Somerset to St. George's and everyone in between. Along with our deep appreciation for every donation so generously given by our community we would also like to thank the many people who contributed to this significant total our fabulous team of volunteers and canvassers — this tremendous response reflect the humanitarian spirit guiding the Bermudian public. It was made possible by the hours or services given so generously and freely by so many volunteers. Special thanks must be give to:

Taggers including:

The Bermuda Boys Brigade, students: Brittany DeSilva, Chelsea Crockwell, Alex White, Kelsey Wotton and Anthony Whaley from various schools, while on vacation who gave up vacation time to assist:

Members of Hamilton Lions, Paget Lions, PrideBermuda as well as Friends from the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute, and The Diabetes Centre, KEMH.

Businesses, large and small, who permitted their staff members to collect on our behalf: Centre Solutions (Bermuda) Limited, Ernst & Young, Mello, Jones & Martin, HMS Customs, Deloitte, Conyers Dill & Pearman, XL Capital and the outlying districts; The Accounting Firms for providing staff to assist with the official cash count: Deloitte & Touche: Andrew Putter, Doreen Bailey, Saffron (Dallas Ross), and Lyn Niere. PricewaterhouseCoopers: Dexter Basden, and Cristina Crockwell. KPMG: Niall Farrell and Michelle Penalurick;

The retail businesses, pharmacies, grocery stores, and banking institutions who allowed the use of their shop fronts:

Those who, were unable to tag themselves, made individual donations instead;

Corporate sponsors; and Mr. Kennedy Nannette, John Barritt & Son Ltd., and staff members for providing liquid refreshments for our taggers during the warm weather.

Gina & Peter Jovetic, Food 4 Thought Catering.

The Bermuda public who, year after year, assist us in helping children with special needs.

We could not do it without you.

Thank you! God bless you, each and everyone.

MELANIE WHALEY (MRS.)

What next, Bermuda?

August 31, 2007

Dear Sir,

What is going on here? First we lost Triminghams, then Smith's, now maybe the horses and carriages and next year the cruise ships.

The heart of our capital city, Hamilton is being torn out.

New York still have their horses and carriages. It is a lot busier there than here!

I COOK

City of Hamilton

Enjoyed Sophia's story

September 3, 2007

Dear Sir,

Sophia Cannonier's account of her birth was a delight to read. It was a privilege for me to assist in what I believe was Bermuda's first water birth.

Home birth is not new in Bermuda, but perhaps it is my peer generation (50 years) who were the last to be born at home as the norm.

Hence the infrastructure to support home birth has not been invoked for some time.

I would like to acknowledge the statutory mechanisms that enabled this recent event; The Department of Health; Chief Medical Officer; Chief Nursing Officer; Community Nursing Team; and KEMH who were aware in case of transfer, without whom this would not have been possible.

Additionally, I could not have worked without generous support and cooperation of the doctors who gave prenatal care and back up for the birth.

TANDY DEANE-GRAY

In support of Ellen Kate

September 2, 2007

Dear Sir,

I am supporting Education Secretary Ms E.K. Horton giving failing grades to public schools of those in charge.

Dr. Christopher and others need not label her comments inappropriate because it is under their leadership failure is existing.

The ability to inform is not the same thing as the capacity to enquire, and the ability to lead our education department unless of course Dr. Christopher and those under his charge intend to keep us under the joke of colonialism.

RAYMOND RUSSELL

Pembroke