Watch out for China

JOHN ZUILL

Pembroke

Respect tradition

June 27, 2005

Dear Sir,

I feel compelled to write to you in reference to the ongoing dispute concerning the carriage horses. I have heard several people say ban the horses, and we don?t want them in the city, etc.

Well the most important thing that I have not heard mention of is the fact that the horse and carriages are part of our heritage and tourism.

For many years I have worked at the different cruise ship terminals and one of the first thing that the visitor asked me was where can I go to get a horse and buggy ride and also another very important factor, is the local tradition of a Bermuda wedding.

Many years ago, I was on the committee of management at the SPCA and our inspector at that time was the late Mr. Luis Ray.

He was a man who was ahead of his time, and an expert in the care of all animals. We had very challenging times back then dealing with lots of issues concerning the horse and carriages, traffic driving in the heat etc., and I remember well one day Mr. Ray telling me that a horse is an athlete, and it is important that the horse be conditioned, exercised and fed accordingly for climate conditions.

He worked very hard to educate owners and drivers, and the horses driving on our streets today, are in good shape and not as stressed about the heat, as we humans seem to be.

Because of traffic regulations, the commercial carriages do not enter the city streets until after 9:30 in the morning, and then are gone between 3 and 6 in the afternoon. We also have laws under the Care and Protection of Animals Act 1975 part IV, which defines cruelty, such as overrides, over works, over drives, over loads etc.

What we need are guidelines for Commercial City Carriage Horses.

For instance a fitness test once a year by a licensed veterinarian, a physical examination should include jogging for soundness, ocular, dental and advice on shoeing and feeding. Also a daily log of each horse?s daily work hours, and vaccinations, deworming, etc.

We already have the experts to do this since the Government Vet is the person who is responsible for the licensing of Commercial Carriages.

My last comment in no way is meant to undo all the good work that the SPCA does, but to be fair all around whoever watches out for these horses should not be employed by any humane organisation that receives any funding from anti-carriage horse groups.

Rethink electoral system

June 27, 2005

JOHN T. GILBERT

Paget

?Financial improriety?

June 29, 2005

Dear Sir,

When reported that $2 million had been stolen from various Government departments, and the Minister of Finance announced that several acts of ?financial impropriety? have occurred within the ranks of the Civil Service, it certainly got my attention. (RG 24/6/05)

If such acts are really considered by the Minister to be acts of financial impropriety, what then would constitute serious crime or fraud?

Lack of proper controls led to the thefts from the Accountant General?s office, no less. Government is clearly responsible in the final analysis, and should be held to account ? but don?t hold your breath.

Then, in Monday?s edition (27/6/05) we read of the Premier?s negative reaction to the Opposition?s motion for the establishment of anti-corruption legislation, which, in a nutshell, was ?There is no wide-scale corruption in Government?.

Whether the corruption is wide-scale or not is beside the point.

What is implicit in his comment is that, at least, there is some degree of corruption nonetheless. This, then, begs the question: how far does the corruption extend, and does Government tolerate what it may consider a low or acceptable level of corruption?

A fundamental principle of good governance is that there be no corruption whatsoever.

It would be interesting to see what the result would be if we were polled on the question: do you think there is corruption in Government?

CAROL CARVALHO

Southampton