August 25, 2004

Dear Sir,

I was most pleased to read Chris Gibbons? letters in your edition of August 24, and am very happy to endorse his comments on the significantly valuable contribution that Tommy Aitchison has made to the local sports and military communities. I also applaud your caption which identified Tommy as a ?National Treasure?.

Tommy was a sports journalist/editor when I arrived in Bermuda in 1955. Strangely enough ? because I was a member of the BAA soccer team that won the initial BGA Challenge Cup in 1956 - we didn?t actually meet until the early 1980s when the Bermuda Cricket Foundation was being organised. Tommy was Treasurer, ?Bill? Andrews was President and Randy Butler was Vice President. I was invited to take the position of Secretary. Bill Andrews was the most energetic and effective marketing executive I have had the pleasure of working with; by sheer force of his personality, he soon secured over $1 million in committed trust funds for the solitary purpose of financially assisting the development of cricket in Bermuda - once the Foundation was incorporated. Sadly, this was not to be. Tommy?s involvement in this endeavour was not just to perform the duties of Treasurer but more importantly to compile, edit and produce the Bermuda Cricket Annual from which any profits would accrue to the Foundation. The time that Tommy devoted to the task of researching, analysing, detailing and recording the statistics of Bermuda?s cricketing history is incalculable ? and all on a voluntary basis. This is typical of so many unsung heroes who support their interests with an uncommon but positive passion. Like Bill Andrews, Tommy never achieved fame or recognition on the field as a player, but, and in every sense of the word, he was and is a true cricketer.

Chris Gibbons rightly noted that Tommy?s value to cricket in Bermuda makes him a worthy candidate for inclusion in our local Sports Hall of Fame; in fact, I nominated Tommy in my personal submission early this year, cited him as a ?cricket historian and statistician who originated and developed the records for Cup Match and the Eastern Counties and who is the acknowledged primary local resource for detailed and authentic sports documentation?.

It is likely that Tommy may well be more appreciated abroad than in Bermuda - he has high-level connections through the Society of Statisticians in the UK and regularly communicates with (and often visited) major ?players? around the world. In this context, he became friends with Sir Donald Bradman in the late 1980s, not just through cricket but because Lois, Tom?s wife, and Sir Don enjoyed playing the piano together! Tommy?s collection of mostly handwritten correspondence with Donald Bradman is a precious and priceless memento of their relationship, as is a UK review of his Bermuda Cricket Annual as being ?the best of its kind in the world?.

If there is any consolation at all in the decision of the Aitchisons to relocate from Bermuda to San Diego, it is that our loss will be California?s gain ? and at least they do play cricket in the United States. We may not be welcoming home any medallists from the current Olympic Games, but we will be certainly losing a real Champion when Tommy leaves.

So, and on behalf of Bermuda?s senior citizens, all local sports persons and especially cricketers (I qualify for each of these groups), may I most sincerely wish Tommy and Lois the best of good fortune and Godspeed... with our gratitude.

MAURICE HANKEY

Pembroke

August 25, 2004

Dear Sir,

Everyone remembers 9-11 and those poor people who perished and went to heaven. God didn?t judge them because of their race. He welcomed them all with his loving embrace. He didn?t turn them away because they weren?t qualified, instead he shared their pain; I?m sure he must have cried. So when you look at a person what do you see? Do you look at skin colour or ability? Denying someone?s colour is like taking a plane, and shoving into them and seeing their pain, watching them fall like the twin towers. Racism is evil and always lowers. Prejudice folds its arms and starts to get tense, hides its eyes and build a fence. Prejudice is something that gives you 11-8, based on the colour, based on hate. Racism is evil it never accepts who you are. Strips away your dignity and always leaves a scar. Prejudice won?t accept anything cerebral, its only a condition its nothing terrible. It hides behind others and stays in cliques denying opportunity is how it gets its kicks. God doesn?t care if you?re black or white, he knows the results of racism, it was that 9-11 flight.

I remember the punches, I remember being slapped, those who didn?t lift a finger and left me feeling trapped. You burned my skin with a scolding hot plate, you were trained as a waiter not trained to hate. We are all on this earth, we are all powerful beings look beyond skin colour and then you?ll start seeing. Our purpose on this earth is to make a difference in the world. Removing all the hate with our arms gently curled.

PHILLIP INGHAM

Somerset

August 24, 2004

Dear Sir,

Well, here we go again. In today?s Royal Gazette (August 21, 2004) assistant spin-doctor-in-chief and former senator Calvin Smith has proven that he in fact cannot be taken seriously. I?m referring to his latest letter in reference to myself, in which he continues his campaign for Independence and pan-African society. It seems as if every time Mr. Smith speaks, he?s calling for some silly, unwarranted investigation. But why? Shouldn?t he stick to the important issues?

Why hasn?t Calvin Smith investigated the disappearance of over $1 million from the BHC? Why hasn?t he investigated whether or not the contractors of the Berkeley site were actually was in possession of a performance bond? Why hasn?t he investigated why taxpayers were ripped off under the Coco Reef deal? Why hasn?t he investigated which Cabinet ministers used the B.H.C. for personal gain? Well Mr. Calvin Smith, it seems you have a lot of work to do, so please, let?s get on with it. While listening to the Everest Dacosta talk show, I heard a brilliant suggestion made by one of his callers. Bermuda should arrange for three charter flights to come, and transport all those who want independence, on a one-way flight to Africa, namely Zimbabwe, to reside. This way they can have their land, have a farm, some chickens, piece of mind, and have their independence from Britain. Unfortunately, in those places they slaughter their own people (literally) so that may be a problem. I?m sure that the international business community, the white community, and us logical black people, will have no problem covering the costs of these charter flights. My message to the proponents of independence: Pack your bags and get crackin?. One Bermuda in the 21st century, is where I want to be! (And Yes, I am a black Bermudian)

T.M. Trott

PEMBROKE

August 25, 2004

Dear Sir,

On behalf of the BPHA as chairman, I Mr. Willard Fox would like to thank you for the coverage done on Access Awareness Week June 4 - June 12, 2004. Your giving us the printed avenue made our week of activities a total success.

Our special guest speaker Mr. Al Swain was very pleased with the coverage done that week. He sends his appreciations.

Thanks again for going the extra mile this year and we look forward to your assisting us in future endeavours.

W.S. FOX