Halt the ?foreign? gardens

September 14, 2005

Dear Sir,

Two years after Hurricane Fabian, I congratulate the Management and Staff of the Botanical Gardens in Paget for the way in which they have turned the devastation of the hurricane into an opportunity to upgrade the whole facility, with long needed clearing of shrubbery and new plantings. But at the very time when there was talk of extending the KEMH into the Botanical Gardens, and in the area planned for such use, an expensive, custom made brick walkway was laid replacing a perfectly adequate path. What was the thinking behind this kind of planning?

More recently we read that the Formal Gardens will be replaced with four elaborate and totally un-Bermudian showpieces! I am aware that each Government Department has control over its own budget, but I am appalled that so much money has been, and will be spent on these fancy ?improvements? when there is such a demand for money in other Government Departments, i.e. Social Services, the care of the elderly and housing for the homeless, and the hopelessly inefficient Education Department. It has been glaringly obvious for years that there is no overall supervision as to how Government Departments spend our tax money, and no cooperation between the various Departments.

Certainly there is no proper accounting control, since the Auditor receives the necessary information years in arrears. On the subject of Independence: It is frightening to note how much of our freedom in Bermuda has been eroded in the seven years. There have been several questionable precedents set in the House of Assembly procedures, where discussion has been curtailed or silenced. Honourable Ministers frequently make decisions without consulting their civil servant department heads, and laws have been added and emended.

If the present Government were to be in power after Independence, I wonder how many more of our freedoms would be taken from us? What kind of independence will there be for Bermudians living under ministers whom I consider to be dishonest and totally unethical? I pray for those elected to govern in our political parties and all civil servants with authority who have consciences, that God will give them the wisdom and the courage to speak out now, to bring about the necessary changes.

What housing is about

September 13, 2005

Dear Sir,

While I am sympathetic to the plight of the 99 families who are impacted by the failure of BHP, I am relieved that the BLDC stood their ground and prevented the misuse of the dockside property and a tragedy of unintended consequences at Southside. The dockside property is too valuable an asset to bury under a low-cost housing project.

Ideally it should be developed into a centre for the marine industry as a crutch to our one-legged economy. If it should fall to high priced condos, it would still provide significant revenue for financing other BLDC projects, including low cost housing in more appropriate locations. The BLDC exists as a quango to make the most appropriate use of the resources it oversees and to shield it from the naked political manipulations of a government intent on trading hopes for votes.

Entry level housing is not about little pink cottages on the waterfront with a marina for the boat you shouldn?t be wasting your money on. Entry level housing is about getting your foot in the door of a property you can afford, securing the value of your equity by prioritising your expenses, maintaining your property and if you?re careful one day trading up to something better.

Luck and lotteries have nothing to do with it. Prosperity is the result of hard work. Maintaining that prosperity relies on the lessons you have learned on the way up. Gifting someone with the ends of prosperity without the means to secure it is reckless at best and cynical at worst because it pre-supposes that they lack the wherewithal to work towards it.

Habitat for Humanity would be a far better model to follow for the provision of low cost home ownership. Sweat equity and community offset labour costs while economy of scale offsets material costs. Government could assist in sourcing smaller, more appropriate parcels of land, truly integrated into the community and the beneficiaries would develop essential skills as they help themselves and each other. Ask your granddad, that?s how it used to get done.

End the divisiveness

September 9, 2005

Dear Sir,

Can we please stop talking about a referendum or an election to decide this issue. The Premier has said it should be done by an election. If so then please let ?s stop all the talk, call the election now and get on with running the country without all this divisiveness. No one wants to hear this discussion go on for another three years.

Repair Lower Ferry dock

September 9, 2005

Dear Sir,

One would think that Government would do all in its power to relieve traffic pressure, particularly during rush hour. Lower Ferry has now been closed for about a month, due to questions about the structural integrity of the dock. This has of course added to the daily traffic on Harbour Road and into Hamilton. One would also think repairs would be a priority issue. However there?s no sign of any activity whatsoever at the site. With Marine and Ports and Transport both being departments of the same Government, perhaps it would be helpful if they consulted on such matters.

Caught breaking the law

September 13, 2005

Dear Sir,

This morning (Tuesday, September 13) I saw two large GP cars parked on the double yellow line in front of the Cenotaph. I suppose there is no point in hoping that by some miracle they would be ticketed and the users fined, for who would pay but we the people? Nonetheless, the arrogance or should I say ?igrance? of our leaders... words fail me!

We need deliverance

September 14, 2005

Dear Sir,

Like most democracies in the world, we cannot stop believing that we should take our moral direction from politicians. It seems a spiritual strategy doomed to failure after being repeatedly disappointed in our hopes for fairness and plain dealing in our leaders. So Mr. Alex Scott?s appeal for a day of prayer will certainly appeal to this, our most Christian country.

Perhaps it?s a good thing that we appeal finally to an authority that we can not see and can not hear but only believe. The authorities we can see and hear are the ones we can not believe. Pity the poor atheists among us who see no capable authority, palpable or impalpable, and remain in their hell of disillusion.

Cut government travel

September 12, 2005

Dear Sir,

Just wondering if Dame Jennifer, Ms Cox and three ? or was it four ? others enjoyed ?attending the seminars? at the conference in Tahiti ? per information provided on two radio stations. At whose expense was this ten day holiday? Silly question. Will we ever see any results benefiting Bermuda and/or Bermudians? I would suggest that the MP/Civil Servant travel budget be cut to a minimum. The saved amount could be added to the Works & Engineering budget to repave the roads entering and around Hamilton. This would be far more beneficial to all, visitors included.

Say ?no? to dictatorship

September 1, 2005

Dear Sir,

Once upon a time there was a black man who ran a thriving business in a building he rented from another man. After many years the building was suddenly sold to a white man. When the lease on this building was due for renewal, the new landlord told the black business owner that the lease would not be renewed until he took in a white man as a partner. One has only to wonder how the black members of the public would have reacted to this kind of treatment that smacks of dictatorship!

Use Club Med for housing

September 13, 2005

Dear Sir,

It seems to me that we have a dilemma on our hands, Mr. Editor. One in which I believe can be solved if this Government will take the initiative. We all know that there are many, many people seeking housing. We all know that the great Club Med, sitting up there doing nothing, for years, could be put to good use, Mr. Editor. Why not use the Club Med building as a temporary short-term housing project?

It could be simple to turn around. Surely there isn?t that much damage that it?s uninhabitable. The Government could turn these rooms into some sort of housing for the people who are truly in need. They could use the prisoners to rebuild or reconstruct these rooms, place a small refrigerator and hot plate in them, and charge the people a nominal fee to rent on a short-term basis.

These folks can?t all afford to buy houses and their needs are desperate. With two double beds per room, they could house a family of three or four, if need be. Why not drop your pride and do this for the people, PLP? The Government should also allow the UBP to assist. Obviously the Government of the day, who do not have a plan, could use their help. Don?t be so silly and house these folks; some of them need a place for their children. How can this Government sit by and do nothing?

There has to be an answer, what is it? Admit that you can?t do it and get some help. Stop pussyfooting around the issue and use what we have. I suggest that the people without homes set up tents at the cabinet office grounds and camp there until something is done.

Councillors are not fogeys

September 12, 2005

Dear Sir,

It was with amazement that I read in the Press last week that one of the older ?old Fogeys? in Bermuda had the temerity to call members of the Privy Council ?old fogeys?. There is an expression that admirably covers what the Bermudian ?old fogey? said ? but I think it is better not repeated here. Perhaps our old fogey should stick to the ?bushes?.