September 21, 2005

Dear Sir,

This letter is directed to Premier Alex Scott

I don't quite know where to start this letter to you, so I guess I will start with yesterday. After listening to you on the radio news whilst driving home from work and then again on TV last night I was angry to say the least. How dare you say that 14,008 Bermudians, me included, had no idea that we were signing a petition in favour of a referendum regarding Independence for our Bermuda. In essence, you said that 14,008 Bermudians are illiterate and stupid to boot ? that we would put our signatures on a document that we didn't know the meaning of ? rubbish! It was mentioned that 14,008 people represented 34 percent of registered voters in Bermuda. Mr. Scott, can you even imagine how many other registered voters didn't sign that document because they didn't know about it or were unable to get to where a petition was located, people who are for a referendum ? can you imagine? Thirty-four percent of registered Bermudian voters ? black, white and everyone in between actually sought out and signed that document, that document that you completely disregarded.

My fellow Bermudians need to sit up and take note, we have had it good for so long that we have become complacent. We must stop waiting for someone else to take care of the wrongs in our country, we must all act now, speak now, before we are not allowed to have a voice.

We Bermudians have short memories; we need to pay attention to you and your Government. You think that your soft-spoken rhetoric makes people feel secure, it makes us boiling mad, you are selling your fellow Bermudians down the river. We need to listen to every word that comes out of your mouth, we need to sift through all your double-talk to get to the truth. I think your record over the past seven years speaks volumes. Take care Mr. Scott, the sleeping dog is awakening and he will discover that you are very definitely not serving the needs of the people of Bermuda. There will be a reckoning.

On the subject of Independence, Mr. Scott, I'd like to hear straight out, what in your opinion will Independence for Bermuda do for me, I'm talking about a hard-working, regular Bermudian citizen. I haven't heard anyone say what Bermuda and Bermudians stand to gain by becoming independent. I can only guess what you stand to gain. I will be reading the Bermuda Independence Report as soon as I can get my hands on a copy so that I can see for myself what it actually says, I won't be waiting to hear your version of it.

Mr. Scott, I don't think you care a fig about me, and I'm not talking about a black me or a white me, I'm talking about a Bermudian me. Your behaviour shames you, Mr. Scott, and I have no confidence in your Government. You and your cronies will no doubt laugh at and mock my letter, but they are my true feelings and concerns and just as our guest workers are mindful of voicing their opinions and concerns for fear of reprisal ? I too feel the need to sign my letter...

September 20, 2005

Dear Sir,

I appreciate the job of a security guard, and I adhere to rules and I am going to keep it short and simple. It's called common sense. If I was that security guard this letter would have not been written, I would have taken the camera from him and taken the picture myself with his family, then I would have said have a nice day. I have enough sense to determine who is dangerous and who is not, it's that simple, people are far too paranoid nowadays, lighten up.

I almost intervened, but fear of being arrested would have caused a big commotion for something so trivial.

(9/11 does not even come into it).

ROBERT HENDERSON

Smith's Parish

September 15, 2005

Dear Sir,

Today the Bermuda Independent Commission report was finally released to the general public, one month after having been submitted to the Government. For those readers who do not wish to examine the 73-page report and all of the appendices I wish to draw their attention to the following examples taken from the BIC report as to what would happen if Bermuda were to choose Independence:

1. British citizenship is expected to be withdrawn along with all the attendant privileges, including the right to abode, the right to seek employment as well as (and this may be the most important of all to some) the right to travel visa-free throughout the European Community.

2. BIC estimated annual additional costs to Bermudian taxpayers for an envisaged Department of External Affairs is between $2.92 million to $5.96 million versus the $650,000 currently expended by the Government in funding external affairs.

3. BIC envisaged that the capital and annual costs of Independence is a low of $5.293 million and a high of $14.695 million.

4. Racial issues will be not resolved.

5. Crime will continue to be a problem.

6. Education will not be improved.

7. Housing situation will not be resolved.

Mr. Editor, unfortunately the BIC report does not divulge how the cost guesstimates were reached. As a result one must expect the costs to be significantly higher, particularly when one considers recent Government overspends such as the Berkeley debacle. In fact the BIC allocated more money to Independence celebrations ($1 million) than it did to the likely costs to be incurred in reviewing all of Bermuda's legislation to see if it would be compatible with a new Constitution ($500,000). With the greatest of respect to the BIC I suggest the figures provided are grossly under guesstimated.

Perhaps the most preposterous apparent finding of BIC is that taxes upon Independence would not rise. I have a simple question ? how would Independence be funded? The under estimated guesstimate of over $10 million per annum would have to come from somewhere. Would an Independence government earmark $10 million a year that was allocated in a budget to seniors, education, social programmes and/or Police services to fund Independence (including up to $300,000 per year funding United Nations peacekeeping missions) as the BIC report seems to suggest? I sincerely hope not. The conclusion is inevitable ? taxes would have to rise.

Finally, Mr. Editor, I draw you attention to the following quote taken from the BIC report:

"The Commission learned that, in many cases, the decision on Independence was determined by means of a general election, and in NO INSTANCE (my emphasis), did the Commission discover the use of a referendum."

Mr. Editor, I cannot believe this statement is correct and therefore must be a misprint. The UN Decolonisation Committee had a member from East Timor, which chose Independence by referendum in the face of certain violence, as did, for example, Bosnia-Herzegovina. In the Caribbean the Bahamas constitution requires that a referendum be held if any changes are to be made to its constitution, Nevis has had referendums in its quest to become independent of St. Kitts and St. Vincent and the Grenadines held a referendum on Independence. Several African nations have chosen Independence by way of referendum such as Eritrea and the Ivory Coast and in Asia several ex-Soviet states have chosen Independence by way of referendum such as Georgia and the Krygyz Republic. Quebec held an Independence referendum to separate from Canada, Bermuda held an Independence referendum in 1995 and until recently 11 countries in the European Union were going to hold referendums on the new European Constitution.

In conclusion, the BIC report was at least clear in that it essentially says Independence is not the cure all for Bermuda's social, racial, education, crime and housing problems. Independence will not magically bring the races together. In fact BIC says that for the races to achieve genuine social unity a truth and reconciliation process should be explored. This is a far cry from Independence.

MICHAEL M. FAHY

Smith's

September 14, 2005

Dear Sir,

I keep wondering why some of our politicians and some of our bankers keep commenting on the fact that Monaco and some of the harbours in the south of France are so attractive. As one who is quite familiar with all of these harbours, especially Monaco, I don't think they are attractive in any way whatsoever.

What makes Monaco attractive is when the harbour is completely full of large motor boats, vintage sailing yachts, and cars on the quayside. If you take away these attractions, the harbour loses all its charm. If you are going to do something with Hamilton Harbour, don't copy the south of France, or Monaco.

YACHTSMAN

Smith's Parish

September 26, 2005

Dear Sir,

I read in the Print media pieces about "projected costs" of Independence for Bermuda, but nowhere was there any mention of the cost of running the place now.

In order to intelligently weigh the pros and cons of Independence, it's essential that the public know the true annual cost of running this Island.

How can the public possibly trust the projected Independence costs when we are never told the truth about current annual spending ? which, by the way, is brought to us by the folks who are essentially condoning less vigilance on Government spending by calling for the removal of Auditor General Larry Dennis and to put an expiration date on that job.

If we've no accountability now, what's it going to be like later?

I AM NOT A LEMMING

City of Hamilton

September 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

The September 16 issue of the Mid-Ocean News was heart-warming to those of us who see and fear the deterioration of the way of life we elder people worked for for all of our lives. Cicero's letter to the Editor, Mr. Ezekiel's plain-speaking analysis from the business point of view and the Editor's Opinion column all expressed the concern and frustration felt by us who are not blessed with the gift for public speaking. However, if the Government refuses to allow us to accept or reject Independence by referendum I assure you, at voting time, we will express our disgust for the present self-serving, incompetent, conscienceless bunch of people who were supposed to represent us all, not just a few hangers-on. I hope we can get rid of this dictator-type Government before it is too late.

WORRIED BERMUDIAN

Southampton