September 11, 2004

Dear Sir,

Regarding Race Weekend, the President of the BTFA says, "It's off!" Minister Brown says, "It's on!" Now who are you to believe? I ask this because we all know Minister Brown admittedly tells lies, and once you know that a person tells lies, you just don't believe a word they have to say!

In the article that was published in The Royal Gazette on Friday, September 10, Dr. Brown goes on to say, and I quote, "It's total confusion. There's no such thing happening. There is no cancellation, no postponement. The left hand did not know what the right hand was doing, and one person jumped out and told the media. Yeah ? it's on ? big time. A letter just went out today from our Director trying to double the prize money." End quote.

Let's just back up a bit here and dissect the above statement. In the first sentence he mentions total confusion. Well, isn't that the way things have been around here for the past six years? We have had nothing but total confusion, so what's new?

In the second and third sentence he says, "There's no such thing happening ? no cancellation ? no postponement." Can we believe him? After all, don't forget that this is the "Honourable" Member of Parliament who admitted that he and his party, the PLP, had to lie to the voters in order to win the last election. Now you and I have all told "little white lies" at one time or another, but it's the people who tell those "big black lies" that you have to watch very closely, because "big black lies" could be extremely dangerous!

The fourth sentence is a real goodie! He states that the left hand did not know what the right hand was doing! Since when in this Government did the left hand know what the right hand was "doing?" I don't think the right hand knew what its own right hand was doing! Take a good look at the BHC scandal. Only those who were "doing" knew what their right hand was "doing," but no one knew what their left hand was "doing!" And, it wasn't until it was "done", that we the public (who should give thanks to the Shadow Minister for W&E, Michael Dunkley for exposing this scandal) knew what some were "doing!" I know this is a bit confusing, but that is the state we, the public, live in under this government.

Last but not least. In the final paragraph, Dr. Brown states ? "Yeah, it's on ? big time. A letter just went out today from our Director trying to double the prize money."

All of this sound very good, but just a look beneath this RG article, and lo and behold, there is another article which states, "Athletes demand: Show us the money!"

This article goes on to say that there are several ace runners out there who have not been paid their prize money by the BTFA for the past two years, and Dr. Brown says that he is trying to double the prize money? Then I see by today's paper that Government has gifted the BTFA with $80,000. Does that mean these runners will now get their prize money (with interest of course)?

What the runners should have asked was, "Where is the money!" And they might have been told it was probably spent to send certain people to Athens for the Summer Olympics. Consequently, there is no money!

There are some things in life that I will never understand, and one is: How do people expect to run organisations, clubs, governments, businesses, households etc. if they do not have a clue how to keep accountable records? So here we go again with another case of poor management and unaccountability, and it seems to be getting worse.

I understand that corporations are now not willy-nilly handing over funds to organisations unless they see a clean statement of accounts. This is a very good idea, and those accounts should go back to six or ten years. Too much money has been passed on to certain clubs and organisations, and no one has a clue where the money has gone (we're back to the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing syndrome).

Minister Butler was correct in saying that he has become aware of the complete lack of professionalism and unaccountability in certain clubs and organisations, but, Minister Butler must remember that this is part of the PLP's governing problem ? the complete lack of professionalism and unaccountability, otherwise, the Premier would not have made the ridiculous statement regarding the Senior School project, saying that it is impossible to keep a receipt for every item that comes in and goes out.

It seems the Premier does not have a clue as to what he is talking about, because everything needs to have proper checks and balances; otherwise, we end up with scandals the BHC where millions went astray, plus, the gross mismanagement and wastage of money as it has happened on the Senior School project. We need accountability and integrity, but this commodity nowadays, seems harder and harder to find!

I have said it before, and, I'll say it again. Bermuda deserves better than what it is getting, but, if people from Somerset to St. George's do not collectively stand together and fight for the good of their country, they will end up getting what they did not ask for. If anyone is interested in contacting me to discuss our problems and maybe finding a solution, you will find me in the telephone directory.

Do we need a third party? No, I don't think so, in fact, I am inclined to believe that party politics has been the cause of many of our problems. It seems, as my grandmother would say, it has bread a completely kettle of fish! Sharks! They have no integrity and are not accountable!

PAT FERGUSON

Warwick

Clock is ticking...

September 15, 2004

Dear Sir,

While one can appreciate the outpouring of joy that the International Race Weekend has been saved, the thought that a big band aid has been applied comes, very much, to the fore.

The Minister of Sport was quite correct in his condemnation of the, so called, hierarchy of the BTFA and had Dave Barber, in his generous innocence not come to their rescue, then a postponement for this year might well have paid a huge dividend for the future.

It would have enabled, amongst other things, a change to be made in the direction of track and field on this Island, and all for the better.

What has simply happened is a postponement of the inevitable, with heads collectively buried in the sand. The President of the BTFA and the, unfortunately called, National Coach ("CEO"), should have been sent packing.

That their collective necks have been saved is the saddest element of this whole episode.

It is time to let the real organisers of this event, such as Pam Shailer, run this event without the shackles of the BTFA.

The conflicting elements of "bums on seats" (Tourism) and the need for some accountabilty (Youth & Sport) came sharply into focus, only relieved by the comical fact that the President of the BTFA had been persuaded to be involved, yet again.

If the people really responsible for this wonderful sporting event had the guts to stand up and say to the BTFA that you can sanction this event but you will have no access to any of its finances or organisation, then maybe Corporate Bermuda might back you.

At the moment you suffer from a huge credibility gap which has nothing to do with anything but perceived incompetence at the top.

Sort it out and maybe corporate Bermuda might listen to you, after all they do to all the other well-run events.

The Race Week will go ahead this time around but the clock is ticking.

DOUBTING THOMAS

Devonshire

Taking on the world

August 6, 2004

Dear Sir,

Our here on the most beautiful Island in the local universe, the athletic Rabbit Islanders have looked at Greece boasting about how it is the smallest country to host a summer Olympics since Finland in 1952, and we have decided to do better.

The Ravers have put in their bid to host the Olympic games in 2008, and as we all know what the IOC really only cares about, we have offered to fork out $50 billion for the entire project. We will be the smallest independent country in the world to host the games for all time, Mr. Editor.

We are not just good at sorts out here on the shores of Paradise. We are the best sports in history. We can take on everybody out here on Rabbit Island, and whip them too.

SIR RANDEVILLE FLASH

Rabbit Island

True remorse?

September 9, 2004

Dear Sir,

I really can't believe the letter I am reading in today's Royal Gazette titled 'Blame goes around'. The writer obviously is a friend or relative of the woman who hit Tyaisha Cox, and feels that they have to defend her. However, J. Mello ? you come off as sounding very callous.

I can write this letter objectively. I do not know the Cox family personally. However, reading your letter made my blood boil. How do you think that child's mother feels reading something like that? You say the little girl should have been accompanied by an adult. Well, first of all, the mother stated that she usually took the child to school (and many people have verified this.) This day she did not but the little girl was getting off right outside her destination, with only a pedestrian crossing to cross. Anyone would have thought it to be perfectly safe.

Secondly, this accident probably would have happened even if the mother was right there, and God knows how horrible that would have been. The accident happened not because of what Tyaisha, her mother, brother or even the bus driver did or did not do. It happened because someone's impatience and carelessness ? pure and simple. What did the woman think the bus was stopping for? Why didn't she just exercise a little patience and wait?

Maybe the lady wasn't on a cell phone ? you wouldn't expect her to admit it, so we'll never know. You say she wasn't speeding ? well, she had to have been going at a considerable amount of speed but again we'll never know. I'm sure that she was upset over what happened as you stated, but for Tyaisha or for the potential trouble that she knew she was in?

It may sound cynical, but I have to wonder if this woman has true remorse. I recall at the time of the accident, she did not approach the Cox family because she 'was advised not to'. Sorry, but to me that is not true remorse ? that is watching out for one's own skin to avoid legal complications later on. If that were me, I would be on my knees grovelling for the family's forgiveness ? no matter what I was 'advised'. Now for people like J. Mello to further try and shift the blame away from the woman who has literally gotten away with murder further compounds the fact that these people are not truly sorry. Accept the fact ? this woman and she alone is responsible.

No charges have been brought against her and she has never publicly made any kind of statement of apology. Yet J. Mello seems to be so bothered by what people are saying about her! Stop trying to blame other people, J. Mello. It may help ease your conscience to blame others for this woman's fatal mistake, but it is just rubbing salt into an already open wound.

NOT BUYING IT

Hamilton Parish