Bad message

February 19, 2007

Dear Sir,

What a shock. Expulsions at Berkeley, not that anyone is fooled by this, not when Bermuda’s most prominent Berkeleyite threatens physical harm to another elected public servant in front of the whole Island (no less). It is obvious to the youth of this island what the Government’s message is. (If you don’t like it, smash it! Get rid of it!) How? With sanctified leaders like this will this Island function in the future? Don’t be fooled!

The threat assessment made on his behalf by “the Colonel” highlighting the need for a bodyguard showed them how bad things are going to get. No one is going to be safe, well no one but Premier Dr. Ewart Brown JP MP. It’s reassuring to know that “Fearless Leader” shall never be crammed into that title. Don’t be fooled, it should make every hard working, tax paying parent go ballistic that as soon as children enter the nurturing environment of the public education system they start to underachieve. From the very first day! Eight years ... 3,000 days ... 4,320,000 minutes... Half a generation with little chance of having a meaningful share of this islands possible future. Don’t be fooled!

MORALITY FIRST

Hamilton Parish

An un-just tax

March 11, 2007

Dear Sir,One wonders why there has not yet been an out-cry against this anti- British Constitution un-just tax — the Queen’s Bottom. After all, the Royal Right to control one’s subjects and enemies by the making of laws and the imposition of taxes having retroactive effect was substantially taken away by the ‘people’ from King John at Runnymede in the year 1215 and was expanded even further by the ‘people’s’ representatives as time went on.

I want to know what is going on here? How come more of us are not speaking out about this? After all, in the event that Bermuda’s written Constitutional document does not deal specifically with ‘retroactivity’, then, it seems to me that the matter for us can be tackled by reference to the British Constitution which, I am pretty certain will uphold the position that the tax above referred to is unconstitutional! What do you think about that? BUSHWHACKED

Pembroke

Be watchful

March 7, 2007

Dear Sir,

Tourist season is soon approaching — so everybody be on guard. We have to protect our tourists (our bread and butter). Taxi drivers, private car drivers, bike riders etc., all be on the look out for suspicious looking characters. If for some reason that you can’t check it out at the time — call the Police. It only takes a few minutes. I’m glad I took time out. Example — one evening at 10 p.m. I was on my way home on the South Shore Road in Paget and saw a young female tourist riding on a moped (wobbling, and easy prey) and two men behind her on bikes. They waved me on and I refused to go because I knew what was about to happen. Finally they rode on and I stopped her and told her of the situation which she was unaware of.I told her to go back to the hotel as fast as she could. I waited a few minutes and then drove on. Around the next two corners, there they were, the two men waiting for her. I felt for sure that I saved her from being raped, murdered or both that night. Wake up Bermuda, we all can save sometimes, whether it be tourists or Bermudians. Check it out, if it looks suspicious, remember it takes one to save one. Special attention: at night time from Front Street to Fairmont and all along Pitts Bay Road. Everyone pay attention M.SSt. George’sBMA should be thankful March 9, 2007Dear Sir,Your headline on page 19 of Wednesday 7th March under the banner “Beef Up BMA Says Greenberg”, quoting Mr. Greenberg’s comments with regard to the BMA’s regulation is long overdue. I worked in insurance and two other related fields that fell under the umbrella of the BMA until two years ago and was often struck by the inconsistencies of the BMA policies as they applied across different sectors. I always got the impression that although some of BMA’s personnel were qualified in particular areas, they often strayed well outside their fields of expertise which often led to errors of judgement that were contrary to its stated policies and at times the law governing those policies.

If Mr. Greenberg had made these comments in February 2005 I may well have been working in the industry even though my main criticism of the BMA was related to sectors other than insurance. I suspect that the point Mr. Greenberg made could easily be applied to at least two other industries regulated by the BMA. Mr. Greenberg showed sterling integrity for raising the subject in an open forum which other persons in the industry avoided so as not to offend the BMA. I think the BMA should be thankful that such a seasoned professional saw fit to broach this subject in this manner. His words should be heeded. Bermuda must have the industry standards best, if we are to remain a top class financial centre. I hope that some corrective action would follow from Mr. Greenberg’s comments.

CONCERNED

Paget

Southlands benefits whom?

February 22, 2007

Dear Sir,

The proposed hotel development at “Southlands” stresses that it will be employing Bermudians in the hotel. This raises a number of questions for me: How many Bermudian employees currently work in our hotels and restaurants? I’m sure the total number of Bermudian employees is surprisingly small. Where would any Bermudians get their training? We don’t have a hotel college any more due to lack of interest. As far as I’m aware, the jobs in the hotel industry are not attractive to Bermudians; the pay is poor and the hours very unsociable — not exactly the sort of job conditions likely to attract our young Bermudians, particularly given Bermuda’s high cost of living. Are we kidding ourselves by believing that the development of this hotel is going to be of any real benefit to Bermudians, other than those already seen in the press to be involved with this projec

SUSAN STARLING

Warwick

A lesson from history

February 27, 2007

Dear Sir,

When the Nazis came for the communists,

I remained silent; I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,

I remained silent; I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,

I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for me, There was no one left to speak out.

Niemoller, 1946

READER

Southampton

Bigoted and misogynistic

February 23, 2007

Dear Sir,

So Larry Scott is appealing the 30-year sentence for Kingsley Burgess because sex excites the judiciary to more fearsome criticism than murder, drugs or fraud. Rape is not the normal sexual act where one party somehow didn’t quite say ‘yes’. Rape is a crime of extreme violence and violation — it has nothing to do with sex. It is quite probable that Burgess’ victim will be unable to enjoy sex for the rest of her life. I wonder what sentence Larry Scott would want for the perpetrator if he was suddenly emasculated against his will? Mr. Scott must appeal if his client requires it of him, but perhaps he could keep his bigoted and misogynist opinions to himself. BARBARA JONES

Devonshire

A Black History Month?

February 11, 2007

Dear Sir,

I am not sure why we need to participate in the Black History month celebration.

We are all reminded on a daily basis to be considerate of others feelings, in particular to being considered offensive towards any person, regardless if they are of another race or creed. I as a white person feel offended that I am excluded at this time of the month, which on this island is stretched to a year round celebration. I use the word celebration, instead of recognition as that seems to be the spirit that is generated.

Not all black people were slaves, or ill treated, and they certainly were not the only peoples of the world to suffer.

This island celebrates everything a black person does, as if it is an award or something great. If February is Black History month, does that leave the other 11 months a White History month? I think not. It seems to me that we as the people of Bermuda are having the wool pulled over our eyes.

I agree more with the Human Rights “day”, in which we think of all oppressed people and mainly children world wide. That makes much more sense to me.

So many are claiming foul over Mr. Tony Brannon’s use of the term Black Bermudians in relation to the demise of tourism in Bermuda. I am sure some are offended, for which an apology was offered to those people who felt that way. I am also positive there would have been even more outcry if Mr. Brannon had avoided the words Black Bermudian and referred to only the BIU and PLP instead. They would have accused him of being ignorant and blinded to the fact that the PLP represent a Black Government, as defined by the PLP and the BIU as being mainly made up by black members.

Bermuda has a world wide reputation for it’s warm and friendly people. People is the key here, which is inclusive of all of us. Our past generations were warm and friendly everywhere and to everyone. Our taxi drivers were the best ambassadors to tourists, they were loved. Everyone smiled and spoke to everyone, and tourists picked up and loved this National Attitude.

The general friendly spirit of Bermuda has partially slipped away; and in my opinion that was lead and orchestrated by the BIU and PLP, not the general people of Bermuda. Perhaps Mr. Brannon should have just left it that way in stead of mixing up the Shepherd with the sheep. Our island right now is not a safe environment like it used to be. The effects of drugs is as if the devil himself is residing here. Our past Police Commissioner advised that it was not safe to allow our women out after dark. Sex offenders are protected under law and reside amongst us. The amount of reports of people waking up and finding someone in their home, while it is occupied has risen.

Instead of a Black History month, we need a Past Bermuda History month in which we could actively remember and celebrate the way it was. Easter Parades, Guy Fox Day, Good Friday, being friendly and a good neighbour, and especially Smiling and being Friendly towards any visitors. There are so many other factors that made up the Bermuda of the past that Tourists fell in love with.

The world may have suffered a decline in Tourism but Bermuda was never a part of the World as such. “Bermuda is another World”, (which should have been our National Anthem and everyone knows that!) and we could have and should have retained our niche in the world market as the one place in the World which was still safe and warm and friendly. But that did not happen, as pointed out by Mr. Brannon. We lost that loving feeling, and it was not by accident.

To all those fantastic warm and friendly people of Bermuda, and mainly to those Black Bermudians take no offence as you were not included in the demise of Bermuda nor the tourism of Bermuda. To the militant and power hungry Bermudians who sacrificed our beloved Country shame on you and you all know who you are.

To Chris Furbert, shut up! You make a fool of yourself and everyone you represent when you talk. My hat goes off to Ms Renee Webb for her balanced comments in the House on Friday, of which we need more.

To anyone who is still warm and friendly out there whether you are black or white or even a visitor take no offence.

MR. A. BERMUDIAN

smith’s

It was intimidation

February 26, 2007

Dear Sir,

This idea that Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess came up with where guest workers shouldn’t get involved in Bermuda’s politics or speak out against their company’s policies is ridiculous! It is absolutely a throw back to the days of the 40 Thieves. I’m sure the Minister would not be pleased with that type of comparison but for goodness sakes, it is.

So are we to just assume that if a guest worker is being intimidated on the job by their employers or being paid less than they are supposed to or they find some type of health and safety issue which could affect other workers and clients they are meant to just shut up? Am I reading t his wrong or what?

What about long term residents who have the certification to seek work without a permit? What if they speak up? Should they just be covering after all the hard work they have contributed to Bermuda? What about me? Is there a dossier on me?

The US Government did this type of thing to John Lennon when he protested the Vietnam War in the 70s. He also tried to bring groups like the The Black Panthers and other civil rights groups in from the fringes. For that good work, they intimidated him, followed him and his family around America and made it clear that the was being followed and then they put him through a silly immigration hearing that dragged on for months where eventually he was shown to be a victim of a conspiracy by that government.

Mr. Editor, this is intimidation in the purest sense. Derrick Burgess is not doing Bermuda any favours at all. All you Southlands boys from overseas better keep your wits about you because you better not say anything that’ll disrupt your nice plans. That dreaded idea of “Us and Them” has returned. I thought it has been erased in November, 1998. Sadly it has not.

MILTON RAPOSE

City of Hamilton

Ray Smith was a gem

March 17, 2007

Dear Sir,

Ray Smith had a gift. He made the people around him feel important. He was able to manipulate you into thinking that you came up with a solution on your own when in fact, I believe, he had the answer all along. He lived life. He loved working with people, creating a team. He worked with people of all ages and very few people on this planet can say they do that well. But that was his job; to teach people how to think. And he did it better than anyone. He had a gift.

I feel a profound sense of loss with his passing, a hole in my soul, literally. He filled in a piece of me and I only knew him for two years. I have to believe that he did that for a lot of people. I cannot imagine how difficult his death was for his son, Christopher. I want to send my condolences to him. Please hear from me that your dad was an incredible person. He lived his life as he wanted perhaps, to his detriment. But every minute of his life on this planet meant something. We should all learn from Ray Smith. It’s not the solution, it’s the process.

Thank you, Mr. Smith, for being my mentor. Thank you, Bermuda, for allowing me to work on the Island that I love and miss so much. I think of Mr. Smith every day, say a prayer of thanks, as he made me a better person. He had a gift, and he gave some of it to me. And for that I am truly blessed.

NANCY-GEER HAMILTON O’LEARY

Former M3 Science Teacher

Dellwood Middle School