August 4, 2003

Dear Sir,

On Friday of Cup Match around mid-day the VSB so-called ‘Major News' was as follows:

Cricket score,

Statements made at swearing-in, some 48 hours earlier, by Cabinet Ministers

Police warning on driving over Cup Match (48 hours old)

Road safety warning about driving over Cup Match (48 hours old)

By coincidence no Royal Gazette published over Cup Match!

Monday after Cup Match, lead item on VSB “ Premier softens stance on work permits” I bought The Royal Gazette and noted that this item was not on the front page so, it would appear that VSB was actually out gathering news. Some hope!

Turning to Page 6 there was the VSB lead item, word for word ,as read out on VSB. VSB would appear to have a very lazy news team.

RANDOLPH HEARST

Devonshire

Report raises questions

July 22, 2003

Dear Sir,

The ‘release' of the Larry Dennis report begs many more questions.

Clearly government ministers have been complicit in the corruption that has taken place at the BHC.

The question now is what other corruption is being hidden from view.

PHIL CRACKNELL

St. George's

...and a few more

July 23, 2003

Dear Sir,

The governor needs to appoint a commission of inquiry to investigate the whole sordid BHC mess right up to present day. Bermuda's voters are not nearly as unsophisticated as foreign office types and local politicians seem to think. Some of the questions that need to be answered are:

Who leaked the report?

Why have none of the abusive contractors been found guilty yet?

What, exactly did Paul Young paint for $700,000.00, why hasn't he been charged with anything.

Why hasn't anyone reported Mr. Young's $700,000.00 a year income to the IRS (US Government's Internal Revenue Service)? They offer rewards for turning in miscreants.

Did Mrs. Paul Young's relationship with the Premier result in any favouritism?

Maybe after the dust has settled and the crooks involved in the BHC scandal are locked up at Westgate; it will be time for the appointment of a commission of inquiry into the upcoming Berkeley Scandal? If the new Berkeley opens on time Alex Scott will probably have Harry Potter cut the ribbon - it'll take a wizard to pull Alex's iron out of the Berkeley fire, ire!

SPANISH POINT VOTER

Pembroke

Burying the myth

August 4, 2003

Dear Sir,

The recent merger of Trimingham's and HA&E Smith is an inevitable result of the 20-year downturn in tourism, and that in turn has had a significant impact on the profitability of Bermuda's retail stores.

One of the most enduring myths about the economy of Bermuda is that a conspiracy of the Front Street merchants ran Bermuda for their own benefit and in doing so excluded everyone else from getting their fair share of the cake. The evidence was all to the contrary - the average Bermudian is a member of the richest group of people in the world - but myths are more enduring than facts.

That myth has, and had, no relationship to reality and with the demise of Smiths is now belatedly laid to rest. The biggest and most influential enterprise loses its power and the reason for its existence when it loses its customers. This is also the reason why so many big hotels have closed in recent years.

Business, which is the perpetual target for our myopic politicians, exists solely for the purpose of satisfying the wants of the public. When it ceases to perform to the satisfaction of its customers, it ceases to live, and its employees and shareholders lose out. Customers who are ruthless in the pursuit of a bargain move on to other suppliers.

The 40 Thieves RIP.

No doubt, the Front Street gang myth will be replaced by another myth formulated by our empty-headed politicians that international companies are responsible for high rents, over population, crowded roads, shortage of school places, prejudiced employment policies and all sorts of sundry problems.

The facts are more prosaic and more telling. International companies and the non-Bermudians employed by them are largely responsible for our continued prosperity and full employment.

ROBERT STEWART

Smith's Parish

Beyond my price

July 30, 2003

Dear Sir,

An open letter to the people responsible for planning the visit of the Harlem Globe Trotters to Bermuda, for an exhibition game. I'm a little upset over how there is no affordable priced for the older kids. You have to remember, this is a family attraction. Would the organisation also make an effort to contact the ‘Globe Trotters' people and arrange for them to bring the Harlem Globe Trotters paraphernalia, so the people at the Tennis Stadium will have a chance to purchase “T” and other paraphernalia they may bring over here.

Please give this some serious consideration!

GEORGE BURCHER

Hamilton Parish

Where's the justice?

August 3, 2003

Dear Sir,

An elderly lady was robbed and beaten. Months later, she remains in a coma. Her assailant was apprehended and tried. His punishment is three years probation. What's wrong with this picture?

BILL STAMPFL

Southampton

Burch shows no manners

July 25, 2003

Dear Sir,

On voting day, I went to Whitney Institute where the UBP and PLP representatives were greeting constituents. Mr. Maxwell Burgess welcomed me with his wonderful smile and then I turned to Mr. Burch to shake hands. Mr. Burch not only ignored my presence, he actually turned his head away just to avoid my gaze. I stood for a while to see if he was just pre-occupied, but soon realised he had no intention of shaking hands with me as I am white. Common courtesy surely would dictate that he shakes hands with ALL constituents - white or black. I have no doubt Mr. Burgess shook everyone's hand - PLP or UBP, black or white.

Is this an indication of what is ahead for all white people under a PLP Government, then God help us all.

I mentioned this to a friend of mine who was treated in the same fashion by Mr. Burch later the same day. What an appalling way to treat people - shame on you Mr. Burch.

JUST WHITE

Smith's

We were all lied to

July 31, 2003

Dear Sir,

I have felt only sadness since learning the results of the Election. Knowing that the United Bermuda Party had such a tremendous platform and brilliant team, it was very sad to see that many voters just voted for what they considered the “black” party. There is no doubt at all that the United Bermuda Party had the very best team and I stress the word “team” as there was such a strong spirit amongst the UBP candidates and supporters that they would strive together to improve the life of all Bermudians. Their housing plan was, without doubt, the best ever offered in Bermuda. The fact that they managed to get a brilliant businessman, in the form of Sir John Swan, who agreed to head an Economic Development and Tourism Authority, was another wonderful idea.

Even some of the PLP Ministers admitted that the UBP ran an excellent campaign. In my opinion the UBP deserved to win at the polls. Sadly it was not to be.

It now appears that the rebel group of the PLP totally misled their own supporters. They went into the Election stating that they were united, knowing full well that the party was completely split. They totally deceived their own supporters just to get into power. They used Jennifer Smith to win another election and immediately made it impossible for her to form a Government. No one will ever be able to trust any of these rebels again. Whatever they say in the future will be questioned as to its validity. They will pay a terrible price for this deceitful action. Out of all of the rebels, I had always trusted Dale Butler - no more. I believe these PLP rebels will regret this major deception, as they have all lost their credibility. Their word - in the future - can no longer be trusted.

Alex Scott is saying all the right things as the new Premier, but I cannot forget how he literally hounded out of office the very able Police Commissioner Coxall as well as his Deputy, Mike Mylod . Furthermore he has not been honest about the Berkeley contract.

We appear to have a group of Government Ministers who think they can lie, cheat and deceive without recourse.

SAD FOR BERMUDA

City of Hamilton

Quick to deliver

July 28, 2003

Dear Sir,

We often hear of late delivery and poor service by the General Post Office. Well here is a positive. Last Wednesday I received a letter at my house. The letter was posted that same morning in Paget and was a thank you for dinner on the previous evening. Congratulations to the staff of G.P.O., Paget and Warwick.

MICHAEL L. DARLING

Reasons to be proud

July 29, 2003

Dear Sir,

Dear colleagues, members and supporters of The Progressive Labour Party. Congratulations on a hard fought and well won victory at the polls on July 24, 2003. The New Bermuda - Progressive Labour Party is well on its way to delivering to Bermuda a Government and a New Bermuda that was promised to you in 1998 at the election polls then. Bermuda can stand proud and say that the 22 victorious candidates of the Progressive Labour Party and the 14 victorious candidates of The United Bermuda Party will form a formidable 36 seat Government that will be the envy of countries ten times as large as Bermuda. I salute you all.

Having said that, let me also say that I have never been so proud to say that I am a PLP supporter than I am today. Please permit me to share some history with you that makes me feel this way.

My family, the Perinchief family of Florence and Earl Perinchief, originally lived in Somerset. Somewhere between 1952 and 1953, we moved to Cox's Hill in Spanish Point and bought Rocky Butler's house at the top of the Hill. We lived there for two years then moved to Serpentine Road within 100 yards of the Honourable Rio Hugh Richardson's house, the founder of the PLP. He had a garage in his yard known as Richardson's Garage.

During these years the neighbourhood children and adults as well used to kick football and spin tops in Mr. Richardson's garage yard. He was a very kind man and attracted many people to his garage where some hot political and sports debates used to go on. Sometime between 1954 and 1959, I noticed that the meetings carried on to the inside of the building and we young boys had to stay outside and play. Sometimes Mr. Richardson would make us go into the road alongside the garage to play when the ball banged up against the building. Perhaps the strong language and steady stream of new faces let us know that very serious business was taking place inside or the size of Mr. Richardson's hand persuaded us, but we never, never disobeyed him.

Anyway Billy Richardson, his brother, Junks, Cecil Durham, Manders Waldo Ingham, Rollie Roland Pearman and Wallie Walter Cross and many others never disobeyed him, so we byes weren't going to play heroes. We all loved him in the neighbourhood. He was well respected and well loved and a tremendous role model for the youth as well as the adults. He was one you could point to and say, I want to be like him or I want my son to be like him. He was a Lion King. He was a founder of the PLP. He attracted noble men like himself to the party and the movement was on.

I can remember being in bed early one night when a friend of my family who was teaching me boxing came to my home and said, “Mrs. Perinchief, someing is going on at the theatres and I want to take your sons.” I thought it was a movie or something and I knew that I didn't go to night movies. A discussion was taking place between my mother and Lou. Llewellyn Joel and I distinctly remember her saying, “Alright, just look after them”. The strange thing was she made me put my clothes on over my pyjamas. Anyway Wayne and I went with Lou to the movies as we thought and lo and behold it was the Theatre Boycott. The crowd was large outside Island Theatre on Wesley Street and licks were flying between those blacks who wanted to break the boycott and the Warriors. I remember it as vividly as if it was today.

Anyway, needless to say the meetings at Rio Richardson's got hotter and became more frequent. I did not realise at this time that the PLP was being born. Actually the seed of the PLP was planted the first time a salve was brought to this colony in 1609. It only birthed in 1963, in Rio Richardson's garage. A manger so to speak. The PLP was born of the frustrations of a people long suppressed and oppressed in this colony called Bermuda so it truly grew out of struggle. We are no strangers to struggle. So when our enemies, to progress see us in struggle they think that we are going to split up. They try everything to panic our followers to side with them. They don't know our struggle has toughened us for more battles to come. The strong men and women keep coming on.

So today in 2003 I remind you the men and women of the PLP that struggle is our legacy, struggle is our badge, we love struggle. We signed up for struggle. We won the battle at the polls now let's win the battle for the minds and hearts and souls of our beloved people who we have to serve as the Government of the people for the people by the people of Bermuda. Will there be an end to the PLP? I say unequivocally, Never!. Because as long as there is a wrong to right or an injustice to fight, there will be a PLP. the cause is bigger than us and we should not let any disappointment cause us to deviate from our mission. Our founding fathers of the PLP gave us the road map and it leads to full and free emancipation. Total and complete unqualified independence. We've only just begun. We've got work to do. PLP all the way, All the way PLP. Thank you for the victory.

TAKBIR K. SHARRIEFF

Director of Security

Elbow Beach Hotel

Thank you Ms Smith

August 4, 2003

Dear Sir,

The Honourable Jennifer Smith is the only person in the world who can claim to have lead the Progressive Labour Party which had been in opposition here for over 30 years, to victory in 1998 and 2003. In 1998 under the mischievous gerrymandered boundary system in 2003 under the single seat system which the PLP fought hard to establish, to its credit.

Ms Smith lost no time marshalling the PLP into a governing party effectively despite doubts and inunedo . Fortunately the governing UBP was found to be rudderless in 1998 after the Honourable Sir John Swan dumped them over the independence dispute. It was not seen at the time but he dumped them right into opposition.

I wonder at times what the status of the late Honourable Fred Wade at this juncture. Would he now be called to this or that or not this or that enough by many.

I appreciate being Premier of Bermuda today is no small task. Early this year I had a letter published congratulating Ms Smith on her stamina among other attributes. I heartily congratulate her again hoping she is in receipt of the respect, honour forgiveness and love she deserves.

For openers I thank her government for the improvement in our economy and our twice a week garbage collection.

I certainly congratulate our new Premier, Mr. Scott and wish him and his associate well.

ROSS TUZO

Warwick