Burgess: No violence call

March 12, 2008

Dear Sir,

I take grave exception to a statement in your editorial today that a statement I made in the House of Assembly "came dangerously close to inciting violence".

The statement about Adrian Robson to which you referred, "I just hope he doesn't have a PRC or status because if he doesn't then we will certainly try to rouse up my young folks to have him out of this Country", was in no way intended to incite violence, but simply meant that "failing an apology (by Mr. Robson and The Royal Gazette) to the young people of Bermuda, I hope the young people will get together and call for him to leave the country", as the Bermuda Sun accurately reported this morning.

You did not give me the same opportunity to explain my statement, which I believe would have been fair on your part, even for an editorial or opinion piece. I have dedicated my entire life to non-violence and recognise the dangerous effect that violent words can have on others. I would never incite violence and do not believe my words carried that meaning, notwithstanding your opinion.

DERRICK BURGESS MP JP

Minister of Works and Engineering

What about our future?

March 6, 2008

Dear Sir,

Regarding the panel discussion at the Bermuda College this Friday: "Why we are Where we are Today: The History of Racism".

It is my belief that most people know why we are where we are today. Having said this, I would like to pose the question to the panel – that in knowing our past history, what are we doing to move our country confidently forward, and in particular, what is the black community doing to raise its level of confidence and collective belief in itself?

Permit me to use the example of a boxer that has been knocked to the canvas – he thus has basically two choices, (A) Lay there and blame his opponent for his present position, or (B) Get up and devise a new strategy different from his previous unsuccessful strategy.

In addition to the above example, I would add that in life, as we all know there is absolutely nothing that we can do about the past, accept to learn from it, and devise new strategies that will motivate us in a positive manner going forward.

For those of you who have read Stephen Covey book, " The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", he has summarised the following – most people generally tend to look at, and act in the following manner to life's challenges: (A) lose/lose, (B) lose/win, (C) win/lose, and (D) win/win.

In closing I would hope that the panel would spend some time discussing our future as a country from a win/win perspective, and not using an us and them scenario, and I might add, by doing so, we would be setting a great example for our kids and grandkids.

ED FORBES

Paget West

Enforce the law

March 5, 2008

Dear Sir,

More senseless deaths on our roads, and it really is amazing that there are not a lot more. As usual the police and authorities beg all road users to be more careful and as usual it falls on completely deaf ears. About 90 percent of road users break the law in one form or another, and by far the worst are those riding two-wheeled vehicles. In 1980 they phased out all bikes over 100cc and they should do the same again.

All other bikes should have tamper-proof devices installed to prevent them from travelling faster then 40 kph, even at full throttle.

If this was done there would be no need to ban pillion passengers, which I think would cause a lot of problems for those who do not own a car. In any event a complete crackdown must be imposed on all bike riders until they follow the rules of the road. They say that every week the courts are jammed with offenders, and all they do is pay a fine and go out and break the law again. Of course, in this affluent society, if they are taken off the road they just go and rent a scooter and do as they please. It's easy to spot a local from a tourist, and there should be some way to prevent them from renting.

Next on the list are drivers of commercial vehicles. They probably feel that the van or truck they are driving does not belong to them so what does it matter if they get a dent or scratch, the boss can pay for it. As it is now they think they own the roads and couldn't care less when they cut off another vehicle, after all, in most instances they have the bigger vehicle. Of course there also has to be a crackdown on private car drivers as well, there are just as many of those as well.

Listening to the Shirley Dill programme earlier, a lot of good proposals are in the works, but they have to be put into effect quickly, and once they are, they have to be enforced. I will say that again: "They have to be enforced." Not like very dark window tint which is against the law, but is not enforced. Double parking in Hamilton, which is against the law, but is not enforced. Stopping or passing on a yellow line which is against the law, but not enforced, and the list goes on and on.

Hopefully the day will soon arrive when we can take a drive without tightly gripping the steering wheel and clenching the teeth!

SEEING IT AS IT IS

Pembroke

A record breaker?

March 7, 2008

Dear Sir,

Didn't Bermuda at one time have a record for the longest exhibition basketball game? If so, when did it take place?

JUST CURIOUS

Pembroke

A card of thanks

March 6, 2008

Dear Sir,

Just this past Tuesday, my aunt and I decided we would go for a walk on our lunch hour to get some exercise. As we were walking (and talking) along St. Johns Road (stretch in front of St. John's field) my aunt tripped over a badly broken piece of sidewalk and took a nasty fall, breaking her shoulder, and fracturing her wrist.

To all of the people who stopped to assist and call for help, our sincere and heartfelt thanks. It is refreshing to see fellow Bermudians willing to help each other in times of need. To the gentleman that offered us a ride in his car to the hospital and ended up taking us there – Thank you for your kindness and generosity. Words cannot express how much we appreciated it.

With so many people out there exercising for their health, we need to look into repairing damaged walkways so that this does not happen to anyone else. People always wonder why runners and walkers alike choose to use the roads instead of the sidewalks.

GRATEFUL

City of Hamilton

Andre Curtis missed it

March 6, 2008

Dear Sir,

I've listened to the news and read the paper about Mr. Curtis not renewing his contract with Faith Based Tourism. While I feel that is very good news for the taxpayers, I found his comments quite interesting.

First he says that the initiative was to help small churches. Does he not know that his mandate was to "drive saints" to Bermuda as stated by the Premier (then-Tourism Minister) when the initiative first began in 2006. This was not a helping hand to small churches but a tourism draw to encourage all churches to bring their international conferences to our Island.

Secondly, he stated that he did not have the numbers for the Easter Sunday event featuring Yolanda Adams because it hadn't yet been advertised. Again, Mr. Curtis has missed it. This event should not only be advertised in Bermuda, but overseas to attract tourists.

Anyone travelling to Bermuda for Easter would hopefully have booked by now. He should at least be in a position to be able to quote the number of tourists expected to arrive for this event. He just didn't get it.

TAXPAYER

Southampton

Seeing clearly

March 10, 2008

Dear Sir,

Last week you kindly printed a letter I wrote regarding Mr. Jim Butterfield. At the end of my letter I stated, in relation to the new cement company that I would be looking forward to entering the Dockyard area and having a "clear view" across the Great Sound when the existing silos were removed. After reading Saturday's Royal Gazette. I guess we can all 'see very clearly' now!

GREG HOPKINS

City of Hamilton

Praise for TCD

March 7, 2008

Dear Sir,

Despite all the recent tales of woe there have been two things today that have made me believe that Bermuda has a positive future – and both occurred within the last 30 minutes. I had a 3.45 vehicle testing at TCD this afternoon which I thought would mean a long time to catch up with The Royal Gazette but I was so wrong.

Firstly I must praise the new Transport Control Department as I barely had time to start on the Sports section before being advised that the inspection was complete – it is time those stereotypical comments about TCD are banished forever.

Secondly, the brief time I had reading The Gazette shows that Bermuda also has hope on the sporting front. The letter from Livingston Tuzo, I believe, speaks for most of the island. It is great that someone is willing to voice what most people think but dare to say and secondly that he spoke so coherently.

Having been involved with various sporting youth programmes, I have seen that we have so much talent which does not seem to be developing at the senior level – and that is down as much to social influences as to coaching talent. Having said that we do have so much knowledge in this island that must be utilised if we are to progress (or at least get back to the levels we attained only a few years ago).

The names mentioned in Mr. Tuzo's letter, together with others not mentioned in those and other sports, have so much experience which represent times when Bermuda was progressing as a sporting presence. Now we are seemingly in a decline in our major national sports (although not in all sports) we should draw on this knowledge. We must also impose the values of representing your country which these former sportsmen showed.

Sporting history is littered with those that have the talent but not the application and also those that have succeeded despite not being as talented. I'm sure all of Bermuda would much rather support a team of proud sportsmen that try their hardest. I'm all for giving people chances to learn from their mistakes but they must learn. Here's hoping my hope is not misguided.

ROB NEWMAN

Paget