The P-erfect jobJune 15, 2006

Dear Sir,Here’s the way I see it.

Before the last election there was this guy who was making about $50,000 a year not from what he was trained to do, but from us. He was a politician. However, because they lied to us during the last election and then unceremoniously dumped our leader, violating two constitutions, things began to look up for him. After two days of mutual shouting and name calling down at PHC (some people got really vexed about this), a compromise candidate was slipped into the place where apparently the buck stops. Kind of like a usurper. And things began to look up even more.

Now this man is ready to retire and needs a pension, so his salary is going up to $200,000 (80 percent increase). Boy was he in the right room at the right time! No visit to the gents for this one. But wait, the party doesn’t stop here. You see, this office that he stumbled into comes with a few perks and of course it sure would be nice to be in his shoes, er ... place.

Clifton, with all the staff, gardening, general maintenance, lights, insurance, etc. (you know, what we all call bills) would cost another $10,000/month. Then there’s the car with a full-time driver, insurance etc. etc. Say $5000/month. Of course the job comes with a hefty entertainment allowance for local and overseas entertaining, figures which would be listed as line items in various budget forecasts which the Auditor General clearly has no receipts for. Who knows the amount, but let’s say $50,000.

In addition he gets all those travel miles when he’s flying around first class doing our business, and of course can always add on a few holidays here and there when on the road. Wouldn’t you?

So really this job is worth a lot more. It is costing us $430,000 (unaudited) to keep The Man in the office to which he has become accustomed. Gosh, no wonder they all want to be The Man. But I guess the increase of $380,000 over four years could be based on performance. After all he got to go to Washington with the baseball cap guy and tell everyone where Bermuda is. Man, we’re on easy street now!

Tell me I’m wrong.JOE GIBBONS

Warwick<$>Thank you, Mr. SlaytonMay 2, 2006The following was sent to US Consul General Gregory Slayton and copied to The Royal Gazette.Dear Mr. Slayton:As a Bermudian and friend of the United States of America, I must offer my sincere thanks and gratitude to you for orchestrating the recent high level trip to Washington. I watched one of your interviews and was humbled by your words of how every Bermudian should be proud of our success in spite of the fact that we have no natural resources or the ability to export goods.

I feel that we are fortunate to have you as the American consulate. It sometimes requires an outsider who reminds us of how successful we are.

With your permission I would like to copy this brief note to the Editor of The Royal Gazette <$>so that you receive the recognition you deserve. I wish you happiness and good health. A simple thank you.RAMMY SMITHEvent was poorly runDear Sir,I have to concur with Jodi Corbett’s letter of June 13, 2006. In my case $180 was wasted on a badly run event. Whenever I see or hear of another DNA event I must remember not to support it.P. RICHARDSON

Warwick<$>Warnings are timelessDear Sir,How ironic in light of the recent grounding of the Norwegian ship the need for a good pilot remains still true today. In visiting the superb map collection at Ace Ltd. (kudos to the management for their work) I noticed that the map attributed to Captain Lempriere in 1787 there was a warning for the “need of the assistance of a good pilot” to navigate the waters of Bermuda. I guess things don’t change that much — and it goes to show that some warnings are timeless.VIVEN LAPA

Montreal<$>Three cheers for AGJune 6, 2006

Dear Sir,I am sure that I am not the only Bermudian deeply shocked by the behaviour of the Minister of Housing in the haphazard move of the office of the Auditor General. Where was the Premier during this disastrous invasion of the AG’s office, or is the Colonel now so powerful in is ministerial position that he can do as he pleases? Any leader worth his salt would support the Auditor and demand appropriate office. This man holds the most important position in any community.

Three cheers for Larry Dennis, who could have retired in disgust over this appalling treatment, but instead is determined to stick to his post and continue working for the good of Bermuda’s taxpayers. There is no doubt that the revelation of the missing $800 million from Government coffers has a great deal to do with the decision by the PLP to cripple the ability of the Auditor General to do his job.

Let this be a warning to all of us. We have already been told that if the country goes independent, the first person to go will be the Auditor General, to be replaced for a three-year period by a Government employee. This is just one of the many impending disasters that will strike Bermuda should we take the irreversible step of becoming independent. Fortunately there are far too many bright Bermudians, both black and white, to allow such a thing to happen.R.RABEN

Paget<$>Truly a disgraceJune 13, 2006

Dear Sir,Who needs comic strips when you have this resident circus in town? I cannot get out of bed fast enough to have my first laugh of the day, reading my morning newspaper. Seriously, however, do these clowns really deserve a pay rise when a great many seniors are on or below the poverty level and any hike in e pension scheme gets wiped away with the rise in the cost of living? One can almost hear waffling out of the windows of Parliament. “I’m alright Jack, I’m got mine”! Is there no identification or compassion for the other guy? What a disgrace!DIANA WILLIAMSFlimsy barriersJune 14, 2006

Dear Sir,It appears that Mr. John Nock, organiser for the Monster Truck show, took the same special C.Y.A. course that all of Bermuda’s politicians are required to take and pass. I do not believe that incident when one of the trucks came very close to the spectators was pre-planned. If these events take place in the future it would be very wise for the planners to have spectators on either side of the course as they are at drag strips. The Ministry responsible for permitting these events to take place have to be sure that all safety precautions are taken by the organisers. The flimsy metal barriers set up are solely for security and not safety, because they would not offer much protection for spectators if the hydraulic systems should fail on one of these monsters. I believe that the kill switch on these trucks only stops the engine and does not lock the brakes.BILL NEARON

Pembroke West<$>Why not local fish?May 19, 2006

This was sent to Lindo’s Market and copied to The Royal Gazette:

Dear Sir/ Madame,I love your store in Devonshire and am a regular customer. Your stock of environmentally friendly and organic products is wonderful and I am always telling my family and friends to go to your store for that very reason.

I only wish that every grocery store in Bermuda would offer similar products. I would like to make one request though and that is for you to reconsider what species of fish you sell at your fish counter and in your freezer section.

There is rarely any local fish at your store and I find this very disappointing since Bermuda has plenty of fish to offer her residents and most of the fish caught here are not under threat from overfishing (yellow fin tuna, wahoo, mahi mahi, and jacks are just some of the species that are abundant in our waters). My main concern with imported fish is the lack of environmental responsibility of the large fishing industries. Atlantic cod, swordfish, shrimp (from tropical waters), Atlantic salmon (wild or farmed), snapper, grouper and scallops are all species that are at risk from overfishing and/or involve environmental degradation (large amounts of by-catch or destruction of deep sea life on the ocean floor). It should be illegal to fish for many of these species but unfortunately, national and international regulations are often inadequate and the management of these fisheries is far from being sustainable. Humans are literally devouring the oceans. I would like to urge Lindo’s to offer more locally caught fish and to ensure that the fish you import and sell is from environmentally friendly sources. There are many online seafood guides. Here are some of them: www.seafoodchoices.com, www.fishonline.org, seafood.audubon.org and www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp. I look forward to seeing a different selection of fish at Lindo’s soon.LISA VICKERS

Devonshire<$>Honesty is appreciatedDear Sir,I would like to take this opportunity to thank the good Samaritan who found my purse last Saturday on South Shore Road, Smith’s and returned it to me. Traffic was approaching at the time and you left so quickly that I wasn’t able to get your name or have the chance to thank you properly. Your honesty is much appreciated and having my purse safely in my possession allowed me to relax and enjoy the holiday. Once again, thank you.GRATEFUL<$>‘Exceptionally proud’June 13, 2006Dear Sir,As a retired Marine and Ports worker, I publicly want to congratulate the tug boat and the dragon crew, for freeing the cruise ship on June 7. I was delighted to see their plan of action go into full swing. The tugs were pulling in a synchronised motion which was choreographed so perfectly. As they continued to exercise their manoeuvre tactics, within minutes the ship was free. At that moment, my daughter and I along with other spectators were watching as the events unfolded, there was an explosion of cheering, clapping and horns honking. I was exceptionally proud of my former co-workers. As I stood on the dock in the Naval Dockyard, I felt that I was representing the men from the old school, watching from the shoreline, who would have been and are proud of you also. Just to name a few: Chum Morrissey, Michael Smith, Abraham Bartley, Stick Man, Alan Dill, Thomas Smith and Brighton Simons. You truly exhibited and expressed the essence of teamwork. Well done on a fine job and making me very proud of all of you.IVAN LANDY

Former Navigational Aide<$>A sad day for BermudaJune 5, 2006

Dear Sir,I have visited your beautiful Island many times over the last few years to stay with my friend Robin Stubbs and returned to the UK on Friday after a two-week stay. However I did join the “Lunch for Democracy” rally at the House of Assembly prior to my departure. I am a Christian who also happens to be interested in politics at home and in Bermuda. My God is a God of love and the Jesus I know preached love not hate, the AME church seem to preach the opposite.

I am appalled by the decision of your MPs to throw out Renee Webb’s bill to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. This was a private members bill and everyone was free to vote as their conscience told them. However only Nelson Bascome (whom I do not agree with) made any contribution to the debate. What a cowardly lot you MPs are (PLP and UBP). You lack courage and moral fibre, whatever your views you didn’t have the guts to express them. I hope your constituents remember your silence when you stand at the next election. Whatever happened to democracy and debate?

I also assume by your silence you condone discrimination based on sexual orientation. What a sad day for Bermuda. In a caring society the proposed amendment would have been passed with no problem. Renee Webb obviously showed courage to bring forward this amendment.

What a pity she got no support. I quote from Pastor Niemoeller (victim of the Nazis).

“First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew.

“Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.”VAL RODGERS

Harrogate, EnglandCome on, Fairmont!May 28, 2006

Dear Sir,Red birds, bluebird, herons, chick-of-the village, ducks, toads lizards, cedar trees and the quiet peacefulness of being surrounded by nature. Where am I ... a nature reserve, maybe? No I’m on the back-nine at the Fairmont Southampton golf course. Come on Fairmont, you won an award for environment issues PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH!A NATURE LOVER

SouthamptonRoyal ‘faux pas’June 1, 2006

Dear Sir,I was highly amused by the article about Prince Philip and his “faux pas”. It brought to mind my similar experience in Bermuda. I had taken my very well behaved Delwood J7 class to City Hall to greet the Queen and Prince Philip. (I think it was 1975).

Prince Philip came over to us and after chatting with the students, said to me “How to you keep this lot in check? Do you have to use a whip?” Of course, I assured him that this was not at all necessary. They were perfect students. I wonder if my ex-students remember this.PATRICIA M. FINNERTY

(Known at that time as Mrs. Bracewell)

Hamilton ParishBrazil’s heritageDear Sir,No question, Mr. Editor, that Brazil is an awesome team. But I’ve always wondered about the roots of the unbridled passion held by Bermudian blacks for the players.

And prior to World Cup kick-off last week, a Government Minister recalled a thrilling childhood experience about seeing that Brazil had black footballers. I would be surprised if they considered themselves blacks. With names like Carlos and Renaldo — Spanish maybe.

What I do know is this: Brazil’s heritage is Portuguese dating back to the 15th Century and their official language is Portuguese.

OLE OLE

Pembroke

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