A great man passesApril 24, 2006Dear Sir,I am saddened at the death of the great Mr. David Barber. To me both he and his late wife were generally exemplary in ignoring advice about retarding the progress of black population of Bermuda. Thankfully there were others who did that too. I knew the Barbers when he operated the famed Coral Island Club which was one of the first white hotels to accommodate black tourists. She was secretary to the late Sir James Pearman.

Even though I had not met him, I saw him demolish a building where the Forty Thieves Club operated on East Broadway in Hamilton and replace it with a three-storey building having supervised the construction daily himself.

During the 42 years I had my shop specialising in the production of Bermuda traditional windows, he was one of the few white customers I was able to attract before my letters of protest.

Referring to his great benevolence to Bermuda, I publicly condemned the awarding to him the Queens Certificate stating my disappointment at his not being awarded a knighthood. I remember being the first to publicly advocate a knighthood to the late Dr. Marjorie Bean which eventually came about before her passing.

ROSS TUZO

Warwick<$>

No to animal showApril 21, 2006Dear Sir,It is very unfortunate that DNA Entertainment has kept the public and the SPCA in the dark regarding the proposed “Animal Extravaganza”. We do not know for sure what species of animals are being transported to the island, what they will be doing here (performing or otherwise), or what group “owns” these exotic animals. All these unknowns really place the integrity of the promoter of this event, DNA Entertainment, into question.

We have heard snippets from the promoter that the animals are “part of a habitat” and have “expert handlers” who “love the animals”. If this is true, then why on earth are these animals coming to Bermuda? No genuine, legitimate animal sanctuary with a respectable “habitat” for animals and run by people who “love” the animals in their care would engage in commercial activities, such as exhibitions. And, if these so-called “expert handlers” have trained these animals to perform unnatural circus-like acts, do not kid yourself that love and respect is involved.

If you take your children to see this “Animal Extravaganza” then you are teaching them absolutely nothing important about these animals and you are not supporting animal conservation. You are only showing your children how exotic animals act in captivity. You are only instilling in your children the idea that it is acceptable for wild animals to be housed in cramped conditions, transported for long distances, isolated from their natural environments, and prevented from engaging in instinctual behaviours, only so the “trainers” and the promoter can make a few bucks.

I read an excellent analogy made by zoological expert and wildlife consultant, Sue Pressman: people involved in the commercialisation of exotic animals “are to wildlife education what pornographers are to sex education”. Does the Bermuda public really want to support this?

ALEXANDRA HASSELKUSS

Paget<$>Stop golf developmentApril 23, 2006Dear Sir,Re: In Principle-Fairmont Southampton Planning Application - 90 Golf Villas Application #P0224/06

The successful outcome of this application would see the loss of eight holes of a beautiful golf course which ranks among the best 18 holes par three golf courses in the world.

A greater loss would be the disappearance of open space.

Here is an entity that promotes sustainable development initiatives (Royal Gazette, Saturday, April15, 2006, Page 3) as evidenced by the eco-award won by the organisation mentioned in the aforementioned article. Subdividing land in the application currently before the board, erodes our birthright and heritage in a manner that is not in keeping with sustainable development.

As tournament members, we experience first hand the number of times the course is booked by local sporting clubs to hold their golf outings. Today was no exception.

Indeed this is a facility that is used and enjoyed by residents and visitors as we can duly attest.

So what benefit will accrue to visitors and residents if the planning application goes through? Yes there will be the few who will take advantage of the golf instruction offered, but there is already a Golf Academy in Southampton. Why do we need another one?

We would like to suggest to your readers that this is purely and simply all about money. Take a look at the article which appeared in the Friday April 21 edition of The Royal Gazette <$>from which I quote. “Justice Peter Canning issued the final order for the sale of affiliates of Kingdom Hotels International and Colony Capital LLC, saying it ‘looks like a good deal for all of the shareholders and the noteholders.’”

It is likely that a majority of the shareholders know nothing about the Fairmont Southampton and the loss of eight holes. And why should they? Like most shareholders they want to know that their shares are doing well. If not, they want to know why.

Anything that the Fairmont Southampton can do to enhance shareholder value will be well received. The proposed development therefore is a ‘grab for money’ in order to increase shareholder value: Shareholders who remain faceless and nameless and who could care less about the loss of open space and the detrimental effect on our depleting but vital resource.

This particular aspect of the overall development plan has nothing to do with enhancing our tourism product. It is purely and simply about greed and so such it should never be allowed.

JOHN & SONY KESSARAM

Devonshire<$>Trashing the TrailMay 8, 2006Dear Sir,The organisers of the End-to-End walk this weekend should rename it the Trash the Trail walk. On Sunday after the event I did my regular walk from Fort Scaur to Rockaway and encountered an astonishing amount of trash littering the path. There were empty water bottles, plastic caps and snack wrappers thrown on and to the side of the trail as well as littering the bushes. Shame on the event organisers for not ensuring that at the conclusion of the event a team was dispatched to complete and End to End clean-up.

I have seen better trash collection after rock concerts and sporting events. What is the point of raising funds for organisations like the Bermuda Audobon Society if the event itself pollutes our community and endangers local wildlife?

TINA SPECHT

Sandys<$>Get the facts rightApril 27, 2006Dear Sir,I am writing to correct the inaccurate statistics provided by Ms. Anne Pearson regarding Jamaican independence. She stated that “in a poll taken a few years ago by The Economist magazine 70 percent of the Jamaicans polled wished that the country had never gone independent”.

In actual fact, the poll was conducted by the newspaper and not The Economist (perhaps unscientifically like some of The Royal Gazette online polls). Only 53 percent thought that the country would have been better off as a colony. Fifteen percent thought the country would have been worse off as a colony and I’m assuming the remaining respondents were indifferent.

These figures are a far cry from Ms Pearson’s overwhelming 70 percent figure. I can understand how she could have made the mistake though since it was published in 2002. Fortunately I just happened to have access to the publication that it came from.

SERGIO

WarwickNo age limit for phonesApril 26, 2006Dear Sir,I would like some space to inform the public if they don’t know already that our children can at any age have a prepaid cell phone account — so I found out upon e-mailing as I forbade my son to get a phone as his grades were so poor. I find he went out and since Cellular One has no age limit he at 14 got a prepaid phone.

This is crazy and will end up with even more children with cell phones in school disrupting classes. Also like me there will be children getting prepaid phone behind their parents back and they can because there is no age limit.

A CONCERNED PARENT

PembrokePlay this hot songMay 1, 2006Dear Sir,This letter is addressed to Power 95 regarding that song: “Should’ve Never Let You Make Me Cry” by a female artist (I don’t know her name).

That’s a hot riddem (I think Radigun called it ‘Squeeze’) second,even though a woman sings it, it’s still hot. Makes me wish female local artists would try that beat, “Paleen” beat, or “Rebellion” beat which that song ‘My Name Is Gyptian’ has with their next songs or if it’s possible for them to do so.

Another hot song although it has never been on the radio is: “Something More Than You” by Nadine Sutherland. It has a dancehall beat and it’s an old song however, like I said before, it hasn’t been heard. Something for the station to think about.

N2SMOOTHTUNES

Pembroke