Save successful school

January 22, 2010

Dear Sir,

I am writing to express my concern over the fact that the Ministry of Education might be considering closing Dalton E. Tucker Primary School. Dalton E. Tucker (formerly Southampton Glebe) has been a community school for generations. I can personally attest to this fact given that it was attended by my grandfather, uncle, mom and now my son. My Great-great-aunt Elsie Bascome taught at the school and my mother, Angela Salini, taught at the school for 26 years.

When my son was five we initially sent him to a private school. There were 30 children in his class with one teacher and no assistant. My son had a difficult time coping in this environment. The teacher asked us to get his hearing tested and speculated that he might have ADD. We reviewed his first report in February and it was basically telling us that we needed to get him to conform.

That was when we made the decision to send him to Dalton E. Tucker and he was accepted for a start date after the February half term holiday.

He was one of 14 students in his class which was manned by a teacher and a teacher's assistant. He soon rose to be one of the top students in his class and there was no more talk of ADD or hearing issues. He is now in Primary 6 and continues to thrive.

Closing Dalton E. Tucker and combining it with other primary schools will increase class sizes and impact children's ability to learn.

The family atmosphere at Dalton E. Tucker creates an environment that enables children to be happy, thrive and learn. This community school which has been producing productive citizens for generations should not be closed.

KNIVES FILICE

Sandys

Divided and falling

January 20, 2010

Dear Sir,

The recent poll results must be discouraging to the UBP and BDA. No matter how incompetent the present Government is, they continue to remain popular. This reminds me of the adage, "United we stand, divided we fall".

POLITICAL PUNDIT

Smith's

Government's failings

January 24, 2010

Dear Sir,

In reading The Royal Gazette on Saturday, January 23, it should be increasingly clear to all that the Government is truly ineffective in dealing with the challenges we face today and four stories highlight that plight.

1) In the midst of a recession and after a recent article in which civil servants have been ordered to implement "austere cost savings" by Cabinet after a massive overspend during this current fiscal year we now learn that Premier Brown and his Cabinet colleagues have earmarked $800,000.00 in spending to set the stage for the PLP government takeover of the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George's! $800,000 to aid in a power trip that should not even be supported in good times! Or is this a snatch of the Corporations assets?

Practise what you preach on austerity!

2) The Education Minister"s continued waffling in regards to proposed changes to our system of education. I quote ... "At this point, we're not giving any full disclosure of anything to anybody". Nice! Open and caring government at it's best. This follows a week of stories about proposed changes, potential for closing of schools and outrage from teachers, principals and parents after not being consulted.

3) The Premier's "novel idea" of selling seats for $10,000 on an aid plane to Haiti ... you sit on the plane for the ride down, sit on it for three or four hours while it unloads and then sit again for the ride back. This defies logic. While we all should do whatever we can to help those suffering in Haiti and the Government should be commended for their effort in this regard, wouldn't it be better for any funds raised to be spent directly on items needed on the ground in Haiti? Wouldn't it be better to fill space with supplies rather than people just along for the ride? This is not the time for a photo opportunity, this is a time for help!

4) Government again talks about strategies to combat gang and gun violence. Months after it has become apparent to all that we have real issues with violence and the use of guns, months after repeated promises to table legislation and after the fiasco of Premier's call late last year for operational control of the Police we learn of another promise when the next session of Parliament opens next month for measures to tackle gang and gun violence.

This Government has shown clearly they fiddle while Bermuda struggles during these tough times.

SEN. MICHAEL H. DUNKLEY JP

Opposition Senate Leader

More feeble excuses

January 21, 2010

Dear Sir,

We just don't get it.

According to Cabinet Secretary Marc Telemaque, "a number of meetings" have been held in Bermuda's Washington office, so it must be furnished?

Was Government compelled to debate the cost of staffing and not furnishings?

We are tired of feeble excuses for disastrous mistakes. Reminds us of the wisdom of Muhammad who commanded the mountain to come to him and when it didn't happen he told his people they should be very pleased the event didn't take place as they would all have been crushed to death. He then proclaimed they should go to the mountain and thank it for staying put.

There are several lessons we could learn from that story however today we just label it as spin doctor gobble-de-doo!

And so the good doctor once again gets away without public humiliation!

TOPPY AND SAUNDRA COWEN

Southampton

Different terms

January 20, 2010

Dear Sir,

After listening to several callers on one of the local radio talk shows, I became very interested in today's discussion on the … apparent corruption in the Police Department.

Isn't it funny that when the Government is suspect of dishonesty within and underhandedness ... it's unethical.

But when the Police are suspect, it's corrupt!

YELLOH SHURT

Paget

Positive news welcome

January 20, 2010

Dear Sir,

How wonderful to hear some good news involving a young man in Bermuda. The papers have been so full of the shootings of young Bermudian men that news of Daniel Augustus has come as a breath of fresh air. Well done, Daniel – we wish you every success.

KAREN HOPWOOD

Lymington, Hampshire, UK

Romance born out of war

January 25, 2010

Dear Sir,

I am sending this e-mail in the hope that one of your readers or staff may be able to help me.

I am doing research on my late father Edwin Thomas Mitchell. In June, 1942 he married my mother Audrey Margaret Gilbert (her father Jack Gilbert from Plymouth, England was working in the Bermuda Dockyard). She also had a brother named Eric. My father, who was in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1938 (also a Sub-Lieutenant with the RNVR) and was on a ship (possibly RN) which was torpedoed. He spent several days in a lifeboat and was eventually picked up and landed in Bermuda where he met my mother. I would dearly love to know which ship he was on.

Any information no matter how small would be welcome.

DIANE MURTON (Mrs)

Plymouth, England

birdtables@talktalk.net

Daniel's Head memories

January 22, 2010

Dear Sir,

During the latter part of my service with the Royal Navy I spent six months in 1946 at the naval wireless station which was at Daniels Head.

I am currently endeavouring to write my memoirs and am anxious to obtain a photograph of the station and I write to ask if you are able to suggest to where I might direct my enquiries to this end. Since the Naval Dockyard was closed sometime in the '50s no doubt the wireless station was also closed the ground is now occupied by some luxury hotel.

Perhaps your newspaper has a 'Remember When' column to which I could write to ask your readers if they are able to help. If so readers could contact me per my e-mail address. I shall be most grateful for any help you can give me.

GERRY TACEY

Swanbourne

Western Australia

gtacey26@optusnet.com.au