Time to open the books

November 16, 2009

Dear Sir,

Let's put aside all of this inane theorising and apologising for the most recent financial fiasco in the massive overrun on the Dockyard piers. Open the books to public scrutiny and itemise where this extraordinary amount of public money was spent. We will also have an opportunity to see how the local economy benefited relative to those overseas. Oh… and while you're at it… let's get the details on the recent purchase by the Corporation of Hamilton of that derelict property (on a very small plot of land) for the unbelievable price of $5.3 million… again, I assume, from the public purse.

KIM SMITH

Pembroke

Don't boycott St. George's

November 13

Dear Sir,

Please allow me space to vent my exasperation on the ongoing perceived and unspoken boycott of St. George's by our current Government. As you know, the ferry service is to be stopped at the end of November, so far two reasons have been cited:

1. The cost of operating the St. George's ferry

2. The inclement weather in the winter time

I am quite surprised as to this Government stating that cost was the main concern, given that it was only in 2007 that the ferry service was promised to everyone for free! Colour me surprised that not only did this not come to fruition, but now they are performing a complete 180.

For a Government that has been spouting for years about sustainable actions, they are now forcing even more East Enders to either take a taxi, drive their cars, or overload the buses. One of the reasons why so many people don't utilise the ferry system is that the scheduling is just awful. There is, or was, one ferry in the morning that left at 7.30 a.m. then nothing for hours, and then one ferry at night leaving for St. George's from Hamilton at 5.20 p.m.

There were no ferries on the weekend at all, save for in the month of July with an random schedule that was created the day of with no announcement. This is service? It's no wonder that not enough people used this poor excuse for public transportation, given it was almost completely inconvenient; so much for Sea Express' tag line.

The second point is valid, except of course that we don't have inclement weather every day in the winter. Actually, for the most part our winters are quite nice, save the occasional winter storm. The main issue I can see is utilising the Town Cut into St. George's Harbour, which is quite exposed to sea swells and the elements.

Could this Government utilise ferry reach and coordinate with the swing bridge to bypass the stormy seas and North Easterly winds? I would imagine that one of the railway pylons would have to go to allow passage, but in my opinion that would be a better option than cutting off a specific type of public transportation that many have come to rely on. The alternative is more traffic on the Bermuda's already overcrowded roads, not to mention additional expenses by those who will now have to take their vehicles into work. There has to be another way than this.

SEAN SOARES

St. George's

A note of thanks

November 12, 2009

Dear Sir,

On the 24th of October the Altrusa Club of Bermuda, along with its worldwide sister clubs and USA Weekend, celebrated 'Make a Difference Day'. The focus for the last ten years for Altrusa has been literacy and this year the local club teamed with Heron Bay School and students to raise awareness in the community.

On behalf of Altrusa Bermuda I would like to take the opportunity through this letter to thank the public for their generosity in making this year's day very successful. Students from Heron Bay Primary were "rocking and reading" on the rocking chair in Heron Bay MarketPlace to raise awareness of reading and the vital part a school library plays in increasing literacy. Through their efforts and the information provided by Altrusa Club members, 41 hardback books were donated by individual sponsors to Heron Bay Primary library. Also, through the generous donations of change from members of the community we will be able to add a further 50 to 60 books.

Altrusa Bermuda would also like to express our gratitude to The Marketplace for allowing us to use Heron Bay for this literacy project and for the donation of 'Onion' chairs that the children can use in their library area. Thank you also to Ms. Sharon Wilson who will be decorating the chairs with the students.

Once again our thanks to the community for their generosity in supporting literacy, the students who volunteered to read and their parents who transported them to and from Heron Bay MarketPlace, Mr. Ivan Swan who provided much needed transportation of tables, books and other items and also thanks to Mrs. Alice Carr who assists in choosing the appropriate hardback books for placement in the libraries. Without none of the above "Make a Difference Day" would not have been possible.

MARGUERITE I. LOVELL

President,

Altrusa International Inc. of Bermuda

We would not have known

November 13, 2009

Dear Sir,

Congratulations on your expose of Government's overspend at the Dockyard cruise ship terminal. The unfortunate aspect of this mess is that the general public would never have known the truth if you had not published the results of your investigation. Usually there are safeguards built into negotiated civil contracts to prevent this type of behaviour. In particular, mobilisation fees should not exceed the internationally accepted norm of 10 percent. In this instance we are approaching an obscene 25 percent up front payment.

This is just another example of our Premier putting the cart before the horse where a concept that is probably commendable becomes very untidy. Much has been written about the UBP's $2m 'extra' on the prison but that pales in comparison to what the PLP has allowed to happen at Berkeley and Dockyard. Add to it the $3m they squandered paying off BAS and the huge costs they incurred defending a ridiculous case trying to silence the media, one has to wonder when all this madness is going to end. Meanwhile the general public, ie the PLP''s employers, have been robbed again.

WHO'S KIDDING WHO

Warwick

Questions, questions

November 14, 2009

Dear Sir,

The St. George's ferry will no longer operate we are told, because it is not cost effective. It will be recalled that the St. George's Golf Course was closed, pending the hotel and golf course development, for the same reason. The shops in St. George's continue to close no doubt for the same reason and it surely must be questioned as to why the Dockyard development was permitted to continue to be developed when it exceeded its original budget. Was this cost effective? We know the Sovereign Aircraft servicing operation was cost effective. Right?

OHHOWITUSEDTOBE

St. George's

Rethink ferry decision

November 16, 2009

Dear Sir,

How disappointing to read of the plan to discontinue the commuter fast ferry service to and from the East End of the Island during the coming winter months. The regular users of this convenient service are totally dismayed at this decision to curtail their comfortable non-stop round trip journey from Monday to Friday!

St. George's already appears to be cut off from the rest of the Island, what with its 'ghost town' appearance and now, to add to this, one of the direct links to Hamilton is being taken away. It could be argued that the ferry service is under-subscribed and I'd be inclined to agree — why aren't more East Enders taking advantage of this handy mode of transport, rather than cluttering up the roads with bumper-to-bumper traffic at both the beginning and end of the working day?

Surely, in many cases, it would be a lot more cost-effective to leave their car parked in the free car park, either in St. George's or St. David's, eliminating the aggravation of driving and saving tons of money required to purchase the expensive gas required for the five round trips to Hamilton per week plus the additional substantial savings from not having to pay to park in Hamilton! With these expenses added up, a monthly ferry pass sounds like a bargain to me. If more people used this wonderful way to get to and from the city, the few dedicated regulars might not find themselves in this predicament!

In addition to rethinking their decision, the powers that be should also consider at least one other Hamilton-Dockyard-St. George's daily ferry service to and from the East End during the winter — with a bit of forethought and necessary promotion, both visitors and residents alike could and probably would take advantage of 'something to do' during this quiet time of the year and St. George's could enjoy some additional support which is sadly lacking these days. This will probably fall on deaf ears but I needed to voice my opinion.

ST GEORGE'S RESIDENT

A short-sighted plan

November 12, 2009

Dear Sir,

How will an 'exclusive' mega-yacht marina and a mega-cruise ship terminal go together in Dockyard? Mega-yacht passengers are looking for fine dining, accommodation, and activities; can Dockyard offer this with 1,000-plus mega-cruise ship passengers sharing the same facilities? What are the mega-yacht owners going to say about the lights and music coming from the mega-cruise ships, they don't exactly scream 'exclusive'. It appears we have another short-sighted plan in the works and I am going to assume it will cost the tax payers dearly, again.

KENT SMITH

St. George's

Ps Does this mean we will finally be moving the concrete silos so the mega-yacht passengers don't have to look at them?

Much to hope for

November 14, 2009

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to respond to letter of November 14, 2009, from 'Torn University Senior'.

Reading your letter expressing how you feel about what has happened and is happening to your Island, your home and the indecision it has created in your heart about your future and your return home got to me. You sound like a very intelligent young lady who loves her home of Bermuda. It also sounds like you are a caring person of the world we live in and you are concerned for the children that, God willing, you will bring into this world.

Having said the above please accept my advice to you in the spirit of one born Bermudian to another born Bermudian. Please do not give up on your home, Bermuda. Too many of us gave up on Bermuda years ago and left the Island. It would be safe to assume that many that left to seek a new way of life were successful in their chosen fields of endeavour, family, friends, home etc.

I can also assure you that with all their successes and happiness Bermuda was never far from their thoughts and hearts! Part of their thought process was also "Could I have made a difference if I had remained on the Island?" There is still much hope for Bermuda. Bermuda can no longer lay claim to being 'Another World'.

It has joined the rest of the world with social ills and corruption. Do not give up on that coral gem on a gold plated sea named Bermuda. Do not be like so many of us who in hindsight thought what if I had remained, what could have I contributed? Those of us who left, stand from afar and complain and grumble about what has happened to our Island. I would say that it is not 'OUR' Island (Country), we abandoned her. Go home girl. Take your education and love for Bermuda and make a difference.

MICHAEL E. PITTS

225 South Blvd.

Inverness

Florida

Always good to see cadets

November 12, 2009

Dear Sir,

After attending the Jervis Bay Ceremony on Wednesday, I want to offer a big well done to all cadets on parade, not a great day, but all stood up well, although it was "cut short", it is always good to see the show they put on.

BROLLY BOY

Devonshire

Do it the old fashioned way

November 10, 2009

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you yet again to complain of our dreadful postal service. It now takes a month for mail to come to St. George's from Hamilton. I mailed a letter with a cheque to a small business owner in Hamilton five weeks ago and he has yet to receive it.

I phoned the Postmaster General but he never seems to be available. I was referred to someone else and got his answering machine but he did not return my call. I then drove to Hamilton and found the Postmaster General's secretary to be very helpful but the letter has never been traced. It had the correct mailing address and postal code. I now have to pay $15 to cancel the cheque and write a new one which I will have to hand deliver as the Post Office is so unreliable.

SENIOR CITIZEN

St. George's

Postbox proliferation

November 2, 2009

Dear Sir,

I wonder what's the KBB's view on the proliferation of roadside mailboxes to look like rural America or Canada. Were they consulted by the Post Office? I commend people for hiding the boxes behind gate posts, pillars and walls; also, for the tasteful way in which others have arranged the boxes for multiple dwellings. One little old lady had to pay a man $120 to move her box about 10 feet from her kitchen door as well as bring the tenant's box down the steps.

KEEN OBSERVER

Devonshire