Aided school concept

May 14, 2008

Dear Sir,

In this morning's paper, May 14, your report quotes comments made by me at Tuesday night's meeting held in St. George on the subject of proposed educational changes. What you have reported as my statement makes no sense at all. What I did say was that the aided school concept works because the Board of Trustees select the school's 'Principal and the Principal selects his / her staff.

This process gives the Principal the power to operate the school efficiently with a staff that he/she can rely on. At the same time the Board of Trustees can control all that goes on in the school. This is the best example of teamwork and I guarantee you that it works, as St. George's Prep School has demonstrated over many years.

The recent damning Hopkins Report intimated in Section 10 that it was felt that this was a good concept. At last night's meeting the panel was asked by a correctly concerned parent if the proposed Cluster Board idea would result in moving staff around in schools.

The response that if a good Maths teacher was in St. George's Prep he/she might be moved for "a week" to impart their skills to a Cluster school with a problem.This is absolute foolishness. Do they really believe that a cure for inept / poor teaching is going to be cured by a week's visit from a good teacher? What it will accomplish is the wrongful and unneeded disruption of that teacher's own class and that is the last thing that is needed.

All of this reminds me of the infamous importation of the Writing-to-Read programme to our system as a result of great "research" by educational gurus in the USA. In a few years the programme was declared the worst ever idea in California and totally removed from schooling.

We are again listening to "research" when we simply should look at what succeeds and copy it. An aided school works because parents, trustees, the principal, teachers, students and the community are involved and Central Office has minimal influence.

MERVYN MOORHEAD

Former Principal

St. George's Prep School

UBP facts

May 9, 2008

Dear Sir

It is with enthusiasm that I again take issue with your correspondent Clean Slate and his ruminations on the United Bermuda Party (May 7).

Clean Slate argues that the majority of swing voters believe the UBP was the controlling agent for an unjust system that denied blacks advancement. He believes that this perception is irreversible, thereby dooming the UBP to perpetual defeat at the polls. This thesis breaks down on a number of fronts. Let's deal first with facts:

The UBP was never part of an unjust system. The UBP was always about changing an unjust system. Its record as the Government of Bermuda bears this out. The UBP desegregated the schools, lowered the voting age, introduced human rights legislation, built hundreds of affordable houses, introduced hospital insurance, workmen's compensation, social insurance and a national pension scheme; expanded educational opportunities and presided over an unprecedented expansion of the economy that made Bermudians, on a per capita basis, among the wealthiest people in the world.

It was instrumental in the emergence of a black middle class and it was responsible for the hiring across the board of a civil service led by blacks and staffed by blacks that continues today. As our Party Leader Kim Swan said in his Reply to the Throne Speech, the United Bermuda Party was made up of "good men and women of both races who separated themselves from an unjust system to move this island forward on a path to a better future."

That the UBP's record has been distorted by the relentless propaganda of the PLP is, arguably, that party's greatest political success beyond its election victories. That the UBP allowed it to happen is a major failure that has damaged our image, hurt us at the polls and, collaterally, obscured and tarnished the reputations of great black leaders such as Dr. Stanley Ratteray, Sir E.T. Richards, Dr. Clarence James and Sir John Swan. Take my word that we will fight to set the record straight.

One reason Clean Slate implies the UBP cannot win again is because he does not believe we are attracting "strong black candidates", such as the men, I presume, listed above. Without getting into an inevitably inconclusive comparison between the calibre of black UBP members today, many of whom are at the start of their political careers, with those of yesterday, whose careers are complete, I will deal with this argument theoretically:

Clean Slate is suggesting in the most categorical way that the UBP will never again put forward a black leader or leaders who can win the trust of the black swing voter. In this, he is unreasonably pessimistic, betraying a mindset that has shut down all possibilities but the narrow dictates of his own logic. One should never say never, particularly in the field of human endeavour. I only know that in my work with black members of this Party I am buoyed and excited by their strength, their conviction, their backbone and passion for the cause of a better Bermuda. I have closed my eyes many times over the last number of years and what I see is an Island becoming more and more divided, not necessarily in terms of race relations (since race relations on a one-on-one basis are, in my view, much better than the Government would have us believe) but in terms of the disparity between the haves and the have nots.

I will not respond to Clean Slate's second main point - that the black community's faith in its ability to govern works against the UBP winning again - because it is vague and inconclusive, and carries, as it does, a pessimist's rejection of any identity beyond the colour of one's skin. Instead, I would like to conclude by stating that we are going about our work at the UBP with a very clear understanding of the challenges before us. We are optimistic, totally committed and under no illusions. The image challenge is a serious one, but it can be turned around.

Our focus is to re-earn the trust of voters, in big and small ways. We are fully aware the current PLP leadership will again play the race card as it did in the last election, with talk of lynchings and plantations, to distract from its failings as a government - spiralling crime, a dismal public education system and the slow move offshore of Bermudian-held of international company jobs to cite just a few. We know the race baiting will become less effective each time, particularly when it is based on falsehoods and divisive thinking. United Bermuda Party people will be the antidote to that tired and despicable game, and we are confident swing voters will see that we are in this for them, for their children and for the Country.

MICHAEL M. FAHY

Chairman

United Bermuda Party

Lack of paramedics

May 6, 2008

Dear Sir,

After reading today's article on Bermuda EMTs, I as a twice yearly visitor to Bermuda am appalled to discover that this country does not in fact have certified paramedic services. I wonder how many tourists realise this? One would just assume that you do.

This, (the death of Mr. Palmer) was a preventable situation that could have been dealt with had there been paramedics on the scene that could have performed an emergency tracheotomy.

How horrible for the family.

SHEILA LEMIRE

Toronto, Ontario

Unfriendly customs

April 22, 2008

Dear Sir,

Thanks for allowing me space in your column. It's been a while. Mr. Tracey Kelly issued a statement in Thursday April 17, 2008 in your Royal Gazette also on the news.

I for one realise and know the custom officers have a job to do. It's not what they do, it's how they do it and their attitude. They can do their job and be pleasant and professional. Some of them are, but some are grumpy, unpleasant and outright rude. I have no problem being searched. I declare all my goods, have nothing to hide but is it too much to ask for them to be polite when doing their job? Some of them need to take anger management classes. Mr. Kelly, the public or visitor should not be subjected to their unfriendliness. It is almost like they are mad because Bermudians like to travel. There was a song out called Bermudians like to drink. I don't drink, but I love to travel for vacation or for a graduation or a wedding or a funeral.

Some of them have chips on their shoulders. Please ask them, Mr. Kelly, to leave problems and issues outside of the airport until their shift is over and if they want to pick it back up once they leave. Some talk to you like you have committed a crime before you are searched. Before the public is asked to exercise patience and cooperate when going through these checks. Mr. Kelly's own words: he needs to check out his staff, it's sad because the innocent officers take the rap for the guilty ones because there are some nice officers who treat you kindly, I could name a few. I always check their names but I won't, and sir it's not just customs officers, the same goes for the Police officers. It makes me wonder how well are they trained.

A FORMER PAGET VOTER

A better welcome

May 13, 2008

Dear Sir,

The letter in today's newspaper from a resident of the UK, who had a bad experience when he entered Bermuda recently, brought to mind my experience when I entered Singapore a few years ago. The Singaporean immigration officer, after viewing my passport, smiled broadly at me and said "I hope that your stay in our country will be a memorable one." Having said that, he picked up a bowl of candies and offered one to my wife and me.

This type of attention to one of the primary revenue generators of Singapore, tourism, made me want to go back, not stay away as per the experience of the UK visitor to Bermuda.

JOHN BARNETT

Warwick

Discovering who won

May 10, 2008

Dear Sir,

I would like to thank Shirley Smith ("Get Involved") for responding on May 6 to my letter dated April 30 ("Who Won") and for suggesting that I contact the Annual Exhibition Office to obtain the winning ticket numbers of the Raffle from this year's "Ag Show". That was a helpful suggestion, however I was really writing on behalf of many, especially older people, who have been wondering if they were lucky. I really don't think that the Annual Exhibition Office – would appreciate getting thousands of telephone enquires relative to the prize winners.

With regard to Ms. Smith's suggestion that I volunteer to help increase entries, this is another good suggestion. I have worked as a volunteer during the three days of (and some years the day before) the Show/Exhibition for some ten years, but it had never occurred to me to contact anyone months or so in advance of the Show/Exhibition to help increase entries in the many categories available.

Merianna

Pembroke

Call for road nanny

May 5, 2008

Dear Sir,

There is a reality TV show called The Nanny that selects a dysfunctional family whose home life is out of control because they have no rules to govern their daily lives. The children are disobedient, even destructive and the parents are distraught. Enter the Nanny, who sets rules, enforces them, and harmony reins.

The motoring public and governing authorities have similarities to this TV show. Drivers do not obey the traffic laws and are destroying lives and the governing authorities are distraught. Bermuda has laws that govern the use of our roads, but we have no law enforcement.

My recommendation to Senator Caines and Ms. Christopher and The Police Service is, call,

THE NANNY

Pembroke