Ban overtaking

December 16, 2008

Dear Sir,

I wish I'd written this letter sooner. Passing/overtaking should just simply be made illegal on Bermuda's roads – for both cars and bikes. The roads here really are unique – they are almost always so windy, so narrow and have so many driveways (some very busy and some not) right along the main roads that passing is almost always a complete roll of the dice outcome-wise. We all know this – and this solution seemed so simple that I gave myself time to think it over in case I had missed something.

But all that I can come up with is that driving might not be quite as much "fun" – the adrenalin rush that you get when you pass a car and you almost run out of road as a bus rounds the blind corner and is coming straight at you might be a thing of the past.

And it will probably take a few minutes longer to get to where we're going – but the stress levels will go way down as we won't all have to be on high alert all of the time and ever-vigilant watching for passing vehicles sneaking up beside us or coming at us in the opposing lane as we round each bend.

And it will take the pressure off people to try and look cool while riding their bikes which we all know includes lots of weaving and passing.

There really never was enough space for "the third lane" and it often turned out to be "A dead end street". Actually, "it's dead simple" and "it won't kill us".

But it will save probably at least ten lives next year and every year. We can't just keep letting it happen: the passing and the horrific injuries and death it causes every year without fail. It would be so worth it. Almost all road fatalities and serious road injuries this year were the direct result of overtaking that didn't work out. Following too closely at speed and running red lights/not stopping at intersections result in many tragic accidents as well.

Not being allowed to overtake will also bring down both speed and the incidences of following too closely at speed. It's not the speed that kills it's almost always the crashing while overtaking at speed that kills.

Let's really make Bermuda "Another World" because we can and this would be a law to really be proud of and which would unite Bermuda as we all sacrifice to save lives guaranteed.

PAINFUL TO WATCH

St. George's

Make HRC independent

December 17, 2008

Dear Sir,

I wish to support and commend the comments made by the Chair of the Human Rights Commission, Mrs. Venous Memari made on December 10 at the reception held in honour of the 60th Anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

I think the most important element of Mrs. Memari's speech was her strong recommendation that the Human Rights Commission "must be independent and be seen to be independent of government and the political process and not subject to pressure or influence from those who might have a stake in the outcome of complaint investigations or in the Human Rights Commission's community activities and educational programs that are designed to promote the equal treatment of all members of the community."

Mrs. Memari went on to make several recommendations which included:

¦ The HRC must report directly to Parliament (in a similar fashion to the Ombudsman); and

¦ There must be a complaint procedure set out in law in the event that the Commission fails to carry out its functions.

And she went on to detail how the composition of the Human Rights Commission must demonstrate independence, pluralism and transparency:

¦ The criteria must be established to ensure pluralism;

¦ The appointment process should include input from civil society as well as involve Parliament meaningfully;

¦ The term of appointment should be 3-5 year and staggered to ensure continuity; and

¦ Condition for the dismissal of members arising out of serious misconduct, inappropriate conduct, conflicts of interests or incapacity ought to be set out in law in the same way as the removal of the judiciary and the Ombudsman is governed by law.

And finally she pointed out that, "according to the Paris Principles, independence is the cornerstone to the effective functioning of a national human rights institution and good governance."

These are eloquent and strong recommendations, based on principles adopted by the United Nations General Assembly 15 years ago, and I can only hope and pray that such recommendations are being considered and will be acted upon by Government in their review of the Human Rights Act, which in turn will bring Bermuda's legislation in line with that of a modern democracy.

LYNNE WINFIELD

Sandys Parish

Leave Archivist alone

December 11, 2008

Dear Sir,

The Government Archives maintains a huge quantity of current and historic information. They do so with immaculate proficiency. Obviously nothing can be removed, but is stored with pinpoint accuracy so it can be quickly retrieved for the convenience of researchers.

I was astonished, therefore, to read in The Royal Gazette of November 14, a litany of complaints about how the Department is being managed by the Curator, Mrs. Karla Hayward. Apparently, these petty and unappreciative critics can attack Mrs. Hayward to their heart's content, without even having to identify themselves. Nor does it seem even necessary that they outline their complaints in detail.

Mrs. Hayward, by contrast, is not permitted to utter a single word in her own defence. What kind of justice or fair play is this?

The insulting abuse hurled at Karla Hayward, a dedicated public servant for many years, amounts to character assassination of the worst kind. My advice to these ungrateful cranks is to get off Mrs. Hayward's back.

Leave her alone and let her get on with what she does best — continue to mastermind one of the finest archival operations to be found anywhere in the world.

The newspaper account concludes with the following observations by the Hon Marc Telemaque, the Secretary to the Cabinet, under whose jurisdiction the Government Archives fall. He said he was unable to comment officially on the matter while an ombudsman's inquiry is under way, adding "In any event, public comment on internal matters such as this is rare".

TOMMY AITCHISON

Payson, Arizona

Bermuda's reputation

December 11, 2008

Dear Sir,

I have been advised by a lawyer friend that lawyers disbarred in England and Wales are permitted to practice law in Bermuda. I can't believe this is correct, but if so, and bankrupt lawyers may also practice law in Bermuda, Bermuda will become a haven for disbarred, bankrupt lawyers. Great for Bermuda's reputation.

CONCERNED

Hamilton Parish

Thanks for support

December 19, 2008

Dear Sir,

On behalf of Big Brothers & Sisters, we would like to take this opportunity to share our appreciation and gratitude with the Island for the generosity of many people who made our annual Tag Day a resounding success.

We would like to offer heartfelt thanks to the countless volunteers and charitable organisations that assisted in September 2008 in many capacities which ranged from performing administrative duties to tagging Island wide to counting funds collected. We are especially appreciative for the voluntary efforts of our young people who gave hours of their time to assist us in whatever way they could. We are also grateful for those individuals who took up private collections on our behalf and those who organised denim days at their place of employment. To all of the businesses and vendors who again allowed us to tag on your premises, your continued kindness is most appreciated. To the public who generously donated, Thank you! Without your spirit of giving, Big Brothers Big Sisters would not have been able to raise over $24,000! Your contributions will continue to assist us in carrying out our mission to create and support one-on-one relationships between caring mentors and young people in need.

In closing and during this Christmas season, we would like to appeal to the residents of Bermuda to consider giving a special gift to a young person and to become a Big Brother or Big Sister.

Remember, just a few hours of your time each week will last a lifetime with a young person. We truly believe that 'Friendship makes a BIG difference!"

MICHELLE HAJEK & MARIA SOFIANOS

Tag Day 2008 Committee

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda

Premier does not get it

December 18, 2008

Dear Sir,

Does the Premier not get it? I, like several other registered voters in Bermuda, am appalled that the Premier would send out all of these Christmas cards at great cost to ourselves, the taxpayers.

I question how many of these cards will actually grace anyone's mantlepiece. Also were these cards printed by a Bermuda printer or were they printed overseas?

For a man who supposedly is well educated, he is certainly not understanding the world economic situation and Bermuda is part of that world. If the Premier actually reads the local press or hears the local news then he must be aware that a lot of people in Bermuda are in financial trouble and cannot expect to have a bright and cheerful Christmas or even future.

The cost of these cards has been quoted as $20,000 – that money could have been distributed to the needy. I was in Hamilton early yesterday morning and saw at least three men sleeping on the street and in shop doorways. Obviously several people who in the past have donated to the needy people are unable to help this year themselves.

I think the Bermuda public who voted for Premier Brown in the last election must have lost a lot of faith in his running of Bermuda.

Sometimes I think he is quite childish – me, me and more me seems to be his attitude to himself and the country. I still chuckle when I remember he went to China and Argentina to seek out some people to visit Bermuda as tourists …how many of these people actually came? Then I wonder when it was announced that there were a record number of visitors from the New York area – how many of them were business people coming to Bermuda to do business and not as tourists and how many of these business people will continue to come to Bermuda in future, maybe they will be off to Switzerland instead?

I have no confidence in this man – he is running the poor PLP into the ground. The PLP is not a bad political party. They just have a very bad leader. I am sure if the Premier is removed from office and another person leads the Party then Bermuda will be a much better place to live.

We need a new leader of the PLP.

CONCERNED RESIDENT

Smith's Parish

Editor's Note: The cards were printed in Bermuda by Bermuda Press Ltd., a sister company of The Royal Gazette Ltd.