DJLT
ISLAND LIFE COLUMNIST
DJLT is a Bermudian disc jockey, writer, social activist who calls himself a member of the segment of the population he calls, "Right Thinking People" or RTP. DJLT served in the Bermuda Regiment for 22 years and his DJ name came from the Army because he was a DJ who was also a Lieutenant! DJLT has a Masters Degree in Business Administration, a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, as well as a Business Studies Diploma from the Bermuda College. He has worked in the Government and Private Sector during his 35 years of real life work experience. DJLT is married and has one son. His hobbies include sports; health & fitness; travel; foreign languages and cultures; mentoring young people; music and home improvement.
-
Jun 14, 2013 8:00 am
Fathers have a cruicial role to play
This weekend is Father’s Day and I thought that this would be an opportunity to salute the fathers who are doing a great job and encourage those for whom there is room for improvement to do better.
-
Jun 7, 2013 8:00 am
I’m calling Bermuda out over its political immaturity
I’ve been watching and listening to the news as well as the debated in the House of Assembly over the last week, and went to my trusty RG website for same, when I happened upon a poll that asked if the Premier, and two Cabinet Ministers, were right to take a trip on a private jet to meet with potential developers.
-
May 31, 2013 8:00 am
Words of wisdom from the guy in the Jaguar
Back in the 1990s I was working for the Department of Tourism. Among the many projects I worked on was the Spring Break Programme. I had to go around to US colleges inviting young people to come to Bermuda for their Spring Break. I know; great job.
-
May 25, 2013 8:00 amOur tourism product is way behind!
Last week, whilst everyone else was celebrating the maiden voyage of the new cruise ship, I was sadly realising how far our tourism product has fallen.
Listening to the news on that inaugural voyage morning, I realised that this cruise ship has a waterpark, several restaurants, more activities and possibly more things to do than our entire island. -
May 19, 2013 3:28 pmWhere are the jobs?
I took a quick look at The Royal Gazette’s website this week and other online sources and counted some 50 jobs advertised.
Granted some of them might be work permit renewals but if qualified people don’t apply, they will always need work permits. But that’s just a quick look. If I looked really hard I’m sure I could find more. -
May 10, 2013 8:00 am
The jobs are out there for the good worker
Last week I asked the question ”Why people don't want to work after 5pm?“ This week's question is ”Why can't some people find a job?“
I have an idea why some can't, just hear me out.
I was talking to a buddy the other day, who, even in a recession, has a part time gig. This dude is a hustler, knows how to make a dollar, and is humble enough to do whatever it takes to provide for his family. -
May 3, 2013 8:00 am
Why don’t people want to work after 5pm?
I must start by wishing my son Johnathan a very happy birthday today — May 3.
I’ve noticed that many people don’t want to work after 5pm. There are a number of persons who think that if their working hours are 9-5, that is all that they should do. -
Apr 26, 2013 8:00 amDo we have the political will to tackle gun crime?
A few days after the Boston debacle, I told a few friends that I expected the US authorities to eventually find whoever did this. I knew, even from TV programmes, that there was CCTV all over the place, there are satellites that observe your every move, the international intelligence community is connected, they track and trace your actions from credit card sales, cellphone usage; and you basically have to conclude that ”big brother is...
-
Apr 19, 2013 8:00 am
Let’s pray for peace both here and abroad
The tragic and awful scenario that unfolded in Boston Massachusetts earlier this week has reminded me that Bermuda is a blessed little Island.
We get the occasional hurricane but we are fortunate to have been spared from major disaster. -
Apr 12, 2013 8:00 am
Why our education system is struggling
I have a thought, as to why our education system isn’t working.
Some of today’s teachers are quite good, quite smart, quite effective and passionate about their work. But many are not.
When the Country was segregated, the best and brightest Bermudians, particularly black Bermudians, became schoolteachers largely because they were only able to get funding to go to university for that purpose. -
Apr 5, 2013 8:00 am
Are we taking freedom of speech too far?
I believe in freedom of speech, but the content and tone of some of the blogs, letters to the editor, anonymous comments, etc concerns me. I am disturbed by the amount of hate, vitriol, negative sentiment that I hear, see, sense and feel in the tone and language used by some people in those forums.
-
Mar 22, 2013 8:00 am
We have to put Bermuda back on the map
I had the good fortune of attending the Sandys Rotary Club‘s 40th Anniversary Gala last weekend and along with that blessing came the privilege of hearing guest speaker Keith Fitz-Gerald.
The global financial expert is a New York Times bestselling business author and an inspirational speaker.
The most important thing I think he said was ”money goes where it is treated best“. -
Mar 15, 2013 8:00 am
Politicians deserve a break for sacrifice they make
Listening to the Budget Debate over the past several days and the undignified behaviour that went on in the Honourable House of Assembly last weekend, I am reminded of a few things:
1. This is why I will probably not get into politics; I have no patience for nonsense, useless conversation, insults, sore losers, lack of decorum when appropriate, etc -
Mar 8, 2013 8:00 am
Let’s use the 30-day rule
Having read the Budget recently announced by the Minister of Finance, I am left to conclude that not much has changed.
There is one line I agree with in it: "A job is the best social programme ever invented.”
If we create more jobs, more people start working, more money starts changing hands, and it affects the psyche of the person who was once unemployed. We have to give our people hope and getting them jobs will help. -
Feb 22, 2013 8:00 am
Bermuda’s new political reality
What a difference a few years makes. It almost seems as if the PLP is in the predicament that the UBP found itself in right after the 2008 General Election. Somewhat in tatters but definitely in transition. When you’re winning or think you have a good chance, everybody just plays along; especially if you’re the Government. When you lose, people get real, say what they mean and listen to the consciences that they’ve been ignoring...
-
Feb 15, 2013 8:00 amOBA have some difficult decisions to make
The new OBA Government has made some interesting moves.
Getting Progressive Labour Party MP Randy Horton to agree to be Speaker of the House was a coup it increases their majority by reducing the number of Opposition party voters by one.
Some people have criticised Mr Horton for making the choice, I congratulate him on making this decision. Here’s why: -
Feb 8, 2013 8:00 amEnough is enough. So what do we do now?
Every now and then we get on to the subject of what do we do about the continuing rise of violence. We are losing, it seems, one young Bermudian male per week!!
The media this week published a statistic that since 2000 we have lost 140 young men through road fatalities. Throw in those gunned down in violence and we have ourselves a phenomenon, an epidemic problem. -
Feb 1, 2013 8:00 amLet’s pursue the private yacht market
Has anyone seen the massive yacht Eclipse currently berthed along Front Street? This edifice of the ocean is the proud property of Russian businessman and billionaire Roman Abramovich.
-
Jan 25, 2013 8:00 am
Just the music for a change
Just to show readers that I do in fact listen, this week I will deny my penchant for social commentary and focus on music/entertainment.
Don’t get it twisted, the overwhelming majority of the feedback we receive supports the current format of this column.
However, for the avoidance of doubt, let’s restate the intent. -
Jan 18, 2013 8:00 am
Living within our means
As individuals and as a Country, we have to start living within our means. As I listen to the new Minister of Finance lament about the state of Bermuda’s finances, I’m left to wonder what in heaven’s name we have been doing for the past 15 to 20 years.
I’m no economist but I do have financial common sense which I use to run my own family and which goes like this: -
Jan 11, 2013 8:00 am
Don’t just help the ‘have nots’ teach them too
My frustration and disagreement with the ”union mentality“ I described previously is well documented, as is my desire to discourage persons having a ’welfare mentality‘. It is also my belief that the haves should help the have nots. But we have a responsibility to not just give handouts in perpetuity; we must teach, show and lead the ’have nots‘ to be able to fend for themselves.
-
Jan 4, 2013 8:00 am
Calling a spade a spade
Happy New Year Bermuda. Let’s hope that 2013 sees things improve.
It is always good to thank and acknowledge the bloggers, the contributors, those who take the time to voice their opinions on my submissions.
Different views increase creativity, inclusiveness and will likely produce results that represent a greater percentage of the population. -
Dec 28, 2012 8:00 amLet’s discourage a welfare mentality
Happy holidays Bermuda! I absolutely love Bermuda and Bermudians. I’m blessed to live in and be from a really cool place.
My comments in this article are in no way a display of insensitivity to people who are less fortunate than I am.
I understand that it is only by the grace and favour of God that I am not currently unemployed, drawing social assistance and/or dealing with everything that goes along with that. -
Dec 21, 2012 8:00 am
Bermuda has stepped towards political maturity
I would be remiss if I did not seize the opportunity to wish one and all Happy Holidays! But we had an interesting General Election this week. So what happened?
The OBA won this election fair and square. But for a party that is not yet four years old to destroy a sitting Government speaks to the grade that the majority of people have given the PLP for its performance. -
Dec 14, 2012 8:00 am
Do you have a union mentality?
I believe that trade unions have been necessary over the years. If you go back in time, history will confirm that if trade unions did not exist, workers would have been abused, disadvantaged, exploited and treated unfairly by their employers. This is undeniable.
-
Dec 7, 2012 8:00 am
Healthcare costs would drop if we were all healthier
Last week we were talking about how fitter and healthier people are usually happier and also don’t drive up the cost of healthcare.
We have a group of people who are healthy and who don’t drive up costs and we have another group that is unhealthy, lead unhealthy and unsustainable lifestyles, and drive up costs with treatments, procedures, medications and services that would not be necessary if these people were healthy. -
Nov 30, 2012 8:15 am
The joy of feeling fit
I work out a good bit. I love to exercise. Always have. It releases endorphins that give me a ‘feel good’, a ‘high’, a ‘happy vibe’. Since I jacked up my knee this summer, I’m reduced to cycling or the gym. Can’t play squash but, whatever. So I usually ride my mountain bike early mornings, in the dark.
-
Nov 23, 2012 8:00 amWE
I was chatting with someone at work the other day and they wanted to put up Thanksgiving decorations for our American cousins to make them feel at home.
The consensus was that we shouldn’t bother with that because Thanksgiving is an American holiday and we’re not American.
True, but I think we missed the point. Thanksgiving should be observed everywhere. -
Nov 16, 2012 8:00 am
On your marks, get set: Super Troy takes reins of athletics programme
I have to congratulate the Bermuda National Athletics Association on making an excellent choice in appointing Troy Douglas to the post of head coach.
We can already see the benefit of his many years of experience performing and coaching at the highest level of athletics in the world. -
Nov 9, 2012 8:00 am
We must honour our heroes
We are about to celebrate Remembrance Day this weekend. We have a tendency to assume that everybody knows about matters of history just because we do.
We assume that young people automatically, or perhaps by osmosis, heard about, know about or care about important matters without taking the time to confirm this or share history with them.
For this reason I will take a moment to remind or inform readers about Remembrance Day. -
Nov 2, 2012 8:00 am
Shootings: Brushing them off like they’re no big deal
So I was walking along Front Street last week and flagged down a buddy for a ride. He happens to be a policeman. Yes, I have bredren on the Bermuda Police Service and yes I will tell them about any crimes I know about, suspect or witness. Everybody else should be doing this as well.
-
Oct 26, 2012 8:50 am
Let’s give Halloween a new vibe ... of giving
Sometimes the words that come out of my mouth and the stuff that I type amazes me. Not because it is impressive, clever or anything like that, but because I sound exactly, word for word, like people who I used to call fuddy duddy old fogeys back in the day!
-
Oct 19, 2012 8:00 am
Seniors have a right to be bitter, don’t they?
Many people under the age of 60 have a hard time understanding why older black folks are still bitter about the disadvantages, ill-treatment and unfair practices they suffered at the hands of a system that was designed to keep them oppressed, suppressed and essentially, the have-nots.
-
Oct 12, 2012 9:04 am
Some managers are afraid or can’t be bothered to manage
This week my pet peeve is the phenomenon of managers and supervisors who are afraid to discipline people.
It is sometimes that they can’t be bothered to take the time to administer progressive discipline or perhaps they’re too close to the staff because they’ve come through the ranks in any event they’re now uncomfortable with disciplining. -
Oct 5, 2012 8:00 am
Let’s raise the bar on customer service!
Let me start this piece by saying we have an issue with customer service in my workplace. It is usually based around people who have a poor work ethic and appear to not appreciate having a job. They simply don’t get that people should just do their job, because that’s what they are paid to do.
I am working my butt off to correct the situation as I know it all too well. -
Sep 28, 2012 6:00 am
80% of driving in Bermuda is worrying about the other idiots on the road
For several years now my pet peeve has been drivers who are at an intersection, see traffic coming at them, wait until the last minute then pull out. We talk about driving with care, caution and courtesy but this is simply UNSAFE and places oncoming road users, especially persons on bikes, in enormous danger. More on this after the top 20.
-
Sep 21, 2012 9:32 am
Hey, BDOT, keep up the good work!
Hello Family — from Beantown. DJLT is in Boston (yes DJs travel too — LOL) this week and was watching Sunday Night Football, the San Francisco 49ers versus the Detroit Lions; when what to my wondering eyes should appear — but a series of commercials inviting all and sundry to come to Bermuda! Cool. Very cool and well done to the Bermuda Department of Tourism!
-
Sep 14, 2012 6:00 am
Just because I’m a DJ it doesn’t mean I’m stupid
Wassup Fam? I was reading one of the comments on my article last week and smiled. The person suggested, and I quote: “This should come with a warning that the author is a DJ and not qualified to offer financial advice.”
Interesting. -
Sep 7, 2012 6:00 am
Home sweet home: It’s better to own than rent!
It’s hurricane season and many of us are scurrying around looking for stuff. I hear that there is no more plywood on the rock! Wow. It’s good to see people protecting their property. I found it interesting yet not surprising that landlords generally care more than tenants. Talking to landlords; they’re worried about the storms. Speak to tenants; they’re like, “Whatever”.
-
Aug 31, 2012 12:01 am
Blogs hurt us, but crime hurts us more
The Royal Gazette and Bermuda Sun are available online and both effectively report most of what is happening in Bermuda. It is clear that online comments do indeed hurt our tourism product however the reason people are complaining is that there are some things that are wrong. The concerns expressed by visitors and potential visitors are genuine concerns and I submit that this information is generally available online from sources other...
-
Aug 24, 2012 8:32 amBermuda needs ‘so much more’ than a new marketing strategy
I wasn’t able to attend the launch of the new Bermuda Department of Tourism (BDoT) campaign but thanks to modern technology, I’ve been able to have a look at the print and electronic media advertising, and the remake of Hubert Smith’s ‘Bermuda Is Another World’, by Collie Buddz and Twanee.
-
Aug 17, 2012 7:50 am
Stop being lazy and accept times have changed
I’ve written about this before, but even though we have unemployment, a depressed economy, fewer jobs and other indicators of a recession, people are still acting like all is well.
News flash people: All is not well. -
Aug 10, 2012 8:00 am
Excuses sound cheap so don’t be sore losers
Congratulations to Somerset Cricket Club for thoroughly thrashing my team, St George’s, in the 2012 Annual Cup Match Classic. Having played and watched over 40 years of cricket, I can say that I have seldom before seen such an abysmal display of batting than I saw by my team on the second day of the classic.
-
Jul 27, 2012 7:00 am
I’m a snitch and here’s why you should be too
There has been a lot of discussion about recent sentences for crimes committed against visitors. I get this and I support the discussion about the need to send a message to criminals and would-be criminals that crimes against visitors will not be tolerated. However, and anybody who knows me knows that I’m a tourism guy at my core, I submit that we should be sending the message that no crimes will be tolerated, whether they be against...
-
Jul 20, 2012 8:00 amAre you ready for some cricket?
It’s cricket season people! Cricket is my favourite sport. I love it and yes, I miss playing. I miss coaching too. But county cup is first for me. The Eastern Counties Cup Competition is soon to begin and whilst I am hoping for three good matches, I would be remiss if I didn’t wish my team, Cleveland County Cricket Club, good luck. Cup Match is also around the corner and I encourage fans to take in all the cricket, all the culture, all...
-
Jul 13, 2012 8:00 amWe need quinceaneras or something like it for our young people
So I attended my very first Quinceanera the other day in South Florida, home of my world champion Miami Heat! A Quinceanera, sometimes called Fiesta de Quince Años, Fiesta de Quinceañera, Quince Años or simply Quince, is the celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday in Latin American communities. This birthday is particularly celebrated as it marks the transition from childhood to young womanhood.
-
Jul 6, 2012 7:35 am
I am your guest, not an inconvenience to be tolerated
So, I was in Miami last weekend and went to dinner at a pretty swanky steakhouse in Aventura. We arrived at dinner at 9pm and we were essentially done by 9.50pm. And the place was busy/hopping.
I remember saying to the Mrs: “This would never happen in Bermuda.”
At an Aventura Steakhouse, whose prices were identical to Harry’s and Waterlot, the service was fast but not hurried, efficient, effective and professional. -
Jun 29, 2012 7:00 am
Lessons from LeBron
Is it really the end of June already? It sure doesn’t feel like June 29 it’s been downright chilly lately. Try riding a moped late at night through damp areas like Warwick Pond, Devonshire, etc. Can’t wait til July, my birthday month, when things really heat up.
-
Jun 22, 2012 7:46 am
There is no fear. We need sackings to motivate our lazy workforce
I can’t get over my frustration with the work ethic of some people in this country. And I note that it isn’t just some Bermudians; there are some guest workers too now who exhibit these unacceptable work attitudes.
I have noticed that even though we have unemployment like we never had before I’m seeing that people want to have a job and want to receive a paycheck but they don’t want to work.
- Should same sex marriage be allowed in Bermuda?
- Yes
- 49%
- No
- 47%
- Don't Know
- 4%
- Total Votes: 3454
- Poll Archive