Increasingly dismayed

December 20, 2009

Dear Sir,

I am one of those lucky British Police officers fortunate enough to have served on contract over in your Country. I joined in 1988 and served for five years leaving in 1993 to return to the United Kingdom, where I still serve. Although I haven't been back to Bermuda since 1994, I still feel connected to it and I keep up to date with current events by taking advantage of the on line edition of The Royal Gazette.

I have become increasingly dismayed over the recent months, weeks and days about the dangerous path Bermuda appears to be heading down. We have gun crime over here in the United Kingdom and it is as hurtful here as it is anywhere.

While I was serving as a police officer over there, I was a trained firearms officer and in light of recent events I have been trying to recall what situations we were called out to deal with. In short, I can only remember being called out twice and on both occasions it turned out to be something over nothing. I learned a lot from my time in Bermuda and a great many of those lessons have stood me in good stead back here in the United Kingdom. It is such a shame to have to read almost daily accounts of gang warfare and shootings going on, and it makes me wonder if it really is the same place that I left.

As an island and as a people, you have far too much to lose to let the current chain of events continue, and I sincerely hope that as Christmas draws close that the "season of goodwill to all men" truly reaches all members of your community. I cherish my memories of my time in Bermuda and I hope that 2010 sees the return of the island that I used to know.

JOHN SWEETING

Rugby, England

What builds character

December 11, 2009

Dear Sir,

People have a tendency to believe that knowledge and understanding builds a better character, but not necessarily so. For there are thieves, greedy, inconsiderate and so on, and we know from the news we read and watch that these people include doctors, lawyers and especially politicians — even so called religious ministers. The only thing that builds character is correct spiritual development. Whether we acknowledge that as fact or not, it is not going to happen otherwise. Because of our attitude is not correct, we will destroy all the positive things that can happen for us regardless of what we know and understand. We cannot live forever in a community without living with it.

RAYMOND RUSSELL

Pembroke West

A change in plans

December 15, 2009

Dear Sir,

Royal Gazette Monday, December 7, 2009 Page 11. Headline: DeSilva defends Port Royal Golf Course Costs. "The final cost of the project was $15.9 million, which he (DeSilva) stated was around 17 percent over the 2009 budget for the project of $13.6 million. A change in plans added a concrete path, which Mr. DeSilva said increased the cost by one million dollars. He argued that without the path the increase in expected expenditure was $14.6 million, leaving the overrun at less than ten percent."

First, the difference between $14.6 million and the final cost of $15.9 million equals $1.3 million dollars not $1 million as stated. Second, how does one pathway cost $1.3 million dollars? For that price you could build an entire house, electrical, plumbing and all. (I admit that I don't know how big the pathway is but for that price it would have to be over three miles long.) Third and last, if Government needs any more pathways built, call me, I'll do it for 1.2 million.

BRIAN ROBINSON

Pembroke

P.s. I have signed my real name but just because a person uses a pseudonym it does not make their points any less valid or deserving of an answer, we are all taxpayers.

Thank you volunteers

Dear Sir,

11 Corinthians 3:5 "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;"

The Matilda Smith Williams Seniors' Residence held its annual Tag Days on Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21, 2009.

There is a chorus we sing that says we never could have made it without God. Truly, it is only because of God's blessings that we were able to raise $14,071.24. We thank Him for all whom He used to help us.

Acts 20 verse 35 says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Therefore, we thank the volunteers who gave of their valuable time to tag for us, and the public who generously gave monetarily.

We greatly appreciate their assistance and look forward to their help next year.

IANTHIA EVE (MRS.)

For and on behalf of the Board of Governors

Matilda Smith Williams Seniors Residence

Devonshire

A disgrace

December 16, 2009

Dear Sir,

The word "allies" describes a temporary getting together of countries or individuals for a common purpose. They remain separate while in alliance and free to go their separate ways when the common purpose is achieved. To call a political party an "alliance" is inappropriate. The United Bermuda Party dissidents who have deserted their party and call themselves an "alliance" are silly for a number of reasons. One is that they think that dissident PLP voters will not vote for the UBP even if they are dissatisfied with the PLP for the sole reason that do not like the name UBP. This has caused them to waste fruitless hours arguing about other labels such as "liberal" and "socialist" and "conservative" and "democratic" and finally coming up with the banal word "alliance".

This internecine bickering is fruitless because it underestimates the intelligence of the Bermuda voter. When an election comes each voter will be guided by the character of the candidate and the party he or she represents and not semantics. The UBP dissidents are also silly because they are turncoats on the party under whose banner they were elected and have behaved dishonourably towards the UBP voters who elected them. The name "United Bermuda Party" is not only better than any other suggested name but also is one of which members can rightly be proud. Never has Bermuda been in greater need of an effective Opposition and the failure of the dissidents to support Kim Swan and those loyal to him is a disgrace.

WILLIAM M. COX

Devonshire