Mrs. Williams inspires

May 21, 2008

Dear Sir,

What a fabulous front page story regarding Mrs. Williams raising eight successful sons! Stories like this are so heartwarming. Mrs. Williams, I take my hat off to you! Hopefully, your story will be an inspiration to other mothers struggling to raise their children practically on their own. Raising and nurturing children successfully requires time, patience, commitment, caring and sacrifice and Mrs. Williams showed us all that it is possible and she should be so very proud of herself.

KIM YOUNG, J.P.

City of Hamilton

Totally inappropriate photo

May 28, 2008

Dear Sir,

Of all the photos taken on the May 24th holiday could you not have chosen a more suitable one to place on the front page of The Royal Gazette, May 27th? The photo front page "Bermuda Day 2008" showing three young girls and two with the camera front and centre zoomed in exposing two of their butts. What were you thinking? Totally inappropriate. Next time show some forethought and a little bit of class in the photos you decide to print in your paper.

LYNN DUNCAN

Sandys

Reminder to the Premier

May 28, 2008

Dear Sir,

Ever since reading the following quote in a wonderful book about human endeavour and success entitled "Three Cups of tea", I have wished our Premier would decide to live by it.

After reading the papers on Saturday re Coco Reef, the non-debate, the Playboy fiasco and now the Premier's Gala's coming up, I felt it was time to remind the Premier and some of his cohorts of the following: "Greatness is always built on this foundation: the ability to appear, speak and act, as the most common man." — Shams-ud-din-Muhammed Hofiz I think that says it all!

BETTY HUTCHINGS

Hamilton Parish

Writer missed VRA's point

June 3, 2008

Dear Sir,

It is unfortunate that Dr. Hodgson singled me out personally for an attack on the VRA submission to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) on good governance and security for Bermuda.

For everyone's information the VRA is currently a five hundred strong mixed group of concerned Bermudians that are endeavouring to ensure the Rights of all Bermudians are upheld and that political rights for each Bermudian, which currently do not exist, can be put into law. Under the VRA proposed 'Voters' Bill of Rights' the People of Bermuda would have a greater say in and control over the policy and functioning of their government. All Bermudians, especially those most vulnerable, should support this VRA initiative to protect and ensure that there will be a future here in Bermuda for our children and their children.

Much of the recent rights abuses, political interference, manipulation and intimidation that currently exist, particularly in the Civil Service as denounced by the BPSU, would not be able to take place once the Voters' Bill of Rights is put in place. We would have thought that Dr. Hodgson would welcome the move further down the path to a "people's" government where citizen initiatives could take place instead of blindly accepting the costly autocratic dictatorial confines of the Westminster system that has continued to increasingly polarise our community over the last forty years in particular.

As for the black power salute situation this has come out of a question that the VRA raised to the FAC. The question was as follows: 'Does the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights apply to Bermuda?' As a Rights organisation it is important that we gather information on all those areas that could affect the rights of the Bermuda people individually or collectively. We also have to compare the rights under our constitution with those expected under the United Nations and other covenants that may be applicable due to our UK connection and the UK connection with the European Union. Where there is an anomaly or an omission we investigate to find out the answers. This is an ongoing exercise.

Article 20.2 of the UN Covenant states that: 'Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.' As certain incidents during the election run up did contravene at least the spirit of this covenant, if not the covenant itself, the VRA felt it was important to determine whether or not Bermudians were protected or not protected under the 1968 Constitutional Order with the UK. Further, we wished to know if there was any position or legislation concerning the promotion of specific symbols such as swastikas, cross burning, black power salutes, etc.

The VRA position was simply that if the people of Bermuda were not covered under the UN Rights covenant then we should be. If there were other specific areas in which there was additional protection, such as symbols that were universally denounced, then such should be included for consideration so that Bermuda met at least the minimum standard of rights protection expected under the UN Charter and the laws of the UK and the European Union that may possibly apply directly or indirectly to Bermuda.

If Dr. Hodgson or anyone else in the community has any further questions about the VRA or the submissions to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee the VRA Executive Committee would be happy to sit down and review them together.

GEOFF PARKER SR.

Co-Chairman Voters' Rights Association

The speaker's sacred role

May 30, 2008

Dear Sir,

The Speaker of The House has a very sacred role to play. He is the guardian of Parliamentary protocol and procedure. He must be non-political in the sense that he must not be biased, so that the scale of justice may be served. Dr. Brown was not sanctioned when he shut down the debate on the Coco Reef matter. Only the Speaker can do that, why did he allow that to happen? Now he sanctions a gag on all discussions that may intimate corruption and dishonesty. The Speaker of all people in that House must know that that is not the credence of our Honourable House of Parliament and the genuine guarding of our Democracy.

DIANA WILLIAMS

Pembroke

A rebirth of a museum

May 28, 2008

Dear Sir,

Recently I attended the wonderful reopening of The Bermuda Historical Society Museum adjoining the National Library at Par-la-Ville on Queen Street. Though called a reopening, it was more like a rebirth with a mixture of beautiful new displays including important painting, portraits, Bermuda silver, china, glassware, Boer War artifacts and more, not to mention the stunning cedar staircase, all of which form such an important part of our unique Bermuda heritage.

I salute Andrew Bermingham and members of his committee; De DeSilva, John Cox, Shirley Pearman and Eric Slope who were responsible for the amazing transformation along with designer Will Collision, Jackie Aubrey and Arthur Tatem.

A visit to the new Bermuda Historical Society Museum should be on the "must do" list of every Bermudian as well as those visitors interested in our heritage.

Also on the "Must Do" list is a visit to the newly created and recently opened Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art in the Botanical Gardens. Congratulations to Tom Butterfield, Elise Outerbridge and the entire team for their enormous effort resulting in the sensational and outstanding building which allows them to showcase the marvellous works of art inspired by Bermuda for more than a century.

In both these museums; vision, commitment, determination and hard work have created a legacy that all Bermudians can be proud of for decades to come. I hope they will receive the support and interest they both deserve.

ANN SMITH GORDON MBE, JP

Paget