Army tactics outdatded

January 18, 2002

Dear Sir,

Shame! Shame! Shame!

Shame on Larry Burchall and the Defence Department for denying Magnus Henagulph his human rights. I thought there was provision for conscientious objectors under our Constitution or the Defence Act? Or are the military authorities trying to circumvent the law and deny human rights to male citizens of Bermuda?

In this 21st Century, let's have a volunteer army where recruits are willing to serve.

BOB MASTERS

City of Hamilton

Food for thought

January 10, 2002

Dear Sir,

Good News!

The following e-mail from M. Paul Anderson was sent to Dining Out in Bermuda magazine on January 9th. We thought your readers would enjoy these positive comments:

"I visited Bermuda between Christmas and New Years - had a wonderful time. Enjoyed the country very much. The people were some of the most friendly and helpful I have ever encountered while travelling.

I have a copy of your Dining Out In Bermuda (magazine)

One question - I have seen listed Guinea Chicks and Guinea Chick Tails as appetizers.

Can you tell me what they are?

Thanks

Hope to return later this year.

Paul Anderson."

THE PUBLISHERS

Dining Out in Bermuda

Challenging Dr. Hodgson

January 15, 2002

Dear Sir,

Eva Hodgson appears to feel unjustly put upon from my pointing out that Portuguese, both black and white, were brought into the island to promote an agricultural industry that did not exist before 1849. She has promoted numerous times the notion that the Portuguese were brought into the island because of the colour of their skin. (If it had been a colour issue, Bermuda's Governor of the time would not have brought in the Cape Verdians.) Clearly she had done no research on the subject and does not like to be proved wrong.

I maintain that discrimination, bigotry, and ethnic insults directed toward anyone are inappropriate and that Dr. Hodgson's remarks with respect to the Portuguese should be evaluated by the Human Rights Commission as well as by CURE. Clearly if these two organisations do not consider the damaging nature of Dr. Hodgson's comments, the community knows that the Government concurs with her most prejudicial views. With respect to Ms. Hodgson's commentary on my discussion with the former chairman of the Bermuda College's Honorary Fellows Selection Committee, it is entirely illogical that I would be told that the Portuguese would be discriminated against because "white" schools did not attend College functions. (I have written acknowledgement of this conversation by Dr. Orenduff that I am happy to share with the Press.)

Dr. Hodgson's commentary on a meeting at which she was not present is surprising from someone whose academic qualifications suggest that she is capable of a more rigorous examination of the facts. Not only is it illogical, but it is highly unethical for Dr. Hodgson to comment on a meeting at which she was not in attendance.

ROBERT R. PIRES

Pembroke

Encouraging growth

January 16, 2002

Dear Sir,

I would like this letter to be addressed to the school that called Tulo Valley where I work, asking for their class to come down on Thursday. I say thank you and hopefully this will spread to other schools on the Island considering the fact that those children will be learning about the plants that grow here in Bermuda bringing science to a higher level.

Hopefully the students will be able to pass on this knowledge to visiting tourists who happen to ask them things about the island.

GOVERNMENT WORKER

Pembroke

A night to remember

January 4, 2002

Dear Sir,

On the evening of December 31, 2001, my girlfriend and I checked into the Southampton Princess for one night of luxury. Upon entering room 359 we discovered a variety of unpleasant scenes. Firstly the room temperature was equivalent to a microwave, the carpet looked as if maintenance workers once resided there. The sheets felt like the beach sand had blown up into the room. The water pump must have been just primed because the tap was spitting out brown dirt before it got clear. I then proceeded to the bathroom, above the toilet was a manhole left incomplete by maintenance workers who must have been working on the pipes. Also in the soap holder in the bathtub there were three bars of soaps sitting there, looking like they had been there all summer long and the water stopper was relaxing on the tub, totally corroded.

After this discovery I called front desk to ask if they can do something about this, I was told that the hotel was fully booked and I will have to wait for a maintenance man and house keeping to clear it all up by the morning. They offered to deduct 50 percent off of the room, I then asked the gentleman at front desk if he was going to deduct the tax as well, with his sarcasm he told me I would have to ask Jennifer Smith because it is government tax and he has nothing to do with that.

Finally they did manage to find us another room and deduct 50 percent off of the bill, but it took three phone calls, an argument and a threat to never recommend the hotel to accomplish this. Previously they were going to charge us the full rate for the new room, which I thought would have been totally unfair. Yes, I do have pictures to prove it.

In closing, I would just like to say that, it shouldn't matter if you're local or foreign, the same service should apply. I can now see for myself part of the reason why tourism is in a slump. The price for vacationing on this island is not realistic especially for the low level of quality service you can receive.

I've stayed in a Best Western suite room and I can tell you that with no exaggeration that their rooms are far better and economically cheaper than those in Bermuda.

LOCAL CELEBRITY

Sandys Parish

Why should I pay?

January 23, 2002

Dear Sir,

Now I usually am able to watch cable but on January 21 from 8 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. all I got was noise and no picture. January 22 it did it again but came back on 15 minutes later and was clear for the rest of the afternoon and night. Now today, January 23, it's back to pure noise, no picture again.What's up with that? I feel I shouldn't have to pay for anything that I can't be able to watch but,should be able to watch simply because I pay every month just to watch. I'm almost wondering if it's the TV but if that's true, then why was I able to watch TV last night?

K.P.S.S.

Pembroke