July 6, 2004

Dear Sir,

With regard to the current GPS controversy, I have heard with increasing frequency references made to the taxi business as "private enterprise" and that Government is poking its nose into people's "private" affairs. I could be wrong, but I was of the impression that a taxi was a "Public Service Vehicle", and that permits to operate a taxi are issued with certain conditions attached, one of which is that the vehicle must be available for hire at least sixteen hours a day. Again, I could be wrong, but as far as I know, the powers that be have never policed this condition, such that for years, many drivers have gotten away with having their cabs on the road for only a few hours a day. Now that the public have voiced their displeasure over lousy cab service, and now that the Government has decided to jump in and try and improve the system, many cabbies now feel that their little "private" worlds are being intruded upon.

I also note that from observing the striking cabbies, many of them appear to be the ones who really don't have to work (their house(s) and their cabs have long been paid for!) These are no doubt the ones who think of their taxis as their own little "private enterprises", free from the conditions under which their permits were granted. Sorry guys, but the party is over. Either drive the cab the prescribed hours; rent it to a driver who is interested in making money; or simply sell the permit to someone with ambition. (Perhaps we need taxi permit owners with a New York City cab owners mentality ... they want their cabs on the road 25 hours a day!)

Land crabs are scapegoats

July 12, 2004

Dear Sir,

I read with dismay the front page news which appeared in on Saturday, July 10. I refer of course to your article, albeit a very short one, concerning the introduction to Bermuda of the Yellow-crowned Night Heron to handle the problem of crabs on golf courses.

From the point of view of the crabs, the golf courses are the problem. For too long land crabs been have been used as scapegoats by below par golfers. Are we to believe that the average golfer's handicap is now a land crab? Once a round of golf is in full swing and a golf ball veers wide of the green, never to be seen again, cries of "It must have gone down a crab hole!" save face for the golfer but unjustly damage the crabs' reputation.

To add injury to insult, the crabs' existence, notwithstanding the Night Heron, is in peril. Picture the land crab, bunkered down in his hole, enjoying an afternoon siesta. Suddenly, and without even a courtesy shout of "Fore", a golf ball travelling at the speed of sound splits his shell with an almighty crack. Indeed, to the land crab, an Iraqi bunker must seem a safer dwelling. And now this ? the crab-guzzling Nigh Heron! It goes without saying that the delicate balance of Bermuda's ecosystem is in danger of tipping over. If the land crabs could speak they would no doubt tell the club-wielding golfers to tee-off.

Kudos for Art in the Park

July 14, 2004

Dear Sir,

Through this medium I would like to give a resounding "Well Done" and a grateful "Thank you" to the Bank of Bermuda Foundation for its superb Art in the Park event held today and last week July 7 and 14). To all the supporting sponsors as well, thank you. The children and parents alike enjoyed this stimulating and creative event, which only good things can derive. We need more quality and appropriate events like this for our young children; the future of Bermuda. Thanks again.

Donate the money

July 10, 2004

Dear Sir,

My sincere thanks go to the Paget Resident who expressed his misgivings in a very sensible and sensitive manner about the catch of a large Blue Marlin presented for a cash prize by a group of "sports fishermen" here in Bermuda. I wish to add to this letter by first of all correcting caption and title line citing a "Monster Marlin". The monster is obviously not the beautiful Marlin, but the man who catches it. Just look at the photo of the fish again: Blood dripping from the carcass onto the sand and a bunch of ever so great overachievers standing around their trophy. The image reminds me to those copper-coloured photographs taken of colonial game hunters in the early 1900's proudly presenting the big cat they just shot on the savannah. The idea of fake heroism those images conveyed is just as outdated as the one of Mr. Estis and his catch.

Our society will not be humane and striving to be truly good until all of us understand that. An activity involving the severe suffering and death of another creature cannot possibly be called a sport; the death of animals caused for no other reason than joy and material gain should not serve for the glorification of man, but put man to shame for having done such irreparable damage; the progress and survival of our society does not depend on battling and killing a living being, but on a fundamental change in people's thinking about nature, its resources and their sustainability.

Should Mr. Estis and his monster team indeed win $300,000 for having killed a beautiful Blue Marlin, I would think they ought to redeem themselves by giving the prize to the world they robbed the beautiful Blue Marlin from in the first place. The BUEI and the Bio Station would indeed be worthy recipients!

Stamp swap request

July 4, 2004

Dear Sir,

I'm a retired gentleman who wishes to exchange Canadian postage stamps for those of Bermuda. Anyone replying to this request will find me honest, willing to please and most prompt in answering correspondence. If interested please contact.

Get priorities right

July 10, 2004

Dear Sir,

I would like to ask this government what is the most desperate need in Bermuda. The bus depot at the City Hall, or housing for the people? The bus depot is starting right away the housing is still to come.

Marlin died honourably

July 15, 2004

Dear Sir,

Dear Paget Resident, let us take a little time to review some of the possibilities surrounding this great marlin. I would think that a fish of this size was getting old, so lets think of its next step on the evolutionary ladder. Withering away at the bottom of the ocean, getting older and older, eventually being devoured by its predators and left on the ocean floor, forgotten forever, remembered by no one. On the other hand this great fish had the honour of being caught, put on display, photographed, and admired in awe by billions of people, as being the largest and heaviest to its species, caught anywhere in the world at the time of this event.

This great marlin also had the honour of aiding in the promotion of Bermuda, its people, and its beautiful natural resources available to anyone who visits. I would imagine that there are anglers around the world, packing their suitcases, to come to Bermuda and try for a "Big One". You can rest assured, also, that most big game fish caught, will more than likely be tagged and released, which is the custom among big game fisherman. In my opinion, this great marlin, died an honourable death, and will be remembered by many, for years to come.

Build a Sept. 11 monument

July 7, 2004

Dear Sir,

A monument should be dedicated to our two Bermudians, Boyd Gatton and Rhondelle Tankard. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Ewart Brown for his time and effort to try and make Bermuda a safer place. We, the people ? thank you for the GPS. May God continue to Bless you and give you strength.

A note of thanks

July 6, 2004

Dear Sir,

The Bermuda T.B. Cancer & Health Association organised the 2004 Tag Days Fund Raising Campaign on June 18/19th and we would like to ask to publish our sincere thanks for the overwhelming and generous support we received from the Bermuda community. Thanks to everyone from Somerset to St. Georges ? and everything in between ? our 2004 Campaign raised a grand total of $20,419.21 ? an increase of 59 percent over last year's achievement. These dollars are being used to deliver on our promise of "caring for the community ? one person at a time".

Along with our deep appreciate for every donation so generously given by our community, we would also like to thank the many people who contributed to this achievement ? our fabulous teams of volunteers and canvassers ? our corporate and retail businesses, church groups and service clubs, seniors clubs, seniors clubs, our event organisers and, most important of all, the thousands of donors who responded so generously to our request. To all of you who helped, contributed and supported our 2004 Tag Dag Campaign - thank you!

Spend on Lefroy House

June 30, 2004

Dear Sir,

I often wonder what kind at people we seem to have running this Island. They all seem to use tax payers money to go off on trips nothing to do with government. Example Patrice Minors using our money $1,200 of it to go to a prayer meeting in the USA. If she was such a Christian like she says, use her own money, that's what an honest Christian person would do. That money could have gone to help Lefroy House, where people through no fault of their own are sleeping on the floor, conditions that prisoners don't have to put up with and all sorts of other living problems. But this Government is all for what they can get from us till they get the 'boot'.

Kudos to Hott 107.5

Dear Sir,

I would like to commend the staff of Bermuda's newest Radio Station 107.5 F.M. They are doing a great job. This is just what Bermuda needed, keep up the good work says... "I commit to switch to 107.5 F.M."