Back to square one

February 16, 2007

Dear Sir,

Reading today’s paper (Friday, February 16, 2007), I wonder why it has taken the PLP so long to address an issue that has been on their social agenda since taking the reins of our country. Yet another generation’s educational experience is lost and we are back to square one. The PLP government has prided themselves on being proactive in addressing the major issues facing our country, and yet again, they seem to be back tracking, reactionary and of course, full of excuses. While we talk at lengths about sustainable growth in our country some fail to realise that it is our children who will ultimately be responsible for this sustainability, and already they are disadvantaged. My fellow Bermudians, I urge you to come to grips with what is going on here. This cannot continue to go on.

RICKY E. LINES

Pembroke

Suspicious behaviour

February 14, 2007

Dear Sir,

It appears that Maxwell Burgess has become self-serving, forgetting to represent the people who entrusted him with their vote. He goes so far as to offer his services to a new party or to the PLP government (yet again), especially to fill a job if asked to by the Premier. It sounds to me like “Brown-nosing”.

PLAY ON WORDS

Warwick

Step back on Southlands

February 14, 2007

Dear Sir,

I have to write to you to question the wisdom of the proposed “Southlands” development project. While this type of development may be ‘new and exciting’ for Bermuda, the immense concrete and glass superstructure presented by the developers can be seen in many other locations, alongside the environmental and social problems it creates. How will Bermuda provide the large number of staff required to run a luxury resort when hardly any Bermudians seem interested in working in the hotel industry anymore?

If more guest workers need to be brought in to run the operation, how will they affect the already-strained electrical, medical and transport infrastructure of our island? How will the influx of the 400 proposed new staff housing units (regardless of whether they are occupied by Bermudians or guest workers) impact the Khyber Pass area of Warwick? It seems to me that no-one has really thought about the implications of this project, and we all need to step back and take a look at the big picture before getting carried away by the excitement.

THINKING

St. David’s

What about beach access

February 14, 2007

Dear Sir,

Will the Southlands Hotel Development allow Bermudians access to the beach as with Elbow Beach? Or will access be restricted to residents, as with Tuckers’ Point?

BOB FLATH

Devonshire

What happened to free buses

February 15, 2007

Dear Sir,

How disappointing that bus and ferry fares remain unchanged in the Budget. One hundred days ago the new Premier announced his support for free public transport. Was the Minister of Finance not listening? If millions of dollars can be given to cricket and football, surely the country can afford to waive these fares, as more people using public transport would create knock-on benefits for everyone in Bermuda. Yours taxed to distraction,

ANDREW R. DOBLE

Hamilton Parish

Even more strain on us

February 8, 2007

Dear Sir,

During the past few weeks of hearing the pros and cons of the Southlands Development I have decided that it is a negative development for Bermuda and especially on one social point,: it will put a severe strain on our already strained healthcare system. To put it bluntly, Bermudians are presently fully employed and in particular are no longer thrilled to work shift work, public holidays, etc. (Hence, the shortage of Bermudian police and nurses).

Therefore, a project of this magnitude would require hundreds of additional guest workers to run such a hotel of this size and quality 24/7. Not only will there be an increase in traffic (they will be allowed cars), but also demands on our healthcare system as we suffer from a shortage of dentists, GPs as well as specialists, plus our present hospital is constantly full that Bermudians have to resort to going abroad to seek prompt medical attention. So I would urge the developers and the Bermuda Government to think about this additional strain on Bermuda’s healthcare system.

M.J. SMITH

Devonshire

Protect transsexuals

February 09, 2007

Dear Sir,

Re: “Govt. will review ‘outdated’ Human Rights Act, new commission chair says”. Sadly, the present Bermuda Human rights Act by omission not only legitimises discrimination against persons on the grounds of their sexual orientation, but on one’s presented gender identity, too. Gleaned from a lengthy exchange with the British government concerning the lack of human rights legislation to protect transsexual persons in Bermuda... the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Overseas Territory Department, confirmed that:

• The UK Gender Recognition Act 2004 does not extend to any British Overseas Territories.
• That Bermuda has not enacted any legislation to recognise transsexuals.
• That it would appear that there is no gender recognition system in place in Bermuda and Bermudian courts or officials will not therefore recognise United Kingdom gender recognition certificates.
• That Bermuda is expected to comply with obligations under human rights instruments which have been extended to it. In particular, Bermuda is bound by the European Convention on Human rights (“ECHR”) and, like persons in the UK, persons in Bermuda have the right of individual petition under the ECHR.

Accordingly, the financial cost to the Bermuda government of honourably complying with their obligation under the ECHR and voluntarily rectifying the present lack of rights afforded transsexual persons under its jurisdiction would be significantly less than having to not only embarrassingly but unsuccessfully defend one of probably no more than a handful of abused transsexual persons pursuing favourable justice that they know<\m>by precedent<\m>they will receive before the European Court of Human rights.

BRENDA LANA SMITH R AF D

Cornwall, United Kingdom

How to improve 107.5 FM

February 20, 2007

Dear Sir,

The only way Hott 107.5 will ever improve is:

1. Less talking and more music. If topics aren’t serious then they shouldn’t be mentioned.
2. ‘Name & Birthdate’ commercial (and similar) needs to be played every day or at least three days a week.
3. Reggae Hour (local & overseas): constant reggae for one hour whether you go to a commercial or just play music. Or if you wish, R&B for an hour.That playing reggae in one song then, playing an old tune the next, is boring.

MY OPINION

Pembroke

Bravo to Kayla Tavares

February 7, 2007

Dear Sir,

What a refreshing change it was to look at the front page and see something “positive” for a change as this young girl Kayla Tavares. If you want an honest answer ask a child! It seems that this eight-year-old has more common sense than her supposed leaders! What a wonderful role model she is for her generation. Hopefully her attitude will spread across the island to her peers, after all it is her generation that is Bermuda’s future. Hopefully we’ll be hearing more from this youngster in the near future as well as distant future as our leader of Bermuda! Bravo Miss Kayla Tavares, Bravo!

GRATEFUL BERMUDIAN

Hamilton Parish

Spend more on Education

February 4, 2007

Dear Sir,

Less than half our students graduate from high school. Does this indicate that we are a country of morons or mental defectives? Or does it indicate that our education system needs a large investment of cash to improve teaching methods. What is our Government’s response to this dilemma? It is to dump $15 million of our public money into the sport of football. Attacks against tourists have risen alarmingly, with seniors being robbed in their bedrooms and on the streets, thus wiping out the benefits of millions spent on advertising. What is our Government’s response to this dilemma? It is to spend the public’s money on a personal bodyguard for the Premier. How much longer are we going to tolerate this hopeless Government? A revival of the Opposition is urgent, now.

WARWICK VOTER

Look at the deception

February 21, 2007

Dear Sir,

The developers of the Southlands property have obviously begun a major public relations campaign to sway public opinion in favour of the proposed luxury hotel. While we don’t have their resources, we will attempt to alert the public when they make false or misleading statements. As examples: In today’s Royal Gazette (February 16, 2007) in the article titled “Top Jumeirah executives tour Southlands estate” on page 5, Mr. Guy Crawford, top executive of the group said “We feel strongly that we want this resort to be part of a community. You have to let the community come in and be part of it” Yet the planning application calls for 400 employees, 235 car parking spaces and 200 bike spaces. We have to question: Will the surrounding roads and community of Constituency #24 become a parking lot for the Southlands development?

This is significant because on January 31, 2007, The Royal Gazette reported that “According to the (Southlands) developers only 16 percent of the 37 acre Southlands estate will be built upon.” This percentage is very<$> deceptive as it only includes roofed areas. It does not include other concreted or paved surfaces such as roadways, walkways, pools, patios, staircases, parking lots and so on. We raise the question: What is the total proposed percentage of hard surface (including roofed areas, roadways, walkways, pools, patios, parking lots)?

Mr. Crawford also is quoted in today’s article as saying “In Bermuda we want the core, senior people on this property to be Bermudian” however, on February 1, 2007 The Royal Gazette quotes Dr. Eugenie Simmons saying “It is a fact that the country has enormous difficulty attracting qualified Bermudians to work in our hospitality sector and we have a failing system for provision of training of Bermudians for skilled jobs in the construction and hospitality sectors”, “This is demonstrated by the fact the construction and hospitality sectors currently have the highest numbers of work permits.” It would seem, therefore, that the Bermudian population of those wishing to be in either hotel or construction industries is already saturated.

WE ARE WATCHING!

Hold MP accountable

February 21, 2007

Dear Sir

A government MP takes exception to an expat who does not show him the respect that his title demands. Said MP further makes racist comments concerning the colour of his heart to the hapless expat. The MP successfully ejects the expat from the island, thereby depriving him of his livelihood. Will this MP be held accountable for his shameful actions and racist comments? I am waiting. Message to government ministers — we are not stupid.

D. BILLING

Smiths

Terminology twisting

February 18, 2007

Dear Sir,

The developer for Southlands has given the public the impression that this development will have limited impact on the Southlands property and Bermuda. They have used terms like ‘land bridge’ to hide the fact that they intend to make the South Shore Road a tunnel. I question what other aspects of the development on this site are being hidden to avoid public reaction. Another example of the misinformation appears to be the residential component of this development. I have seen in the past where a hotel has been the carrot for a developer to get major residential developments through the Government process. I question why an increase in the residential development area is being requested with little being said about it. If the Hotel developers are as successful as we are being told, then what is the residential increase for? Are we being misled again while other people make large profits on high-end housing?

DON’T BE MISLED

Sandys

Discussion was thwarted

February 18, 2007

Dear Sir,

It’s a sad sign of the times when the Bermuda environment has to be protected from the Ministry of the Environment! Special Development Orders (SDO) are a way to circumvent existing planning/zoning regulations and are awarded at the sole discretion of the Minister of the Environment. Public discussion is thwarted by this process. It is time for us all to protest this system, using our collective voice to protect what little open space is left for us all to enjoy.

NO SDOs FOR OPEN SPACE

Southampton

Thoughtless station design

January 30, 2007

Dear Sir,

I catch the bus every working day, from North Shore, Smith’s to Hamilton. I have been travelling by bus since I was a school girl, and am still travelling well into adulthood to and from Hamilton. Consequently, I have put a lot of money into The Bermuda Transportation System over the years, and feel that I can voice my opinion. While, in general I am not totally happy with your system, I would like to speak about the main bus station in Hamilton. Who on this earth could have approved those plans? What conscious person would want to sit under this awning waiting for the bus while the wind is blowing and the rain is coming from all directions?/p>

I am so upset at those thoughtless persons who do not have to sit there waiting for the bus, with the force of wind and rain beating down on them. But, why should they care, when they leave their houses they go directly to their cars, and in their comfort they can look at us trying to shelter ourselves from the wind and rain on the side of the roads where there are no bus shelters. While, I realise that there have been many letters to the editor about this subject, and that nothing is going to be done about it, I wanted to also stand united with those who are concerned and feeling the sting of rain and wind while waiting for their respective buses, to take them home after a long day at work.

ABKA

Smith’s

Hotel will have a casino

February 6, 2007

Dear Sir,

Just how stupid or gullible does Mr. Christiansen think Bermudians are? Anyone with a brain or a pulse knows that just as the Southlands eyesore is a done deal; so is the casino therein. His “suggestion” might as well have been a point of fact given the way this Government works. “Guests” paying to stay at this latest Jambalaya resort, which will likely be fenced off like those resorts in Jamaica, would not stand to hear they can’t gamble. The only form of gambling their visitors can expect at present is whether or not they’ll get mugged. Besides, if you had to pay $10 grand to have a picture with Ewart at the aged Fairmont; just imagine what he’ll charge at his Southlands hangout! Blackjack with the Premier, has a nice ring to it.

DOUBLE DOWN

Smith’s Parish