June 14, 2002

Dear Sir,

This is a belated thank you to a compassionate but unknown member of the public.

On October 5, 2000, I was in the garden outside the King Edward Memorial Hospital, trying to clutch my heart as it sank to the bottom of the world. As I sat there shattered, an angel with short hair and dark skin came to me ... she cried with me, she prayed for me and she held me.

Thank you angel of mercy.

ZP

Southampton

June 13, 2002

Dear Sir,

I am writing in reference to the new fast ferry schedule, and I am sure there is someone out there in the land of politics reading this. To put it nicely, the schedule does not make any kind of sense.

Mr. Politician, there are still hundreds of cars leaving the west end between 6.55 a.m. and 7.10 a.m.

And now that you have another service running back and forth from Rockaway, I wonder how you expect to fit more vehicles in the parking area if there are not enough parking bays to accommodate the extra vehicles?

Suggestion: Have the ferry leaving Rockaway at 7 a.m. arriving in Hamilton at 7.20 a.m.

Mr. Politician this time alone will decrease the traffic going into Hamilton by a whopping 50 percent.

The departure time from Hamilton should be pushed back at least 45 minutes, not every working class citizen in the western district finishes work at 5 p.m.

Cut down some more of the ‘naval forest' for more parking.

I would love to start using what I paid for.

Also on another matter, Watford Bridge needs some serious road repairs; please Mr. Politician do not wait until something tragic happens!

Sometimes I look back in my rearview mirror thinking I might have left my axle behind.

I am speaking on behalf of the western residents; being that our western politicians are conveniently sleep walking on basic issues.

HARD WORKING TAX PAYER

Sandys Parish

June 8, 2002

Dear Sir,

Financial Assistance is practising strange work ethics. They have lost my file twice. The second time I let them know: “I am not the one”. I stormed into the Director's office and demanded my file. Douglas Tucker found it so fast, the chair I was sitting in didn't even get warm.

This is a message to any one attempting to get assistance. They say they lost your file knowing it was full of information, pay stubs, rent receipts, bills etc. They know it will turn you off, and you know you can't afford to wait four weeks to collect the information again. Most people don't bother to go back. It is my observation that this is a practice to deflect you.

Someone needs to look into the Department of Financial Assistance and explain it to those of us who have walked away crying, angry and even, lose of appetite from the depression.

In any case they need to go under investigation by Larry Dennis. In fact the entire party. Why does Alex Scott find it necessary to tell us they are over by $26,000 on the wharf in Flatts? Makes you wonder about what he hasn't told us in the past.

PLP, we are not saying you are so awful compared to UBP, I personally think you both failed the people. But I think your voters are most upset because they felt they had a party who could relate to their needs and accommodate them as much as possible. Have you ever heard the one about: “Your own dog bites you the hardest?” They forgot to tell you what the victim did.

THE ANALYST

Somerset

June 18, 2002

Dear Sir,

Almost every day you come into contact with an “average working class Bermudian” who is looking for a place to live and probably has been looking for quite some time. One would think that seeing all the construction going on here on this Island there wouldn't be a huge problem finding a place to live. There is!

It appears the problem is that just about all housing units, condos and/or apartments which are being built are “executive rentals”. I truly understand that we are living in a time of change and that Bermuda operates from International Business which therefore means importing foreigner workers to do some of the jobs and housing them in “executive rentals”.

That's fine, Bermuda but let's stop and think for a minute, where are the Bermudians supposed to live? We cannot pick up and relocate. Many foreigners come here and are awarded housing allowances or share housing between three or four people. This enables them to afford “executive rental” rents. We as Bermudians must struggle to find an affordable place to live.

My question is why isn't somebody, somewhere building condos and/or apartments for the “average working class person”. Let's be real, the average working person cannot afford to pay $2,300 per month rent and still be expected to take care of other bills. We're not asking for hand-outs nor are we placing blame on foreigners, government or anyone else. This is a serious problem which needs to be addressed.

It seems people who are in a position to help don't because they think “here they (the “average working class Bermudian”) go again … complaining”. Wouldn't you complain if you were forced to pay every cent you made on rent then had nothing left? Soon what we are going to have are hundreds of homeless Bermudians sleeping wherever darkness catches them (i.e. parks, benches, beaches and cars). Just imagine what an eyesore that would be for our “International Business”!

The saying is “Bermuda” for Bermudians. Well really, is it?

WORKING CLASS BERMUDIAN

Warwick

June 18, 2002

Dear Sir,

Would you kindly permit me a clarification on your news story Monday headlined “Barritt laments lack of Jubilee Spirit”? I seemed to have been misunderstood; which may have something to do with the poor acoustics in the House of Assembly now that the press has been shunted down to the visitor's gallery.

What I said was that I wanted to know what the Government was planning to do to mark the Golden Jubilee. I said that I assumed that they were planning something, having thought the event significant enough to send a Cabinet Minister to London to help mark the occasion. I speculated that Government possibly has something unique planned and, that in view of the time which has elapsed since the anniversary date, Government might want to end the suspense and let people know what's coming. I did note the other events which had been held locally to mark the Jubilee, including the Thanksgiving Service at the Anglican Cathedral. I am also aware that Government House held a party in recognition of the 50th anniversary.

Finally, if I may, one of your correspondents recently wondered in your Letters column whether his MPs, Michael Dunkley and I, had attended the Premier's reception for Cherie Booth. For the record: we weren't invited and, no, we didn't attend.

JOHN BARRITT JP MP

Devonshire