We are all at risk

December 29, 2007

Dear Sir,

Thank you for allowing me the privilege to express my personal views regarding the recent shootings in our country. We are now pondering the recent death of another one of our young men from a senseless murder, by a cowardly group of men. They appear to be of a generation not concerned about consequences and they treat people as if they are ants, cockroaches or rats. They tread on them or try extinguishing them at the toss of a coin.

I had actually waved to the young man who was fatally shot that night as I had driven through that area earlier that evening. He waved to me and I recognised him as I had seen him around. Sadly, my son called me within an hour of my waving to the young man, to inform me of his murder.

We seem to live in a society where life doesn't mean much to certain individuals and they feel it's better to eliminate someone rather than try to work through a problem. We are all at risk. We are being held ransom by this group of belligerent tyrants who threaten the total fibre of our society. No one is exempt from their hostile behaviour. As long as we continue to say, "I didn't see anything", their unlawful actions will escalate knowing that no one is willing to talk for fear of reprisal.

Sometimes in life we need to stand up and be counted. Stand for principle and justice; the Master above directs us to do just this.

Following the murder of the first victim the police should have taken a proactive approach but instead seemed lost in the wilderness; not able to solve these crimes.

I believe it is time for a senior officer from overseas to be seconded to the present Bermuda Crimes Division as our present squad doesn't appear to be adequately equipped. It is time for this government to exercise its right as the leaders of our destiny, to take whatever steps are necessary to rid our society of the criminals who could decide our fate for the future.

GREG ROGERS

Southampton

An insurance proposal

December 30, 2007

Dear Sir,

I have been pondering an idea for sometime. I can recall as a youngster growing up in Bermuda, whenever I had to go to a doctor or the hospital for medical or dental services, how I thought everything was free, only to grow into maturity to discover that these professional medical dental services were afforded to me was as a result of my parents having me listed on their employment insurance policy, for which I am eternally grateful.

So I have a proposal for my generation, Government as well as the insurance industry. How rewarding it would be if we as adult employees could now place our retired parents on our insurance policy to cover their medical and dental expenses, in clouding prescription drugs. This doesn't not have to be mandatory, just those adult children who choose this policy be allowed to. However no insurance company can deny an applicant if they so desire to have this taken out of their wages.

I am well aware that there are secondary policies in place for senior citizens, however this would only be a fitting way to reward our parents for their sacrifices to and for us, just to know that their health insurance is underwritten by a son or daughter. The name that I have chosen to give this premium would be the reciprocity insurance policy. It is unfortunate to see some seniors still working just so they can have medical benefits. Once again I think it would be rewarding as an employed adult son and daughter to reciprocate back to our parents.

RK

Warwick

Let's be respectful on roads

December 25, 2007

Dear Sir,

I'm writing your column once more, this time with concerns to all of our road users. I've witnessed o many occasion, while driving at dusk and in the dark of night many of these cars, trucks and motorbikes, using our roads at night, are driving without any lights at all. This is very dangerous, and inconsiderate practice for other road users.

Someone is going to get hurt, or killed. When I got my licence, one rule of the road was, when the street lights of our roads were illuminated, all vehicles needed to have their parking lights on.

It would seem, this law is not in practice any more. I'm just wondering if someone in authority could advise me, and all other road users, if this law still stands. If so, please have those who deal with matters such as this do something about it.

Also, I've seen many cars, even some bikes, with different coloured running lights. I don't think these lights are with in the law either. I'm not trying to ruin someone sprucing up their car or bike, we all did that including me, But, worldwide, the lights and reflectors on all cars are the same, white, amber, and red for a reason. We should stick by these rules and the police should monitor these cars and bikes from time to time.

Also, many of our newer cars come in with fog lamps already affixed to the motor car. I can't remember many days in Bermuda where we had to use fog lamps. Many of these cars are using them as normal head lights, it may look but impede the vision of on coming traffic. This practice, could cause a serious accident. Please monitor.

Let's start our new year, with better respect and consideration for all other road users, especially our tourists. They are Bermuda's most needed commodity. Each of us need to be more patient when driving behind them. And beside them just remember how you feel in their country. Same feelings apply.

As I've said before, we Bermudians, are very special, let's show one another more respect while driving. By doing this, I'm sure we can keep our road fatalities down.

LET'S DO IT!

Paget

Driving lessons

January 2, 2007

Dear Sir,

I could not help but shake my head at the letter from Kathy Landy, bus driver, who seems to think that the source of bad driving in Bermuda is our visitors and foreigners. Apparently, she saw red when Anna Stevenson, the author of the letter titled "Bermudians can't drive", criticised a bus driver and then stopped reading with any degree of attention.

The reference to "our car" by Ms Stevenson as she described a harrowing experience caught me by surprise too, but it is quite clear from the remainder of that sentence (had Ms Landy bothered to read it carefully) that Ms Stevenson was not driving it. I would also argue that it is highly likely, based on her reference to the person driving "our car" as simply "the driver", that the driver was unrelated to her. As such, the diatribe about visitors driving cars on the Island is way off base. Oh, and by the way, Ms Landy, 22 mph is equivalent to 35 ph. That is, it is the speed limit.

There is no question that Anna Stevenson, Kathy Landy and I all agree on one thing – the standard of driving in Bermuda is appalling. I hope Ms Landy does report every instance of poor driving she sees, making no allowances for whether it is a bike or car; large car or small car; or has tinted windows and a fancy paint job or is just "straight off the lot". If she does (and if the police ever followed up) I would be very surprised if there was a disproportionate number of expatriates or visitors reported relative to Bermudians.

My guess is that it would be the other way around, and for exactly the reason given by Ms Stevenson – a lack of proper instruction. Most Bermudians get their first vehicle, a bike, at 16. Few will have taken "Project Ride" and the bad habits they pick up in the years until they buy a car stay with them forever – not signalling turns, overtaking on blind corners, driving too fast, changing lanes without signalling, pulling out of side streets in front of oncoming traffic, failing to use their mirrors and check the blind spot before changing lanes. The list goes on forever. A little Bermudian national pride is not a bad thing. Letting that pride blind you to a reasonably objective evaluation of the facts in front of you is.

It seems that having the Police actually enforce our traffic laws on a regular, consistent basis, is only a faint hope. In the meantime, blaming foreigners for our problems is simply burying our heads in the sand. It is time we stopped doing it.

N. THOMAS CONYERS

Warwick

I have a dream

January 2, 2007

Dear Sir,

I had a dream that our Premier, Dr. Brown, apologised to the people of Bermuda, all of us, the hard-core PLP and UBP supporters and those in the middle who actually decide who will govern for us.

He apologised for doing what all politicians must do to survive in power, get elected or re-elected at any cost and then vowed that never again would lies and hate be permitted to be used by any party in any future election.

He apologised for further polarising our little nation based upon race and vowed to do all he could to rebuild race relationships for the betterment of all Bermudians.

He apologised for promising free meals, education and seniors' health care for all when he knew that the cost of doing so was beyond the means of any Government to provide but vowed to do all he could, particularly for those whose need was greatest.

He reminded us all that wrongs had been done in the past, and not too distant past at that, but to move forward together as one nation he vowed never to use slavery and race as justification for scoring political points or in establishing policy, but to provide measured and cost effective support for all Bermudians, particularly for those whose need was greatest.

He accepted that he cannot please all of his people all of the time, but vowed to lead the Government in a manner that benefited the most Bermudians, starting with those whose need was greatest, but not at the cost of others or as a legacy to future generations.

He acknowledged that personal history had shaped his political career and that he had used the most divisive language to achieve his ultimate goal of leading our little nation, but vowed that now he had received a personal mandate to lead us all, he would do so with an even hand, as any victorious and honourable leader would do.

I dreamed that our very divided Bermuda would heal and I pray it will come true.

A BERMUDIAN WITH A DREAM

Pembroke

I am not impressed

December 26, 2007

Dear Sir,

Pamela H. Wilcocks (RG dated December 24, 2007) professes not to harbour malice towards her grandmother's persecutors who live many thousands of miles from her (Big Deal!). But, she sees only anger and hate in the struggle for justices and equality by blacks who live side by side with her. I have no doubt that the anger and hate which she sees is her own reflection. In any case, her perception of us ensures she has no right to tell blacks how they should feel or behave — not even after taking the name of Martin Luther King in vain. So I am not impressed by her claim to be a forgiving spirit.

"Glad it's over" in the same issue wants the PLP to "embrace" whites. I cannot speak for the PLP, but I do know that at its inception the PLP rejected Mr. Russell Pearman a long time effective black politician in order to "embrace" a white woman in a 'safe' black constituency. At that time, PLP founders leaned over backwards to 'embrace' whites.

Forty years later, knowing the rejections of this 'embrace' of their forbears by whites, the younger generation seems less inclined to do any 'embracing' of whites who have continued to keep us at arms lengths, unless we are prepared to give our votes to them through the UBP.

EVA N. HODGSON

Hamilton Parish

Going to a new level

January 2, 2007

Dear Sir,

The Honourable Premier, Dr. Ewart F. Brown has promised to take us to another level.

Well I do believe that the process has begun. Bermuda has indeed reached a new level – with the S&P ratings outlook dropping from positive to stable. Some of their reasoning: lack of transparency, (racial) polarisation and fiscal concerns partially due to election promises. Each of these is either directly or indirectly as a result of the words or actions of our Honourable Premier.

Thanks a lot Doc.

And this is just in his first year in office – he has five more to go.

RAISSA DAVIDSON

Southampton

Changing the system

January 2, 2008

Dear Sir,

Silly season has come and gone, with very little change.

The Election has come and gone, with very little change.

The politicians need to be reminded loud and clear that they have been elected to serve the people, not themselves. The Party with the majority of seats has a job to do. That is to oversee the running of government, for the benefit of all Bermudians, not a select group. The Party with the least seats also has a job to do. That is to praise the other Party when they do things right, or criticise them when they take the wrong path. That is the way of the Westminster System of Government, that we have.

Some people keep complaining about it but do not do anything to change it.

Some of the voters feel left out in the cold. If you are one of them, there is a group here in Bermuda called the Voters Rights Association. To find out more about them, log on to www.votersrightsbda.com.

COEUR DE LION

Warwick

Kudos to GPO

December 28, 2007

Dear Sir,

Many thanks to the General Post Office for the excellent delivery service we have received this holiday period. I wish all post office workers in Bermuda a happy and healthy 2008.

HAZEL BROWN

Pembroke