[naviga:h3]Afraid to live here[/naviga:h3]

Dear Sir,

Here I sit by my window every night looking out, wondering who's coming down the road tonight.

We have been robbed three times and numerous houses in the area have been as well.

The public better get ready because they are coming, it's only a matter of what day and what time.

The Police consider these acts as misdemeanour offences because they don't want the public to panic.

I never thought I would be afraid to live in Bermuda but the time has come due to recent events.

Someone must take the time to educate the youth of today because the 'Pen' is mightier than the 'Sword'. The sword is a tool used to slay mankind, the pen is a tool to educate and inspire mankind.

As self-aware human beings we must make the conscious decision to preserve life, not only for ourselves but also for everything around us.

Years ago my mother said that President John F.Kennedy was a good man for the people. He once said: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what your can do for your country."

Bermudians must step forward, if not we will lose our country.

Obviously, with this Government, Police Department and Magistrates, all good Bermudians must suffer.

Maybe this is what Premier Dr. Brown wants so that all respectable Bermudians will choose to leave Bermuda.

Maybe the Governor should impose his power and take control of the situation by bringing in British teams of police officers to deal with these 'petty' crimes.

CONCERNED CITIZEN OF BERMUDA

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A time for change

September 14, 2009

Dear Sir,

In recent days, we have seen the United Bermuda Party deteriorate. Six more members of the United Bermuda Party have resigned from their respective posts. This has occurred shortly on the heels of other resignations over the past two years. The uniting theme of these resignations is the "no-confidence" vote in Premier Brown.

Although it is truly refreshing to see change in Bermuda, it is also concerning. Multiple routes may be utilised to take back Bermuda from the clutches of its highly criticised government. If Bermuda is to be democratically changed it will need to acquire a democratic majority. This majority cannot be drawn along the lines of race; it will need to be founded in strong ideals based in fact and transparency, not simply in emotion.

Emotion has never been lacking in Bermuda. This has been thoroughly proven through the recent resignations, which, although founded in reason, are also laced with emotion. Bermuda, it is time to move democratically forward and get behind those leaders who have decided to start something fresh and new. Without your vigilance the efforts for change will be stifled.

Yet, where does this stop? Are there going to be more factions that break from their parties? Is Bermuda headed down the path of coalition governments, with thinly sewn truces that may lead to further discontent, distrust, and disunity? Obviously, this is a time for change in Bermuda as it was similarly a time for change in the United States in the 2008 Presidential elections. However, it is politically imprudent to base this model of change in Bermuda on that of change in the United States. The US has problems of its own; furthermore, those problems are deeply affecting Bermuda.

Change is needed and that change is happening now. I offer this thought to the citizens of Bermuda: The time to support your leaders is now, without waiting until tomorrow or after the lines are drawn. The time to effect change is now. When it comes time to cast your vote, end the current trends. My most sincere wish is that Bermuda will be able to rejoice in many more centennial festivities while looking back at its history with the knowledge that Bermuda has, can, and will continue to change.

BENJAMIN J.M. LACY

Bethesda, Maryland

Paget, Bermuda

Target the yachts

September 10, 2009

Dear Sir,

As the family of the latest shooting victim clings to hope that their loved one will recover from his injury, I wonder if the dynamic team of executives who share the responsibility for monitoring our borders have accepted the fact that they have failed miserably in their duties.

Perhaps they have been so involved in other petty internal matters that more important issues have been neglected. The powers that be seem more concerned about accommodating the wants of certain individuals within the organisation, rather than allowing fair opportunity for all employees to gain experience in unfamiliar areas. This practice of familiarity for a select few may not only breed contempt, but may also cause suspicion which may then contribute to the talk of corruption that Minister Louis Farrakhan, the gang member who was interviewed and others have previously mentioned.

The senior managers at HM Customs should concentrate more on the yachts that arrive in Bermuda rather than targeting the small man who arrives via L.F. Wade International Airport. They should be aware that yachts have the capability of transporting hundreds of millions of dollars worth of illegal drugs and/or contraband, as was proven in August 2001 when there were separate reports from both Matthew Taylor of The Royal Gazette – "Huge drugs seizure on boat: Yacht discovered with half a tonne of cocaine on board", and Lilla Zuill of The Bermuda Sun - "Drugs seized aboard yacht". The 60-foot yacht Ocean Voyager, as reported in the Bermuda Sun, was actually impounded by HM Customs and dry-docked in the boat yard adjoining Meyer Industries, St. George's. Based on this information alone, why hasn't there been better deployment of customs officers at the St. George's Yacht Reporting Centre in recent years to assist in searching vessels which arrive here?

Better yet, why were two men recently able to abandon their dilapidated 35-foot sailing vessel in St.George's, and depart Bermuda on a British Airways flight without notifying the proper authorities?

What I found interesting about that particular story was the comments of the Assistant Collector of Customs (Enforcement), Mr. William Pearman. In particular, he stated that, "Any rumour that there was any illicit activity going on is pure speculation, and if they were involved in something, I would have heard about it and they wouldn't have been able to abscond so easily". Is Mr. Pearman implying that all illicit activity gets reported to him prior to its occurrence? If so, why is this island experiencing an increase in drugs and gun crime? Perhaps Mr. Pearman and the other senior managers at HM Customs can assist by finding a solution to the gun problem this island now faces.

The Hon. Finance Minister Paula Cox has rightfully spoken out because it is she who is answerable for all acts and omissions and must bear the consequences for any defect of administration in her Ministry which, I might add, includes the Customs Department. They, supposedly, monitor the ports and this responsibility includes searching people, packages, containers, yachts, ships, private and commercial aircraft and so on.

A contributing factor to this decline in our society is that standards have been lowered at HM Customs as well, and we are now experiencing the negative effects of that action. In my opinion, the posts occupied by these executives should entail more than just collecting a hefty paycheck at the end of each month. They must also be held accountable for this mess.

J. CAINES

Devonshire

Minister Scott is a hero

September 14, 2009

Dear Sir,

Some sort of hero award needs to be given to The Hon. Michael Scott, Minister of Telecommunications, for something he did with little fanfare, but which enriches us all.

Your Monday, September 14, edition depicted the Minister as having taken a crucial action for Bermuda's international business economy, the effects of which will benefit all Bermudians for decades to come – although your readers may barely have noticed the Minister carving out Bermuda's next great economic pillar.

Minister Scott's foresight needs to be praised, and the importance of what he did needs to be understood and celebrated by all Bermudians, because his actions have opened the door for a new Bermudian economic pillar which will certainly take its place in the history books next to cedar ship-building, Bermuda lilies and onions, blockade-running, and tourism – the new industry of which I speak could easily outstrip all of those past economic mainstays combined.

So what did the Minister do for which we owe him these thanks? He opened the door for the international space industry to consider Bermuda its global hub.

Facts:

¦ Space industry, although only in its infancy, has weathered the economic downturn not only unscathed, but has actually skyrocketed while other sectors tanked or stayed flat.

¦ Space industry, being just in its infancy, is set to further expand to almost unthinkable volumes of revenue. NASA in the early 1990s estimated the mineral wealth of the asteroid belt at over $90 billion dollars for every man, woman and child on the planet! That's +/- $540 quintillion!!! That asteroid belt lies just outside the orbit of Mars, a planet we have already explored robotically.

¦ Space is an ideal environment for industry because low gravity allows for easy manufacture, and low temperature allows for hyper-efficient superconductivity of electricity.

¦ Bermuda is better-suited than any other jurisdiction to domicile, insure and provide legal services for the space industry, which is inherently international in scope

The Hon. Minister Scott is a true visionary, and although we might not realise the importance of his actions yet, he deserves the highest praise possible for what he has done. His fight to expand our economy had nothing to do with PLP v UBP, black v white, rich v poor, labour v business, or any other political boundary — he acted on behalf of ALL Bermudians, with humility, wisdom and an extraordinary degree of intellect and common sense. Mark my words, Bermuda, space industry will one day be bigger than all of our other major historical industries combined.

I hope readers will take a moment to learn more about the space industry, and in particular to call, write or e-mail Minister Michael Scott to express their thanks for what he has done for us. I also wish to point out that even after all of the controversy stirred up by our firebrand of a Premier, he quietly supported & encouraged (I happen to know for a fact) Minister Scott's decision, and that at no time did they politicise it or seek political or personal benefit. For their actions, we all owe a deep debt of gratitude.

ALAN L. GORDON

St. David