Something he said?

November 5, 2008

Dear Sir,

November 3 – Minister of Environment and Sports, Mr. El James: "I'll fight for Southlands park"

November 4 – Premier Brown: "Assuming responsibility for Environment and Sports will be Mr. Glenn A. Blakeney"

PAS

Warwick

Deal with road baddies

November 1, 2008

Dear Sir,

Your article in today's paper by Amanda Dale outlines the large amount of revenue not being collected by the Government by unlicensed vehicles; and similar loss by insurance companies for uninsured vehicles.

The article states: "Unlicensed vehicles are photographed and issued with an automatic $750 fine." If that is the case, then how does the fine get issued? If the vehicle owner is notified of the fine, then they have no excuse to say they were unaware that their vehicle was unlicensed and uninsured. Such excuse has resulted in a substantial reduction in fines in the courts recently; e.g. the Richard Cox case.

If the vehicle owner is not notified of the offence and fine in a reasonable time after the first offence, then it may be felt to be entrapment.

If the vehicle owner ignores the notification of the fine, then he/she should be liable for every infraction thereafter.

I think Government should take some responsibility for allowing multiple instances of law-breaking when it has information and record of the instances. God forbid that say, a particular unlicensed, uninsured car is involved in an accident which causes serious damage to innocent persons, or even the driver, then the injured victim could say that car should not have been on the road since the Government knew it was unlicensed and uninsured. In such a case, I wonder if the Government could be held jointly liable!

Picture this! If a person walked down the road carrying a gun which was noted on a CCTV or called in to the Police by a by-stander – I trust the Police would immediately attend the gun-toting baddie to prevent him/her shooting someone. Presumably they would also arrest and fine the baddie for the crime of carrying a gun. The analogy is clear.

Let's get these delinquent vehicles dealt with immediately after the first offence; either off the road, or properly licensed and insured.

UNCOMMON SENSE

St. George's

Help find lost toys

November 2, 2008

Dear Sir,

I hope you can help. My family were recently in Bermuda on holiday from the UK.

My young son Ben who is six years old lost his blue knapsack with his two favourite stuffed animals that he has had since he was born. One is a stripy cat called Tigger and the other was a fluffy dog called Jack. He has been so upset abut losing his two favourite stuffed animals. While in Bermuda we tried to locate them, but with no luck.

We are hoping you would be able to help. He last had his knapsack on Saturday, October 25. We believe it was lost either at the Elbow Beach Bus stop at 4 p.m. going towards St. George side of the road or in a white taxi under the driver's seat. The only info we have about the taxi is the driver was called Thomas and he was between 40-50 years old and was eating Pringle chips while he was driving and he drove a family of five from Elbow Beach to Mullet Bay on Saturday, October 25 at approximately 4 p.m. and we used his cell phone to call our friend.

Our phone number in England is 44 (0)151 336 5653.

KATHRYN PARR

benco@sky.com

Wirral, UK

Anyone with any information can also call 295-8424 in Bermuda.

Free the dolphins

October 30, 2008

Dear Sir,

We just returned from vacation to Bermuda, and while we found the island to be lovely and welcoming, we won't be back. By accident, we stumbled upon the awful dolphin swim outfit and I'll never be able to shake the memories of those magnificent marine mammals relegated to a tiny tank and forced to interact with tourists.

The very qualities that make dolphins so appealing to us — intelligence, grace and affability — are the very reasons keeping them captive for "swim with" programmes is all the more reprehensible. They will never know the joy of swimming freely in their vast ocean home. To put profit about the well-being of these animals is a shame and disgrace on Bermuda.

Bermuda has so much to offer visitors and this cruel blight should be eliminated without delay.

JENNIFER O'CONNOR

Fort Erie, Ontario

Remembering Dr. Heslop

November 5, 2008

Dear Sir,

We should appreciate the opportunity to express our sincere sadness at the death of our good colleague and friend Dr. G. P. Heslop M.R.C.V.S.

For over 25 years we have enjoyed a mutually supportive relationship. If asked, Paddy was always willing to offer not just wisdom based on experience, but also practical help.

Over recent years especially, we have appreciated his good humour, wit, compassion and integrity.

More than many he had to weather the inconsistencies of the Bermuda milieu, but this never deterred him from his vocation. Paddy had a profound knowledge of horses, and remained both a gentleman and a natural protagonist in the animal kingdom he so loved.

DR. WARE AND DR. CIETERS

St. David's

Get tough on prisoners

November 5, 2008

Dear Sir,

Perhaps if Casemates Prison was operated like the Jail in Phoenix, Arizona, then Bermuda would not have such a high recidivism rate! Make life "tough" for criminals! Don't treat them with "kid gloves"! But then I suppose in Bermuda you would have all the "bleeding heart liberals" complain about their rights!

They would probably quickly play the 'Race Card' as well ... you know how that works in Bermuda! Anyway, this is what the Phoenix voters decided again yesterday! I guess they know what works in Phoenix and the USA in general!

Here's the story:

"PHOENIX – Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio – who embraces the "Toughest Sheriff in America" title – rolled to victory in his fifth general election on Tuesday.

"Arpaio was facing what was considered his strongest re-election challenge in years from Democrat Dan Saban, a former sheriff's deputy, Mesa police officer and Buckeye police chief.

"But Arpaio beat Saban 56 percent to 41 percent with 80 percent of the precincts reporting. Saban failed in an earlier effort to wrest the office in the state's most populous county from Arpaio, who's known for his tent city jail, where he outfits prisoners in pink underwear, feeds them green bologna and has them work on chain gangs." (NOW THAT'S PUNISHMENT)

"In the past year, Arpaio has gotten headlines for crime sweeps that target illegal immigration, which resulted in scores of arrests after traffic stops and other minor infractions. Arpaio's office turned any arrested illegal immigrants over to federal authorities for deportation.

"The tactics brought outrage from some quarters but support from residents upset about the government's failure to deal with illegal immigration.

"Arpaio has been in office for 16 years and never faced a major re-election challenge."

BRUCE MCCLARRON

Tucson, Arizona

Re-think free transport

November 7, 2008

Dear Sir,

I'm glad to hear that Government may do a public survey before introducing free travel for all on public transport. While it may seem a good idea at first sight from an environmental perspective, I fear that it could well backfire. Most people choose to use their cars because it is more convenient, not because it is cheaper than public transport. Even if public transport were free, most people would continue to choose to drive.

Making public transport more convenient – i.e. more frequent service, earlier/later running services, extended route coverage, parking availability near ferry stops etc. - is the best way to encourage people to use it. By making it free, it is highly probable that the service quality will in fact decline. Since the service would be providing no income, but instead be a substantial financial drain, it will inevitably be a target for budget cuts. Routes and services could well be curtailed, not enhanced, and buses/ferries may not be maintained or replaced as frequently.

The present free service for seniors and students targets those who most need it. Why go further? That which is free is often undervalued.

FERRY RIDER

Warwick

Misguided thought

November 7, 2008

Dear Sir,

I have just read your article which indicates the Government is going to poll the public about the idea of providing free public transportation on buses and ferries to the general population.

This is a fantastic idea! It would be a positive step forward in reducing our use of oil; it would save Bermuda money. It would reduce the number of cars on the road. It may even save money internally because government would no longer have to account for all the tickets and loose change. It would be a good global environmental example. We may even see ridership increase to the extent that we need more buses, heaven forbid.

However, I was amazed by the sentiment of the quote that was printed, namely: "That means the taxpayers are going to have to pay and the foreigners are getting off scot free."

The concept that the Government would actually be guided by this sort of input is mind-boggling.

First of all, the person quoted obviously does not have any understanding of the financial workings of our economy, and specifically who pays taxes. Therefore this person's input should be immediately discounted.

Secondly, the fact that this person's opinion was shared by, and perhaps influenced, others in the meeting leads me to have concerns about the quality of input in general that the Government is receiving from its supporters.

I can only hope that whoever makes the final decision and policy will not be guided by emotion, formed by ignorance.

MIMIR

City of Hamilton

Kudos to Sea Cadets

October 29, 2008

Dear Sir,

Please allow me a bit of space in your newspaper to commend the Bermuda Sea Cadet Association for the fantastic 'Fish Fry' they put on recently at Christ Church in Devonshire.

When first approached to purchase a ticket by a work colleague, one Philip Woodcock, I must admit I was somewhat sceptical. So often the 'fare' provided at these type of functions is substandard and one is left to console oneself with the thought that at least one is contributing to a worthy cause.

I am pleased to say that this was not the case with the Sea Cadets, first of all it was well organised and the cadets who were assisting looked quite smart in their uniforms.

Now the meal itself was absolutely sumptuous, the fish was succulent and came with a rather generous portion of fries, topped off with dessert and a soft drink indeed it was a meal that Dolly Pitcher herself would have been proud of.

Top marks go to chef Keith DeSilva and his team who did a fantastic job as well as chief officer Keith Battersbee and his association for organising the event. I look forward to the next one and would encourage all to support it!

RECMAN

Smith's

Stand up for openness

October 31, 2008

Dear Sir,

This is in reply to Clive Dakin, "Truckers' inconvenience us", October 30. Mr Dakin, thank goodness someone is taking action and standing up for their rights to demand openness from their government, and to insist upon its integrity in obeying its own laws. How else are they to get themselves heard when no one will answer their questions?

Those herds of commuters who go daily back and forth like sheep with heads in the sand may soon be on the side of the truckers when their livelihoods are threatened by this government's lack of accountability, cronyism, and flagrant mismanagement of public money. Who will be inconvenienced then?

JANET WINGATE

Prague, Czech Republic

Cheer for adventurers

November 5, 2008

Dear Sir,

I recently attended the local chapter of Raleigh International's presentation, 'The Costa Rica and Nicaragua Expedition', and would like to congratulate the young participants on meeting this arduous mental and physical challenge, and on delivering an informative and entertaining presentation.

It was encouraging to hear how well they had adapted to unfamiliar – and often uncomfortable! – environments, and inspiring to learn what each individual had taken away from the life-changing experience.

Working with other international participants, and exposure to different countries and cultures and to those less fortunate, afforded the young people valuable new perspectives on life, notably recognition of the world beyond Bermuda, but also a greater appreciation of how fortunate they are to live here.

I wish them the best in their future endeavours and after seeing the positive impact the experience had on the 2008 venturers, would encourage other young Bermudians to become involved in this worthy organisation.

CAROLYN HILL

Warwick

Build homes not a pool

November 10, 2008

Dear Sir,

Regarding "Pool is one step closer to reality".

Would it not be more prudent and fiscally responsible to build affordable (If there is still such a thing in Bermuda) housing for people, than an enormous Olympic-sized swimming pool that is going to cost more millions of dollars of taxpayers' money?

Good governance is all about priorities for the people's needs!! Obviously, swimming takes a priority over having a 'Roof Over Ones Head' in Bermuda these days, in the minds of the PLP!

Sorry pensioners ... your 50 years of service to Bermuda don't count with the PLP! They prefer (or so they think) to look good! The next election is going to be quite interesting, even though the PLP have, in my opinion, somewhat "rigged it" by conveniently moving the electoral boundaries!

There is only so much the electorate will take ... black or white!

As usual, I rest my case! It's not rocket science!

BRUCE MCCLARRON

Tucson, Arizona

Learn from Obama

November 5, 2008

Dear Sir,

I hope that Barack Obama's election to President-elect of the United States will set an example to our "leader" and his little cartel of how to build a stronger cohesive society. One thing Barack has going for him which our leadership sorely lacks is an appreciation for everyone regardless of race. It is such a shame that our leadership demonstrates behaviour which is diametrically opposed to the good, all-inclusive approach of President-elect Obama.

It would behoove our short sighted, selfish, self-serving leadership with questionable integrity to take a leaf out of President-elect Obama's book …even if it is impossible to rise to Obama's standards …it would be nice to see some effort extended by our leadership to run this country for the people and with some degree of integrity (although this latter request asks an awful lot!).

COTTY OUTERBRIDGE

City of Hamilton