Blacks were mad before '98

Dear Sir,

I guess all hope in Bermuda is not lost! Since the Progressive Labour Party won the election on November 9, 1998 it has caused Sen. E.T. (Bob) Richards and others of his ilk to acquire a social conscience. I know that the PLP will stay in power for at least another nine years and therefore we in Bermuda should expect Bob Richards' and those of his ilk, will continue to talk the talk, while the absolutely refuse to walk the walk.

In his opinion column entitled "Our ostrichlike public safety policy", Sen. Richards spent 99 percent of the column inches allowed him to berate Minister Paula Cox for the speech that she gave to those in attendance at the Labour Day Rally. I would be surprised if Sen. Richards was at the rally to hear Minister Cox's speech first hand, because if he was, it would have been a first. Certainly, for the number of years that I have attended Labour Day activities, Sen. Richards was among the missing because I'm sure he felt no responsibility to socialise with the "workers" in Bermuda. In fact, it is my belief that is why Sen. Richards, who spent most of his adult life with his head buried in the sand, was so shocked when the PLP was victorious at the polls on November 9, 1998.

Bermudians should not forget that Sen. Richards and his wife were in such a state of shock that they publicly vowed to relocate. But it was obvious that they soon came to the realisation that even under a PLP Government, Bermuda would serve their interests better than any other country. Both could have relocated to Guyana where they have roots and relatives.

I can say that Minister Cox (and her family), has always made her concerns known for the ordinary working-class Bermudian. She did not have to use the platform provided for her at the Labour Day rally to state "I feel your pain" as Senator Richards has suggested. Contrary to his assertion "that the issues that Bermudians are mad about are a chronicle of the failures of this Government since 1998".

If Sen. Richards' head had been out of the sand, even when he was attending the Berkeley Institute, he would know that the issues that Bermudians are mad about were created by the oligarchy that ran Bermuda up until 1998. If Sen. Richards would have had his head out of the sand, he would know that black people have been mad since the ancestors of the oligarchy, who were the descendants of European slave traders that ruled Bermuda until 1998 went to Africa and uprooted millions of Africans and exported them to foreign lands.

Sen. Richards would have Bermudians believe that prior to 1998 there was no violent crime, no dug trafficking or drug use, no break-ins, no gang activity and that the public education system was without fault. He goes on to suggest that only since 1998 have the races been polarised and that our political leaders are without ethics. I would like to suggest here that since Senator Richards had his head in the sand up until November 9, 1998 that he now go back and read old copies of The Royal Gazette, the Bermuda Recorder and the Bermuda Times.

Once he has removed his head out of the sand he should also read "From Monk To Mazumbo" by Ira Philip, "First Class Men, Second Class Citizens" (even his father is mentioned in this book) by Eva Hodgson, "The History of the Bermuda Industrial Union" by Ira Philip, "Dr. E.F. Gordon: Hero of the Working Class", by Dale Butler, just to name a few of the history books written by Bermudians about Bermuda and the exploitation of the workers by the oligarchy he subtly praises.

More importantly than reading the above-mentioned books, I would suggest that Senator Richards read the many letters to the editor, that I wrote. He will then see that someone who was born in the same era as him, attended the same school as he did, who was "mad as hell" with the Government of the day, which at one time was led by his father. I know that there was no way that Sen. Richards would have understood or felt my pain at the time.

However, I can "feel his pain" now because Bermuda has a government in place that does not just look out for the "rich and famous", instead the PLP Government is a caring Government that is concerned that all Bermudians share in the economic pie. I can tell him that in the year 2007, I'm even getting a little bit of that pie and for that I am very grateful to the present pilot and co-pilot of the Bermuda Government – the Hon. Dr. Ewart Brown and the Hon. Paula Cox. It's too bad for Senator Richards that he now has to sit in one of those seats closest to the bathroom on that plane.

One more thing. Sen. Richards should remember when he criticises the Hon. Paula Cox or any other Member of Parliament who helps to make up the PLP Government; they were elected by their constituents to represent them in Parliament. Whoever elected him to anything?

LAVERNE FURBERT

Hamilton Parish

What has happened to us?

September 1, 2007

Dear Sir,

I have a problem. It has been brought to my attention today that the lady who was run down by the horses on Front Street at our Harbour Night on April 25, is being told by the Corporation of Hamilton and the Chamber of Commerce that they are not responsible for paying her medical bills.

Why am I interested? Mrs. Moniz was my neighbour when she lived in Bermuda. She came to Bermuda this year to visit relatives, and attended our Harbour Night. She, nor anyone else expected horses to run loose on Front Street. She, unfortunately, was right in their track. You have read in our newspapers how badly Mrs. Moniz was injured, and is still in a very pitiful state. She showed me her leg that was ripped open and one arm still cannot be used affectively. She told me that she is now having dizzy spells. All this, and the lady is a widow. She wants to return home since she has been here since April. Now she finds that nobody claims responsibility for her medical bills.

What has happened to us, Bermuda? This lady did not ask for this accident to happen to her. Yes, it was an accident, but Bermudians, who are always ready to send monetary help all over the world when people are in need, why can't Bermuda accept the fact that we have a need right here in our midst? It is the responsibility of Bermuda to pay this lady's medical bills. I am shocked that no one will accept the responsibility.

Think about this, you who govern this country, and you who are responsible for the City of Hamilton. We've been having too much negative reporting about Bermuda recently. Don't add more.

FRANCES M. HALL

Make garages responsible

September 10, 2007

Dear Sir,

After reading today's newspaper (September 10, 2007) concerning the emissions contracts and costs, I felt that maybe I should add my two cents on emissions testing. I'm no scientific expert but when I see terms like "Specialised form of construction and equipment installation", I think to myself, someone is really trying to push this on Bermudians to get them to accept that these new facilities are needed at a cost of $8.6 million.

I must let you know that I am a Bermudian that lives in the United States. Yearly emission testing is required where I live (I had my car tested last week) and there are at least five emissions testing site in my neighbourhood alone! All are the size of small garages (Like Cardoza's, Auto Express, Weir Enterprise, etc.) and some just do engine work like oil changes.

The "sophisticated and technical equipment" that they use for emissions testing is a dirty computer that has multiple cords and probes attached to it to connect it to various cars. The cords vary according to the car's country of origin so there may only be about four cords (American, Japanese, European, and Korean cars).

The mechanic let me watch the procedure. He typed in my vehicle's identification number into the computer. The computer searched and found my vehicle's make, model, trim and engine size. Since my car is only ten years old, it has a computer. The mechanic removed my ashtray, behind which is a data port plug. He plugged the cable into my car, turned it on and ran the engine for about two minutes. He unplugged my car, punched a few keys on the keyboard, I paid my $20 and got a printout stating that I passed and off I went. I spent about ten minutes at the garage.

An older car that doesn't have a computer has to have "The Probe". That's a metal rod that is inserted into the muffler. The driving wheels are put on rollers (like inside the cycle noise chamber at TCD) and the car is run at a certain speed for about two minutes. The mechanic's computer is linked to the DMV (TCD) so all information is transmitted instantly. Emissions testing did not look that complicated to me.

I do know that computers aren't that expensive and the software and equipment shouldn't be either. The emissions testing sites where I live purchase the required equipment and follow the County/State rules on the testing. In turn they get to charge fees for the testing. The County/State doesn't have to spend millions on buildings, furnishing and staffing of testing facilities when there are hundreds of garages around that can do the exact same job.

As for the controversy surrounding the awarding of the contract for the construction of the facilities, you can form your own conclusion about that. I smell something here and it's not vehicle emissions.

BREATHING EASY

Atlanta, Georgia

They learn from us

August 30, 2007

Dear Sir,

This letter is in reference to all of those young people who get into trouble, both there and around the world.

Let me explain, today August 30, 2007, there is an article in the paper that reads "Police arrest boy in murder probe", London, and of course we have the same kind of headlines here in Bermuda. We all should be proud of ourselves. The lessons that we teach them, on TV, radio, movies, magazines, and just the lives that we live, I speak to myself also, they are listening and learning everything, and doing it. Why should we be surprised then they do what they see, and hear, we are really good teachers. Maybe we are the ones that should face the judge, and go to jail.

We are so cold when it comes to punishing them that we forget that what they are doing they learned everything from us. I could go on and on, but I am sure that you will agree with me that we teachers did a really good job teaching them everything, it's like they got all "A's", we as teachers should pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. And we have the nerve to say they alone are guilty, what absolute arrogance on our part.

ABKA

Smith's Parish

Thou doth protest too much

September 13, 2007

Dear Sir,

In today's issue of your paper, appears a letter from "Funny Boned" regarding C-Travel ads, and their dislike of them. I personally find them funny and informative. I am Bermudian and am not offended at all by them. Poor, poor "Funny Boned" is unable to appreciate the humour or the ability to laugh at one's own self. Methinks thou doth protest too much, "Funny Boned".

CJH

City of Hamilton