Losing our trees

June 9, 2009

Dear Sir,

Has no one ever realised the more trees we chop down the less rain we will get.

Not very clever is it?

SONIA HAMMOND

Warwick

Changes are needed

May 29, 2005

Dear Sir,

The UBP must get rid of some of their stereotype and conditioned thinking if they are to understand and correspond with intelligence and pragmatism to the forces of change. The Government itself should adopt machinery for the people of Bermuda that does not exist. The main object of Government should be to promote harmony and efficiency. We should have joint consultative committees at regional and domestic levels. It should be accepted that autocratic control in the management of Bermuda is no longer desirable and even perhaps no longer practicable.

RAYMOND RUSSELL

Pembroke

Protect the workers

May 28, 2009

Dear Sir,

I write concerning the governments' treatment of the Hustle Truck workers. As reported in The Royal Gazette, three workers claimed they were fired after raising concerns about the lack of insurance and pension coverage due them. The workers appeared to have qualified for these benefits as they had been working over 30 hours a week for more than three months. Is the Hustle Truck (BHC) in breach of the Employment Act 2000? The Government should clearly state their position on this issue. It appears as if the PLP Government is showing little or no regard for the workers and their rights in this Country. This is evidenced by the fact that the Government continues to give out large contracts to non-unionised companies. It is rumoured that some of these companies do not adhere to the Employment Act 2000. I do not know if this is true or not, and would appreciate clarification from Government.

The Government's recent pursuit of the Performance Bond put up by a subsidiary of the Bermuda Industrial Union speaks volumes. The Union could have been crippled, had it not been for their members holding their leaders and the Government responsible for the ill-advised issuance of the Performance Bond. This makes me think back to when the Premier refused to come out and face the workers outside the House of Assembly.

The workers of our country are under a lot of stress. It is becoming increasingly difficult for them to make ends meet, as the cost of living escalates and the recession takes a grip. Should we have a more sympathetic government when it comes to the lot of the common man? The Premier's recent announcement that there should be a trade-off in the form of a three-day strike notice, flies in the face of workers' rights to express themselves freely. This will disadvantage the workers, as in many cases they have to resort to untimely work stoppages to get their point across. This is not to say that workers should be irresponsible, but at times they have no choice.

So ask yourself, do we have a labour government that is labour and union friendly? Do we have a government only interested in feathering their own nests and those of their friends and associates? I remember when the UBP were in power. They were a lot more sympathetic to the worker as negotiations were carried out in a more fair and honest manner.

TRADE UNIONIST

Smith's

Do not decriminalise

June 2, 2009

Dear Sir,

Please allow me the space to respond to a letter from "Former Gang Member". With all due respect FGM, your solution of decriminalisation of marijuana in Bermuda in the fight against gang membership is totally asinine. To suggest that money (economics) is the biggest factor in creating and sustaining gangs, is not true.

Your Commissioner of Police Mr. Jackson had insisted a few years back that there were no gangs in Bermuda other than "social or neighbourhood gangs" (groups), his words. At that time and before that comment was made, Bermuda youth and grown men had graduated from the mentality of "delinquent gangs" to what rules and exists now.

These are individuals comprised of hard-core gang members who derive prestige from the involvement of criminal acts. Many of the gangs in this (group) require the performance of criminal or violent acts as a prerequisite to remain or to be members of the gang. These individuals are in more frequent and serious trouble with the Police and have very little fear or "respect" for the written law or for those who are commissioned to enforce said laws. They have no respect for social values or law-abiding citizens. They are angry, hostile and have a propensity for violence. Most members of gangs are recruited in schools. Young people join gangs to fill a real or perceived void in their lives. They find in gangs what they cannot find at home, schools or within their communities.

Mr. or Miss FGM, their strongest incentive for gang membership comes from wanting to "Belong". Other reasons for joining a gang can be: 1. Protection or security from gang violence in their school or in their neighbourhoods; 2. Identity and status to achieve acceptance and build self image among their peers to be a "Big Shot"; 3. Activity and excitement. The need to find relief from boredom; 4. Companionship. They need closeness and a feeling of belonging. They seek the love and respect that they cannot find at home! and 5. Economics! Money is the by-product of gang activity.

FGM, your suggestion would not curtail or put a dent in gang membership or activity. Drugs is not the only criminal enterprise that gangs are involved in. Drug importation into Bermuda goes much higher than gangs. There are a number of initiatives that can be put in place to combat the growth of gangs. The initiatives start at home with parents and family. If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be very careful where you place your feet. Do not expect the Police to eradicate or solve the gang problems in Bermuda. They can curtail, harass, apply pressure and show some force. The Bermuda Police Force needs the help of the Bermuda people to combat this social upheaval. There are strategies for dealing with gangs in the community. My fear is of a Police Officer or Private Citizen paying the ultimate price in this warfare and it is warfare! With a total of 22 years on the street and behind the fence,

MICHAEL E. PITTS

Inverness, Florida

Transport woes

This was sent to the Ministry of Transport and the West End Development Corporation and copied to The Royal Gazette.

May 29, 2009

Dear Sir,

I am one of the many female workers that have been made redundant from an office job in Bermuda due to the recession. I need to work so have registered with the temp agencies and work when they have a position I can fill. With the increasing amount of women looking for work these days, these jobs have to be shared around so I am not employed all the time. Instead of sitting home worrying how I am going to survive and getting stressed, I have secured a little job that offers a few hours a day of paid employment. By only working a few hours a day it allows me the rest of the day to continue looking for a full-time job and arrange and go on any interviews. It also offers me exposure to a possible employer out there if they see me, that I am working at whatever I can find, doing whatever it takes, that I am willing, hard working and capable. The few hours I work daily don't pay my bills but it gets me out of my apartment, and allows me to I meet nice visitors from all over the world and I love this job. In the meantime I am still looking for a full-time office position but right now no one seems to be hiring. Its very worrying but we have to remain strong during tough times.

These few hours a day that I work, are in Dockyard, but I now have a problem causing me new stress and worry. Due to lack of early public transportation to get to Dockyard on time I may have to give up this job to someone else. I happen to love this job and don't want to give it up until I find a full-time job. I may even keep it on when I get a full-time job if it's possible. Saturday there is an early bus but nothing on Sunday or Public Holidays. The first ferry on both Saturday and Sunday is 9 a.m. which is too late for me, who has to be there at least by 8.30 a.m. and sometimes as early as 8 a.m. The biggest problem affecting me is how to get to work on time on Sundays and Public Holidays. I called the Bus Transportation and spoke to a Mr. Trott who kindly told me they had tried earlier buses in various areas and for a few weeks the buses were busy but then hardly anyone was using them making these early buses no longer worth running due to cost of operation. He said they are looking at other ideas however if they get implemented it won't be this year. That does not help me!

Thursday morning on my way to Dockyard on the 7.10 a.m. ferry (thank God there is an early ferry during the week) I noticed an employee taking a head count so I did too. There were 22 of us. I sure hope that doesn't mean they are going to cancel that run as well.

I know they can't run a ferry just for me and a few others or a bus, but there are people that go to work early. I have just recently taken on a second job at Dockyard also on Sundays to add to my other few hours during the week and again need to be there for a start time of 8.30 a.m. There are not a lot of jobs out there for all of us unemployed Bermudians but I need to work even the few hours I have. As someone just said to me recently "half a loaf of bread is better than no loaf". I need to get to work every Saturday and Sunday and every public Holiday and I think the department of Transportation Buses and Ferries have to re think their schedule. I would like to propose on Public Holidays and Sundays all year one 7.30 a.m. ferry Hamilton to Dockyard – getting me there for 8 a.m. and a 7 a.m. bus to Dockyard for around 8.15 a.m. I need to get to work and I need to keep these two jobs no matter how few hours they are.

Bermuda has a very good bus and ferry system and it's a shame they can't remember that there are people who have to work earlier than 9 a.m. and need transportation. It's too bad we can't fill a ferry or a bus but we still need to get to work. More and more of us are going to have to do jobs that we wouldn't normally have done to survive. It will mean earlier hours and going to parts of the Island that we haven't worked in before meaning Dockyard or St George's. We need to know we have early public transportation to get us there. If I cant get to my job at Dockyard with plenty of time, my employers will find someone who can.

There needs to be a solution to this issue not just for me but for other early travellers. People have to work in Dockyard and if "the powers to be " can't monetarily run a bus or ferry at an early time for the whole year at least offer it during the cruise ship season so I and others working there can make it to work for an 8.30 a.m. start time. How about a mini bus from Hamilton to Dockyard? I would take that if it was offered. I am sure we could fill it. If the ferries don't want to go to Dockyard at 8 a.m. at least go to Watford Bridge and then have Wedco offer a mini bus from there to Dockyard like they do during the working week. I have always worked in Hamilton and never had to worry about a transportation issue but due to the economy I have to work wherever work is and right now its in Dockyard.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT WOES