Providing unemployment

October 27, 2009

Dear Sir,

The UBP provided over employment, the PLP unemployment.

JOBLESS

Smith's

A man of his word?

October 29, 2009

Dear Sir,

"Premier Ewart Brown is so much a man of his word, his supporters won't even try to get him to change his mind about quitting in 12 months, Progressive Labour Party spokesman Wentworth Christopher said yesterday." (Royal Gazette, October 24)

How does this reconcile with "I had to mislead you" and the gambling bill surprise vote? etc.

Do his supporters know something we don't?

ST. GEORGIAN

Thank God for Gazette

October 24, 2009

Dear Sir,

I was appalled at the audacity of the Premier's speech in which he lauded the demise of the Mid Ocean News, and hinted that The Royal Gazette could follow: "One down and one to go."

It is a shame he does not understand the importance of The Royal Gazette that has been in existence long before he was born, and hopefully will continue long after his story darkens the history of Bermuda.

The Royal Gazette has been acclaimed as the most prestigious and respected newspaper on the Atlantic seaboard and is read all over the world via the Internet. If it were not for this excellent publication, we in Bermuda would have no idea what is really going on in Government; it is unbiased and tells it like it is.

Thank God for The Royal Gazette, and let us hope and pray that Dr. Ewart Brown keeps his promise and retires from politics, and hopefully Bermuda, next October.

E. RABEN

Paget

One constituency

October 28, 2009

Dear Sir,

I think that the idea of consolidating us into a single, island-wide constituency – as laid out in Stuart Hayward's recent article in The Bermuda Sun (http://www.bermudasun.bm/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=18&TM=53000.81) shows real merit as we seek to find ways to both unify us as the one, very small island community that we are, and to provide a legitimate way out of the political rut we have created for ourselves.

We have just two days left (until October 31) to write to the Boundaries Commission to request that this option be explored in greater depth. If you would support such a request, please send an email to: boundaries_commission@gov.bm

KIM SMITH

Pembroke

Farcical judicial system

October 27, 2009

Dear Sir,

It was with dismay that I have learned of the dismissal of the Larry Thomas road death case. The fact that this case never made it as far as jury deliberation and verdict is yet another detraction of Bermuda's already farcical judicial system.

There is no need to go into the long list of cases that have blighted the court system since 1996 (Rebecca Middleton) making it seem more like a circus than a pillar on which law and order is supposed to be upheld.

Is it any wonder that crime on the Island is spiralling out of control? There shouldn't be, there are no consequences for actions and no accountability for individuals. Surely it doesn't take study after study and more and more taxpayer dollars to figure this out.

Action needs to be taken before the average law abiding citizens end up criminals because they are tired of being victimised with no justice and turn to vigilantism rather than what we call a judicial system.

AARON W. BURROWS

Sandys

Why a golf film?

October 23, 2009

Dear Sir,

Hotels closing, international businesses leaving, Bermudians losing jobs and we get bombarded with films such as Behind The Scenes, the revamping of Port Royal. What gives?

PRIORITIES

Smith's

Impressed by Grand Slam

October 28, 2009

Dear Sir,

I have spent a good deal of time in Bermuda and the Grand Slam PGA event has painted your Island in such a beautiful light I cannot wait to return. I watched the tournament on TNT and in my own opinion it was an uncompromising success.

Congratulations to the Premier, Dr. the Honorable Ewart F. Brown, on a job well done bringing this event to Bermuda and the beautiful refurbishing of Port Royal.

I think this is a winner for Bermuda having the world to view the island as the paradise it truly is. A significant number of my friends called me and said they want to take their golf vacations from Myrtle Beach to Bermuda and play Port Royal.

I told them to make their arrangements now.

DAVID F. GILLESPIE

Pennsylvania

Blakeney shows the way

October 25, 2009

Dear Sir,

May I commend Minister Glen Blakeney for attempting to reach out to those young black men who are assaulting and attempting to kill each other. I would hope that other PLP MPs would join him and see as part of their responsibility the giving of their time to personally reach out to these men. It is not because I think that there is an easy or simple solution. It is because I believe that this anger and rage is a result of a sense of low self worth and a belief that they have no value or worth in the eyes of anyone.

At one time those on the margins of the black community both went to Sunday School, where they learned about the love of God, and believed that they were represented by all, even if only a few, black MCPs. Today neither is true. Thus they are giving expression to the racial self hatred and self loathing which is the outcome of the internalising of the philosophy of racism by the black community as a result of the propaganda and practice of that philosophy over so many centuries and decades. A decade or two of change from the practice of overt racism cannot undo the impact of centuries of indoctrination – certainly not without more deliberate and conscious positive action on the part of those who govern. The Mirrors programme is one small very positive effort but much more is needed .

I can only hope that Minister Blakeney's effort will be the beginning of all MPs from the black community making a personal effort to try to convey a sense of value and worth to those young men in our still wounded community. They are filled with such self hatred and low self esteem that they are being so very self destructive and such a menace to all of society.

DR. EVA N. HODGSON

Hamilton Parish

New party opportunity

October 24, 2009

Dear Sir,

A recent Royal Gazette poll indicated that over 30 percent of voters were undecided. This provides an opportunity for a new party ... particularly if it enjoys the support of many dissident UBP members e.g. Mark Pettingill and Shawn Crockwell reconciled with UBP stalwarts such as Bob Richards and Grant Gibbons. All in the new party will seek change. It will be change not for the sake of change but change for improvement.

All will work to achieve equal opportunity, social justice and Bermuda's future.

OWEN H. DARRELL

Pembroke

No more pen names

October 21, 2009

Dear Sir,

I again call on you to please reconsider your stance on publishing letters submitted under pen names. I personally feel that if all letter submissions acknowledged the author this would help to increase the level of discourse.

Your guidelines state "Letters under pen names should not contain personal attacks". I guess since Webster's doesn't define "personal attacks" the definition is up to personal interpretation.Well my interpretation is that many of the pen name submitted letters contain some degree of "personal attacks".

Maybe these individuals think of themselves as "masked crusaders" or some modern day poetic Zorro. I just see them as persons without the courage to stand behind their statements and /or convictions.

Throughout history there have been many individuals and groups who hid themselves behind masks while carrying out their agenda, I can't think of any that effected any positive change.

JAMES JACKSON

Devonshire

Not brought to account

October 27, 2009.

Dear Sir,

I had to write regarding the decision concerning the drunk-driving case which resulted in the death of Mr. Thomas in which the person operating the other vehicle in the collision was cleared. My heart goes out to Mr. Thomas' family.

This is happening too often in our judicial system. I am now questioning who critiques these cases to ensure that justice is done. Yes, there are so many more cases these days, but these charges should be specific to get a conviction. It appears to me that the persons prosecuting are not laying out the correct charges for these crimes or that the wording of the charges are not in line with evidence, thus bringing reasonable doubt and allowing these individuals to not be corrected for their conduct.

Bermuda has almost every religion worshipping here and it is a fact that the Good Lord, He has many Names, is not sleeping. It is known that one does reap what they sow. For the unbelievers, just driving to and from work at peak hours, signifies that the Good Lord has had and continues, to work overtime, in keeping commuters safe. People see that there should be more collisions on our roads as some persons escape unbelievable close calls and we know that an angel is with these road users.

I am glad that I am termed what is called "old school". Through intervention, I have not consumed alcohol for over 18 years of which I am grateful but I am disturbed that it is not possible to get a conviction when the victim was making his way home and was in collision with a vehicle that may have been on his side of the road.

Here is a born Bermudian, travelling on the road, with a job, a home and a family, being wiped out and the person who may have gone on their side to collide with them walks out of Court free! Years back, there would have been a protest or some outburst from the public, but we are so passive and unconcerned when it is not in our backyard. We need to remember that we are our brother's keeper and we need to do the right thing.This has really upset me and I cannot understand, so I am praying for acceptance, using the Serenity Prayer and expressing how I feel.

What is happening in our Island? Someone needs to be held accountable.

CONCERNED BERMUDIAN

Devonshire