Deuss & apartheid

October 17, 2006

Dear Sir,

Sir John Swan and Ward Young agreed to stand surety of $5 million each for a man who supported apartheid. As I can recall, several years ago Sir John addressed the issue of young black males and their inability to succeed in white dominated business community. Below is an excerpt from an ANC statement on South Africa?s oil embargo, dated March 1985:

?Two oil traders feature prominently in the Advocate-General?s Report: John Deuss of the Netherlands and the American tax evader Marc Rich now living in Switzerland. The very substantial profit from the clandestine supply of oil to South Africa has proved a great attraction, and the South African courts have witnessed the battles over the spoils as the thieves have fallen out. The Advocate-General allegedly clears South African officials of improper enrichment, yet his own Report details in extensio the substantial premiums that were written into the contracts and were divided among the intermediaries:

?He (John Deuss) said that part of the premium would go into the pockets of some of the people involved...? (Section 6.4. 11)

?The cases in the courts reveal that middlemen were authorised to disburse substantial additional commissions when setting up the deals. There were no checks on those individuals who were the ultimate beneficiaries of this bribery. The Report of the Advocate-General provides evidence that would stand up in any court of law, that the two oil traders, John Deuss and Marc Rich, contracted to supply the Pretoria regime with embargoed oil. Discussions over prices, premiums and terms are outlined for a three-year contract with John Deuss to supply four million tons of crude oil per annum and later an additional two million tons.

?The Marc Rich contract was for the delivery of seventeen consignments over one year. John Deuss and Marc Rich are known to have supplied crude oil and products under a number of other contracts with the SFF, Shell and Total. Amongst their cargoes have been Brent crude (British North Sea) and Ekofisk (Norwegian). Both these traders are still involved in this trade. The African National Congress and SWAPO of Namibia urge all governments to take legal action against these two criminals and refuse any further dealings with them. They should also penalise all others engaged in this nefarious trade.?

A note of thanks

October 17, 2006

Dear Sir,

We wish to express our appreciation for all of those who assisted in making the first annual Bermuda Roof Week a success. This event which was organised by Imagine Bermuda 2009 in conjunction with the Bermuda National Trust, could only have been effective through the support of number of partners. Most notable were the various sponsors.

They included the companies supporting the ; Bermuda Paint Co., Gorhams? and SAL. Other sponsorship came from Gosling Brothers and MEF Group. This effort would not have had an impact with volunteer support. Notable amongst those so involved are John Adams ? historian; Dr. Ed Harris; Larry Mills Mason/historian as well as Mandel Fubler who produced a television advert.Bermuda?s is a unique story in rapidly changing world. has been one of a number of efforts to have that story shared at home and abroad. Thanks again, to all of those who participated in any way.

Churches should be Green

October 20, 2006

Dear Sir,

I am writing to express my sadness and disappointment with Bermudians. On Sunday last, 6500 people turned out at the National Stadium in a show of force whose ultimate purpose was to block the offering of basic human rights protection to a group of human beings whose only ?sin? is having been born homosexual. Where were these same masses of people when the Bermuda Government and the Bermuda Hospital?s board needed to be shown that open space is also a right not to be taken away and given at their whim? Where is their support for the Sustainable Development initiative whose objectives are totally at odds with the goals of the BHB?

When the open space is lost at the Botanical gardens, everyone will be affected whether they be black, white, gay, straight, religious or not. When unchecked development builds over every available square foot of open space in Bermuda, the effect will be the same for all of us alike. We will all loose something that is vital for our continued mental, spiritual and physical well being. When it?s gone, it?s gone for good to all of us and to generations to come.

Are the churches as conscientious in educating their members about recycling, re-using and reducing waste as they are in perpetrating negative attitudes toward fellow human beings whose only difference is their sexual orientation? Is it not also moral to protect and cherish the Earth and it?s resources? Does the Bible not say that man is the custodian of the earth? Why aren?t you gathering in the same numbers and marching on Parliament to protest the wanton, wasteful use of our precious open space? Where are your voices and bodies when the Earth, that has no voice, needs protecting? Oh, I forgot! You are in Church praying about your next move in the war against homosexuality.