The good old days

April 9, 2003

Dear Sir,

I hope that your readers can answer this question for me: If things were so bad before 1998, how did we as individuals, and Bermuda in general, get to where we are today, being the envy of the world.

KEEN OBSERVER

City of Hamilton

What will it take?

This was sent to Environment Minister Dennis Lister and copied to The Royal Gazette.

Dear Mr. Lister,

After reading the front page of The Royal Gazette today (Friday April 11, 1003) I can only feel disgust for the people of our Island who continuously show no respect or pride for the country that they so call their home. I sympathise with those that are truly homeless but there are places that they can go to for help, food and shelter. I for one and many other citizens of this country support these associations by giving generous donations in order to help the homeless and/or persons that may become homeless for one reason or the other. The man, Mr. Randolf Allen simply states that he prefers to be outside - well don't we have proper camping facilities on the island that he can use at designated times during the summer season in order for him to release his camping urge?!

I feel that the people who choose to live on the streets, railway trails and Bermuda's various parks are those that do not wish to follow rules. Nowadays, because the price of living is so high, especially n Bermuda, I can agree that most of us are living just one pay cheque away from homelessness but the working population of this country are still contributing to the non-working population one way or the other. The people of this country need to stop using excuses and use the proper avenues for help. Government should have more commercials both on radio and television which advertise the various associations that can help the homeless or anyone who may find themselves in a dire situation.

We need to emphasise to everyone living and visiting this Island that our railway trails are an important part of Bermuda's history and that they should be kept in excellent condition for all to enjoy, especially our tourists. Railway trails are also used for nature walks, educational purposes - for the teaching of plants, trees and various flowers that we don't usually see on the outskirts of the island, leisure walks and bike rides with your children and tourists love railway trails.

Mr. Lister, I'm really disappointed in your because I have for the last three years been complaining and writing to you and other members of government concerning this particular issue, due to the fact that I live beside the Shelly Bay Railway trail which, is heading in the same deplorable state of the railway trail shown in the newspaper. You've promised to come and view it, made an appointment with me and cancelled. I've since which left messages, sent e-mails but have not yet received a response.

What will it take for you ar any of the government departments responsible for our railway tails to do their job? Tell me please! I for one would like to hear the reason!

KIM DURHAM

Hamilton Parish

War is never justified

April 11, 2003

Dear Sir,

There is plenty of recorded evidence proving that there was no need for atomic bombs to be dropped on Japan in 1945. There is evidence that Japan was attempting to meet with the Russians to draft plans for a formal surrender and that the country was already decimated and had lost the ability to conduct war. Gar Alperovitz, in his book, 'The Decision To Use The Atomic Bomb', shows much documentation that bombing Japan wasn't necessary.

"President Truman was advised that there were other alternatives available which seemed likely to end the war without an invasion and without having to use the atomic bomb on a largely civilian target without warning." (www.doug-long.com)

Bill Gordon writes: "I now believe no justification exists for the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. America had already destroyed almost all of the Japanese navy and air force, so Japan could not effectively wage war or even defend itself. After steady American air bombings of Japanese cities in the first half of 1945, Japan was already on the verge of collapse when the bomb hit Hiroshima. Top-level World War II military leaders such as MacArthur and Eisenhower believed the bomb to be totally unnecessary from a military point of view". (http://wgordon.web.wesleyan.edu/papers/hiroshim.htm;, from Takaki, Ronald. Hiroshima: Why America Dropped the Atomic Bomb.) Of the hundreds of thousands of Japanese killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, most of them were civilians. Some were Japanese Americans. All were innocent. Just because we are on the side of 'good' and democracy, doesn't always mean our actions are justifiable. And sometimes, we are not told the full truth by our elected officials. Innocent people dying is a good enough reason to avoid war at all costs.

DISILLUSIONED

Smith's Parish

PTB to the rescue

April 14, 2003

Dear Sir,

Thank you for allowing us to express our appreciation in your paper. On Friday, April 11, 2003, my husband had purchased two bus passes at the Bailey's Bay Post office which totalled $80. I somehow lost them in my travels at the airport. Since the incident, I have spoken to several staff of the airport, Airport Police Station and PTB and found out that the passes had not been turned in.

I later received a call from Mr. Stephen Outerbridge of PTB stating that they will replace the bus passes that were originally lost. Because of his gratitude, we were so relieved and joyful.

We would like to give our sincere thanks to Mr. Stephen Outerbridge - Assistant Director, Mr. Jones - Supervisor, and Ms Jacqueline Brimmer - Office Manager of PTB for reaching out and assisting us in this matter.

TONY & GERALDINE DOCOUTO

Hamilton Parish

Senator Smith replies

April 15, 2003

Dear Sir,

In his letter of April 7, 2003, 'Big John' declares that my motivation for the comment that the UBP opposition in the Senate "used to be black" was that I think that "any black man who joined the UBP might be black on the outside, but was really white inside".

Whoever Big John is he certainly does not know me. Those who know me know that I would defend to the death the right of all people to have a different political view point. However, I do not accept that one's political beliefs should be an excuse for tolerating injustice in any form. Yet too many of the black members of the UBP have been in public denial of racial injustice through most of the history of that Party. I say most of the Party's history because there was a period in which some of the UBP MP's formed a Black Caucus within the UBP because they felt that they as black members of the UBP were not getting a fair deal.

Yet, outside of a quest of pursue their own narrow goals, blacks in the UBP have given the impression that inequity based on race was not a vital issue in the wider community. For this reason, most students of politics have noticed with great amusement, that on the eve of an election and following the open criticism of Mr. Wasi about the failure of the UBP to improve the economic opportunity of its black members, the UBP has placed Black empowerment front and centre on its election platform.

However, thanks to the advent of the PLP to power and its positive intervention in the economy, it is the growing view that all Bermudians must take a more substantial role in the ownership, management and staffing of our tourism, business services and International Finance sectors. The PLP has always been aware that vigourous pursuit of this strategy will not only increase economic opportunity for all Bermudians, it will also ensure our economic survival in a stable social and political environment. In this way Bermuda will enhance its status as a positive model for the entire world to emulate.

SENATOR CALVIN SMITH

We all need peace

Dear Sir

Please allow me to reply to comments made by Minister of Transport Dr. Ewart Brown MP.

The Minister made comments at the forum at St. Pauls AME Church last Thursday, April 3. He stated area residents that live near venues where outdoor concerts are held if participants played or sang God Save the Queen late at night or wee hours in the morning residents will not complain. I must say I totally disagree with those remarks. I as an area resident of a popular venue couldn't care if St. Puals AME Church, Church of England etc. choirs sang Amazing Grace or Jesus Saves. People have a right to rest in their homes particular late at night or in the wee hours of the morning. All sorts of residents make all kinds of work hours etc.. Hospital, Prison, Police, Fire, Security, Transport, Ferry, Bus, Airport etc.. Bermuda is too small and compact for organisers to stage late loud shows into the wee hours in the morning. If organisers of the events started properly on time and finished on time, it wouldn't be much of a problem. People have a right to rest in their homes when ever they please, particularly in the wee hours. Also concert organisers have a right to stage and promote concerts for entertainment of Bermuda. I'm pretty sure Dr. Ewart Brown wouldn't want over-loud music around his Smith's parish home late to the wee hours at night.

WARWICK VOTER