'European' entitlement

Dear Sir,

When Europeans first ventured out from their own land space, and invaded the land space of other peoples of whom they had no idea existed, was these adventures by Europeans out into the new world, Europeans perception of entitlement to the taking of other people's land?

When these same Europeans then turned around and enslaved those same people whom they had invaded, did that give them the right to further their entitlement?

Well, so much for Europeans and their perceived divine right of entitlement to the lands of other people who had never troubled them.

So, where does Bermuda fit into the above, Bermuda fits into the above because it was European Bermudians, who totally enjoyed benefitting from their dominating control over Bermuda from 1609 right up to today, and are still benefitting economically even as they complain about not being in charge of the government; well, if that's not a form of entitlement, then what is?

They, Europeans of Bermudian decent, benefitted to the fullest throughout slavery, segregation, glass ceilings and have built themselves a strong economic footing, which they have been using to keep the rest of us other so-called Bermudian s locked out in the economic cold, and only accepting those who bought into their philosophy and were prepared to hurt their own people could I be wrong, but does that seem like entitlement to you Mr. Editor.

It should seem to me that being born a citizen of Bermuda does give me some degree of entitlement to the country for which I call home, doesn't it Mr. Editor?

For those who may not know, there was once a book that was printed called Beautiful Bermuda, and it was considered the standard official directory for Bermuda, if one was to read this book you would have almost gotten the impression that there were no black people living in Bermuda, that's if it was not for a small section written in there about the Berkeley Institute, which stated, "a secondary school for coloured children".

And to think that these same people could make such statements as Bermuda being the brightest jewel in the crown of King George VI, and as if to say that the king was in full support of the Government of Bermuda, making an all-out effort to make Bermuda one of the most progressive Anglo-Saxon Communities in the world; WOW! If that's not entitlement, then what is?

Where it concerns me, I only accept people just how I find them, and I don't care who they are or what's their race, yet I do believe that there is a large segment of the Bermuda's population, still finds themselves stuck to that old philosophy mentioned above because of their historical and cultural connection to that past.

Thus, here they are in today's world trying to dupe us by presenting that same old tired philosophy of the above in a new package, "sorry boys", nobody is buying entitlement for a few.

So, excuses us if it seems to some people that some of us are getting a bit ahead of ourselves, well, these are changing times, but the facts are that most of us Bermudians who were born here, have brought homes, pay bills, are expected to obey the laws, pay taxes, and elected the government whom ever they may be, after all, shouldn't we feel a bit entitled, Bermuda does belong to us all.

E. M. STOVELL,

Pembroke East

Too small to pedestrianise

Dear Sir,

The City of Hamilton is far too small to pedestrianise any of its streets. Walking streets work in places like the Stroget in Copenhagen or the Rambler in Barcelona because there are any number of side streets that make deliveries to shops and businesses possible. The whole idea of traffic free streets is to make sure that they are free of traffic, and how would shops on Reid Street get their supplies if vans and trucks were not allowed?

Don't tell me that deliveries could be made before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m., we all know that would never work; the end result would be a deserted street choked with delivery vans. Reid Street is a busy through way, one of only two entries to the city centre; it hardly inspires one to take a leisurely stroll along its dusty sidewalks. Closing it off would be a disaster, and it is very doubtful that people would frequent it any more than they do already, in fact it would probably be used even less.

If the city fathers are determined to try this experiment I suggest that they close Front Street, at least the view is good and Front Street has a more relaxed atmosphere (building projects apart).

This has been successfully done on Harbour Nights, but the shops would still have to be serviced. The Corporation of Hamilton is notorious for making bad decisions. We are still smarting under the threat of the removal of the Society of Art from the City Hall and Art Centre, and thank heaven Mr. Medeiros has come to his senses over that fiasco, and the art centre will be saved.

I can only predict that if any street in Hamilton is pedestrianised it will be a short lived experiment, and once again City Hall will have to admit that it has made yet another mistake.

E. RABEN

Paget

In their own words

January 30, 2008

Dear Sir,

Below are some excerpts from the Government of Bermuda's Ministerial Code of Conduct of April 2002 ("the Code") which is, as far as I know, the latest edition of the Code.

4 "Ministers should avoid accepting¿ offers of hospitality which¿ might reasonably appear to, compromise their judgment¿"

Might it reasonably appear that the Premier compromised his judgment on the Jumeriah Southlands project due to his visit to the Jumeriah hotel in Dubai given unanswered questions about that visit?

4 "Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament and the public, refusing to provide information only when disclosure would not be in the public interest."

I note there is no mention of refusing to provide information to the public based on questions allegedly being "plantation questions."

4 "Ministers must ensure that no conflict¿ appears to arise, between their duties and private interests."

Don't certain issues before the courts in the past years demonstrate an appearance of conflict?

4 "Ministers must not use Ministerial resources for party political purposes" and "It is wrong in principle for Ministers to use for party or constituency work any facilities which are provided at Government expense to enable them to carry out their official duties."

Several Ministers used Ministerial cars whilst canvassing constituents during the recent election.

4 "Ministers should take the lead in paring down the size of groups travelling overseas on official business by keeping their own Ministerial delegations as small as possible."

The travel budget has grossly increased in size over the past ten years. Draw your own conclusions.

4 "The decision whether to accept gifts or services are primarily matters which must be left to the good sense of Ministers. However, any Minister in doubt or experiencing difficulty over this issue should seek the Premier's guidance."

How impartial.

4 "It will be for individual Ministers to judge how best to uphold the highest standards."

What is considered a low standard?

4 "Ministers will be conscious of the pressures of other Parliamentary business when making decisions on the timing of Ministerial Statements."

I suppose Ministers are consciously watching the clock when reading long statements to the House so as to avoid answering oral Opposition questions.

Mr. Editor, it is clear that many of the Cabinet Ministers in the last few years have ignored the Code. Let's hope that the Ministers of 2008 do not.

MICHAEL M. FAHY

Hamilton Parish

Read the Bible

February 3, 2008

Dear Sir,

Good morning to you and the reading public. I say good morning because it is now 3.20 a.m. I awoke this morning and thoughts of yesterday's shopping was still on my mind. While shopping I looked at a bottle of oil at the Marketplace for $9 and some cents and I could not believe my eyes. When I think back of being in Boston and buying a bottle of the same oil twice the size for $3.49 it blew my mind.

There was a time that I said that we are facing economic strangulation, but greed has set in so bad that we are now facing economic genocide and no one seems to care. On the back side of this grim picture I read in the paper that the Salvation Army is saying what we need to look after the homeless. Well readers, as Deuteronomy 15:11 tells it "For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you saying, 'You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy in the land'."

The amazing thing about the Bible it has never been wrong and never will be proven wrong. Read the Bible to see what is going to happen and read the newspaper to see where it is going to happen.

We the people of the country have to find a way to get our children to step up to the plate and work for a living. The Government is not looking in this direction and continues to ask for ways to support those that choose not to work.

Proverbs 10:4 says "He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich." Our founding fathers became rich in many ways, but unfortunately some of us never learned to take care of what was given so we have this vast disparities between the people.

I would really like to see some of our young people with these brilliant minds get together and build a supermarket. And the people (black) if you will get it together and support it with their hearts. We as Bermudians sit idly by and support every ethnic group that comes in the land and builds and we are happy with just watching. I thought by now someone would have caught the vision of the family of People's Pharmacy and continue the dream, but still we sleep.

People of Bermuda, this government is not going to please all and nor will any other government. So we have to get up off our bottoms and stop putting our hands out and start digging into the wealth of this land as did our fathers. Matthew 15:4 says and Jesus is speaking "For God commanded, saying, Honour your father and your mother; and He who curses father and mother, let him be put to death."

Of course we will not do that probably, but so many are in some way committing suicide by partaking in the wrong of life. No I know that my letters may not change many, but I am sure they will open maybe one and that one will be the one that may make a difference. God Bless you all and I pray you will walk with your eyes open.

A.E. WENDELL (SCOPSIE) HASSELL

Southampton