Rules are rules

September 12, 2005

Dear Sir,

I am responding to the letter written by Robert Henderson referring to the Airport security guard who refused to allow tourists to snap a photo before getting on their plane. I have a relative who is an Airport security guard, and who feels that he is the guard that you are referring to. Whether or not you are referring to him is irrelevant, as the point of my letter refers to all of the security personnel at the Airport.

It really is too bad that you chose to be insulting by saying that the guard was hired ‘in body but not in mind' the fact of the matter is that all the guards undergo stringent training and must pass a test before they are placed at the Airport. One thing that they are instructed on is that there is no photo taking allowed OUTSIDE the Airport. Since September 11, stricter rules and regulations are in place at airports worldwide, and are put in place for a reason. People just cannot be allowed to freely take photos, and although it may seem silly to you, this is vital for security reasons. What is to stop a potential terrorist from snapping shots of the Airport showing the layout of the Airport, what security is located where and all the comings-and-goings of the staff that could later be used for devious purposes?

We assume that just because we are a small Island in the middle of the Atlantic that nothing sinister could ever happen here. However, we are just a stone's throw from the US east coast, and to make that assumption could be very dangerous considering the world that we are now living. You try going to the US or anywhere else and just start snapping photos in certain areas of their airports and see what happens! As a matter of fact, post-September 11, just taking photos of certain landmarks such as the Empire State building could get you a tap on the shoulder and some serious questioning. This is a fact of life of since September 11, 2001 like it or not. Nothing is perceived as innocently as it once was.

The bottom line is that the security guards at the Airport are doing a job and doing what they have been instructed to do. It seemed ridiculous to you, and too bad that you didn't speak up at the time if you felt so strongly about it, and maybe you would have been told the reason why. Or why not just ask someone at your former workplace before you go off writing letters insulting people's intelligence. If that security guard had tried to ‘be nice' and allowed the tourists to take the photo, and was spotted by his superiors, he more than likely would have been out of a job for allowing a security breach. Again, I realise that we are a tourist destination and we have to be accommodating to our visitors, but this is not one of those times. Bermuda must adhere to international security rules and regulations just like everyone else.

MAKE SENSE NOW?

Hamilton Parish

It could happen to you

September 14, 2005

Dear Sir,

I am writing because as a bike rider I value my life and do not ride like most bike riders/other vehicle drivers because I have a family to go home to at the end of the day. I think about them.

Last evening I encountered what could have been a very serious accident and by the grace of God He had His hands over the incident and nobody got hurt, just a lot of shaken nerves and anger over the situation. That's why I am writing this because of my anger with the situation.

I was travelling home on Ord Road, travelling west and was nearing the end of the road on my bike travelling behind a horse and buggy. I felt at the time it was not safe for me to overtake as my view was blocked by overgrown branches from the Railway Trail that where hanging out of the already narrow road and I didn't want to spook the horse so I continued to stay behind until I saw my way was clear. As I started to overtake the horse and buggy a van came from behind me and was trying to overtake me! If I couldn't see my way clear to overtake and I am on a bike what makes the van driver think he could see any better! Ord Road is a narrow road to begin with so three vehicles side by side, you can just imagine! This van hit my mirror on the right side of my bike (amazingly it didn't break) and I believe his right side brushed along side all the overgrown foliage off the Railway Trail. All these noises spooked the horse, and me shouting at the van driver for his stupid driving could have startled the horse too. I later went looking for the buggy driver and found out that his horse was spooked from the incident and to me seemed a bit restless at that time. And all the van driver could say was “I'm sorry”. Tell that to our families if he had killed me or seriously injured me from his reckless behaviour or the buggy driver and his horse if anything happened to either one of them and see what response he would have gotten! Sorry doesn't take away the pain for a life taken because of stupid behaviour on our roads. And not only lack of respect for other son the road but lack of respect for a company vehicle that he doesn't own. I have contacted the company and gave my account of the incident and my thoughts of this employee and his driving so I hope the situation will be dealt with properly by the company. He's lucky I didn't call the Police because he would have also been facing reckless driving due care charges.

Please Bermuda, slow down, pay attention to others on the road and remember be cautious when overtaking horses on the road. Pass far enough around them to avoid startling the horse.

Your vehicle is a deadly machine. Think about the consequences of your foolish driving. It could be your life, or you could also become paralysed for the rest of your life - think about what it would do to your family and how they would feel if you were killed or the strain of having to take care of someone that is paralysed for the rest of their life. Think of the family that would lose a spouse or parent because of your reckless behaviour. Don't think it couldn't happen to you - because it can.

ANONYMOUS

Wanted: A new beginning

September 12, 2005

Dear Sir,

Very few politicians will voluntarily surrender power to anyone else. For this reason Parliamentarians of the PLP or UBP have always resisted the notion of constitutional reform and still do. During the UBP time in office constitution change was not on their agenda. So they left office with a constitution that allowed far too much power to be concentrated in the hands of the PLP and its leaders who at present have their heads in the sand. As always we are watching the PLP leadership race with little interest as usual. Their candidate will be the one most likely to do the least harm.

Bermuda is desperately in need of a new beginning. One is constitutional reform. The people of Bermuda will have to decide who is best for us, the PLP or UBP. The UBP left power with 30 percent of Bermudians poor or near poor. The PLP are in power and 30 percent of people are still poor or near poor. There will have to be some real soul searching before our next election. With Dr. Grant Gibbons, the PLP will win 19 seats. Without Dr. Grant Gibbons, the UBP will for the next Government.

RAYMOND RUSSELL, SR.

Pembroke

Keep them happy

September 9, 2005

Dear Sir,

For some time now many of my friends and associates tell me they simply cannot bear to read the newspaper anymore - it is full of so many frightening PLP statements that it makes them depressed. I am starting to feel the same way after reading the Mid-Ocean article of September 9, quoting Dame Lois Browne Evans.

Evidently, she called the Privy Council “a bunch of old fogeys”. She can, of course, call them anything she likes, but when you consider that the representatives from our offshore businesses have clearly stated that they want Bermuda to retain the Privy Council as its highest court of appeal, one wonders what Dame Lois Browne Evans really wants for Bermuda's future. All Bermudians who work in the offshore businesses should recognise what a dangerous statement this must be for their future. This Government should be doing everything it can to keep the offshore businesses happy. They have to put up with our incredibly high cost of living, so they don't need a Government that ignores their requests.

Does the PLP Government and its members recognise what a dangerous situation this statement has put the entire Island and its economy? Do all of the PLP representatives agree with this statement? Isn't there anyone in the party who realises what dangerous ground this Government is treading on? Do they realise that the offshore businesses are keeping this Island afloat? I, for one, (even though I am anti-Independence) would actually vote for it if the offshore businesses came out and stated they wanted Bermuda to go independent - that is how strong I feel about keeping the offshore businesses happy.

This Government, including Dame Lois Browne Evans, have consistently shot themselves in the foot. Have they ever heard of the expressions “don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg”. I remember in the 1970s and 1980s when the union (backed by the PLP) consistently antagonised the hotels in Bermuda and made untenable demands on that industry. The hotels kept warning the union that they could no longer continue in business if the union kept up their ridiculous demands. They were told over and over “don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg”. Did they listen - NO. Since 1957 no less than 46 hotel properties have closed their doors.

To all you PLP supporters, I ask - what jobs do you think will be available to you if the offshore businesses leave Bermuda? Please don't let this Government ruin your future and your children's future - as they seem so intent on doing. Don't let them continue to divide the races. Don't let them destroy this once beautiful and economically sound Island that we all love. I am now getting to the point, I dread reading the newspaper.

CAMELOT

Pembroke

Good for Bermuda?

September 5, 2005

Dear Sir,

I think every single member of the voting public in Bermuda should read the article in the Mid-Ocean News on September 2, entitled “Independence: Destabilisation will undermine international business”. What a brilliant article. It sets out - in no uncertain terms - what could happen to this Island IF we choose to go independent.

I can only hope that Alex Scott, Ewart Brown, Alvin Williams and all of the other pro-Independence backers have read this article. If they have and still try to push this tiny Island towards Independence, then I can only say that they care nothing about the future of Bermudians and Bermuda as a whole. Furthermore, we are told that Independence will unite all Bermudians, but it is doing the complete opposite - splitting everyone apart.

I have not heard one single good reason from the PLP why this Island should go Independent. I would ask the PLP to give us ten good reasons why Independence will be beneficial to Bermuda. Indeed, there are numerous reasons why we should not. I am totally against Independence. However, if the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR) had come out and stated clearly that they were pro Independence, then I would definitely vote for it as the offshore companies are keeping our economy from total collapse. This brings me back to ask people like Alex Scott, Ewart Brown and Alvin Williams if they read the article in question and why (after reading that article) would they still insist that Independence is good for Bermuda and Bermudians.

JUST ASKING

Smith's Parish

Referendum is best

August 16, 2005

Dear Sir,

As Independence is on the front burner again, let me make the following comments:

I am on the fence and will not make a decision for or against Independence until I have all of the facts and I have weighed the pros and the cons and then I will decide based on what would be best for all of Bermuda and not what would be best for me!

On the issue of how we determine whether the majority of Bermuda's eligible voters are in favour of Independence or not, the answer is very simply by way of a referendum!

A referendum is the only method where we will clearly know the wishes of the people! Let me give your an example.

Vote for the PLP and you are in favour of Independence. Vote for the UBP and you are against Independence.

What does the voter who is in favour of Independence but wouldn't vote for the PLP if their life depended on it do?

What does the voter who is against Independence but wouldn't vote for the UBP if their life depended on it do? For those of you who will criticise my comments above and label me in some way or another, I will state that I am a born Bermudian, white, married to a black Bermudian and yes, although I do not believe in party politics, I have exercised my democratic right to vote and have voted for both the UBP in the past and the PLP in the recent past and am now looking for another option because I do not want either one in the next election! I am not ashamed or afraid to sign my name which I am proud to have!

JOHN E. THORNE

Paget