November 30, 2004

Dear Sir,

The Road Safety Council pushed to make it a law to use seat belts, which would make sense if everyone had to use them, including bus drivers who have all these people's lives in their hands every day. Dr. Ewart Brown, Dr. Froncioni and others need to have a law to stop people using cellphone while driving. How many more lives will be lost? This is a very dangerous practice, which no one seems to want to address.

December 2, 2004

Dear Sir,

On behalf of the Reading Clinic I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Minister of Education, the Hon. Terry Lister; Senators Walter Roban and Neville Tyrell; Mr. Michael Dunkley; members of the Department of Education; principals of pre-schools and primary schools; psychologists; speech pathologists; and parents for attending one or more of the events connects with our recent conference "From Research to Practice".

I would also like to acknowledge the XL Foundation and the Bridge Charitable Trust whose generosity enable us to offer most of the events at no charge. As a follow-up to the conference, Dr. Janet Kemp, Director of the Reading Clinic, has written to the Minister of Education and principals of the pre-schools and primary schools summarising the key issues raised at the conference. Given that we had no press coverage of the event, it would be be greatly appreciated you could print a copy of her letter in this column.

ANN DUNSTAN

December 2, 2004

Dear Sir,

In response to today's front page article, "Activists slam plan for new dolphin park", you can certainly add my name to those opposing this venture.

While Dr. Madieros may be "...sure the owners had good intentions...", I don't. No one who truly cares for dolphins would dream of placing them in such confined pens and thus, taking away the one thing dolphins love best, freedom.

Dolphins are extraordinary mammals and are best seen in their environment, the open sea. Just recently, our newspaper reported a story from New Zealand about a pod of dolphins saving the lives of a human family when a great white shark appeared. Dolphins would be best served by Lynn and Martin Hassell's purchasing a large boat, hiring marine biologists, and taking people out for dolphin sightings on the South Shore.

December 1, 2004

Dear Sir,

Once again I seek space in your newspaper to pass out commendations.

In response to Minister Butler's opinion piece that appeared in November 29's issue entitled "Blacks can and will...", he hit the nail on the target.

Come on folks, let's be honest for a moment. The black race has made momentous strides in gaining civil rights. Do we have a ways to go though? Without a doubt yes. Years ago, it may have been true and even chic to blame the white man for all of our troubles and woes, but not today, not in 2004. With all due respect to the black community, we have no one to blame for the current status of some of our lives.

Let's answer a few questions collectively.

1) When a black business opens, do we wholeheartedly embrace and support it financially?

2)Do we subconsciously pass the message of the car is the most important purchase we will make in our lifetimes?

3) Do we encourage our children to think of light at the end of the rainbow, do we push them not to work with the system? Folks, we are hurting ourselves. It is not the white man that is holding us back, it is our own kind.

We must get rid of the unwanted baggage. We cannot continue to blame the Caucasian for not moving ahead. It is totally unfair and unjust.

I beg my people to consider the song written by the late, great, Bob Marley ? 'Redemption Song'. One of the greatest lines ever written by a lyricist is "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds".

That line from song must dictate the way we are to live our lives, especially if we want to have more productive lives.

Thank you Mr. Editor and Minister Butler for voicing an opinion that has long reined through our community. With more words of wisdom like that, surely we can on our way to becoming more productive citizens of this our great island we call Bermuda.

December 6, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am in my eighth year of our community theatre's presentation of 'The Christmas Carol' and I could not help reflect on the negative aspects of what Scrooge is going through and how it applies to Bermuda.

Perhaps the Customs officers who greet visitors could take a hint from that curmudgeon and try to smile once in a while (something to do with "you don't get a second chance to make a first impression ?"). Scrooge's life is focused on "things" and not people and over the years I have seen the erosion of Bermuda's values of friendliness, courtesy, and empathy. Do you become a Scrooge when you get on your moped or behind the wheel of your car? Please think about that for a moment.

I would not like to dwell on more of the negative aspects of Ebenezer's life, for in the end he does change his values. I hope that Bermuda does not become a "humbug" place to visit, because I have more than four decades of wonderful memories of your island. It's not too late for any of us to change our bad habits, and maybe we can un-Scrooge ourselves and become something that we really want to be.

That is what I wish for everyone, for as Tiny Tim observed, "God Bless us everyone."

MICHAEL NEWBURGER

Parkville, Missouri

December 4, 2004

Dear Sir,

Has anybody else picked up on the latest example of Governmental sign-writing genius? Next time you're on North Shore Road in Hamilton Parish, check out the two temporary signs between Dub City and Abbott's Cliff: both of them clearly state "Pedesterians prohibited." Not 'pedestrians', you'll notice, but 'pedesterians'.

This leads me to wonder:

a) What are pedesterians anyway, and;

b) Why should they be so unwelcome in that particular area?

I have to wonder if the person responsible for that blooper is the same one that, several years ago, had Pampas Road in Smith's sign-posted as "Pamaps Road", and presently has two signs on Victoria Street just west of Cedar Avenue pointing up Washington Street: one of them says "One Way Street" and the other one says "No Through Road". Huh?

I have to admit, though, that my particular favourite is the sign just east of the Perfume Factory. It displays the pictogram for a pedestrian (not pedesterian!) crossing, below which is a printed sign saying "Speed Checked by Detection Devices": The mind boggles at the thought of some little old lady in a wheelchair being ticketed for doing more than three kph over the crossing! I'd be most interested to hear if anyone else has any similar examples to report.

VOX ORIENTALIS

St. George's

December 2, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am very pleased concerning the attention given recently to HIV/AIDS epidemic in Bermuda.

As a Bermudian currently working overseas in the HIV/AIDS field, it has been an eye-opening experience to see the effects this deadly disease has had on communities of colour. HIV and AIDS has not disappeared as some may think. It is crippling many communities world-wide.

As a female and a concerned Bermudian, I believe we must continue to push awareness and prevention methods especially to young adults and women on the Island, many of whom seem to think HIV and AIDS is not their problem. HIV and AIDS infects and affects many in our community.

While we mark another year of loved ones and friends that have become victims to this disease, we are reminded that there is still more to be done. It is my shared belief that in order to impact our community, no matter how small or large, we have to create and support community mobilisation efforts. This requires a multi-sector commitment by health care providers, social services, religious and education institutions, and outreach workers . There is still more to learn, and action to be taken.

This call is urgent and as recently released statistics indicate, HIV and AIDS isn't going anywhere.

KYLA RAYNOR

Boston, Massachusetts

December 6, 2004

Dear Sir,

It is clear that the maximum exposure should be given to the premise that a Referendum on Independence for Bermuda is the best way to proceed on this controversial subject. It is therefore imperative that Bermudians and all who live in the Island, should be given as much information as possible on the necessity for having a Referendum.

What better way to do this than by having a debate on it in our Parliament. The Opposition Party should accomplish this by moving a take note motion in the House of Assembly that states. "That this house considers that the best procedure for determining the future constitutional position of Bermuda is by way of a Referendum".

The print and electronic news media would give wide exposure to the debate on this motion and the general public would be far better informed on the merits of a Referendum.

Let us not waste any more time on tediously gathering signatures from the people of our Island in support of a Referendum. Bermuda's Parliament can debate the subject to the advantage of all who live in Bermuda.

JOHN T. GILBERT

Paget