Saving ourselvesJuly 14, 2006

Dear Sir,To the leaders of the PLP and, most important of all — To the good people of Bermuda: This is no more your Island than the rest of us Bermudians. End of story! Before you, the present PLP leaders continue on making idiots of themselves, look at the history books and get the facts: The Spanish explorer, Bermudez found Bermuda. The English settled here first; built Bermuda with the help of other “foreigners” like yourselves who were brought here to work and who became Bermudians — white and black, West Indians, Portuguese, etc. We all came from some other place! But we are all Bermudians.

It is time that the discord, unrest and racism coming from the PLP Leaders stopped. If it does not stop, we will find ourselves alone on this ‘little rock’ called Bermuda with that group of so-called PLP Leaders. Then we will find out, too late, what we have been left with. You won’t like it! That ‘crowd’ will sort you out and take even better care of themselves alone than we have seen them do in the past. What should we Bermudians do to save ourselves? Toss out the leaders of the PLP, and elect solid, caring and non-self-serving Bermudians to run our Island home, Bermuda! (Elect persons who are clear-thinking and who know that we must work together or perish.) Time is running out! Enough is enough!A SELF-APPOINTED SPOKESMAN

Pembroke<$>End all discriminationJuly 27, 2006

Dear Sir,I have read, with interest, the July 20, 2006 comments made by Rev. Larry of Orlando, Florida. I completely understand his and several other religiously biased positions in opposition to Renee Webb’s proposed amendment to the Human Rights Bill, and I do say, in all instances, they have quoted the Bible magnificently to suit their purpose. Rev Larry’s comments will undoubtedly appeal to the members of the community who insist that the Bible is the final word of “law” in society.

The problem with this perception is that he and those that support his ideals and beliefs fail to see past the religious doctrines. While Bermuda’s society may be perceived to be strongly entrenched in the moral basis of Christianity, the issue to be resolved is a simple matter of basic Human Rights under the laws of Bermuda, which, to purposely be redundant, is a legal, not a church matter. I mean no disrespect to Rev. Larry or others sharing his beliefs. They are entitled to their opinions, but they are just that — opinions, based upon the teachings they have received as to what is morally acceptable. But it must be recognised that 1) the population of Bermuda is composed of many religions with many intra-contradictory beliefs; 2) the Bible is not a public book of law; and 3) the Bible is not recognised by all religions. What gives us Christians the right to say that our belief is law? What about Judaism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Buddhism, Islam, and more... What of their religious laws and beliefs?

For the effective governance of a country, regardless of how large or how small, there must be a clear separation between Church and State. This is the only way that a country can be run without being influenced unduly by a major religious faction’s beliefs. Regardless of what the Bible may say on the matter, or how we, as Christians, may interpret it, it is a matter for the courts and for public law. Is being discriminated against based on sexual orientation any different from being discriminated upon based on colour? Note, I do not say race — we all belong to the human race, we are differentiated only by sex and skin pigmentation.

If a black person or a white person (or red or yellow or any other colour) is denied anything based on their skin pigmentation, there is a public outcry, and there is a legal avenue for the person to pursue reasonable action to have the matter resolved. Similarly for a male or female being denied or receiving less than their fair share. Not so for the homosexual. What makes them any different than you or I? In the law’s eyes, they should be treated like everyone else, as human beings with a right to existence and a right to personal freedoms. Black, white, male, female, hetero- or homosexual, we are all one people, one Bermuda, and we all should be treated equally.

In closing, allow me to quote another biblical passage for Rev. Larry to reflect upon. “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke (reason with) thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.” — Leviticus 19: 17-18 (King James Version). This is repeated by Jesus in Matthew 5:43. I do not see any qualifier that says “unless they are gay” — it seems quite simply laid out for those who want to utilise the Bible as their public “law” book. Everyone deserves equal human rights.TOM PANCHAUD

SouthamptonA call to the youthJuly 25, 2006

Dear Sir,I am a 27-year-old Bermudian who loves this country, but now that love skates on thin ice. If anyone was to ask me five years ago where I would rather live, with out a doubt I would’ve named our great and beautiful island Bermuda. Unfortunately, now I’m not so sure about that. There is so much that I would like to write about in this letter, but I would take up the whole Gazette. How can we keep on living this way Bermuda? Young children joining gangs, drive by shootings, racism attacks, teenagers killing each other, a Government that seems not to do anything at all to get a hold of the recent problems in our society, they don’t finish their jobs before moving onto the next project and not to mention the lack of punishment given to renegade Politicians.

I am not only criticising the current Government, because I don’t even think the Opposition is worth voting for anymore! . Personally I do not want to see this island sink into the deepest depths of the Atlantic Ocean because of these hard headed politicians. All they seem to do is yell and bicker about each other. Meanwhile forgetting their role as leaders of this country. So fellow Bermudians, who else do we have Bermuda to lead our great and beautiful Island. It is time for both Parties to unite forget about what colour they are, what happened in Bermuda’s past and unite to become a better party for Bermuda. If this is not possible for them, I urge all Young Bermudian Adults to stand up for our country and take control, for we are the Future of Bermuda. Thank you very much for your reading time. From a fed up Bermudian.ANDREW ROBERTS

St. David’sPuzzling AG’s commentsJuly 21, 2006

Dear Sir,The Attorney General Larry Mussenden has recently made pronouncements on two controversial issues, both of which are questionable. One concerns the ruling that the Senate not be permitted to debate the Bill increasing parliamentary salaries because he said it would be unconstitutional for it to do so. The Constitution states that the only way a law can be made is by a Bill passing both Houses of the Legislature and then being assented to by the Governor. It is true that there are provisions in the Constitution limiting the power of the Senate to initiate or amend or delay money Bills but none if these preclude the Senate from debating a money Bill should it wish to do so. Indeed the Governor should not give his assent to a Bill which has not been approved by both the House of Assembly and the Senate unless the Constitution specifically authorises him to do so.

The other issue concerns the Rebecca Middleton murder trial, which he states was a good example of the Judiciary working well. In that case the Police gave the then Attorney General strong evidence that two identified men had carried out the killing. Common law and common sense required that the two men be tried together and if this had happened they both would likely have been convicted. The job of the Attorney General is to institute proceedings against any person who has committed a criminal offence where he believes he has evidence, which will lead to a conviction, and to present that evidence with a view to getting a conviction. It appears in the Middleton case that the Government Prosecutors achieved the exact opposite which is hardly an example of the Judiciary working well.WILLIAM M. COX

DevonshirePLP are not conservativeAugust 3, 2006

Dear Sir.So 70 percent of the people in the latest poll do not want independence! I wonder why? I got a good laugh out of one caller to the Shirley Dill radio show who said, the PLP did a really fantastic job of informing and educating the people on independence - so fantastic, that now the percentage against independence has jumped higher. After the release of this 70 percent against independence statement, along comes Mr. Scott Simmons, the PLP spokesperson, who makes another “history making” stupid and ridiculous remark that “government is listening”!

Mr. Editor, I would like to know what are they listening to? It is certainly not the people! Maybe they are listening to the beating of their own drum — the drum that beats into their heads that tells them they must take this island to independence regardless! That they needed their outrageous pay rises so that when they retire, they will be set for life. That they need to spend as much money as possible — and while on the money spending subject, what did I read in yesterday’s paper? Tourism is giving away $300 Visa vouchers to lure tourist to the island? Is the Tourism Minister taking this out of his own pocket? I don’t think so! So here we go again, foolishly spending the people’s money. When is it going to stop?

This government reminds me of when I go on vacation, especially in Europe. I have a nice deep bathtub and I fill it to the brim, get in - leave the water running hot, and soak for hours, meanwhile, the water just pouring down the drain through the overflow. It’s not my water, so why should I be concerned? Now Mr. Editor, you and I both know that here in Bermuda we can’t do that because we have to be conservative. This government is not conservative; they spend money like drunken sailors!

Back to Mr. Simmons and government listening. Mr. Editor, 15.000 people signed a petition for a referendum to vote yes or no on the issue of independence and it was presented to government almost a year ago. If this government was listening, then 15,000 people should have heard from them by now. If government was listening, instead of putting independence on the back burner as stated in the Mid Ocean News yesterday, they would take that pot off the stove altogether and trash it, and in it’s place, government would hold a referendum before any general election so that the people can decide what they want. That’s what they would do if they were listening — they would also prove it by some positive action and stop paying lip service. One thing you can be sure of is that the people are not only listening — they are also talking — a lot!PAT FERGUSON

WarwickRaynor must follow logicAugust 5, 2006

Dear Sir,That was some tirade from Col. Eugene Raynor printed in The Royal Gazette, on July 29th, and clearly illustrates the true depth of homophobia in Bermuda. Colonel Raynor made the statement that “we have always had gays in the Regiment and they have always conducted themselves in a reasonable manner and have not imposed themselves.” That seems plain and simple. He states that gays have not been a problem — and he should know from his long association with the Regiment.

However, I vividly recall my own heterosexual and rather homophobic son coming home after a weekly training session at Warwick Camp describing how one of the regiment officers had totally humiliated a young soldier who he (the officer) believed to be gay. His endless vulgar and obscene harassment had apparently been excessive, even to so-called “normal” recruits. My son later described how another young man at Camp LeJeune was constantly harangued by his senior officers as a “poofter”, a “queer “and “sissy” with loads of expletives thrown in, none of which are clean enough to be printed in The Royal Gazette. They made his life a living hell. Bearing these facts in mind I have four questions for Colonel Raynor:

1. Even though you admit that gays in the Regiment have always conducted themselves in a reasonable manner (his words — not mine), would you condone Regiment officers harassing, insulting and treating them with contempt just because of their sexual orientation?

2. Can you please just imagine the reaction of senior Regiment officers to receiving a complaint from a gay recruit who had the audacity to make such a complaint?

3. Why would any person treated in this way have any confidence in his complaint being dealt with in a fair and unbiased manner when the Chairman of the Defence Board has publicly made it clear that he considers gays to be not “normal” and their condition is based on “pretence”.

4. Do you believe that homosexuality can be “cured” by a good dose of military discipline? This seems to be the mistaken belief of many of your officers.

If Col. Raynor believes that homosexuals can be denied their basic human rights to be treated equally, would it then not logically follow that it would be fair to allow gays to be conscientious objectors on the grounds that they are “not normal” (again — his words, not mine).AGAINST GAY BASHING

Smith’s Parish