May 20, 2005

Dear Sir,

In the wake of several recent road fatalities there has been growing concern regarding Bermuda's transportation problems. Many Bermudians have expressed alarm at the dangerous driving, congested traffic and increasing road rage they are witnessing on our roads today. I fear we are just beginning to experience the stress and strain caused by this community's inability to sustain its current pace of development. The increase in the number and size of vehicles on our Island is undoubtedly contributing to this.

Not too long ago the Minister of Transport and Deputy Premier Dr. Ewart Brown stated he was giving thought to granting non-Bermudian residents who purchase high priced condominiums the privilege of hiring cars to drive on our roads. This will only exacerbate the problem. I would humbly suggest that he move in the opposite direction i.e. ban all foreign workers (with the exception of doctors, chief executives, etc.) from owning cars in Bermuda, this would help to alleviate traffic problems on the Island.

Not too long ago, the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr. Randy Horton, stated unequivocally that Bermuda was in desperate need of more foreign workers. More foreign workers equates to a greater need for housing and this in a community where there already exist an acute shortage of affordable housing. While the foreign worker may be able to afford the high rents demanded by many landlords, what of the average Bermudian?

It is clear that steps must be taken to arrest or at the very least exert some meaningful control over the pace at which our beloved country is developing. Already Bermuda has lost a lot of her natural beauty, whilst the vast majority of Bermudians are not being affected in a positive way by what is happening. Greed and avarice are fuelling the destruction of what many around the world once considered paradise. I call upon the Government to do all in their power to rein in this uncontrolled growth, which while benefiting us in the short term will lead inevitably to our ultimate demise.

RECMAN

Devonshire

May 26, 2005

Dear Sir,

I was at Square One the very night that Mr. Ayo Johnson claims to have been discriminated against due to the colour of his skin. This claim is not only completely ludicrous, it is extremely irresponsible. I arrived early to the club, and as a result, was allowed to enter the so-called “VIP” room. A while later, a girlfriend of mine showed up and tried to get into the VIP area. She was refused entry, despite her attempts to talk her way past the door man. My girlfriend happened to be white, almost six feet tall, blonde hair, blue eyes and curves like Harbour Road. Rather than pout the rest of the night, she brushed off the incident and had a great time. When the club mentions that only “certain type of people get in”, it has nothing to do with the colour of your skin.

ANONYMOUS

Pembroke

May 28, 2005

Dear Sir,

Please allow me the opportunity to voice my disgust with Bermuda. I've just read your headline in this morning's paper (Saturday, May 28, 2005) about a certain individual being found not guilty of the attempted murder of a Police Officer! Does anyone really wonder why it is so hard to get Bermudians to join the Police Service?

Every Bermudian is aware by now that the so-called “Police” get absolutely no respect from the community. The “Police” are supposed to care for everyone's life in the community yet it is blatantly obvious that no one cares about the lives of the “Police Officer!” How can a person pull a gun on an “Officer” and pull the trigger more than once and then be found not guilty?

Wake up Bermuda, because soon enough you are going to find yourselves without a “Police Service” at all when they all quit because it just isn't worth it. I just want to say that I am utterly disgusted. I am not surprised though. Since no one has been convicted of the last few murders, one of which happened in front of hundreds of witnesses, why would I have expected someone to be convicted of attempted murder?

COMPLETELY DISGUSTED

Hamilton Parish

May 25, 2005

Dear Sir,

I cannot believe that as I sit here writing this letter a young man sits at home bruised, battered and completely shaken up after being beaten by two punks last night who saw an easy target, a white man, and even better, alone. The sad part of this whole situation is that this case is just one out of many that happen every single day on this island. That is why I have decided to come out and express my concerns, whether or not anything will come of it remains to be seen but I feel that if one person stands up, that one voice is far greater than none at all.

For those two individuals to do what they did yesterday to an innocent man is truly sad and quite pathetic. Do they have nothing better to do with their lives than look for people to beat up and rob? Did that make them feel like men picking on someone half their size? What makes me laugh is that it took two of them to beat up and rob one guy, but then I forgot, its strength in numbers, when they are around their “boys” their rough and tough, when you catch them by themselves, they can't run away fast enough.

This island has changed so dramatically over the years and it's quite obvious that things are only going to get worse before they get better. It completely disgusts me how you can't even go out anymore and enjoy yourself for fear that the person next to you or even yourself for that matter is going to get beaten up or stabbed because you happen to be white and you stepped on their foot or looked at them the wrong way. Who needs to deal with that on an island 21 square miles long? Are we trying to compare ourselves to places like Los Angeles, New York or New Jersey where people get shot in the head for speaking out of turn?

If certain individuals want to act like that perhaps we should send them to those places so they can learn what it really means to be a “gangsta”. I can guarantee they will come running back with their tails between their legs crying to their mommy. These individuals need to grow up, get a job and contribute something to this society like the rest of us instead of just leaching off of it. What makes this situation even worse is the fact that an innocent victim does not have a leg to stand on thanks to our judicial system.

Serious crimes are being committed and no one is being convicted for them. So what does that mean, these victims are just attacking themselves!? That's ludicrous! How many more people are going to be killed or brutally attacked before our legal system learns to do their job? The message that is being sent to these punks is that you can beat or kill someone and walk free however if you get caught speeding you find yourself in Westgate for three to six months. Does this sound like justice?

Unfortunately it seems like all these issues that we are faced with are coincidentally linked together. A 15-year-old gets pregnant, can't support their child or children, these children are brought up in an unstable environment, they don't get properly educated, they aren't given the chances that another child who is brought up in a stable environment would. They become resentful, they turn to violence, they blame everyone else for their problems, and before we know it a crime is committed and look who is at fault. And then the cycle continues.

We all have a role to play in our society. We can choose to stop this madness someway, somehow or we can sit back with our heads in the sand and allow these types of people to take over what used to be a safe island. A place where we didn't have to worry about locking our doors or seeing someone getting stabbed in broad daylight. Is that what you want your children to be subjected to? An Island full of hatred, racism and violence? Just ask yourself that question when you put your children to bed tonight. Remember, you have just as much right as the next person and we CAN do something about it. We just have to be willing to.

FED UP

Devonshire

May 29, 2005

Dear Sir,

I have heard a great deal about Minister Ashfield DeVent (more in fact than the actual crisis situation at hand). If people put this much passion into the housing situation, then the housing situation in Bermuda would be more proactive. The residents of Mary Victoria Road (and all other areas that will oppose low income housing in their neighbourhoods), and I am sure that they have their reasons, should walk a mile in the shoes of a homeless, 41-year-old woman, with two kids aged eight years and five months.

Working in a professional capacity, earning $46,000 to $51,000 a year and I stress again ... homeless. (And before the Island goes off on a tangent... I am college educated, used birth control when necessary, and worked on keeping my union together with my kid's father (one father) for six years after our divorce. And yes, I add again, I am homeless!

I am sure that a great deal of people will still be left out in the cold after these units are built and more areas of the Island will have to be utilised. So, come on, in the name of God and let's work together. I too, admit that I could not feel the pain of the situation at hand, had I not walked a mile in these shoes. And let me add that my shoes had gold heels that are now worn down to my bare soles. The Minister is at least trying to do something.

He is just human after all like us all, none perfect. Perhaps, the situation and I am sure a lot of other situations in Government, have not been handled as we would all like. But, from what I have seen and heard from Minister DeVent, it seems like he is trying. Housing is a heavy burden along with the drug problem on our island. Let's work on these things and not personalities. If someone can come up with a better housing solution, then please do it. And I stress do it. Talk is not doing anything.

HOMELESS IN MY OWN COUNTRY

Warwick, Southampton, St. David's