We?ll lose independence

October 27, 2005

Dear Sir,

I am a Bermudian who now lives abroad ? kind of a reverse ?expat?, and have been her twice for visits during this year, and would like to pass on my humble observations of Bermuda from someone who now lives abroad. Like quite a few Bermudians I have had to make the decision to retire overseas mainly due to the very high cost of living here. During my visits I have been enchanted, as always, by the prettiness and natural beauty of Bermuda. Flying here over the reefs is always a moment of heart-stopping joy to see the wonderful colours. Also the natural friendliness and courtesy of many of the people here are most enjoyable to share.

However, I have become aware of an increasing materialism among many people here. The Government now permits oversized cars and taxis on Bermuda?s increasingly crowded narrow roads, which to me is indicative of unnecessary flaunting of wealth. The building boom is gobbing up land at a truly scary rate. Condominiums, townhouses, private homes are popping up like mushrooms, but the really obvious sights that I find hard to swallow are the pell-mell efforts of developers to build higher and higher office towers and residential unit blocks in the capital.

The day after I arrived I opened to see illustration of the proposed Bank of Bermuda development of the Trimingham?s /Smith?s sites. The token retention of the charming facade is to be backed by a boring, unimaginative monstrosity ? shades of the Bank?s late 1960s head office. Why in heaven?s name is this to be permitted in the name of bank centralisation? I feel very uneasy about the whole idea of this Bermudian financial institution having surrendered its independence to foreign ownership.

Many changes have already been instituted in the way the bank conducts itself. I know it?s too late, to cry wolf, but we Bermudians seem to be sold to organisations outside of Bermuda. People here are still grieving to see two of Bermuda?s chief retailers manoeuvred into bankruptcy so that their properties can be grabbed.

Another current example of apparent corporate skulduggery I have learned about on this visit is this very fishy cancellation of the locally-owned control of the cement supply in Bermuda. I understand this has been given to another foreign company. The Government?s reason being that it is only for two years until someone else is found to run it. Who?s being fooled by that?

My discomfort with the way the country is being run is further increased by this insane push for independence. It is clearly an anti-British ploy by ?our leaders? to feed the silly and outmoded anti-colonial fetish now in vogue to those who are whipped up into these feelings by the current administration.

Wake up Bermuda. Independence is not for us. Remember when a past Premier tried to pull this onus and at least held a proper referendum which was thrown out by a three-to-one vote? Don?t let the Government force this on to Bermuda, and if it does, vote it down. Remember there is a petition for a proper referendum on this vital subject ? that has been signed by many Bermudians ? sitting somewhere within Government.

Make sure that our wishes are not swept under some carpet in the Premier?s office. If we ever become independent we?ll lose our independence and be pressured by outside influences even more than now. I know that the rosy and carefree Bermuda of our child hoods is past, but don?t let this unique jewel in the Atlantic become another even more frenetic high-rise version of other financial mini states. My observations are submitted with modesty and in the real interests of Bermuda.

Dr. O?Connell should sue

November 18, 2005

Dear Sir,

Over the past few years since Sean O?Connell was unfairly dismissed from the Bermuda College, I have seen a number of letters to you suggesting that his dismissal should be reviewed and reversed. Dr. and Mrs. O?Connell are sadly naive if they think that anyone in this so-called Government, let alone their puppets at the College are going to do anything at all ? ever. My suggestion is that, if they truly feel he was unfairly treated (and I cannot believe there?s anyone who doesn?t agree with that) they should retain Saul Froomkin and sue the idiots for as much as they can get. Believe me, money is all these people understand.

Dr. Brown is doing well

November 17, 2005

Dear Sir,

Dr. Gibbons gave a very interesting speech as reported on Tuesday in . I take exception to his remarks regarding Tourism and Dr. Brown specifically. As I see it, Dr. Brown has been most effective in his role as Minister of Tourism and if hotel occupancy and the number of tourists flying to Bermuda is down, as Dr. Gibbons suggested, it is not the singular fault of the Minister. Dr. Brown in his short tenure has convinced the airlines to increase the number of flights to the island, secured direct flights from Miami (not an easy task), and began flights to Bermuda with USA3000 and then made it possible for USA3000 to open additional embarkation airports (e.g. Philadelphia and beyond).

It appears JetBlue will begin servicing Bermuda and British Airways will be flying seven days a week starting in the spring. These accomplishments coupled with the distinct possibility of direct flights from Milan and or Munich shows me Dr. Brown to be a tireless advocate for increasing the number of tourists to Bermuda.

If the hotel occupancy is down that is not the Ministry?s fault. I travel frequently and have yet to see individual hotel advertisements in any travel magazines. If the hotels want their occupancy up they need to look internally at what they are doing and determine where they can best spend their marketing dollars to increase their business. A doctor would not go to the Minister of Health and tell her she must do something to increase their number of patients. As for privatising the Ministry, how will this tourism office be funded? Are the hotels going to fund this organisation? Is private industry going to fund it? If so why are these organisations not putting this money into the current Ministry of Tourism? As I see it, Dr. Brown is Bermuda?s best salesman because in this position that is what you need. Don?t malign his travelling. As a person who travels for a living, it is not glamourous.

One always has to work harder when travelling because you need to accomplish twice as much in half the time. Whatever the reason for Dr. Brown?s travel, when is he not the Minister of Tourism?

Returning to Power 95

October 27, 2005

Dear Sir,

Please allow me through your medium to express my bitter disappointment with the management of Hott 1075. It was brought to my attention yesterday that Bootsie and Brother Richie would no longer be hosting the morning show. My first reaction was that this was another prank, similar to the April Fool?s joke. To my amazement, I found out it was true. After reading through Wednesday?s copy of , I read that the management of Hott 107.5?s had relieved Bootsie, Brother Richie and Steve Easton of their duties because of downsizing and restructuring. (Hogwash!).

I believed Mr. Smith, Mr. Blakeney and Mr. Pearman to be men of intelligence and integrity. Bootsie was the reason that my friends, co-workers, family and myself tuned in to your radio station anyway. Not only is Bootsie well known, he is respected and loved by all of his listening audience and a lot of your success as the number 1 radio station should be credited to his popularity and his interactive morning show.

I turned in to Hott 107.5 in the morning because of Bootsie?s energy, his way of making his audience laugh and feel good so early in the morning. I have to admit, that I was not receptive to Poppa Sporty initially, but after listening to him a few times, he definitely grew on me. I looked forward to his updates on the football games and his passion for it and how he felt that ?Onion Juice? was the cure for everything! I also enjoyed Brother Richie?s energy in the morning ? I enjoyed the way he and Bootsie fed of each other, they made tuning in fun in the morning. I even called the radio station a couple of times myself. As far as Nefertari is concerned, she has a nice voice and reads the news headlines very well ? but on her own is quite boring without Bootsie and Brother Richie to carry her. Mr. Smith, Mr. Blakeney and Mr. Pearman; I don?t want to be too critical of Thao Dill, but he is just not mature enough to hold the attention of the morning audience.

He may have some appeal to the younger audience, but it is predominantly the adults that are getting up to go to work most mornings that tune in regularly at that time. Most people that I have conversed with regarding this situation are quite irritated listening to Thao ? especially first thing in the morning. I would always tune out during his show whether it is in the morning or the afternoon, because of his immaturity and seemingly lack of respect for his listeners.

Bootsie is a comedian and knows how to deliver his jokes to get a laugh. Thao who tries to be funny, is just that, ?trying?. He is definitely not a role model for the younger audience because of some of the things that he says on the radio which I feel is totally inappropriate ? I wonder how he has lasted all this time! Needless to say Hott 107.5?s early morning listening audience will not be the same. I for one will be reverting back to Power 95 and I have no doubt that majority of listeners will do the same.

I encourage everyone that feels as passionate as I do about the handling of these three young men who has been apart of our families during their morning show to boycott this radio station and whatever promotion they put on. Rumour has it that Elroy R. C. Smith is bringing in radio personalities from Chicago to fill these positions. If this is true, how wrong is that? If Hott 107.5?s management can be this cold to these three young men, the remainder of the staff should be watching their backs. How uncomfortable is that?

What is happening here?

Dear Editor,

I am not one to write letters to the Editor, but this is the second time in as many months. What is happening? Does anyone fear not only for ourselves but for our children? What is to become of this Island if people in political office are allowed to use such phrases as ?house n****r?. I can?t even bring myself to write, let alone say it. Or to actually think of offering work incentives to encourage people to have more children as stated by the Finance Minister. If there is a supposed lower birth rate on the Island, has Ms Cox looked into whether or not it is because teen pregnancy is down?

This would be a good reason and cause for celebration, not a reason to see where we can make up the numbers. Does anyone realise these ?incentive? children will need housing when they get older and will also need a proper education. We can?t seem to educate or house the children we have now. We all know that there will be people out there to take advantage of these ?incentives?.

Some of us would like to have more children, but it is called living within your means, it is a fact of life no matter where you live. I am not here to blame the PLP or the UBP as education and affordable housing have been issues for many years, long before 1998. I think what we all want, as Bermudians not blacks or whites, is a Bermuda where we all feel safe, can make an honest living and can all get along as one people, Bermudians.

Don?t waste our money

November 8, 2005

Dear Sir,

I object to paying for a Government television station. I don?t care which party is in power; I think it is very unfair for this Government to make us poor people pay for this. So, I have thought about this and I have a few suggestions to give the Government. Why not use , The Workers Voice. I?m sure Laverne Furbert would love to have her paper a little larger than four pages. Print all the news in that, and give them free to the people of Bermuda. Call news conferences every week. All of the local television news media would cover it. The PLP is always accusing the print media of not getting it right. If they were in front of the cameras there is no way news could get twisted.

Why not use the current Government Emergency Station. It?s up and running already. You see Mr. Editor, it just takes a little thought. This Government is constantly spending our money for no reason so ever. For instance, the fast ferries. We have paid millions for these ferries but has it helped limit the traffic on the roads? No! We have paid millions for Berkeley, is that school finished yet? NO. They can?t even get a Spanish teacher to teach. Our seniors, have they been taken care of yet? NO. Have we received a clear and concise report of the BIC report? No! Do people have enough houses to rent or buy in Bermuda? No!

The MP?s Parking Lot, is that finished yet? Yes it is! What did it eventually cost the public? Will this type of information be given to us once this station is up and running? No! This will be a propaganda station where all the information will be overshadowed by un-truths. Mr. Editor, I feel it is wrong to make us pay for something we really do not need and for those who think if is fair, then you pay for it.

Praise for the Editor

November 16, 2005

Dear Sir,

Over the years, I have often read your editorials and had become used to the unbalanced and biased view, in my opinion, that has taken on many issues affecting the well-being of the Island. However, over the past two weeks, I have been pleasantly surprised by the very erudite, scholarly and even-handed position taken by the ?new editor?, if indeed this is the case. I must congratulate and encourage you in your efforts to present a fair and impartial view of events which are important to the Bermudian public, black, white and other. Please don?t regress!

has had the same Editor since 1998!

Get our priorities right

November 17, 2005

Dear Sir,

We?ve been told that Bermuda is a wealthy country (island). A wealthy country means nothing to me, if we can?t boast that we (Bermuda) have one of the best health care facilities in the world! That our police force is second to none. Our educational system is flawless. And our morals are high. A rich country should not have natives living with a poor quality of life, whether financially or morally. I believe if we were to work on these goals, all other goals will fall into place.

If things turned sour, fast ferries, fast cars and big ships, are not going to save us!