Won't be fooled or used

September 23, 2007

Dear Sir,

This letter is in reply not only to A Voter Who Will Not Be Fooled, whose letter appeared in your paper on Saturday, September 22, but also to his friends over at Bermudasucks.com. First of all I want to inform them that I am a strong young black man that will not be silenced, nor will I be fooled. While he claims to not have loyalty to either party, the first mistake the letter writer made was to defend Mr. Dunkley because "what I will do is stand up for people with integrity, particularly when such people are misquoted and their words spun to fit another's agenda."

Well, Mr. Will not be fooled, the fact that you feel that way about Mr. Dunkley, and even went as far as to write a letter to the Editor in his defence shows where your vote is going. Now as to the part of my letter that made you write in, all I will say is you and your friends took it the wrong way.

Many people read my letter and knew that I meant happy in a political sense. I won't speak too much on that because it is not a topic to go back and forth on. A family is at a loss right now and arguing about this won't help them at all. My point was and is that Mr. Dunkley should not have made his comments, they were political and it was not the time, place or subject to use such an example. He was wrong.

I spoke what was on my mind, not what the PLP told me to say. Do I not, as a man, have a right to do so? It's funny that you would put me down and make me out to be this bad seed that should not speak because I said something you feel was out of line about Mr. Dunkley, who you feel is a man of integrity, yet you must have seen the letters in this paper from UBP supporters (young and old) and the even worse ones online on Facebook etc. written against The Hon. Premier Dr. Ewart Brown and have yet to lash out at them.

If you know my Facebook activity you must have seen theirs. You know what I am talking about: the F#$% Brown this and F%^$ Brown that, when Brown dies I'll S#@$ on his grave, the boo Dr. Brown groups and all that. One thing I can say about myself and other young PLP members is we have a certain level of respect and never stoop so low. In fact the PLP ensures that we don't.

I guess the UBP raises their young their way and the PLP raises theirs their way. The Facebook group Mr. Will Not Be Fooled talked about concerning me is called Progressive People Looking for a Better Bermuda. I set it up so that anybody wanting to ask questions and know the truth about the PLP MPs can go in and do so also to inform young people when the PLP are holding events such as the open mics with the Premier.

There are a lot of doors open for young people and that group serves as a way for them to find out what is available. It's more for the young peoples' benefit then it is for the PLP's. It was not set up to trash anyone nor was anyone ever trashed in it. Bermuda, just to let you know, Mr. Will Not Be Fooled and his friends have a website called Bermudasucks.com where they go online to trash the name of the Premier and other PLP MPs as well as their supporters.

After my letter I was one of their victims. I was called a male sex organ, the female sex organ, a racist, a moron and many other negative things that I would never call someone for voicing their opinion. Don't take it as these were just young people – most of them are old enough to be my parents. I could have replied to them online but they are not worth it. I much prefer to use my energy to do move positive things in my community. The sad thing is that they make these personal attacks and are not man/women enough to use their real names they hide behind pen names just like Mr. Will not be fooled.

I stand by my words and am sorry to those that misunderstood me but I am not sorry for saying them. If a man can't stand by his words in the face of opposition and objection, he should not speak. I say I am the voice for young people because rather than support the UBP or the PLP, I will use the relationships I've made with the people up top to see that their issues and concerns are addressed. I will help where I can. I am not afraid to speak up or fright for what I believe in. So the only ones in trouble are the ones opposed to me and the PLP party which I support.

And Mr. Wont be fooled and friends, don't worry, I won't be fooled or used or brainwashed or anything else that relates to peer pressure because: "When I was a child I thought as a child. When I became a man I put away my childish things."

MAKAI DICKERSON

Sandys

It's all in the parenting

September 23, 2007

Dear Sir,

We are wasting more money doing another study about the young males here in Bermuda. This problem is not limited just to Bermuda, read the news and you will see that other places in the world have the same problem. Parents, please read below and if you have a young adult who is going nowhere see if any of the following applies:

1. Telling a little child the Policeman is going to come and get you and lock you up, thus instilling in the child the idea that the police are not there to serve and protect but a bad man who will take you away and lock you up.

2. Many parents regularly deliver their primary school children to school late, thus unstifling in the child from an early age that it is OK to be late and it is OK to speed on Bermuda's roads

3. When the teacher corrects a child or punishes the child, the parent blames the teacher, and if given the opportunity, will verbally abuse the teacher in front of the child, thus instilling in the child at an early age that it is OK to belittle the person in charge, that the person in charge doesn't have to be listened to; and that an education is not important, just bully your way through.

4. Parents who do not want their children to have a hard time growing up like they experienced go out and buy the best for their children whether they can afford it or not, thus instilling in the child they should always have the best regardless.

5. Parents who do not insist that children do any chores and earn an allowance, but just give them money to spend, and let them buy whatever they want, thus instilling in the child that they do not have to work to earn money

6. When growing up and watching the Police trying to do their job and seeing people either fight or, at the very least, harass the Police, instills in the child the idea that it's OK to harass or attack the Police for doing their job.

So what has that child learned, and how will they live as young adults?

1. The police are bad

2. It's OK to be late

3. It's OK to speed

4. Education is not important

5. It's OK to ignore the boss

6. It's OK to shout threats so the other person will back down

7. You must have the best. If no one will give it to you – take it.

8. You do not have to earn your money – find the easy way to get it, or take it.

9. Harass or fight the police when they try and do their job.

While you are at it, let them sit on the wall with their friends, while you still feed and clothe them

It is OK to blame the Government, blame the system, blame the drugs, blame the fact that we supposedly have the third highest income in the world, blame anyone you want for whatever you want. But do not blame yourself for the way you have raised you child.

Coeur de lion

Warwick

A tribute to South P

September 24, 2007

Dear Sir,

The Fairmont Southampton Hotel will be celebrating 35 years of continuous operation in Bermuda in 2007 and the Bermuda Hotel Association would like to publicly acknowledge this significant contribution that this hotel has made and continues to make to the economic well being of many of our citizens.

Many of us do not know that this grand hotel annually contributes one and a half times more than the US Navy did when they were in full operation at their East End base.

Besides being a trailblazer in that this hotel was one of the first hotels designed specifically for catering to large convention groups and regular visitors, it also engaged many internationally known musicians and entertainers, who delighted all who ventured into those custom designed rooms, after having enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at one of many fine restaurants, including the five star "Newport Room".

I recall meeting the original owner/developer of our flagship hotel, Mr. Daniel K. Ludwig, who told me that during his business career, he had made a couple of mistakes, but the building of this hotel was not one of them.

It was recognised that the success of the hotel could only be achieved through the employment of dedicated, committed and passionate Bermudian employees and through the years many of them have given and continue to give first class service and attention to our valued visitors.

Throughout these 35 years, these great hospitality ambassadors who come from many different countries in the world, have place Bermuda on the map as being one of the finest, peaceful, relaxing and friendliest resort locations on our planet. For this we are thankful to them and wish them all good wishes and a hearty congratulations on their 35th Birthday and look forward to many more years of success for this ' Grand Lady on the Hill'.

JOHN W. HARVEY

Chief Executive Officer

Bermuda Hotel Association

Face the facts

September 22, 2007

Dear Sir,

Please leave a large space in your column to express my opinion about the renaming of Bermuda Day to National Heroes Day. I have only been back at university for two weeks now and yet, the PLP has already been able to come up with not one but two contentious issues. Today I will discuss National Heroes Day.

I'll give you credit Brown for using Dame Lois's name as the reason for renaming Bermuda Day, but we all know it's only so you can play the race card when someone disagrees with it. However, I have found a flaw in your plan: I am Black and I am a Bermudian so I can happily say this is one of the worst ideas your party has come up with this year; and not have the race card used against me. Silly rabbit tricks are for children!

The justification for the PLP in changing the name of Bermuda Day was to instill "national pride" back into the hearts and minds of Bermudians. However Mr. Brown, "national pride" represents the interests of all people on the island of Bermuda, not just one sect, which undoubtedly is why this name-change has taken place. How much more nationalistic can a holiday be than reserving a day for all Bermudians as Bermuda Day has historically done. This name change blatantly disregards all that has been associated with Bermuda Day and contradicts the very idea of pride for national culture. In all honesty how many times if at all will a White Bermudian be honoured for their contribution to the island? If one has been honoured that I don't know of this serves to show that our Government has failed miserably in educating young Bermudians on not only Black History makers but Bermudian history makers in general (maybe you should mention some white Bermudians you feel have made a significant contribution that should be commemorated.)

Granted the name of the national holiday has be changed in the past many times, having names such as Victoria Day, Empire Day, Heritage Day and Common Wealth Day, however all those days have represented a wide scope of the cultures of Bermuda. You can't get any more absolute than Bermuda Day. National Hero's Day only celebrates the achievements of individuals rather than then achievements of our culture and island: it would be a large leap backwards.

I'm not saying Dame Lois doesn't deserve to be acknowledged in the future for her actions in the past, but it could be one of the other 364 days of the year. Why not give her the whole month of February; it is Black history month. Why celebrate her work and sacrifices with a day off when we can teach her lessons to the youths for a month so she will not be remembered for giving everyone a day off from school but rather for her actions that changed society.

I ask you the people of Bermuda, to see through this smoke screen that our narrow minded leader has concocted. It's nothing more than a diversionary tactic to draw attention away from domestic turmoil. I can't express to you the concern we the youth of Bermuda have for our island's future. We have been constantly lied to by the PLP government. For example, Brown said that the government had nothing to do with Southlands when in reality it was the Premier and the Environmental Mister that signed off the property. They were even kind enough to give us a documentary about why they thought it was a good idea. Lies deceit, no accountability, broken promises, and continued over use of the race card is what this government is made of. However, despite all this the Premier states that the island is moving forward. I often wonder what credentials this government has to run this island.

It's actually quite embarrassing when you realise that Bermudas entire future is going to be determined on the next election and it won't be the current issues that determine the outcome of the election, but rather the ignorant individuals that dwell on the past. In conclusion make the smart decision and change the name back to Bermuda Day, restore the meaning of our national holiday, and never again use it for your own poor political schemes. Wake up Bermuda don't be blinded by colour.

Mark Frank Turner

Paget

Too many petitions

September 24, 2007

Dear Sir,

Since the advent of the PLP Government on November 9, 1998, it appears to me that a certain group of people are intent on protesting against everything and anything that this Government does. The latest online petition is calling for the dismissal or resignation of the Hon. Neletha Butterfield from the position of Minister of the Environment "due to her failure to act in accordance with her duties to protect the environment both culturally and physically …"

The petitioners, who obviously have no idea how a Government is run and certainly do not understand the concept of collective responsibility, are even blaming Minister Butterfield for the closure of Trimingham Brothers Ltd. and the eventual demolition of the Front Street building. I would suggest that Ms Ilona Perry, who appears to be the person who started the petition, do some research and find out exactly why Trimingham Brothers closed its doors and lay blame where it belongs. Certainly any Bermudian with an ounce of brain should know that neither Minister Butterfield, nor her Cabinet colleagues had anything to do with the closure of Triminghams.

By the way, Ms Perry needs to put her question, or challenge to the owners of the "Queen of the East" property, with regard to its proposed demolition that she should have put to the Trimingham family. It is the owners of the Queen of the East property who are asking for it to be demolished, not the Minister of the Environment. Further, it is not the Minister who will make the decision as to whether permission will be given for the demolition of the Queen of the East, but the Historical Building Advisory Committee.

According to Mid Ocean News reporter Heather Wood, the petitioners "contend that "Mrs. Butterfield" (Wood refuses to give the Minister her title) should be removed from office because she has consistently failed to consult the public of issues of national importance and that her actions demonstrate her misunderstanding of the democratic process". I contend that it is the petitioners that do not understand the democratic process because Ms Perry also states: "In a democracy, the government is answerable to its people. This is not a colonial system anymore." I wonder if Ms Perry has travelled to Langton Hill recently. If she had, she would see that Government House is still there and is occupied, not by Premier Brown or Minister Butterfield or any other Government minister, but by Sir John Vereker. Ms Perry and her petitioners should know that Sir John will soon be replaced by another Governor appointed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. That is a colonial system.

Although there are presently only 20 signatures to the latest petition, I will not be surprised when the list grows to include those Bermudians, and some non-Bermudians who seem to be infected with the disease of "petitionitis" that has reached a crisis proportions in our country so much so that I think it's time for the Government to ask for advice from the Centres for Disease Control in America.

I would encourage Bermudians to look at these online petitions so that they can see, like I have seen, that it is the same people who sign them time and time again, and few of them look like me, or Stuart Hayward, Bermuda's environmental guru.

Bermudians need to ask the question, "Are these petitioners really concerned about the protection of Bermuda's "environment and its artifacts" are or they really upset that people who look like them are no longer in charge?

I wonder if I started a petition asking that Government House be turned into a national park and be designated as open space, if Ilona Perry, Stuart Hayward and all of those other people who say that Bermuda needs more open space and national parks would sign my petition.

After all, how many acres of property does Sir Richard Gozney need to occupy to carry out his duties in colonial Bermuda that is a self governing country?

LA VERNE FURBERT

Hamilton Parish

Editor's Note: Any decision to delist "Queen of the East" as an historic building would be taken by the Environment Minister after consulting with the Historic Buildings Committee.