Continued from Page 6

Different issues

June 17, 2009

Dear Sir,

Like most Bermudians of conscience, I have mixed feelings about the Uighurs being here and hopefully once due process has taken place, the multifaceted risks to Bermuda will be deemed to be non-existent. If not, we will have to deal with what Dr. Brown has done. It's nice to know that the US President looks on us favourably, "on that front", but how will that translate to helping Bermuda with our future financial survival knowing the President's position on us "Tax Havens".

The Uighurs and Dr. Brown's actions should be separated. They are now different issues. I suspect that Dr. Brown kept this quiet so he could spring yet another of his photo opportunities and pretend to be a great humanitarian while once again sticking it to the British and seriously threatening our once good relationship with Great Britain. I believe I know for certain who is the only "terrorist" in Bermuda, or perhaps that person believes themselves to be a "freedom fighter", who just happens to not give a hoot about the vast majority of Bermudian's wishes.

Our Premier has repeatedly taken on the role of a dictator, uses and discards both friends and colleagues at a whim and unfortunately being politically neutered may not be enough for our well paid Ministers to risk their very generous pay cheques or for budding Ministers to risk the potential for a serious financial upgrade.

I am not a PLP supporter but they were elected to serve the people of Bermuda as its Government. That is our democracy. If the UBP's no-confidence vote could be interpreted in any way as a threat to the PLP Government, the UBP should change the wording so it is unequivocally aimed at Dr. Brown. Senior PLP supporters have suggested a secret ballot so that PLP Members can vote without being threatened or intimidated by Dr. Brown's current friends and cronies. If it is within the rules, let it be so. All of Bermuda can then see if yellow stripes run up the spines of our elected politicians.

I believe that Dr. Brown has, all on his own, caused this country more damage than anybody previously within Government. All for his own aggrandisement.

It is time to go, Dr. Brown. We again need a leader who will walk with his/her people, talk with them and most importantly, listen to them.

OLD BERMUDIAN

Pembroke

Who has power?

June 12, 2009

Dear Sir,

Premier Dr. Brown said on Friday June 12: "I have no power; what I have is delegated authority and delegated authority can always be taken away by he or she who delegates."

Gee, I always thought he received his authority initially from the electorate! I guess he has forgotten that.

UN-COMMON SENSE

St. George's

Window dressing

June 14, 2009

Dear Sir,

Having listened to the Premier recently on talk radio one thing is apparent; Dr. Brown is convinced in his own mind that the means is always justified by the end result. He shared that he thought it acceptable for him as a leader to make unilateral or arbitrary decisions as long as he believes that it is in the best interest of Bermuda. I merely wish to ask: "Is a dangerous precedent been set by the unilateral decision to bring US detainees here"? Could a future political leader, following Dr. Brown's example, make an important arbitrary decision with wide ranging ramifications which proves not to be in Bermuda's best interest?

The big question that needs to be answered is what checks and balances, on power and authority, are there on the person who occupies the office of premier? Even the President of the United States has checks and balances on his power, not because he isn't a man of honesty or integrity, but because the founding fathers of America recognised that history of mankind teaches that power and ambition must be controlled, as the maxim goes "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely".

How can Dr. Brown arbitrarily make such an important snap decision, ignoring Bermuda's constitution and bypassing the collective wisdom of our elected representative body, including the Cabinet and the deputy Premier? What necessitated that this decision be made in such haste and secrecy? The government from Palau, the other island nation that has, in principle, agreed to take detainees, are still involved in active discussions with the US government according to CNN "the agreement includes some US aid for Palau but those details remained to be worked out as well".

Are we as Bermudians prepared to entrust unlimited decision making powers in the hands of one or two men, one of whom is not even an elected official? Have the House of Assembly and the British Government been merely reduced to window dressing? Have both been supplanted by a return to oligarchy rule?

Dr. Brown's unilateral actions have left this country with some gigantic questions to answer with regard to the rule of law. Whether you like the laws and the constitution or not, are our political officials, and every citizen not bound to uphold the laws and the constitution? Is anyone above the law and constitution? I leave the legality of Dr. Brown's action to constitutional scholars and the British Government, but as I see it, for the good of Bermuda and our future political stability, this whole area of boundaries and limitations on power must be addressed. Does the end justify the means?

WE HAD TO DECEIVE!

Warwick

God be with us

June 17, 2009

Dear Sir,

At the risk of hogging the space to the Editor of The Royal Gazette, I have to say how proud I was to be a Bermudian yesterday and to see my fellow Bermudians rallying to say no to tyranny and a potential Dictatorship.

Janice Battersbee, was articulate and calm, she should be commended for her bravery and courage. and the general organisation and atmosphere, which she continuously encouraged to be respectful and disciplined, which it was. It was well coordinated and proved that Democracy is alive and well in the hearts of the gathering that came to make a point; not against the four unfortunate men who were brought to the island under secrecy, but to expose and put a stop to a man that has been dedicated to disrupt the People by playing the race card, and to come to settle scores, which included among other things destroying and humiliating the Government of the day.

By stealth and dishonesty stealing the Premiership, creating his own fiefdom, regardless who he trampled on and generally disrupting and exciting racial disharmony. He has stuck to his agenda faithfully and probably feels he has achieved what he came to do, so it is possible that he is ready to go and really doesn't care. He has made his, and tomorrow is another day and in his own words and I quote "This too will pass" and so will he. It is not too late for us to heal as the world has watched this man with amazement and wondered how long it would take for Bermudians to say "Enough is Enough" Yesterday was that day. May God be with us to bring this lovely little island, Bermuda, once again into the sunshine.

DIANA WILLIAMS

Pembroke

A motive

June 13, 2009

Dear Sir,

My biggest concern over this decision from Dr. Brown to allow these men here doesn't have anything to do with the men really. His complete disregard for the constitution, and chain of command is what scares me the most. If the Governor allows this decision to stand, then Dr. Brown inches Bermuda one step closer to becoming a Dictatorship. If the people of Bermuda cannot see this after this disaster of a decision then I imagine they never will. Why also haven't we heard how much money Bermuda received for this, the other country received $117 million, what did we get? And my final fear, Col. Burch made a statement the other day. He felt we (Bermudians) didn't need to know about the Chinese Muslims. What else have the good Dr. and Col. done that we as Bermudians didn't need to know? All of Bermuda needs to wake up! Black, white, Portuguese, PLP, UBP, everyone! Perhaps this decision was also made with the thought that Britain would cut us loose, since independence didn't seem to be favoured?

DISGUSTED

Devonshire

Slayton's meddling

June 17, 2009

Dear Sir,

I am quite sure the US Consul Gregory Slayton was involved in the move to bring the Uighurs to Bermuda. He has meddled in our affairs for too long now. It is time he packed his bags and headed back home with the four Uighurs in tow.

ST. GEORGIAN

Put it to the people

June 17, 2009

Dear Sir,

This is an open letter to the Governor, Sir Richard Gozney.

Thank you for taking the time to review my remarks concerning an amicable solution to our Premier's distasteful means of offering refuge to the former detainees of Guantánamo.

May I suggest a solution to this crisis could be putting the decision of whether these individuals can remain in Bermuda to the people via a referendum? Further, should the people of Bermuda opt in favour of this referendum it could be on the condition that the Uighurs be granted permanent residency as opposed to status.

Such acts would adequately reverse our Premier's rather dictatorial actions, gain favour of the people of Bermuda and ultimately resolve the issue of risks associated with the Uighurs being given status and ultimately rights to UK citizenship.

In the interests of promoting this idea to as wide an audience as possible I have opted to post a copy of this letter on my website, as well as having forwarded it on to the local newspapers. Thank you once again for taking the time to review my remarks. Sincerely,

DENIS PITCHER

www.21square.com

We are a democracy!

June 17, 2009

Dear Sir,

I am extremely proud to be a Bermudian but I am disgusted by Dr. Brown and his actions regarding recent events.

As many protesters said, it is not about the fact these men released from Guantánamo Bay are here. It is the way in which Dr. Brown operated by bringing them here. I must say Dr. Brown is nothing more than a fascist dictator. Just like those who came before him, he ignores the people who put him in place to begin with and he remains in power through intimidation, bullying and threats. The people of Bermuda are too scared to speak out against him as they're afraid of being black listed, of having their work permits revoked.

This is not how things are done, and governments are run in a democratic country. That's right Dr. Brown, I'm talking to you: We are a democracy! Stop ignoring the Bermudian people as though we are stupid and you can pull the wool over our eyes. You like to put on airs by thinking you have the power to fire a civil servant – you don't! You think you can use taxpayers' money to fund your own agenda – you can't! You think you can blackout media in a civil, democratic society – you can't! You can't pretend we're not dependent on the UK and disrespect the Crown, the FCO and HE Sir Richard Gozney.

To LaVerne Furbert who yelled at protesters to "read a history book as they were behaving like lynch mobs" I say, you are the one who needs to read a history book as a peaceful protest is nowhere near the same thing as a violent, uncivilised lynch mob. To the PLP supporters, Ministers and everyone who tries to bring race into this discussion I am not surprised. Whenever things don't go your way, you just love to play the "race card" because it takes the focus off the real issue. The Bermudian public is sick to death of the "race card" being played, and believe me, it does not fool anybody from noticing you are ignoring the issue. Just like politicians all over the world – Bermudian politicians do a whole lot of talking without ever really saying anything at all.

And don't even get me started on the fact that these men are being given Bermudian status regardless of the fact that hundreds, if not thousands of people apply for it every year by legal and above board means and they are rejected for the stupidest of reasons. I am proud to be Bermudian but I feel sick that Dr. Brown is in charge of my country and represents the population of Bermuda to the outside world. Anyone would be better.

BRING BACK DEMOCRATIC BERMUDA

Somerset