Don't exclude fathers

May 1, 2002

Dear Sir,

I read the letter "Observer". I think it's sad when a father wishes to be a parent and loses that right to a legal system that is supposed to be equal to all. The same father, if he quit on his children, would be put in the same category with some fathers that neglect their responsibility.

Yet if he fights the system which is perceived to be bias against men, he is called obsessive or told to get on with life. Funny how if a mother just quit and got on with her life she would be judged a poor mother for doing the same thing.

It seems that just about everybody is calling out for good, involved parents. This father was just that and what was his reward? A stab in the back! This court decision will deter any would be father. Because he loved and cared so much for his children he is observed to be bitter.

Tell me, when this same man lost his son to a routine operation and fought the system to make positive improvements to our health care so that people like Observer would benefit, was he a bitter denial then too? It seems you owe somebody an apology.

EQUALITY FOR OUR CHILDREN'S SAKE

Sandys

P.s. If you really wish to help children. Write and call for an investigation into a system that is demoralising willing fathers. Then, with some justice in place, we might just even encourage rather than displace fathers.

Triathletes thanks drivers

October 21, 2002

Dear Sir,

I should like to thank the drivers of St. David's for their courtesy on October 20. I was marshalling for the Triathlon National Championships at the junction of Southside and St. David's Road, stopping westbound traffic so that the cyclists could negotiate the junction safely. I stopped over thirty vehicles and, without exception, the drivers came to a halt, waited patiently, then gave me a wave on driving off.

ANDREW R. DOBLE

Bermuda Triathlon Association

Deal with what is crucial

October 23, 2002

Dear Sir,

I would appreciate your helping me know if I am off base or what. Does anybody else out there ever get the feeling that subtle big stuff goes down in Bermuda without challenge, stuff that is crucial to the future in Bermuda?

For example, the public education system is failing. Public high school graduation simply got cancelled last year. Ask the customers and their parents. How many kids now go to private school or home school or simply go away?

How come the Education Department spends 50 percent than fees at Bermuda High School or Saltus or Warwick? Unbelievable when I hear Government talking about 6,000 more workers for our white collar economy in the future? Then how come the teachers are going on strike?

If it was private, the Department and some teachers would be worrying about their jobs, not about their increase.

Any old fool like me who drives on the road can see that the technical officers at TCD are in serious tunnel. In case we haven't noticed, the roads are not becoming narrower (ever "slapped" mirrors with another car?) - No, the cars are getting wider. Check the jeeps.

And I hear the Minister talking about allowing still bigger cars. And 6,000 more cars for those 6,000 new jobs. If I am not alone, maybe your reporters could help with some enlightened investigative reporting.

OLLIE CHOUT

Warwick

Support positive activities

October 14, 2002

Dear Sir,

I would like to reply to the letter published in today's Royal Gazette and signed by "Detoured" who in my opinion should not have chosen to call him/herself "Detoured" but rather: "Lost".

First and foremost we all talk about one of Bermuda's biggest problems with our youth is the drug availability on the streets, the lack of two-parent involvement in their lives, but most of the time the lack of positive activities available on the Island.

If we were to encourage our troubled youth to participate more in what sports activities are kindly organised by the sporting bodies and sponsored by corporate businesses, perhaps we could reduce some of these problems.

These businesses, by the way, spend a great deal of time and money on the event, not to mention the number of volunteers who dedicate their personal time to bring these events to the Bermudian community.

These activities not only help our youth but also bring families together in a positive and healthy environment. We should be so lucky to have more companies hold more of these events, which can only but keep our children off the streets and off drugs and to teach them discipline and good character for their future, for all our futures and as such for Detoured's future as well.

As far as Detoured's comment on Harbour Nights - Hello? I am totally baffled. This is by far, one of the greatest accomplishments by the Chamber of Commerce.

It is a rare venue where tourists and Bermudians can mingle together and experience the diverse culture that Bermuda has to offer. Detoured mentions churchgoers being inconvenienced and he condemns these activities because his routine Sunday morning drive has been so terribly disrupted that he needs to merely drive two minutes out of his way.

Well perhaps Detoured you should keep in mind that God detours every milli-second of the day just to keep you safe and he's not complaining! - so why should you?

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Warwick

Bermudian travel warnings?

October 24, 2002

Dear Sir,

I am concerned that the Bermuda Government has not issued any travel warnings or advisories to its citizens. With various holidays approaching when Bermudians travel to the United States to avoid the "Shop in Bermuda" campaign, I feel it is incumbent upon the Government to state that it is not safe to travel to the United States which has so much violence and mayhem.

Even if one was to purchase a bullet proof vest, in the current situation in the Washington area, that would not give protection when so many people have been shot in the head.

Bermudians, particularly in the Washington area should be advised to return to their homeland and warned that Government cannot guarantee their safety.

Until such time that the United States Government does something about gun control and has a database for bullet characteristics that can be utilised to trace the perpetrator of these crimes, we should be very wary of travel to those violent shores. It is a sad reflection on society when one cannot travel freely.

ANTONY SIESE

City of Hamilton