Above the law?

November 22, 2007

Dear Sir,

At 8.30 yesterday, driving towards Hamilton, I pulled up right behind car GP2 with flag unfurled which had stopped at the Collectors Hill traffic light.

When the light turned green we both set off and this car just sped away and was soon out of sight, probably travelling at twice the speed limit, and without the required Police escort.

I see in today's Gazette that car GP1 was left parked in an area reserved for the handicapped people. Just last week David Burch said that no one was above the law. Perhaps he should have added "except senior PLP politicians".

AJB

Smith's Parish

Be considerate to others

November 23, 2007

Dear Sir,

I was appalled at the picture in yesterday's paper (November 22, 2007) showing GP1 parked in a handicapped parking spot. I am outraged.

I have the utmost respect for the Premier and his position, but I would appreciate the same respect due to me as a handicapped individual. I would never presume to park in a spot marked "GP1" and therefore would like the same due to me. I am an amputee who has a hard enough time finding a handicapped parking spot as there are so few.

Many times non-handicapped individuals choose these few spots because they are "convenient", so it is a constant battle for the handicapped person to live as normal a life as a non handicapped person. Don't even discuss access to buildings with heavy doors, no banisters, etc. But I digress.

I am respectfully asking the Premier, his chauffeur and all Bermuda drivers to not only follow the rules of the road but be considerate for others.

CONCERNED AMPUTEE

St. George's

Blatant discrimination

November 22, 2007

Dear Sir,

I find the Finance Minister, Paula Cox's response to the UBP's proposal to make alterations to the Payroll Tax if they win the election on 18 December amazing. In particular she queried and appeared unhappy at the prospect of non-Bermudians benefiting from the proposal that individuals earning $42,000 and below should not have to pay their portion of the Payroll Tax.

At present, all employers/employees pay the payroll tax and indeed the highest contributions are made by employers/employees in the International Business sector, whether Bermudian or non-Bermudian, since they are the highest earners.

We are all aware that some non-Bermudians are employed in lower paid jobs on the island, in hotels, restaurants and other areas where there are just not enough Bermudians to service the particular industry.

So it is OK in the Finance Minister's view to tax non-Bermudians and raise the major part of the Government Payroll Tax intake but she objects to the possibility of any concession being given to low paid non-Bermudians (waiters, dishwashers and the like)? Her objection would appear therefore be to non-Bermudian low earners being given the same benefits as Bermudian low earners.

In effect she is quite happy for non-Bermudian high earners to contribute large sums to the Payroll pot but is not happy that non-Bermudian low earners be entitled to the same concession as Bermudian low earners. If this isn't blatant discrimination I don't know what is.

ANNE PEARSON

Hamilton Parish

We need a new vision

November 22, 2007

Dear Sir,

The present situation of our politics is both disgusting and embarrassing to me as a black Bermudian.

I remember when we had admirable goals as a race such as integration, the vote and a government that would not be about the interests of one particular racial group. I am still waiting for that government. A government that will be about governing Bermuda and all its people. A government that has all of its people's interest at heart. At one time it was once we get integrated everything would be perfect, then it was the vote and then it was the government. Now it is independence. THEN do we achieve what we are searching for?

Why is this black bitterness (unfulfilled revenge) growing. Will this continue until we have an out and out race war. Why does the government continue to promote this — is it because this is the only glue that binds us, as black people, together?

Why are we continuing to talk about the wrongs of the past and have no constructive plans for the future. A couple of suggestions — Why do too many young blacks feel that it is 'white' to study and do well in school? What happened to the black businesses? Is white ice really colder? Since the present PLP want to go down memory lane — let's go!

During segregation (under white rule) blacks had one of the best schools in the island, the Berkeley. Immediately after integration — most of the best black students went to the white schools. I remember when some of our best footballers went to play for Vasco. I asked why, as Vasco da Gama, the person, should have been hung for war crimes against Africa. I was told that they were offering cash and other goodies and that we should take whatever we could get. I remember blacks leaving their black owned construction jobs to work for the Portuguese because they were paying better. There were numerous black businesses under white rule such as a bank, two mineral water factories, insurance companies, grocery shops and two dry cleaning establishments to name a few. But let's not forget that famous black saying, "he won't get rich off me!" or the advice that a black acquaintance received from her mother, "you can play with blacks but don't do business with them".

Millionaires running around wanting equal rights — what equal rights? Millionaire home owners falling for this. Homes, by the way, that were purchased under white rule. The new song should be, 'we are getting more than', forget 'we shall overcome'! If we really need a cause to pursue, there are about 28 million slaves in the world, why not, as descendants of former slaves, aren't we even remotely interested in this situation?

When listening to a recent sermon, the pastor mentioned that God will only use a person in one phase of a plan, when that phase is over He will choose another for the next phase. I now understand why as I listen to the current government spinning their wheels, mired in the sixties, giving the black power salute and simply just regurgitating the same old tired rhetoric. It is time for a new vision, we need to enter a new phase. We need new people. Perhaps now would be the time for both parties to start mentoring some bright young folk. Folk who have integrity and character.

Please, can we have a Government that is separate from a Black Power Movement. Will those in the Black Power Movement give a list of actual equal rights that they are trying to achieve, so that one can know when this, now elusive fight, is over. Please don't include on the list that whites have to like us. Will the Government get on with the people's business! When can we declare that Martin Luther King, Lois Browne Evans and other have actually achieved success.

A. CLAIRE INGHAM

Hamilton Parish

Proverb's profound truths

November 25, 2007

Dear Sir,

I have just chanced upon this old Chinese proverb which I think is appropriate to be charged to our next leaders at their swearing in process:

The higher the rank I obtain, the more humbly I behave.

The greater my power, the less I exercise it.

The richer my wealth, the more I give away.

Thus I avoid envy, spite and misery

JOHN L. WILLIAMS

Smith's Parish

Christmas mail advisory

November 25, 2007

Dear Sir,

In order to pre-empt an aspect of Christmas, now as traditional as Santa Claus, i.e. letters to the editor, post- Christmas, complaining about the lack of Christmas mail, can we ask the Post Office to make a bigger effort this year and, deliver the Christmas cards on time?

Ten to 14 days for delivery within Bermuda is quite ridiculous, and nothing is more annoying than receiving a card, in January, which was posted down the road before the middle of December.

Can the Bermuda Post Office take note of the old US Postal Service creed "though sleet or snow we deliver", a notion which seems to evaporate in Bermuda at the merest hint of a rain shower, and get out and deliver the mail on a timely basis.

Otherwise they are selling stamps under false pretences!

PONY EXPRESS

City of Hamilton