Thank you to 'Alvin'

August 8, 2007

Dear Sir,

While in Hamilton with my daughter on July 26, my mother called me at work to say that my daughter had lost her bag. She mentioned that they had back tracked to look for it to no avail. We thought that the bag was gone for good. To my surprise I received a call a few minutes later from a gentleman to say that he had found the bag. I was so happy that I do not remember his surname, but I do remember that he said Alvin. I just want to say thank you very much for returning the bag. You are truly a special person.

KIM M RHODA-BEAN

Sandys

P.s. Thank goodness for the Child Safe Card that was in the bag that had my information on it.

Preserve Southlands

August 8, 2007

Dear Sir,

My name is Brien Leckie. I live in Canada's north, often very cold in winter months and very cool on summer mornings. I come quite often to Bermuda to see my beloved fiancé. We often come and go but I so love and look forward to your cherished country. I love to see the 'colours', the warmth of your people with smiles so broad they make me smile and often laugh. Southlands has kept me in awe, as I had occasion to visit. I am coming to Bermuda in August and wish you well with notifying, or shall I say putting your 'politicians' on notice, that this building is for self interest, against national wildlife on preserved lands and cannot take place.

I live in Canada, as I have said, where there are preserved and designated sanctuaries of wetlands and forests for wildlife and people to cherish and guard them against extinction. I do not believe the Bermuda Government wishes another New York skyline. Your land is precious, it is very small and what wildlife and plant life you have please 'guard for thee'. I have had occasion to visit Southlands. Did you know that the direct descendent who built the residence located upon these grounds was Henry Morgan, a direct descendent of the founder of the Hudson Bay Company in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, founded in 1623. Please post my letter of interest of preservation of land for all. God bless you all and keep me informed.

BRIAN LECKIE

M.S.W., R.S.W.

Crisis Clinician I.C.C.I.S.F. Traumatologist, Assist. Clinical Professor, (RET)

Shawn Crockwell responds

August 8, 2007

Dear Sir,

Have you ever heard the expression; "loud, strong and wrong!" I think this adequately describes Ms. LaVerne Furbert's letter to the editor, dated August 9, 2007. I do not make it a practice to respond to every caustic opinion of Ms Furbert, as I would have little time for anything else, but due to the litany of false and misleading statements that she uttered I have no recourse but to clarify certain matters.

Fact 1. The United Bermuda Party does not pay me to execute any of my duties as Chairman or otherwise. Fact 2. Either my father or myself have funded every degree, which includes my law degree that I have achieved. Fact 3. I pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to the criminal charges that I faced in 1995 and voluntarily gave restitution to the Crown of all proceeds. Fact 4. The Premier Dr. Ewart Brown first referenced my former conviction in a press statement dated June 25, 2007, which was reported in both the electronic and written media.

Abraham Lincoln once said that "it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." Wise words indeed.

SHAWN G. CROCKWELL

Sandys

Collie's got the talent

August 7, 2007

Dear Sir,

Lemme tell ya sumptn. I was incensed by a comment made recently about Colin Harper. "I wish it was a brother who put Bermuda on the map".

It appeared in the guestbook section of AOL' music web-site discussing the Collie Buddz CD. Of course the contributor was shouted down by others, but it got me thinking about the power and potential of Colin's music. The Power: It is not just his skin colour that sets him apart. His songs are melodic, his lyrics are clever and the production is stellar. And the potential? Not just to put Bermuda on the map; if his promoters are successful and he does cross over, guaranteed those fans with a true musical appreciation will want to explore its musical roots. No question many of his songs have cross-over potential. What A Feeling is as good a love-song as any and Mamacita sounds more Latin than reggae and is better than anything Ricky Martin ever produced! And it blows Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" right out of the water.

I had a conversation with my daughter about this. She's right into Jamaican dancehall and new-school reggae and while she agrees that Collie Buddz is "hot" and very talented, she pointed out that Colin is only emulating originators like Bounty Killer, Vybes Kartel et al. And except for subject content, what else is new sort of thing?

Well, what I hear is a unique refreshing style and positive lyrics. But here, Mr Editor, is the potential and more important, where history kicks in. And it's why our boy Colin Harper, if he does reach the masses, will play an important part in putting Bermuda on a far more reaching map — precisely because of the colour of his skin. So yuh knowa...

In my day, many white groups, led by the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin were prime proponents of "white boy" blues. Even before them of course there was Elvis. But it was those lily-white English boys who were not just emulating ¿ but singing songs written by the likes of Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Lightnin' Hopkins and John Lee Hooker. We die-hard fans loved what we were hearing and wanted to hear the originals which these groups were raving about. And we were moved enough to buy record albums by these Blues Icons. All, bar none, were at the time reduced to menial jobs (Muddy Waters e.g.) or still playing the chitlin circuit. And the result? They were rediscovered on a global scale. Now young Mr. Harper's popularity is not on the same scale, but he certainly has the potential to open doors. And let's not forget he wants to take other local talents on the bandwagon too. He's got the talent. In the meantime, sceptics need to be reminded that music knows no colour.

PAMELA WILLCOCKS

Smith's

What could be more simple?

August 7, 2007

Dear Sir,

So what is all the fuss about? Four hours without public transport on Friday, July 27th. Four hours wrangling over something quite simple. All they need to do is adjust the timing of the lights at Church Street and Cedar Avenue/Burnaby Street to stay green for one to two minutes after the lights at the crosswalk beside the Bus Terminal go red. All is needed is enough time to let the traffic in that area get through the Church Street and Cedar Ave/Burnaby Street intersection and leave the area in front of the terminal completely clear for the buses to leave. What could be simpler? While they're at it, why doesn't the Corporation of Hamilton install a sychronized light system that is designed to move traffic continuously along all the streets at a safe speed rather than the traffic impeding system we have now. Traffic moves better when the lights aren't working than it does when they are! It really needs to be fixed, not just for the buses, but for all of us.

HET UP IN HAMILTON

Change the name

August 7, 2007

Dear Sir,

"The Department of Environmental Protection"... what a joke! With all the Special Development Orders and blatant disregard for the environment, I think "The Department of Environmental Destruction" would definitely be more appropriate!

CHRISTA GIERLINGER

Southampton