September 11, 2004

Dear Sir,

I humbly start by saying I am non-Bermudian, white and living in Canada.

I see the Ahad-O'Connell debacle has once again raised its head. O'Connell's reputation has been established over a 30 year period ... Ph. D from Fordham; one of the most rigorous qualifications any one can get from any country. And not forged. He has proved himself as an unbigoted, non-racial teacher over a long period. If he was a bigot, do you think Jim Brock would have hired and kept him when he (Brock) was the president?

O'Connell is colour-blind; it seems a rare quality in Bermuda these days. This character, Ahad, has come from who-knows-where. He fakes his qualifications and lies to get jobs. Who hired him at the College? Obviously he will be prone to set up someone like O'Connell who is successful. And the Board of Governors takes his word over O'Connell's. Give me a break! Are they really that dumb?

I worked at the College for six years in the 70s and 80s . There was a mixed bag of lecturers then but with few exceptions they were the real thing. Some were a little crazy but they did their best and put the student first and generally did a commendable job. The likes of Ahad would have been flushed out quite quickly.

DR. MICHAEL BROOKE

Victoria, British Columbia

A sincere thank you

September 6, 2004

Dear Sir,

On behalf of Friends of Hospice and Agape House, we would like to take this opportunity to extend our appreciation to local artist Ms Sheilagh Head and to the owner and manager of Frameworks, Ms Denise Belvin.

Ms Head generously donated a beautiful original painting for the entrance hall at Agape House. Ms Belvin kindly donated a lovely frame that perfectly shows off the artwork.

This attractive painting is enjoyed daily by our patients, their relatives, employees and volunteers. It adds a great deal of ambience to our front hall and brightens up the area.

Our hardworking staff and volunteers always appreciate support from the community for the important work they do.

Thank you, once again, Sheilagh Head and Denise Belvin, for your contribution.

MRS. JANE BERMINGHAM

Chairperson, Friends of Hospice

MS LENA OSTROFF

Coordinator, Friends of Hospice

Battle over Berkeley

September 12, 2004

Dear Sir,

Good news for Pro-Active. In five or ten years if there is any problems with the Berkeley structure, you can blame the new contractor. $100 million not to complete a job. Let's sit back and see how hard Pro-Active fights to keep the job ... or was this planned?

CURIOUS

Pembroke

Know the law

September 11, 2004

Dear Sir,

I should be most grateful if you would print the following extract from Bermuda's Road Traffic Act, as many road users seem to be ignorant of the law:

ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 1947

THE TRAFFIC CODE

(Cyclists shall) ride in single file whenever road or traffic conditions require it, and never more than two abreast.

While the Act does not define what “conditions” require a single file, common sense would exclude the following situations:

(a) where the cyclists are travelling close to the speed limit (35 kph usually but 25 kph in built up areas) - a cyclist can hardly be accused of holding up traffic if a motorist would have to break the speed limit in order to overtake;

(b) where the road is narrow or contains numerous bends - here it would be dangerous to overtake cyclists in single file so their riding two abreast makes no difference;

(c) where the road is wide and straight and there is sufficiently light traffic that you can safely overtake cyclists riding two abreast - if it is safe for you to overtake then they are not causing you any hardship.

So next time you are tempted to shout out your opinion as you swerve past cyclists riding two-abreast, make sure you are legally in the right before making an ass of yourself. You may be surprised how infrequent that is. After all, the Act specifically allows for riding two abreast.

ANDREW (ON YER BIKE) DOBLE

Hamilton Parish

Pedestrians beware on cross-walks

September 9, 2004

Dear Sir,

Barely a day goes by when travellers of Bermuda's roads don't witness a near accident. There are so many reasons: too many, bigger, more powerful vehicles; inadequate policing; cell phone distractions and a growing tendency for drivers, of all profiles, to take unnecessary risks just to get ahead of the driver in front of them or to avoid not slowing down, when someone stops ahead of them, just to save a few seconds.

One risk that I have heard few comment about regards our pedestrians, particularly those on our Island's cross-walks once the sun goes down. Take a look the next time you're out at night at just how many cross-walks, in and out of town, have no street lights close-by.

On more than one occasion I have been approaching the crossing at the end of Church Street (near the fire station) or coming off the hill just before the Ice Queen in Paget, and had no idea that there was a pedestrian stepping off the pavement to cross the road. These cross-walks, and many others, are totally unlit, just inviting an accident to happen.

A simple solution makes sense to me and can be done without spoiling our Island's charm. Why not install a ball shaped, yellow flashing lamp, at both sides of ALL cross-walks, that pedestrians activate when wanting to cross? Even moving the street lighting to cover the side walks would not be as effective as these would in getting the attention of our drivers. I hope we don't have to wait till someone gets hurt before we fix this.

BEACON

City of Hamilton

Something to hide?

September 10, 2004

Dear Sir,

I refer to article in today's Gazette regarding the letter received from Derrick Burgess about the legality of Pro-Active's sacking and the “rights” of Union Asset Holdings to have a say in the way forward (not to mention the injunction). I would like to make the assumption that Julian Hall wrote this letter on behalf of Derrick Burgess given Mr. Hall's relationship with Pro-Active.

In my opinion Mr. Burgess does not have sufficient knowledge of contractor bonds to actually know the legal rights befalling the parties to the contract. That said it is essential that Government call for a copy of the bond and proof from UAH that they allocated the premiums correctly. It would also be incumbent to call on UAH to show proof that they have the cash to meet their liabilities if required. If the Union or UAH are in breach of their fiduciary responsibilities they will have no grounds for an injunction.

The only thing they will have grounds for is the receipt of a criminal indictment. I think they have something to hide and are doing everything they can to circumvent the discovery of Pro-Active's, the Union's and UAH's shortcomings. I see this whole thing as a charade by the Union by using “offence as the best defence”.

These are our tax dollars and I and all those that I have communicated with are sick and tired of the way this Government are spending our money and driving our country into ever increasing debt. If you have to spend my tax dollar then do it constructively and find out what the Pro Active, the Union and UAH have really been up to!

COTTY OUTERBRIDGE

City of Hamilton

Airport's dedicated staff

Dear Sir,

That was a very nice front page article about the Airport passenger getting her passport and cash returned.

I should also like to commend the airplane cabin cleaner who first discovered (and turned in) the missing article, Ms Geraldine Swan. Her diligence and integrity resulted in the passenger's property being found on board the airplane and turned in, after having been overlooked at all the other airports where the plane had flown.

It is just this kind of dedication that earned Bermuda International Airport the number one world ranking for “Courtesy and Helpfulness of Staff”!

JAMES G. HOWES

General Manager

Bermuda International Airport

‘A disgrace' in St. George's

September 3, 2004

Dear Sir,

In reference to a letter August 30 written by a visitor concerning the carriage horses of St. George's. The plight of the St. George's carriage horses is disgraceful. A disgrace to Bermuda and more particularly to the people of St. George's because they neither know nor care. No shade is provided, they stand in the sun for hours waiting for a fare; sometimes they are given a drink of scummy water. Then they must go up Barrack Hill (the steep one to the north of the town alongside Convict Bay) many times a day in the summer pulling a heavy carriage and heavier tourists.

These horses are incorrectly harnessed - each horse pulling away from the pole instead of together - twice the work. The driver of course - always has his whip in hand.

The Corporation of St. George's makes no attempt to alleviate the distressed state of these animals - perhaps the World Heritage Society Committee can address the problem. It calls for diplomacy; the reward of course is doing something to help those who cannot speak.

Unfortunate, but perhaps not too late for us to try and change what is so glaringly obvious to a visitor.

SANDRA OUTERBRIDGE

Paget

Get rid of these laws

September 12, 2004

Dear Sir,

The legal system could become easier if we got rid of the laws that people don't abide by and which the Police do not enforce.

In the past week, I have witnessed the following offences, some committed in front of Police officers:

Riding or being a passenger on a motorbike without a helmet; running stop signs; using a stop light as a stop sign (ie stop, look and go while the light is red); loud music; speeding; no licence plate; unique “fonts” and “colours” on car licence plates; double parking.

Once these are gone, we can remove other minor or newly delegated minor offences like handbag snatching and robbery.

In a year or so, the newly delegated “minor” offences of rape and murder can be removed from the books.

LAW REVIEW

Pembroke