A misleading comparison

October 13, 2007

Dear Sir,

There is something fundamentally wrong with this Government and the way we view ourselves in our community, when we invite the Texas District Attorney to be a panellist as part of the Bermuda Race Relations Initiative (your article entitled "Why are so many blacks in jail?" October 10, 2007).

If your report is accurate, it is entirely misleading and inappropriate for Mr. Watkins to try to draw some element of correlation between the imprisonment of black people in the United States and Bermuda. To refresh, Mr. Watkins, according to your report, states: "Here in America, one in three African American males, between the ages of 18 and 25 are within the penal system. I believe (Bermuda) has a similar problem and hopefully, with the innovative approaches we are conducting here in Texas, they may decide to pick them up and implement them in Bermuda."

I would agree that there have been many tragic issues with the American judicial system as it relates to the wrongful prosecution of blacks and, I am sure, unfortunately, that there are many issues yet to resolve. But here in Bermuda, we have had a black Government for eight years and, prior to that historic event, and since, the majority of jurors are black, we have black prosecutors, a black police force and a black judiciary.

Oh, and to really state the obvious and put Mr. Watkins' comments in perspective, the majority of people in Bermuda as we know are black, whereas Dallas County and the United States (last census) report 21 percent and 13 percent respectively.

Our judicial system is for the most part, I have to report, alive, well and fair. The issues, as we know, are not judicial, but economic, social and educational. These serious issues appear to be receiving the attention they deserve, although one is left wondering why we have had to wait so long, given we have had a black government for eight years. We welcome perspective, if it is relevant, but I fear you have much more challenging work at home, Mr. Watkins.

Stephen Smith

Warwick

The confused taxman

October 15, 2007

Dear Sir,

It is amazing in this advanced Island that the taxman is so confused.

In other locales the tax form and the cheque is mailed on the last day of the month to which it applies. Here in paradise, the tax office makes us responsible for the post service as if you send in your form and cheque and it gets lost in the mail or takes the “usual” five to ten days to arrive its your fault and you get the penalty, not the post office.

Surely the Post Office is Bermuda Government and therefore should be said to have taken possession of the paperwork and therefore it is in the Government’s hands already, so why should we be liable for their ineptitude?

It takes one to three months to get a letter from overseas. Totally inefficient and unaccountable.

LOST IN THE POST

Southampton

Wonderful performers

October 16, 2007

Dear Sir,

I greatly enjoyed The Bermuda Music Festival 2007, it was a paramount performance. Congratulations to all the Bermudian performers. If rated you would get give stars!

As for the band Legacy, to be playing on the same stage as Earth Wind & Fire had to be the thrill of a lifetime.

I would also like to comment on the condition of the grounds. I was overwhelmed by the layout of the stadium so I stopped for a while to take a look around and was amazed as to how clean the area was, considering the amount of people that attended this event each night, I eventually had to go to the bathroom and I was dreading this moment, because in the past when you go to these type of function the bathrooms are in a poor state, but to my amazement it was clean! There was plenty of toilet paper, hand towels and the counters and the floor were clean. This was a very nice surprise.

Job well done to our Bermudian musicians and the staff of C&L Cleaners.

Anatoinette Bean

Warwick