Larry was a giant

August 28, 2009

Dear Sir,

Your report in the August 27 Royal Gazette on the retirement of Larry Dennis as Auditor General was spot on. In a time when too many civil servants are drones, incompetent or just corrupt, Larry was a superb example of one who devoted his life to public service. His exposures of the financial shenanigans that are now only too commonplace were a wake-up call to every Bermudian.

A major criticism of the PLP Government over the past ten years is that they have largely destroyed the integrity, competence, and incorruptibility that were the hallmark of the Bermuda civil service. This destruction is a loss and tragedy for everyone in Bermuda. Larry was very much the exception – a giant among pygmies.

Fortunately, his replacement Heather Jacobs Matthews is a worthy successor. I have known her since she was a student of mine 40 years ago. She will bring to the job virtues of hard work and incorruptibility, and I wish her every success in her new post.

I also wish, and I hope Larry has a less stressful time during his well-earned retirement.

ROBERT STEWART

Smith's

Thanks to Mr. Dennis

August 27, 2009

Dear Sir,

How extremely fortunate Bermuda has been for 31 years to have had Mr Larry Dennis as Auditor General! His integrity, his persistence in bringing to light suspicious irregularities and opportunities for corruption, and his strength in resisting the egregious pressures brought on to stop him from doing his job have served us all admirably. All honest citizens know that the Island owes him a tremendous vote of thanks.

His successor is stepping into very big shoes. She has been privy to the venomous attacks on Mr. Dennis, and is going to need all her strength and our support to maintain her integrity and fearlessness.

Mr Dennis – thank you. I raise my glass to you and wish you the happiest and most fulfilling of retirements.

HELLE PATTERSON

Hamilton Parish

Strike up a new party

August 29, 2009

Dear Sir,

Re "A storming victory for PLP's Weeks!"

With only a 35 percent turnout, I would hardly call that "A storming victory"! There is obviously considerable dissatisfaction with the "Brown Regime", within the PLP's own core supporter's base! We all know that they would never vote for the UBP in that particular constituency, or many others, so now may be the ideal time to introduce a viable alternative to both the PLP and the UBP!

There has been talk of this before, but never has the interest level been as high as now! Bermudians in general deserve a viable alternative! Support for the PLP is at an all-time low, while the remnants of the UBP are all but redundant! Is Bermuda ready to march to a new band? Yes. I think enough level-headed people of both races would be providing the "Right Music" is played and the Maestro has impeccable credentials!! Start playing the music ... and march away, all in step and see who joins the Parade!

The acronym for BDA comes to mind ... Bermuda Democratic Alliance! It's a perfect fit and would give the much beleagured Bermudian voter an opportunity for true change! There is a "Saying" about life that is very true: "If you keep on doing what you've always done, then you'll keep on getting what you've always gotten." Life is all about risks!

It is obvious that there is a void in Bermuda's political landscape. That void needs to be filled. Dale Butler, are you listening? Bermuda knows that you have the courage, character and Integrity. Do you have the political fortitude? Then of course, you also have the likes of Stuart Hayward, Larry Burchall, Al Seymour etc., these gentlemen also possess the above charateristics. The potential list is quite long! You decide!

BRUCE MCCLARRON

Arizona

Senator not making sense

August 30, 2009

Dear Sir,

In response to Sen. Walton Brown's opinion in The Royal Gazette on August 19: What utter gibberish!

Sen. Brown states that the UK has run roughshod over democracy. Wrong! Mr. Misick and his cronies are the ones who ran roughshod over democracy. Democracy is free and equal representation of people, where every person has the right to participate in the system of government. The people of TCI asked the UK to come in and help them return to a democratic government.

As stated in the Observer (http://www.guardian .co.uk/politics/2008/jul/06/foreignpolicy), "Many were too afraid to give evidence publicly, and when a delegation of MPs from the committee went to visit the islands themselves, they found people were frightened even to be seen meeting them. "We witnessed this climate of fear for ourselves when we visited the Turks and Caicos Islands," the report says. "Alarmingly for a British overseas territory, many individuals expressed great concern about being seen to be talking to British parliamentarians and some individuals declined to meet us altogether for this reason." This was not a democratic government, period.

One has to ask Sen. Brown why he wants to incite a protest against a commission of inquiry. If the present government were beyond reproach, free of corruption and transparent, any commission of inquiry would surely prove that. Surely, Walton Brown would welcome a commission of inquiry for this very reason.

Sen. Browns states that there are those who wish to destroy Bermuda in order to get the PLP out. This statement makes absolutely no sense. Most people who think they want the PLP out want them out because they believe the PLP is ruining Bermuda, because they are unwilling or unable to change their leadership. This statement from Sen. Brown is just a ruse to scare PLP supporters while diverting them from the reality that Government is unreliable and untrustworthy in safeguarding the promise of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness", for all Bermudians. The infighting and the purposeful division promoted by some in the PLP is a simple ploy to keep us from uniting, after all a citizenry that fights among itself over petty differences is too busy to notice the real cause of its problems.

It is time to put principles above parties and use our collective voice to make a simple yet powerful demand. I can speak for myself and declare that I really do not care if the PLP, UBP or any other party is in power as long as the leaders operate honestly, transparently and democratically for all Bermudians, which is presently not the case.

MRS. M. MAYNE

Hamilton Parish

Listen to Brannon

August 31, 2009

Dear Sir,

I would like to have an opportunity to respond in your paper to a letter I read, written by Rolfe Commissiong, in the Bermuda Sun. Mr. Commissiong claims that Mr. Tony Brannon insults the intelligence of the Bermudian people by his misguided jeremiads (complaints) on the state of tourism.

Having listened to Mr. Brannon speak publicly on tourism matters and after reading some of his written columns I would suggest the contrary. Mr. Brannon has always been an outspoken advocate for tourism. In my opinion, he has offered many good suggestions on ways our tourism can be improved. One such suggestion, along with many others, is the introduction of a tourism authority.

We have all seen the latest arrival figures. Quite dismal to say the least. Is it time for a complete and radical change to the way we market Bermuda as a tourist destination? In fact, would we benefit by having a new Tourism Minister? How much longer can Bermuda endure the way we presently do things? I expect the next announcement to be that a building of a five star hotel will commence. We have been promised this many times in the past. Unfortunately, even when the hotel has started to be built it will not be opened for tourists for at least another three years. In the interim, our tourist related industries such as transport, retail, restaurants, to name a few, will continue to feel the pinch.

To Mr. Brannon, I say thank you for your well thought out suggestions. Your ideas and creativity could only improve our tourism at this time. It is too bad the current administration cannot see it.

TURNAROUND

Warwick

What's going on?

August 25, 2009

Dear Sir,

A few things have been on my mind me these past few weeks:

1. Was it really a "surprise" to our "leader" that there were Emancipation/400 Anniversary celebrations during the annual Cup Match holiday? Funny, we knew it was happening over a year ago, yet he just "happened" to be on vacation? Kind of makes it clear to me that the Premier couldn't possibly care less about the people and our Island.

2. The Bermuda Department of Tourism is finally advertising to fill positions made redundant a year ago, and some five months after Sales Focus' "Superstar" sales team had their contract cancelled ... Who has been on the ground marketing Bermuda all summer?

3. The new tourism ad campaign finally hits the airwaves – at what is effectively the end of our tourism season ... Please tell me what Global Hue has been doing all year. Did they not know that our "Beach and Sizzle" season was an annual event? Did someone there just wake up and realise that there was work to be done? We should be, like our counterparts further to the south, been on the airwaves consistently all year!

4. If we don't toughen up our laws, all this violence and gun related crime will negate the efforts of any advertising campaign. What happened to the days when we used to be able to say that part of the attraction of Bermuda was its safety?

5. A Minister was dismissed after publicly speaking out for the Premier to step down. He was recently reappointed to fill the same position. Where are his pride and dignity? Continuity in the Ministry of Education is important given the slew of Ministers who have filled the seat recently. However, it almost seems that the Minister was a 12- year-old who was grounded for some infraction of the 'house rules' and then after a time-out was allowed to go back and play with the other kids!

CONCERNED BLACK BERMUDIAN

Paget