Just say no to SDOs

July 16, 2007

Dear Sir,

Shall we burn the field to continue with the same harvest? Seems like the Government of the day is burning all the bridges they can, including our land ... while they can. Not sure why they are doing all the land deals they are at present unless there are some awfully nice hotels they are staying in to perk up their lives, while they struggle to hold the power they have.

We the voters, have little say in what these leaders of ours are doing, too bad. I would like them to think more of their grandchildren and less of their own benefits for the time being. These SDOs are a joke. Seems like they are heading for an end-of-August election and they will be throwing all kinds of bones out to the population, at our own expense by the way, so take advantage of them whatever they are. Parties up and down the country and fun for one and all to show they care.

Why don’t they open their ears at other times and listen to the dull ROAR that says NO to the SDOs. I’m sure they know better than the rest of us where we want our money to go. Let’s have a second cricket team for goodness sake, there are lots on the hustle truck who would love to join in!

BRUNSON TERRITORY

Southampton

Fooling the public

July 16, 2007

Dear Sir,

The debate about the graduation rate in public education has, in the last few days, left the public with the understanding that it is under 50 percent, or is it 80 percent, or even 134 percent? It seems that all of us, including Professor Hopkins and the Premier, have misjudged our educational philosopher kings. Although they have some difficulty with simple arithmetic, they are really wonderful — or so the Government propaganda machine would like us to believe.

No one in their right mind believes anything that emanates from that dysfunctional delusional dream factory. If the graduation rates look bad, just dumb down the exams and, hey presto, the statistics look fantastic. Many years ago, before our dumbing-down era, the “0” Level examinations in English required the study of such classics as “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. This quotation from chapter 26 summarises what most people think of this latest attempt to fool the public about the state of education in Bermuda: “If I were not afraid of judging harshly, I should be almost tempted to say, that there is a strong appearance of duplicity in all this.”

ROBERT STEWART

Smith’s Parish

Let taxpayers decide

July 13, 2007

Dear Sir,

It is obvious that taxpayers’ money is being wasted with little regard for our needs and wants. I think taxpayers should be given more freedom when deciding which projects should be invested in (most of us incorrectly assumed that is why we elect MPs).

The first step would be to modify the declarations form we complete upon our return to the Island. Government could add a list of current or planned projects to the bottom of the form with a check box next to each one. The duty/taxpayer could then select where they want their hard-earned dollars to be applied. Examples would include:

□ Education

□ Healthcare

□ Affordable housing

□ Public safety

□ The Premier’s Chief of Staff

□ The Premier’s Press Secretary

□ The Premier’s Bodyguard

□ The gate at the Premier’s personal residence

□ The wall around the Premier’s personal residence

□ The Premier’s political consultant(s)

□ Lawyers to muzzle the media

K. SMITH

St. George’s

Names protected ... why?

July 14, 2007

Dear Sir,

I repeat my question: Why do we know so much about the detention of Larry Dennis, whose name has been splashed all over the front page of your newspaper, yet we know nothing about the individuals who were ‘detained’ in connection with the BHC leak? Please don’t talk to me of ‘gag orders’, both detentions refer to the same matter — yet Mr. Dennis’ name has been publicised and the others’ names have been protected. Why?

Ewart Brown and his cohorts call this a UBP plot ... any chance that maybe the protected names would show the public which political allegiances opened the box? I have no interest in making an attack on anyone but it is irresponsible to allow the public to even think that this was a UBP issue when you and I know who allegedly did the deed.

As the ONLY daily newspaper in Bermuda, do you not have a duty to report this? And just one last thing about the ‘gag’ order ... I’d like to know how you gag the Internet!

JOHN FAIELLA

Southampton

You still don’t get it

July 16, 2007

Dear Sir,

The worst thing that has ever happened to black people in Bermuda is racism, segregation, economic exploitation and, worst of all, the long term, continuing impact both economic and psychological (including the current bitter racial divide). When I read Christian Dunleavy and others who think like him I realise the extent to which most white folks either cannot, or refuse, to understand the full implication of our racist past for all black people, even those who pretend that it has never impacted their lives and choose to try to ignore it.

Renee Webb is not alone. There are other black people who agree with her and are as angry with the Premier as is she. There are others who are like the BIU construction worker on the talk show. They are angry and disillusioned with the PLP acceptance of the construction boss as a candidate who he feels continues to exploit workers. There are even some black folks who agree with, or believe, all of the criticism (and charges) made against Dr. Brown. Yet the PLP will continue to win because racism is the worst thing that has ever happened to us and white folks still do not get it and dismiss it as something that happened 400 years ago and is of no consequence rather than a reality that continues to determine the lifestyle and existence of many of us who lived through those demeaning, restrictive and humiliating experiences which still impact our lives and the lives of our offspring.

Perhaps the worst consequence today of the insensitive, deliberate (racist?) blindness (and hatred?) of so many whites is that the PLP could commit almost any evil, be as corrupt as they like to say that it is and even be vindictive towards other blacks and it would still be chosen in preference to the UBP which represents, for us, the continuing insensitivity and indifference to racism, even if it were only past racism, because they clearly find it acceptable. Racism and insensitivity to that racism is the worst thing that has ever happened to black people and because white folks still do not get it, the PLP will win no matter what they do.

EVA HODGSON

Crawl

Ruling is needed now

July 17, 2007

Dear Sir,

What I was wondering was, where I can sign the petition to the Privy Council asking for a ruling on the gag order as soon as possible. I doubt there is anything on its docket that could affect as many people as the council’s decision. If Bermuda is denied a chance to see the allegations in the report, any decision come election time will be made without full knowledge of the character of the people on the ballots.

And the cowards grasping onto power, through pure deceit. will deny all Bermudians the right of fair and true elections. Don’t we deserve better?

MORALITY FIRST

Hamilton Parish

Make the right choice

July 18, 2007

Dear Sir,

This is an open letter to Premier Ewart Brown and Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield:

I am writing to you with great hope that you actually do believe in the words that are on your party’s website www.plp.bm. On your website, you state that as part of working for parks and recreation you “Provided funding to groups such as Buy Back Bermuda for the preservation of open spaces”.

Fantastic! Let’s put money where your mouth is and buy back Southlands!!!

Please, do not put forth a Special Development Order, please at least allow the people of Bermuda to be able to discuss this with the planning department through proper planning procedures. I am asking you not as a resident of Bermuda, but I am asking you as a future mother of Bermudians and a future grandmother of Bermudians. Where will they go to see green space? The golf courses? Bermuda is getting extremely out of control in the costs of the Island, but green space is free. Spending time with your family in the park is free.

Could you imagine? Families and friends in Bermuda celebrating and appreciating each other in green open spaces. We would have community, something that is breaking down if we look around at the increase of crime and hatred.

So, Premier Brown and Minister Butterfield, I ask you, are you strong enough to make the right choice for the real future of Bermudians? If you feel that you can step up and be the “Main Man”, then please, buy back Southlands and buy into our future!

VIVIENNE C. LOCHHEAD

Warwick

A good first step

July 10, 2007

Dear Sir,

The hustle truck is being hailed as a success. Congratulations and well done, Colonel and Major.

Take it up a notch so these men can get full-time employment to be properly able to look after themselves and family. They can have medical insurance and contribute towards their pension, things which they are not currently doing. They should not be allowed to “hustle” for more than six weeks at the end of which they should have learned some work ethics like making time.

KEEN OBSERVER

City of Hamilton