Developer’s crass attitude

April 25, 2007

Dear Sir:

In your latest article about the proposed Southlands project (Wednesday, 25th April), developer Craig Christensen states: “The building and revitalising of our hospitality business is a matter of urgent national importance for Bermuda and far outweighs the need to preserve some Mexican peppers on a hillside in Warwick.” Whilst I don’t doubt that the tourism industry in Bermuda needs to be “revitalised”, it should never be at the expense of the greatest asset Bermuda has in attracting visitors, namely, its unique natural resources.

Any project designed to “revitalise” Bermuda’s tourist industry must respect the need to conserve and, indeed, enhance those precious resources, including what Mr. Christensen crassly refers to as “some Mexican peppers on a hillside in Warwick”. If every developer adopted Mr. Christensen’s attitude, “justified” by “a matter of urgent national importance”, Bermuda would eventually (and sooner rather than later) be devoid of the natural assets he seems to disdain. The Southlands project, in short, would contribute to a “tragedy of the commons” in the making, if it or similarly misguided developments that did not respect the environment were allowed to go ahead.

GRAHAM FAIELLA

London, UK

End this ‘war’ on expats

April 7, 2007

Dear Sir,

In light of the Premier’s announcement concerning traffic congestion on Thursday, I have to wonder what the next policy in the perceived ‘war’ that has been declared on expatriate workers will be, that expats will be prohibited from sending money out of the country?

EXPAT LIVING IN FEAR

Warwick

Which God?

April 19, 2007

Dear Sir,

I strongly believe that everyone has the right to have their own personal opinions and beliefs as individuals or groups. If a person(s) or group does not approve of some one’s sexuality than so be it, we all have that right. But, when you give your own opinion and you stop a cruise coming to our shores and you stop 800+ children a family vacation in our beautiful Island, do not say it’s a “Victory for God”. Because who’s God are you referring to? As a Christian, you are certainly not referring to my God, because my God would never discriminate or judge people in the way that your God apparently does.

If the United by Faith’s prayers are so strong that your God will answer them and stop a cruise coming to Bermuda, as so you state in The Royal Gazette on April 18th. Why not get your congregations both here and overseas to pray for food for the starving children all over the world? Why not pray to get your God to stop all the violence and wars that are happening around the world? Better yet, closer to home, why not get your God to house the homeless women and children here on our Island? If God intervened and stopped this cruise coming to Bermuda, than I would like to know which God you are referring to? Because my God would never have done that and discriminated in the way your God has!

JUST CURIOUS

Letter was appalling

April 15, 2007

Dear Sir,

I am still in shock after reading the venomous vomit written by Laverne Furbert on April 10, 2007. No matter what views one has about the closure of the Medical Clinic, surely the comments and efforts of Mrs. Louise Jackson, Miss Jennifer Brooks, Dr. Christine Wakely and Mrs. Diana Williams should be treated with respect NOT contempt. Laverne Furbert’s vitriolic letter was dripping with sarcasm and hate and her comments appalled me.

She is obviously a committed PLP member and feels they can do no wrong. She is typical — I’m afraid — of many PLP followers who are so full of hate and vengeance. This terrible attitude does not bode well for the future of this country — neither will this attitude help Bermudians in the future. I believe the Clinic will close — no matter what, but it is wrong to ridicule the efforts of decent people who have collected thousands of signatures against the closure.

CAMELOT

City of Hamilton

A job well done

April 23, 2007

Dear Sir,

I had the extraordinary opportunity last week to participate in the annual Ross (Blackie) Talbot Charity Classic Charity Golfing event. A well-organised and well-supported effort, its focus on education is commendable and very timely. It is certainly a model for other philanthropies both here in Bermuda and abroad — and its broad representation from a wide cross section of Bermuda was wonderful. I just way to say “well done” to Clem Talbot, the organising Committee and all those who had a hand in making this 15th annual event so very successful — and such a blessing to the students of this great Island.

GREGORY W. SLAYTON

Consul General

A note of thanks

April 19, 2007

Dear Sir,

Everyone involved with Captain Donna Lange’s solo circumnavigation is deeply grateful for the performance of the Bermuda Operations and Radio Groups in guiding her into the Island, and watching over her during several days of extreme conditions. Captain Lange was caught unaware of the magnitude of the storm (much larger than one she sustained in the Southern Pacific) as she passed by Bermuda on the last 600 miles of her 31,000 mile trip.

She was monitored during the last three days of hand-tiller sailing in 40 foot seas and 40-60 knot winds after both her sea anchor and her auto-steering were lost. Gratitude is also expressed to Brian Oatley and his family for taking Donna in, and particularly for going out to meet her to guide her into the harbour. After 36 hours without sleep, Donna was not in the best of condition at that point. Bermuda citizens can be very proud of the performance of these people. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts. Her full story is available on a website: www.donnalange.com.

WILFRED BARBEAU

And her family and friends who have followed her odyssey

Barrington, RI

Kudos to W&E

April 11, 2007

Dear Sir,

I am writing to say thanks to the men who are a part of the Works and Engineering crew that have been up in my area on 42nd Street (St. Monica’s Road) for the last week. They are doing an excellent job! Often times we give credit to our white collar, corporate guns. But the true backbone of our workforce are all the sanitation crews. To Ryan Swan and Aaron Wilson, thanks for the road cleaners and trash collection teams, all the guys for keeping our island clean!

Also to Col. Burch — thank you for coming up with a tangible opportunity for any young man who is looking for work to have some kind of employment. In my eyes you are the first politician who is more than talk. And no, Government should not be giving out handouts. Let everyone who is able bodied work. To work honest for what one wants instills a sense of value and self worth.

DAWN BROWN

Pembroke

A vortex of selfishness

April 18, 2007

Dear Sir,

The UBF may think it’s “A Victory for God” that Rosie O’Donnell and R Family Vacations have opted to call off their July 12th stay over in Bermuda. However, I feel this 80 church contingent has no business essentially telling the world that gays, lesbians and their families are all monsters and are not welcome on these shores. It is sending the wrong message.

What does the Chamber of Commerce have to say about these turn of events? Do Chamber members think it acceptable that we have effectively lost possibly 2,200 repeat visitors to our island in this discriminatory fashion? So, what do we do when Rosie starts mouthing off about this very issue on her TV show The View prior to this vacation cruise? It’s a public-relations nightmare for tourism. This blatant and steadfast refusal to accept diversity is most disturbing and to be perfectly honest, I find Bermuda these days to be an absolute vortex of selfishness.

Such negativity projected towards totally unselfish people who have decided to open their hearts and homes to children who may have otherwise been abandoned at birth or lost in the foster care system. This to me is the definition of compassion. The real monsters are those randy Roman Catholic priests who boldly refuse to observe their vows of celibacy and prey on the naivete of their young charges. I must sign off now with a pseudonym because, as a blatant homosexual of the Bermudian persuasion, I fear that if I used my real name I would probably be prosecuted for slander and burned at the flagpole in effigy.

THE REAL VIEW

Pembroke

Cabinet may need protection

April 24, 2007

Dear Sir,

Yes, the Office of the Premier needs and should have security and protection. However, I think the bigger issue is not that the present Premier, Dr. Brown does not need security, but what social climate has been created to support the perceived risk? Either way, I would suggest that his present need for security is a direct result of the PLP Government’s social policies and the disenfranchisement of its’ original grass roots support. Housing, education, crime, the clinic, the cost of living and other pretentious issues have not only created a disillusioned people, but increased individual separation by class status or economics.

As our Government continues to use and benefit from the systems created by Bermuda’s merchant class, we are becoming more Westminster-like each day. Look at the present size of Government. When compared to the benefits of having people that look like us, our pride diminishes each day. Pretty soon and based on recent Cabinet decisions, they may all need protection!

SAM

Warwick