A truly great trailblazer

May 30, 2007

Dear Sir,

Bermuda has lost a truly great trailblazer with the passing of Dame Lois Browne Evans who always fought tirelessly for the rights of the oppressed and the downtrodden. Her fight for equal rights for ALL in her homeland will always be the stuff of legend, and it is fitting that people from every segment of our community come together to sing her praises. Your editorial in this morning's paper (May 30) caught the true measure of this amazing icon in Bermuda's history.

May I take this opportunity to mention one area in her fight for equal rights that has so far not been mentioned at all in the tributes to Dame Lois. When Dr. John Stubbs introduced the bill to legalise homosexuality in 1994, Dame Lois, as always, spoke passionately and eloquently in the House of Assembly for passage of the bill. She clearly recognised that this issue was one of the last bastions of prejudice and bigotry in Bermuda, and it was no doubt due to her oratory that many of her PLP colleagues also voted in the House to pass the bill into law.

Not incidentally, those colleagues included every subsequent leader of the PLP — including the late L. Fredrick Wade, The Hon. Jennifer Smith, The Hon. Alex Scott, and our current Premier, The Hon. Dr. Ewart Brown.

That was the essence of this remarkable woman. Dame Lois always stood up for what she believed to right and just. Yes, we would do well to remember her for her never ending fight for justice and human rights.

A LONG TIME LOIS ADMIRER

Smith's Parish

Why a public holiday?

May 31, 2007

Dear Sir,

I admire Dame Lois and really enjoyed working with her when we were on the board of Mount Saint Agnes Academy in the late 1970s. Dame Lois was indeed a major contributor to the political scene in Bermuda and deserves all the tributes she is receiving.

What I cannot understand is why a public holiday has been declared. When a President of the United States, a Prime Minister of Canada or the UK dies, there is no public holiday. Dame Lois was only the Leader of the Opposition for heaven's sake. Here again is evidence of this Government's knee jerk reactions to events, actions which will cause untold expense to companies in Bermuda. Did anyone think of checking with business leaders before they made this decision, and the significant financial effect it would have on their operations? That would have taken too much common sense! Now many employers will have to pay those employees who work next Tuesday time and a half, or even double time in certain situations. This will then add to higher payroll taxes having to be paid at the end of the second quarter.

Allow employees to leave work to attend the funeral or pay their final respects at the viewing by all means but a public holiday? Crazy.

JOHN BARNETT

Warwick

History repeats itself

May 24, 2007

Dear Sir,

The age-old adage, "history repeats itself" is brought to mind when reading the front page story in your paper, which made reference to the land take over of Tucker's Town in the 1920s.

A similar incident was borne out in 1867 when more than a third of Devonshire Parish was annexed by the British Government. Many old white families were forced to vacate their historic properties, and relocate elsewhere. This had a significantly negative impact on the parish, and it never entirely recovered.

One of the parish's families most affected were the Watlingtons who were turned out of their seventeenth century house, 'Ocean View'. Latterly, this house was used as a golf club. More recently, Watlington descendants were shocked to discover that club members were using the ancient family burial vault, dating from 1679, as an outdoor bar!

EX LORD OF THE MARSHES

Devonshire

Sharing some thoughts

May 9, 2007

Dear Sir,

I would like to take this time in expressing my words of thought, from chapters of a book I plan to one day have published.

Chapter 3: 'Understanding Influence'

A real human being is like a mirror, holding everything close by holding on to nothing. He draws everything in life, yet at the same time reflect life back. So if you were to look at him, you should see part of yourself within.

Chapter 4: 'The Formless Fight'

By having a sense of loyalty for truth, will always overrule the essence of fear. Because the only chains that could bind me are those I forge myself in the fire of fear and hammer on the anvil of doubt.

Chapter 6: 'Know Your Subconscious'

Challenge your conscious in order to simplify your subconscious. Like a secretary the subconscious pulls out the file, a frame of reference for the boss (The Conscious) to choose from. Because your subconscious is always acting on the basis of an assumption — a belief, whether good or bad, that is accepted as truth at some point in time.

Chapter 7: 'Be it Ego or be Objective'

Choose not to be a common copy, though there is really no such thing as original — so I chose to be me.

Chapter 8: 'Flexibility is Key'

And so I would conclude by saying — In the unending human endeavour, all things are relative. What is thought as risk, can evolve into opportunity.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

RICO

Pembroke

Open House invitation

May 25, 2007

Dear Sir,

Once again we appeal to you for space on the Letters to the Editor page to spread the news of an Open House on June 2 to view the newly renovated Lady Asser Hut (Bermuda Girl Guide Headquarters), on Richmond Road, next to the BHS.

Sea Rangers of S.R.S. Deliverance and Service Unit Grangers will be hosting this event. You are invited to drop in any time between 2 p.m.-4 p.m. to visit. On display will be photos and memorabilia dating back to the 1950's, of camps, parades, and various other events.

Anyone who has happy memories of times spent at the Lady Asser Hut, please join us. Light refreshments will be served; parking at Woodex Parking Lot, Woodbourne Avenue through the kindness of Bank of Bermuda HSBC.

AGNES WADDICOR

Smith's Parish

Roads: Key to election

May 21, 2007

Dear Sir,

If the UBP were to issue a statement promising to fix the roads which are now a danger and a disgrace, it would probably win them the election.

WATCHING,

Paget

Is there no end to this?

May 21, 2007

Dear Sir,

At doctors office last week was a sign to patients that patients had to pay cash since the doctor had not been paid by Hospital Insurance Plan for over a year for service to patients. We have written to HIP for payments for care for over six months to no avail. Surprising that Government spent $26 million on football and cricket, and $25,000 on some obscure US private school. This is to say nothing of the $500 million allegedly missing from public accounts or the spending as revealed in today's Gazette by government for their own entertainment.

How long can Bermudians let this continue? Please withhold our names in view of the current climate in Bermuda.

DISGUSTED

Hamilton Parish

Signs don't work!

May 25, 2007

Dear Sir,

I was amazed to read today on page 13 that Minister of Works and Engineering — Dennis Lister is actually encouraging dirt bike racing on the railway trail by erecting "reduce speed" signs near Loyal Hill. What difference can he possibly think this will make when people don't even obey the rules of the open road? Besides, this is a residential area where people hope for some peace and quiet instead of screaming motorbikes, somewhere they can perhaps take a quiet walk or ride a horse in safety. There is a Motocross facility at the East End, where they can make all the noise they want, but no, they have to make it where people go for rest and peace. I thought it was illegal to ride dirt bikes on the railway trail, if it isn't it surely should be!

DEAF EARS

Devonshire

Shawn has my vote

May 18, 2007

Dear Sir,

I, for one, am extremely happy that Pembroke West will finally get some proper representation by way of Shawn Crockwell. Shawn is an upstanding young man who is willing to tackle the lowlife characters that frequent Pembroke Community Club.

Those people have no respect for law and order and I will be overjoyed when the noise ban designed for the Pembroke Community Club goes into effect once Shawn Crockwell gets elected.

I will cast my vote for Shawn knowing that thanks to him, my family will no longer be subjected to the pounding of drums, rap, reggae, or any other offensive "so called" music.

Thanks Shawn for being a man who is willing to stand up to the hooligans at The Pembroke Community Club.

MR. M. SOUSA

Pembroke

No need for such speed

May 25, 2007

Dear Sir,

Every year I watch the Marathon at the location of Burnt House Hill and every year the police on the bikes speed up and down that hill which is totally uncalled for and something must be done about it before someone gets seriously hurt.

There is no need for them to be going that speed on such an event of this sort and the only reason they do it is to show off.

SPECTATOR,

Sandys