An elegant plea

June 26, 2007

Dear Sir,

I am indebted to Leila Wadson for an elegant and thoughtful plea to white Bermuda after the celebration of the life of Dame Lois Browne Evans. I wasn’t there - I should have been. Thank you for reminding me why.

BOB FLATH

Devonshire

Earning respect

July 10, 2007

Dear Sir,

The press are being placed under “Heavy Manners” by Dr. Brown’s new press secretary, Glenn Jones, for the press to stand up when Dr. Brown enters the room.

By now Mr. Jones, you must surely realise that when respect has been earned you don’t have to beg for it!

DIANA WILLIAMS

Pembroke

Delusions of grandeur

July 11, 2007

Dear Sir,

Now Glenn Jones, Dr. Brown’s Press Secretary is at it — trying to justify Dr. Brown’s presidential style of premiership. In his letter of July 10, 2007 Mr Jones says: “Around the world reporters stand up when heads of state, or in this case heads of government, enter a room. It’s commonplace. No one has to demand it. It’s expected. And the expectation is widespread.” This may very well be commonplace in the United States, but Mr. Editor, Mr Jones is misleading your readers (maybe even trying to deceive them).

When heads of state enter a room, members of the press and members of the public often stand, however, this is not the case with heads of government. The distinction may seem trivial, but it is an important distinction. Bermuda’s head of state is the Queen and her representative is the Governor. Proper protocol dictates we should stand for the Queen (and thus arguably the Governor). In the United States, the example used by Mr Jones to justify his feeling that the local press corps should stand for Dr Brown, the US President is both the head of state and head of government, thus the press usually stands when the US President enters the room (although the foreign press corps “—often glance at one another in puzzlement over having to show a politician such courtesy”). The British press does not stand for the Prime Minister of the UK when he enters the room and the Canadian press does not stand for the Prime Minister when he enters the room, due partly to this fine distinction. In fact in July 2006, on a visit to the White House, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper turned to George W. Bush, and thanked him for something that had just taken place. It was “something I never thought I’d see,” observed the prime minister, “which is have the Canadian media stand when I entered the room”.

If the Brown regime is trying to mislead the public on a simple matter of protocol, just imagine what else is going on. Delusions of grandeur anyone? I’ll take a seat thanks.

MICHAEL M. FAHY

Hamilton Parish

P.s. See http://www.cbc.ca/news/reportsfromabroad/macdonald/20061219.html for quotes used.

Editor’s Note: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0imFu45r3A shows the media not standing when Mr. Blair and Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger enter a room for a press conference.

Praise for CedarBridge

July 7, 2007

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to use your space to express a very special and heartfelt “Thank You” to Mrs. Kalmar Richards, the Principal of CedarBridge Academy and her able staff for a job well done. In spite of a very trying school year, you showed fortitude and unwavering commitment to our students. Have a restful, safe and well deserved summer vacation. Again many thanks.

D.A.R.

City of Hamilton

Solution to mould

June 21, 2007

Dear Sir,

I have the answer to the mould problem at Cedar Bridge Academy, and it is very simple. Take out all the air conditioners and the main unit, and open all the windows to the fresh air.

The school is closed during the hot months, and many of the children involved would not be used to an air-conditioned environment. Many of us, myself included, do not live in air conditioning, and find it uncomfortable. It may be nice to have in the middle of July and August, but the school is closed at that time, and the weather is cooling down when the autumn school term begins.

Why has no one thought about this obvious solution to what may become an ongoing problem, if not rooted out now. Might be a good idea to root out a few of the teachers too, especially those who go on strike at the drop of a hat, without giving notice? This behaviour actually endangers the life of the children, and should not be tolerated. A thorough examination of the quality of teaching at CedarBridge was recommended by the recent report, and might well be at the root of the shocking number of children failing their exams.

Seems to me that these two suggestions would solve a lot of problems in one of our main learning establishments.

E. RABEN

Paget

Misleading tourism ad

July 10, 2007

Dear Sir,

I had the opportunity to see a Department of Tourism commercial on TV this morning on one of the major networks. It featured a couple walking on our beautiful beaches, but there was one shot of them with a horse on the beach. This is very misleading as you know this is not allowed! This ad should be pulled immediately.

JOYCE JOELL-HAYDEN

Pembroke

Update our laws

June 19, 2007

Dear Editor:

All the sideshows and political adrenaline over the past few weeks are designed to cover up a basic fact: both the police and the Department of Public Prosecutions agreed that a group of Bermuda’s political leaders have acted unethically, and that their actions would have been illegal if Bermuda’s anti-corruption laws were not so weak and out-of-date compared to other countries.

This raises the question: why aren’t both sides of our political spectrum clamouring to have the anti-corruption laws modernised? It seems the subject has the attention of our entire community and is an obstacle to good governance — now’s the time! Let’s do it!

There’s been so much focus on stopping white collar crime here in recent years that it makes sense to focus as well on improving our corruption laws. To focus on improving the Register of Interests for Parliament, particularly for members in Cabinet. To focus on transparency in political finance. To institute whistleblower legislation for both the private and public sector. To complete the worthy work that Alex Scott started on public access of information (now languishing due to lack of Cabinet interest).

Leadership is about trust, and Bermudians deserve better than we are getting. The resources and intrigue that Government has applied to cover up the facts of the BHC scandal and investigation simply strengthens the public’s belief that something is rotten. It smells like desperation and enough is enough.

FREE LARRY!

Paget

Set higher standards

June 26, 2007

Dear Sir,

I, like most Bermudians, read with great apprehension the ongoing actions of our government to keep quiet what was revealed during the BHC investigation.

I also today read a letter in support of hiding away these documents that argued: “If the DPP has determined there is not enough evidence to indict Dr. Brown and other PLPers who were mentioned in the report, then the only thing that indictment would accomplish was to destroy the reputations of those charged.”

I am certainly not picking on this particular author, but I imagine that sentiment to be quite common. Illegal or not, do we not hold our leaders to a higher standard than the general public? It’s not illegal to be a racist, but I’d prefer not to elect one ... it’s not illegal to be an alcoholic, but I’d prefer not to elect one. On that same note, just because our apparently antiquated corruption laws may have deemed their behaviour legal, I’m not sure I’d want to vote for any of those involved. The documents are not responsible for destroying reputations, it’s the actions and behaviours documented within that should rightly cause humiliation.

ALEX

Pembroke

Is BHC a bank now?

July 4, 2007

Dear Sir,

Though I somewhat disagree with Sen. Burch in principle on slashing BHC rents, a bigger concern is the ten percent that is proposed to be held by the Corporation in a special savings account.

Is the BHC now a deposit taking company or unlicensed financial institution? Do they now hold cash deposits/assets? Do they pay interest within the special savings accounts? Is the cash invested to pay interest? What is proposed is illegal for the BHC to do.

SAM

Warwick

P.s. On another note, how much is it costing the taxpayer to subsidise rent decreases, whilst maintaining the BHC yearly budget as is?

Backing the students

July 4, 2007

Dear Sir,

I hope the students win their protest and why would anybody want independence in Bermuda?

ANONYMOUS

Pembroke

Solution is at hand

June 27, 2007

Dear Sir,

Two stories in your June 26 edition caught my eye. One had the headline ‘Early election may be too high risk for Brown,’ and the other spoke to Black economic empowerment. Might not the one be the antidote for the other?

CORDELL W. RILEY

City of Hamilton

Use taxes to buy land

July 3, 2007

Dear Sir,

Re: Southlands and Payroll Tax Surplus

I see we now have a gigantic surplus in the form of payroll tax received.

Most Bermudians feel the proposed Southlands hotel development will stretch our already strained infrastructure too far and destroy one of our few remaining “green” areas.

Just a suggestion, politicians, call a halt to the proposal and use the tax money windfall to reimburse/compensate the developers and hotel company for their “seed monies” and expenses to date. This is a win-win solution for everyone.

Perhaps there would even be enough money left or about to flow in to purchase the Southlands property and turn it into a National Park that we could all enjoy.

RON LUCAS

Smith’s Parish

Looking for direction

June 15, 2007

Dear Sir,

How can there be harmony in Bermuda if the majority of the things that are important to us are approached from a competitive frame of mind? That is why we are accomplishing very little that is really positive and progressive. How are we as Bermudians going to coax our children into making a more concerted effort to improve themselves in the environment in which they live?

It is our responsibility to guide them toward better thoughts and understanding. By helping them to make better decisions and choices for themselves and by encouraging them to stand firm on the things they find to be correct.

After all is said and done, we are all captains of this ship called Bermuda. We shall all go in the direction in which we steer it. There are indications that we harbour thoughts on the compass of our minds that need correction before we can be onward bound successfully.

RAYMOND RUSSELL (SR.)

Pembroke

A boost for Caron

This was sent to US Consul General Gregory Slayton and copied to

July 3, 2007

Dear Mr. Slayton,

On behalf of Caron Bermuda, and of our clients and their family members whom we serve, I want to thank you and the American Society for the opportunity to participate in your wonderful event Saturday June 30th and to thereby spread the word about Caron Bermuda.

We enjoyed distributing our Caron Bermuda “hacky sacks” to participants and encourage people to visit our website at www.caronbermuda.org or contact us at 236-0823.

In particular, I want to acknowledge your kind words on Saturday night and those of Minister of Social Rehabilitation the Hon. Dale Butler. Your commitment to do whatever you can to facilitate recovery from alcohol and drug abuse for Bermudian residents was evident.

It was a wonderful opportunity to announce to the crowd in attendance our July 1 official launch and we are very, very appreciative of all your support.

RORY GORMAN

Chairman, Caron Bermuda

Don’t give up on Island

July 11, 2007

Dear Sir

To Good-Bye in Paget: After reading your letter dated June 26, 2007 I felt compelled to write. My husband and I have just purchased a home, and believe it or not I am Bermudian and he is not. We went through all the red tape you speak of to achieve his name being put on the lease, and in no uncertain terms were we promised it would be done quickly. May I also point out to you the home can be purchased in just the Bermudian’s name, which you have the ability to change in time if you so wish. Not once during this process did my husband feel like a stranger in this country, he felt he was following the rules.

Before you say goodbye, remember if you stay married for ten years this process changes. I believe the reason for this law has a purpose so homes are not just purchased for ill-gotten means, which would mean another letter, but if you have found a country that has no red tape, by all means move, but remember patience is a virtue.

AB

Pembroke

Traffic solution

July 11, 2007

Dear Sir,

Wouldn’t this be the perfect opportunity to try Harbour Road and Trimingham Hill — one way traffic for the rush hour traffic?”

7.30 a.m.-9.30 a.m. Harbour Road one way Into Hamilton

7.30 a.m.-9.30 a.m. Trimingham Hill through Strawberry Hill one way heading West

4.30 p.m.-6.30 p.m. Harbour Road one way From Hamilton

4.30 p.m.-6.30 p.m. Strawberry Hill through Trimingham Hill one way Heading East

OR SOMETHING THEREOF...

Paget