Why not DST all the time?April 15, 2006Dear Sir,Right now we have Daylight Saving Time seven months of the year, and apparently next year they want to add on another month, so why don’t they make it all year around and be done with it. In fact, if Greenwich Mean Time was moved forward one hour and stayed that way it would solve the problem of constantly moving the clocks forwards and backwards worldwide.

SEEING IT AS IT IS

Pembroke<$>Hey Dennis and Rolfe: What do we do?April 15, 2006Dear Sir,I found it interesting to read both Rolfe Commissiong and Dennis Pitcher’s letters to the Editor (both appearing on the same day).

It was not just the contrast that was of interest. Of interest was my own agreement and near empathy for the two incongruent opinions about race issues coming from persons of opposite mindsets. How could I find some agreement from both?

First let me say that both Rolfe and Dennis have great minds for the pen.

They each come from different eras, hence their viewpoints bear the experience and influence of differing times.

I don’t know this— but perhaps after they both read their own opinions, they in context viewed each other’s opinion with cross-eyes, which sparks a question as to whether both assertions can be right or true.

To be fair, they were not commenting on the same subject. One was arguing with particular emphasis towards the whites that race was the “denied subtext” of the Opposition UBP structure. Denis argued that blacks and whites but more particularly (in rebuttal to Dr. Eva Hodgson) that many whites today (guest workers included) are being characterised unfairly because they have moved on and want to work towards an equitable, colourless world.

I want to throw the proverbial spanner in the mix.

Rolfe speaks of the UBP recent leadership change as the UBP’s unwitting admission as a white minority group offering tactics to gain needed black support. Technically he has a very strong case, uncovering an unwanted truth. Unwanted not just because it’s embarrassing, but rather to Dennis’ point, the vast majority of whites in particular and the blacks that patronise the UBP, truly don’t want it to be a party guided by race.

It’s just that the game began with race, the rules were built on race and like a fly in a cobweb every move the fly makes to free itself, pulls the cobweb more firmly around its own neck.

Hey Dennis and Rolfe! What do we do?

You have revealed the sores, you have spoken the dream — how the heck can we let the sore heal (because you can see that it wants to heal) how can you get to the dream (currently the boat to paradise has no sails, not even oars)?

I’m asking because I too would like to see Bermuda reach its fullest potential. At the moment with our disunity we are prey to exploitation through the rampant effects of globalisation in which we all lose.

I have already been campaigning and suggesting that we need a complete make-over. I would wish that Wayne Furbert and the UBP do not wait or risk defeat to discover that there is a larger Bermuda than the narrow mandate he is currently seeking (remember Rolfe’s point).

Wayne needs to know that there is a larger Bermuda that can fulfil that vision which he is espousing. Just as Moses was denied the promised land neither party can set foot in that dream.

Their feet and hands are too dirty. Neither of the parties were built as a result of an outburst of ideology rather they were built out of racial expediency—

We live in a new world with a new reality (Dennis’ point) we need a new thought on which to base reorganisation. Only a new thought and a true spiritual birth in our leadership around a human ideology can enable us to capture the vision, otherwise we all perish— I wouldn’t want to be leader of any ship that’s destined to hell.

KHALID WASI

Pembroke<$>Please give us our lettersApril 15, 2006Dear Sir,Since the political issue is always seen on page 4 of The Royal Gazette <$>why not have the Letters To The Editor on Page 5? That way the letters won’t be missed out (not a lot of people are into political issues since all Independence equals is greed and the majority doesn’t want Independence anyway and some letters to the editor have interesting point of views).

This is something to reconsider and something that the Editor should decide to do.

NEW LETTERS COLUMN ON PAGE 5

PembrokeSummers in La La LandApril 13, 2006Dear Sir,Once again I find myself needing to clarify statements of gross exaggeration by David Summers made in today’s Royal Gazette <$>(April 13) on Page 6.

In his reply to Environmental Conservation Officer Dorcas Roberts’ statement that a Special Development Order (which the Hotel are seeking in order to destroy the golf course) is usually, and I quote “only given in other jurisdictions for major developments of national interest such as Airport runways and power stations and only then as a last resort and after a public inquiry”, he said that the public had already been consulted.

If David Summers’ idea of a public enquiry was the meeting held by the Southampton Fairmont on March 16 of this year then he is living in La La Land.

And if that was the reason the hotel held that meeting, so that they could say the public was consulted, then they should once again be deeply ashamed of themselves. That was a closed, invitation-only meeting for “neighbours and friends” of the hotel.

In my humble opinion, the proposed golf villas are of no interest to anyone in Bermuda at all. They will serve no other purpose except to fill the pockets of a very few select group of people who are not part of this community and in return take forever a huge portion of open space that should remain just that — open space.

I would urge anyone and everyone who feels strongly about this outright desecration of open space to put pen to paper (or even easier send an e-mail which only requires you to type the words and press send) and voice your opinion. The time for speaking up has come; we cannot sit by and pretend this isn’t happening!

This is not just a problem for the friends and neighbours of the hotel, this is a problem for Bermuda!!

SUSAN V. ROBLIN

Southampton <$>Poor gas station serviceApril 15, 2006

Dear Sir,Gas stations — and this is Island wide — what has happened to service? It seems like all the gas station attendants know how to do is pump gas and after doing this expect a tip. What has happened to checking your oil and batteries and cleaning your windows.

I mean all they have to do is clean my windows and I will fork out $2 bucks for that. Add it up $2 bucks a minute is about the time is taken to clean your car windows, they can be pocketing $120. This may be a little extreme, but just break it down to 50 cents a minute to clean your car windows, still nothing to sneeze at.

Sorry to say we do not even get this little service from our gas station attendants, yet they think they deserve a tip for pumping gas that costs us a fortune. Forget the oil checking and checking of batteries, this is rocket science to them.

Gas station management Island wide need to bring their gas attendants service up to a higher standard. Sorry no window cleaning, no tip. They can pump all the gas they want.

BUNGANYA

WATCHING GAS ATTENDANTSMaybe this will workMarch 14, 2006Dear Sir,I do not have an answer to your Island’s drug problem. Redesign, and certainly re-enforce, the instructions on the pictured Immigration form for entry into Singapore. Should the Editor not be able to copy the form I’ll read from page 2. In big red letters it says: “WARNING: DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKERS, UNDER SINGAPORE LAW.”

Their land is drug free. Isn’t that a wonderful thought?

One final need to get this remedy going is that your elected, and many of the appointed members of Government, should take the lead by being drug tested themselves. Else I fear, that their reluctance to do so many speak volumes.

FOR A BETTER BERMUDAStop over-revvingApril 15, 2006Dear Sir,Regarding car engines, warming up an old car for more than one minute might be unnecessary as well (all depends on whether that car can handle the long minutes). Another thing to avoid is over-revving as this is not only annoying but, it serves no purpose for the car.

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Pembroke<$>