How can it continue?

May 26, 2009

Dear Sir,

I have often observed that in respect to legislative changes, political parties while in opposition have a unique ability to recognise insightful courses of action but that ability is lost when they become the party of government. Only governments, as the PLP is at present, has the power to implement meaningful courses of action because it is the best thing to do. One thing comes to mind is our contributory pension fund.

I cannot understand why the Hamiltonian hotel owners have over a 20 year period been allowed to collect from their employees $244,000 but not remitted to the government. Why is that not a criminal act? Because many former employees will lose a portion of their pension when they reach the age of 65. I do not understand why an employer that has deducted pension contributions from their employees and failed to remit them to the pension fund is not charged with theft under the criminal code, or the contributory pension Act 1970 and is still allowed to operate their business.

RAYMOND RUSSELL

Pembroke

Follow the law

May 28, 2009

Dear Sir,

Re: Gang Violence:

I have listened to all the advice about gang violence and thought I might be permitted to ask a question. Do we have a law which makes it illegal to be a member of a gang? If we don't, we need one pronto! This country is so small that the Police must know who the gang members are and so could easily round up and arrest the gang members who persist in gang behaviour. As for those who try to blame the Police or the Governor, that is foolish. The only people who are to blame are the criminals of Bermuda who instead of taking advantage of the opportunities that abound in Bermuda, have chosen a life of degradation and barbarity. Those who are always bleating about individuality and uniqueness have chosen to become the most depraved of stereotypes.

J.K. WILLIAMS

City of Hamilton

A note of thanks

May 28, 2009

Dear Sir,

First, I would like to thank the promoter, sponsors, Bermuda Timing Systems, hundreds of volunteers, and thousands of enthusiastic, cheering spectators for the excellent organisation and success of the Bermuda Day Derby half marathon! The race showcased the true spirit of Bermuda's people, despite the unusual tragic happenings earlier in the weekend on the island. Even with the heat and humidity of the day, runners were encouraged to continue running strongly with water stops, orange slices, sports drink, and individual offerings of garden hose showers, wet sponges, and bags of ice!

Congratulations to the winners Chris Estwanik and Victoria Fiddick on their outstanding performances! They're world-class runners in a league of their own. However, I write to claim a symbolic Bermuda Day Derby "victory" with my 100th place finish, most appropriate for the 100th running of the Derby! I know… it's rather meaningless in overall race performance, but as I always look forward to my twice yearly visits to the island from the US, I am proud to claim this honour at this very special running of the Derby. Most visitors to the island tell of the spectacular pink beaches, but I most enjoy interacting with Bermuda's warm and friendly people! So, you ask, who won the other symbolic award for the Derby, that of 400th position for the celebration of Bermuda's 400th birthday?! According to The Royal Gazette's Tuesday listing of results, that award goes to a Kristin Thomas, also a "50-something" runner. Congratulations, Kristin, and maybe I'll see you on the road at a future Bermuda running race on another one of my visits to the island!

KEN ABRAMS

Rhode Island

How we want to be viewed

May 31, 2009

Dear Sir,

The issue of Bermuda and gambling now occupies much of the public's awareness. To me, most things are a matter of degree and gambling is no exception. For example, Bingo is more a "game of chance" than hard-core, lose all your money outright rigged gambling. Crown & Anchor I think is a step above Bingo, but hardly hard core gambling. It is true one can lose more money at the "Stock Market", but it only operates at major cricket matches.

I learned a hard lesson at the 'Stock Market' a long time ago. In 1961 I was 18 – "a man". I could drink, smoke, get my cookies crumbled and even gamble, all legally, Wow! It was at Cup Match (in Somerset) that I decided to try my hand at Crown & Anchor. It seemed harmless enough; people were winning sometimes, why not me? The first day I won £2; big money for an 18-year-old in those days. The next day I lost £5 – I was cured, instantly! The lesson was that "for every winner, there are a whole lot of losers" and that day, I was one of them. I can now walk past any gambling entity and not bat an eyelash.

Gambling addiction has been described as a disease. Not so, really. This so-called disease is no more than a predisposition to ignoring the obvious folly of a foolhardy action– I don't have the problem. I told the Nigerians where to "go", and the same for those clowns in Malta. I work too hard for my money to throw it away and if it seems too good to be true, it is! Bermuda now has to decide how we want our country to be viewed on the world stage in this regard. We have been literally extorted to allow on-board gambling in port for the cruise ships. I have seen how gamblers act on a cruise; they are in the casino for the entire length of the cruise. I know this because I go to the casino cashier for cash advances (for other things) rather than pay the fee at the ATM. The same people are there every time and losing almost every time. In light of this, gambling in port late at night seems to be the solution to the problem, but I fear that once there's a foot in the door, there goes the ball game.

Legislation to allow this on one side of Front St. will have those on the other side of Front St. screaming discrimination, big deal! All is not lost, however; forget Front Street, cruise ships seldom come there any way. If we absolutely must allow late night on board gambling (to salvage the tourist industry), have it at Dockyard. It can easily be legislated to create a "zone" there without any fear of dissent. In view of gambling's obviously deleterious nature, I would have thought the entire Island would have shouted a resounding "no" to gambling here. People with that predisposition I mentioned will still find a way to gamble no question, but why do some of us seem to be enthralled with this notion that gambling will be good for Bermuda? Gambling will only put more money in the pockets of those who (in my view) have well enough already, and the reverse is also true; hard earned mortgage/rent/grocery/college money – all gone!

Bermuda has to deal with the juxtaposition of the ambition to conform to global conditions, to the knowledge that some things in this world (that's fast going to hell) are not good for us. Balancing our well-being with what others want us to do while keeping Bermuda viable is not going to be easy. We have a history of doing what needed to be done to survive and so far, it's worked. We adapted to conditions as necessary but never straying from our national core values that have kept us a country that is the envy of the world. Let's keep it that way.

C.K. SIMONS

Sandys

Protest SPBC marina

June 1, 2009

Dear Sir,

Please allow me space to voice concern over the proposal to build a 160 Berth Marina at the Spanish Point Boat Club. The scale of this Marina is massive, covering approximately 4 acres of Coastal Reserve. Spanish Point will experience more road traffic, more water traffic, more noise, more pollution, more sewage, more garbage trucks, more service trucks, more of everything to sustain the occupants of the 160 vessels of these proposed berths (that's right, friends and families too) all using the one road in and the one road out of this small tip of Bermuda.

Also to achieve this Coastal Nirvana, the surrounding sea bed and coral will be covered with concrete required to construct a high 'dockyard' style sea wall. The deadline for objections is June 5, 2009. In closing, the below caption pulled from the Draft 2008 Plan appears to have been thrown to the winds with this proposal. "To effectively manage Bermuda's natural and built environment, resources and development in a sustainable way which best provides for the environmental, economic and social needs of the community."

I think not.

SPANISH POINT RESIDENT

Pembroke

Praise for KEMH

May 14, 2009

Dear Sir,

Through the medium of your newspaper, I want to pass on well-deserved kudos to our King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. Several weeks ago I had total knee replacement surgery there. I enjoyed the following:

— Frequent, cheering visits from my surgeons, Dr. Peckett and Dr. Couper.

— Wonderful treatment at the pre-admission clinic

— Expert service from the physiotherapy department

— Provision of thick, new, thirsty white towels

— Good quality toilet tissue (yes!)

— Prompt flow of hot water

— Excellent nursing care

— Comfortable room temperature

— Provision of toiletries

— Five weeks of post-operative home nursing care by profession, caring staff

I felt overall that there was a genuine attempt to meet patient needs.

HELENE STEPHENSON

Smith's