Smith will get her reward

January 8, 2004

Dear Sir,

I refer to your Editorial published on January 6, 2004, entitled ?The UBP?s Leadership?. To hear Sir John Swan say what our grass-roots community has known all along is downright amusing. I do however take issue with a few of your points.

Former Premier Jennifer Smith was not ousted because of a scare caused by the UBP?s election results. She was kicked to the kerb by the infamous Rebel 11 ? ten power hungry men and one renegade woman, who bucked and swayed once all the cards were on the table to jostle her own position. It is also no secret that many in that pack still harbour plans of their own to become Premier.

Dr. Ewart Brown, the man who had to mislead us, Dale Butler, Terry Lister, I could understand. Testosterone mixed with the super id ego makes for a delusional mix. But I will never understand how a rookie like George Scott would be swayed to join them. How does he justify taking sides as a new team member? I hope he knows his political career on that side of the House will be short-lived.

It?s not what they did; it?s how they did it. On the night of a second victory they dismissed a leader who took them down victory lane twice. Whether you like her personally or not, history will reward Ms Smith even though the Judas types in her own camp could not.

Intellectuals tend to focus on all that ?proportion of the national vote? stuff. How could you label the PLP?s campaign a miserable one when they won? Not once, but twice! I predict three strikes despite the national vote mumbo jumbo, and guess what, the UBP will be out.

As for the UBP and the race issue, do you think Mr. David Tavares believes his party chose the best candidate regardless of race? Wasn?t he told his party could not ignore a black professional candidate, despite his loyalty and many years of service? Call him up, I?d be willing to bet that he disagrees with you too.

And then there?s Opposition Leader, Dr. Grant Gibbons. I don?t question his competence or his dedication to the Island and its people. What I do question is whose people ? his or mine? To hear him express concern for the social issues is ludicrous. Where was his party?s concern during the 30 years of yesterdays on the UBP?s watch?

Did they improve the lives of our seniors living in dilapidated seniors? home? Did they educate or miseducate our children? They did they build a bigger jail that is still not big enough. A jail that resulted in backroom deals to bail out the contractors at the expense of taxpayers.

What about the long-term residency issue? Did they implement an Employment Act that?s fair to employees? Could it be that they left that one alone because the UBP represents the big employers in this country? They did focus on economic prosperity while ignoring the trickle down bit. And now, with the same arrogance that took them out in the first place, they boldly assume the grass-roots community will take them seriously.

To Dr. Gibbons I respectfully submit to you like I do to Sir John Swan ? ?You had your chance and you gave it up! ? Yesterday is a cancelled cheque. Tomorrow is a promissory note. And guess what? You and your New and Old UBP cronies are not invited to my house for tea and crumpets either!The writer is correct in stating that the rebellion against Jennifer Smith was launched by disaffected PLP MPs. The point made in the editorial was that if the PLP had produced a better result (or had the UBP done less well) in the General Election, a successful rebellion would have been less likely.

Pigeons are a menace

January 12, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am responding to Dr. A.M. Ware-Cieters letter published in on January 7. I take great exception to several points she made in her letter, and take great offence on her comments about David Wingate, Bermuda?s leading conservationist and ornithologist.

In point one she states that pigeons are exclusively grain eaters and they eat bread because it is made of wheat. I have seen pigeons eating french fries, and picking at discarded chicken bones from thrown away takeout food from local restaurants, I also see them eating raisins being fed to them by children. In my view this makes them scavengers. Obviously in Europe you have the feral pigeon in towns and cities, in the countryside you have the lovely wood pigeon, a pest to the farmers because it only eats grain and peas. When I say lovely, it?s lovely in a pie or stew!

I take further exception to point four in which the good Doctor states pigeons do not roost and nest around Bermuda?s shorelines. I suggest she take a slow boat ride around the Island: I am sure she will change her mind.

For over 30 years I have been fortunate to live with my family at Harmon?s Bay, a beautiful spot on the Great Sound, Sandys. We have longtails nesting in the cliffs in the bay and until recent years there were about ten to twelve pairs. About four years ago the first pigeons arrived just one pair, now we have a colony, and believe you me they occupy longtail sites. Not only do they breed practically all year around, in 2003 we only had five pairs of longtails, the pigeons having taken over.

I disagree with point seven where Dr. Ware-Cieters states the Bermuda roof kills microbial and parasite life that hits it. What happens when it?s raining? The excretions get washed straight into your tank, I certainly would not be happy with a flock of pigeons using my roof as a gathering place.

I am sorry. I would sooner have longtails than feral pigeons; the only thing feral pigeons do is eat and excrete. They should be eradicated from Bermuda?s small but interesting bird population.

In late October and November, 2003 we had the presence of a Peregrine Falcon in the neighbourhood. I was hoping it would decimate the pigeon population; however it didn?t appear to reduce their numbers. I do hold it responsible for the disappearance of my pet Mallard, however.

I would invite Dr. Ware-Cieters to visit my home any day at dawn or dusk as the pigeons leave and return from their daily scavenging. If the doctor comes at dawn she can watch the daily feeding of about 60 mourning doves and fourteen ground doves, which shows I am not anti all members of the pigeon family.

Incidentally, I have been a member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for over 30 years.

Support Bermuda?s sloop

January 13, 2004

Dear Sir,

Having heard the splendid presentation by Malcolm Kirkland for the Bermuda Sloop Foundation the other evening I felt moved to comment and reinforce the belief that this project is one of significant importance to Bermuda ? one that weaves together our past, present and future and one that will provide young Bermudians not only with an education in seamanship but in life skills and communication that transcends all barriers.

This vessel will surely be the pride of all Bermuda and I suggest that it should be built in time to represent the Island and its people in 2007 in Jamestown Virginia when they will celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the founding of that first colony.

Bermuda has a direct tie with Jamestown and this historic event ? for Sir George Somers was en route there with emigrants and provisions for the starving settlement when the was wrecked here in 1609. The survivors built two new ships ? (a replica is displayed on Ordnance Island in St. George?s) and the smaller from salvage and native cedar and continued on to Jamestown the following year.

What more appropriate way to represent our Island and this special connection than with an historic Bermudian schooner manned by 21st Century Bermudian seamen and women?

Maybe Government could pledge the funds now, which it will inevitably find itself spending in 2006 on the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, to the Bermuda Sloop Foundation to insure the Bermudian schooner will be built in time to be a part of the celebrations.

As I understand it the Bermuda Sloop Foundation has raised $1.8 million and needs $1.2 million to commence building starting this April. No cash is actually needed until 2005 so a Government pledge fits well in the time frame.

My wife and I are both the descendants of seafarers and it is with pride and enthusiasm that we endorse this magnificent endeavour.ANN SMITH-GORDON

President

PALS