Letters to the Editor
Do something, Dr. Brown
August 3, 2005
Dear Sir,
In reference to the recent letter copied to you, and corresponding article, describing the treatment of Mrs. Jo-Ann Turman during the Airport Customs search, printed on August 3, I have only one question. Well, one question, but with several parts.
What is going to be done about the female Customs officer who conducted the search? Will she be fired, as she should be, summarily, without benefits, and without the possibility for appeal? Will she be disciplined, reprimanded, required to undergo additional training (sensitivity to racial stereotypes, at the very least)? Will she be suspended, transferred, demoted? Will she be shunned by her professional peers as an example of everything one should not do when dealing with members of the public, in any capacity whatsoever? Will anything at all happen to this woman? Or will she be allowed to carry on as she is, clearly drifting in a cloud of ignorance about her job function, her responsibilities to HM Customs and thereby to the people of Bermuda as a whole? Is she reading this right now, comfortable in the belief that she can behave any way she pleases and not fear for her job?
As a throwaway appeal, let me add that I hope the waiter who served Mrs. Turman in the hotel restaurant is also fired. Of course, I already know that neither of them will be fired, because no one in Bermuda is ever fired for incompetence.
Let me say that I appreciate that Customs officers have a difficult and demanding job, with many variables to consider when dealing with possible “suspects”. But to all appearances, Jo-Ann Turman had done nothing whatsoever that was out of order, except to be black, and be standing in line at HM Customs at the Bermuda International Airport. And let's not forget that not only was she treated that way at the Airport, she was treated in essentially the same way throughout her trip - interestingly, more often than not, by other black females. So, I can only conclude that something is seriously, systemically wrong with Customs, with the Airport, and with Bermuda, if we can't even manage something so basic, so straightforward, as not treating people like the scum of the earth simply because they're black.
To sum up my question regarding Mrs. Turman - and it's directed to the Minister of Tourism and Transport Dr. Brown - Sir, what are you going to do about it?
RORSCHACH
Warwick
Missing Trimingham's
July 28, 2005
Dear Sir,
I have only found out about Trimingham's the other day. We have been coming to Bermuda for 35 years. We came to Bermuda to shop. I love retail therapy. Why would I go to Bermuda now? There are a few shops left; I do not need clatchy-Bermuda-stamped T-shirts or snow paperweights.
I do not know the real reason for Trimingham's closing, but, I will say this it was like someone put a stake in my heart.
ROSALIE M. KREISER
Pennsylvania
Flame-throwing ‘idiots'
August 2, 2005
Dear Sir,
Re: “Govt. failing to comply with safety laws” (Royal Gazette, August 2).
It is with complete irony that I read today's headline regarding the failure to comply with safety laws and on the same page I see a picture of people setting off home-made flame throwers in a crowded tent!
I'm sorry but at some point in time someone has got to stand up and say: “Hello you complete idiots, what are you thinking?” And this goes not only for the fools who bring flame-throwers to these events but the people who run them. Has no-one in Bermuda heard about the fiery disaster that claimed 100 people lives in Rhode Island just a couple of years ago?
It is the irresponsible behaviour of such people that will keep visitors (and even locals) away from such events and continue to make Bermuda look less and less like the safe destination it has always been known for.
DEREK A. G. JONES
Boston, Massachusetts
Change is needed
July 21, 2005
Dear Sir,
I went into the Bank of Butterfield this morning to change $100 in $2 bills for a $50 or $100. I was informed by the teller that “we change large bills into small ones, but not small ones into larger ones.” What is going on? I thought the banks were there to see to our monetary needs. When asked “where do I change these bills” her reply was “I don't know”.
Come on!
FLORENCE DECOUTO
Paget
True Independence
July 22, 2005
Dear Sir,
I am writing this in hope that Bermudians will seriously question our glorious Government's supposed commitment to Independence and to put out my view of what true Independence is.
We all saw how our lives were interrupted when redundancies at Belco failed and caused millions in damage and tens of thousands in lost revenues for others. It also showed how people not chained to Belco's monopoly were able to prosper (cash in) because they possessed the ability to operate independently of the crippled power grid. It should concern all that conditions for controlling the fire were favourable or it would not have been so well contained (i.e. strong winds in the right direction) Bermuda might still be largely powerless. I say that it is time to break this monopoly, these oil profiteers, the same few people and companies who have everyone by the short and curlys, we are subject daily to the whimsy of global markets and oil cartels reducing and raising output. The reason America thought invading Iraq was a good idea was they thought prices at the pump would go down. No ... no ... no prices went up like a roadside bomb. But that is for George Bush, Jr.'s bio.
A truly independent nation is a nation with options, we on this Island have more than a few when it comes to renewable energy sources. Solar power and wind farms are two proven and efficient methods which would work here, so why not?
Certainly the numbers speak when it comes to people trusting the PLP to run the nation of Bermuda. They lack the ability to definitively lead Bermuda in a positive direction, with clear guidance and transparent policies. The Government seems only to be worried whether their Government credit card only has a $10,000 limit. Or they have to take their shoes off to be X-rayed before they get on an international flight (the ego).
Allowing these industries in for the benefit of Bermudians will not only ease our burden, a burden the developed world bears and would put us in a singular place. It would also open new job opportunities which Bermudians would need to fill. Now these would be top notch jobs with skills that could be used globally. Opportunities would abound.
No we will stick to what we have, if it ain't broke don't fix it! (whoops).
The engineering side of power generation is becoming more automated and efficient (cough), while up-keep and general operation rises and stagnates with construction - few abounding opportunities there!
People rightly talk about solar panels and wind farms as taking away from the tranquil beauty of the Island, I say what is uglier than a utility pole creaking with cables and scarred with boot spike marks and years of rot. Also if tourism only works when our roofs are white someone tell the tourists our roofs are white and they can stop going to cheaper more pampered locations. Tourists don't care and anyone telling you this works for Belco or is a shareholder. White roofs are a throwback to our colonial past.
The road to true Independence lies wide open and unwalked. And the political party that promises true change has my vote next time.
MORALITY FIRST
Devonshire
Sound of silence is bliss
July 20, 2005
Dear Sir,
I am so glad some one complained about the loud music on the ferries.
With such a lovely trip, why do we need TV and loud music when we can enjoy the beautiful scenery we get travelling on the ferries. Locals and tourists do not need it and we would just like to look at the water, etc. and enjoy the lovely ride to Dockyard, St. George's, etc. Please take them away.
BERMUDIAN
Devonshire
Calling all kite makers
July 28, 2005
Dear Sir,
To all Bermuda kite builders, individuals, businesses, schools, clubs and organisations:
You are all cordially invited to submit any photos (colour or black and white) or newspaper or magazine articles of Bermuda kite stories, unique kite designs, kite builder bios, yearly kite festivals or contest information, kite displays, and kite competitions for publication in the book (coming soon) titled “Bermuda's Colourful Kites - The History of Kite making in Bermuda”.
Each contributor/individual from whom I receive a submission will be noted in the credits. The author, Mr. Eugene Harvey, himself a native of Bermuda, is interested in collecting stories of individuals (great-grandparents and grandparents) who have made and sold kites or were involved in kite making in Bermuda between the years 1900-1950, 1950-70 and 1970-present. I am particularly interested in receiving information about the following kite makers:
1. Mrs. Janie Louise Mitchell, who lived at “Elliott Cottage” on Court and Elliott Street who began making Bermuda Head-stick kites in 1927.
2. Kiteland
3. Miss Elizabeth Musson, a school teacher at the Berkeley Institute who lived on Angle Street and made miniature a true-to-scale flying Bermuda kite (3-” high and 2- inches wide) using toothpicks.
Please e-mail me at bdakitesaol.com or eugharveyaol.com for contact information.
EUGENE HARVEY
Tempe, Arizona
A failing grade
July 20, 2005
Dear Sir,
This letter comes on the heels of many issues that this present Government is failing to address. A Government that I voted for and now feel the need to remind them that they have to show accountability and responsibility to the people of this country.
I, along with many concerned citizens stand in awe of the lack of testicular fortitude that has recently been displayed by this Government. Like the rapper Jadakiss' song says we need to know “Why”. Why do we have citizens of this country with no water? We knew a few months ago a drought was upon us, so why at this juncture am I not seeing a tanker cruising across my house, up North Shore heading into Hamilton Harbour to provide us with a basic human need? Better yet, why didn't I look at the front page of the newspaper last week and see that one is on the way instead of reading that the taxpayers are going to be footing the bill for ‘Murdering Messy Liburd'? I will get back to Messy Liburd, Mr. Editor. Why were the water truck drivers given restrictions for the residents of this country and time limits on collections of water and then hours later be called to deliver 100,000 gallons to Fairmont Southampton Hotel?
Mr. Editor, “why” now changes to where. Where is Mr. Derrick Burgess of the Bermuda Industrial Union for his workers of that same establishment when most of them have been out of water for weeks? He should have shut down that entire operation, called out every hotel, bus service, construction worker, ferries etc. until they, the workers, have a basic necessity - water. Ottie Simmons, we miss you and we should have chained you inside that Union building until they took you out sideways in a box. Mr. Simmons would have shut down this entire Island, brought every operation to a halt, marched on Parliament, until all of us had water, unionised workers or not.
I looked at the graduation percentages in the paper recently for Berkeley and CedarBridge and it exceeds embarrassment. Why is everyone so quiet? The silence is killing me. Why are the teachers quiet? Two schools full of black children and the teachers are failing to stop a system that is failing their own. Down the tools, chalk, books until the system is revamped to produce productive citizens and not disillusioned, disenfranchised, frustrated black males. Parents of these students, why aren't you questioning the curriculum that is failing your children, where are you in this education process? For many of you - just where are you? Why are our schools empty and our jails full with a 70 percent recidivism rate? To the Government of this country, if I had to choose as a black male between struggling to house and feed my family, living on the beach, in a tent or in my car, paying $3,500-$4,000 per month for rent or going to a Corrections Hotel where I pay nothing, do nothing, use my cell phone, eat, sleep, get high, I would choose the latter too. The comfort at Westgate is enough to make anybody leave home.
I have done no research on this, so this is only a wild guess. There are a handful of white inmates at Westgate, let's say five maximum, out of those five, two were recently incarcerated for what I would consider a major drug importation and I would also consider these two to be what the police are looking for, the “Big Fish” in the drug world in this little Island. Why do we then get pictures in the newspaper of police brutality for these men when black men are beaten all the time at the hands of the police? When black men are caught with drugs there are many who will attest to being beaten to go along with the arrest with Bermuda not holding the monopoly on this procedure as evidenced by the foreign news. For black males that is the norm with no pictures taken, no ‘my-husband-is-innocent' sympathy headlines from wives and family and definitely no court trial with the convicted accused becoming the plaintiff and the lawmakers becoming the accused with charges to answer for upholding the law? Having lawmakers with no power is like a dog with no teeth.
Back to Mr. Liburd, who does he think he is? No correction, Mr. Editor, who did the judicial system think he was - John Gotti? Explain to me how you slice a young mother up like a pig and leave her to die in the street, in broad daylight with no help, no regard for her family and children, sit in jail for two years doing eenie meenie, minie moe for your defence at $62,000 a year with the courts entertaining his indecision with the final outcome being a Queen's Council for which we now have to pay! He should have been assigned a summer law student home on summer vacation. Somebody please tell me this is a joke or a misprint. A more suitable caption Mr. Editor would have been “Messy Liburd gets life sentence and 50 lashes of the cat-o-nine-tail”.
As I type he should be on the top of Club Med, him and a few others scraping and whitewashing the roof of the derelict building so the water that is overrunning that tank can be used by the Government in future droughts.
This letter could go on forever and there will be a continuation on other very important topics. In the interim Mr. Editor, I would like to leave the Government of this country with this thought, the time for excuses is over. Excuses are tools of the incompetent, they build monuments of nothingness. To the Premier, the true measure of a man is not where he stands in times of comfort and convenience but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.
This Government is failing its people, it is hide in plain sight and if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
LYNELLE FURBERT
St. George's
Good-bye Canon Tilson
August 1, 2005
Dear Sir,
To the Bishop:
Well, you did it! I hope you sleep well tonight!
The finest, most loved and respected clergyman we were ever blessed to have on this Island was sent packing tonight (back to his homeland Ireland) because you said Holy Trinity Church needed a change. A change from what - kindness, compassion, loyalty and love of his fellow man - especially his Church family? How can a man of God do such a cruel thing and call himself a Christian? I don't know how you can look yourself in the mirror knowing what a terrible deed you have done.
To renew Canon Tilson's work permit when he only had three more years before retirement was no skin off your back, unless there is more behind this than meets the eye. I would like to know! If there is another side to this story why don't you share it with the people of Bermuda?
Oh, yes, we do need a change - a new Bishop!
WAITING
Smith's Parish