Joining the dots

September 24, 2010

Dear Sir,

It is sad to read but definitely something I thought good to publish in the paper ... The story on "connecting the dots" of all the gang violence happening in Bermuda was needed for many people to read. There are always many (mostly family members of those) that are so quick to claim "my son was not a gang member" when unfortunately they are in serious denial.

I believe that these men are past the point of no return and trying to help them is pretty pointless and waste of the communities time. Instead I believe we need to focus on the kids growing up in these similar conditions... All the men mentioned in the paper started rebelling at a very young age. Why not reach out to all those currently living in Parkside and 42 areas who don't have a choice of moving... Young family? Young kids? Can we not get more programmes in place and personally invite them? The police week is fast approaching with fun events and ways to help bridge the gap and look at our police in a more positive light... I know schools have been invited but what about families in these struggling areas. They clearly need more attention than our private schools.

Instead of fancy trips and government debt based on silly things, I would be much happier as a tax payer 'going into debt' by providing more scholarships and better teaching and facilities on the island for these kids. Educate them in the things that interest them. Reach out to them, don't wait for them to come to you. Today's kids need guidance. They won't come to us, we need to come to them

CRYING FOR A CHANGE

Pembroke

Benefits of being colony

September 22, 2010

Dear Sir,

I would like to thank HMS Manchester for standing by Bermuda to assist us should we have needed it during Hurricane Igor. I would also like to remind Bermudians who think Independence is important to this Island, that if we go independent don't count on anyone coming to our aid!

HMS Manchester came because we are a British colony. If we are independent we will have no immediate assistance from our former mother country, let alone the US or anywhere, because we made our choice to go it alone. I was so glad we had this ship and its crew standing by to help us because Igor could have been worse than it was. I would not like to be like Haiti or other independent Caribbean islands that need help when it comes to earthquakes or hurricanes. In my opinion, we would become dependent on assistance from whomever depending on how bad the hurricane or whatever the natural disaster was and it would all depend on if they had the spare funds or people and ships to help us and how long it would take them to get to us.

Thank God we are a British colony and I hope we stay this way forever! Boo to Independence! If you want independence take a look at the other poor Caribbean islands who desperately wanted Independence and got it. I don't want to live like that ever!

PROUD TO BE A BERMUDIAN WITH TIES TO BRITAIN

Warwick

God and Bermuda

September 23, 2010

Dear Sir,

Charles Lee Finberg wrote: "From the first to the last chapter of Ezekiel, one supreme thought runs throughout, that of the sovereignty and glory of the Lord God. He is sovereign in Israel and in the affairs of the world, though the loud and boisterous claims of men seem to have drowned out this truth. In His sovereign will God has purposed that we should glorify Him in life and witness to the ends of the earth."

I remember a time in the lives of Bermudians when our young men didn't gun down each other in the streets, it was a time when drugs were virtually unheard of, a time when our women and children could walk down our streets without fear of being molested. I also remember that there was a time when the people of this Island worshiped the true and living God, it was a time that the people of Bermuda knew that the Lord, He was God.

The book of Ezekiel is full of things God did, the main theme being: "He is the Lord. I believe Igor was a sign to the people of Bermuda, he was one of the biggest and baddest hurricanes recorded in history, he would have licked this 21-square mile Island for a reported 36 hours, but the prayers of the Saints were not only heard, but answered, and Igor was broken down from a category four or three to a category one, and as a result Bermuda did not suffer.

Bermuda! The time has come. Remember the Lord our God, you have taken Him out of our school system and out of the hearts and minds of our young people, put him back. The Lord our God has an abundance of grace and peace that he wishes to pour out on this island that that we might be a blessed people, with peace and hope, these blessings will only come when we remember that Jesus the Christ, is Lord.

VANCE A. LAMBERT

Southampton

Landlord did us proud

September 23, 2010

Dear Sir,

Following Igor and the impact it had on the Island, I just had to write and tell you about my experience that has left me very thankful to have such a wonderful landlord.

I am a visitor working in this country (for the past 10 years now) and have resided at a few residences since being here (six actually). I have also experienced in each of these properties power outages due to storm damage etc. Quite often the landlord of our previous properties have had the good fortune to own a generator and have been able to hook up their power as soon as the mains power goes off.

Hurricane Igor was a first for both my husband and I. Prior to Igor hitting, we attempted to clear the area surrounding our house which included a temporary shed, potted plans, a patio set and two large wood garden chairs. Our landlord immediately took over, he put everything (I mean everything including the shed, chairs and plants) on the back of a truck and took it away so that it could be safely stored during the hurricane. Then he handed us a long extension cord, a spare light, two big buckets which he told us to fill with water and keep by our toilets should we need to flush them, then promptly boarded up our big picture window so that no damage would occur. (I know this would normally be standard in order to protect his property).

As with a lot of islanders, we lost power on Sunday evening and our landlord promptly hooked us up to his generator so that we could keep our fridge/freezer going so as not to spoil what was inside them. He also made sure that his generator kept our water supply flowing. We were very lucky (luckier than most I am sure) in that we survived through this power cut without feeling the effects – rotten food, no water to wash etc.

After Igor passed, the landlord was back out again, cleaning all the shutters, cleaning the roof of both his and our property and clearing all the debris around the property. On the Tuesday when we returned from work, there was all our garden furniture replaced exactly where it was prior to the hurricane (and not just dumped in the corner) plus, he had put our shed together again and placed it exactly where it was prior to the storm.

Having lived in a few properties prior to our current residence I was totally floored by the reaction of our landlord (and his wife of course as she was also keeping things running while he was working flat out). We have never experienced this type of service from any previous landlord, having previously been left to fend for ourselves from start to finish of any storm or power outage. I know that not all property owners on the Island have the capacity to do what he did for us but I really have to publicly thank him for everything that he did for us and all the help he gave to us during the storm.

I don't want to mention his name, but hopefully he will recognise just who he is from this letter and the description of just what he did for us (in case he hasn't figured out that this is about him, he lives in Smith's and his initials are ML). He has a family, (wife, three children, a dog, two cats) and a full time job. I want our landlord to know that we really did appreciate everything he did for us and that he is a shining example of all things good about Bermuda. When it comes to the crunch and it is time to move on he will get the best reference a landlord could ask for and then I can publicly name him – until then he is our best kept secret!

LUCKY TENANT

Smith's

Disappointed by service

September 23,2010.

Dear Sir,

I was interested to read the letter in to-day's Gazette by '"Frequently Disappointed, Frequent Diner". I certainly agree with all his comments regarding the standard of food and service in many of Bermuda's overpriced restaurants. Unfortunately, when we dine out, we have to pay for it ourselves, as we are not fortunate enough to be able to bill it to a company. That is a problem here as the restaurants are used to charging high prices, because of companies paying for business lunches and dinners.

A few months ago, we went to try out a relatively new restaurant that undoubtedly has the best view on the Island from its terrace. It was a beautiful evening and the setting was perfect. However we had a terrible meal. I had the ''special'' fish, which had no price listed. I received a small piece of fish sitting on a bed of seaweed and spoiled by a very spicy topping. The vegetables were a few pieces of dried out onion and a sliver of carrot. My husband was served a portion of lasagna that one might serve to a very young child. The small glass of wine was $11.75. The desserts were very small and overpriced. We do not have big appetites, but this is the first time I ever had to go home and cook a meal afterwards. Our bill was high with 18% grats added. All the waiters were foreign and difficult to understand.

I tried to contact the manager/owner several times, but with no success, so I finally sent him an e-mail. His reply was very unsatisfactory. I cannot recommend this restaurant to friends or visitors and we certainly won't return.

DISSATISFIED BERMUDIAN

St. George's

Air monitoring not right

September 16, 2010

Dear Sir,

How disingenuous of Belco. To calculate how much of the Pembroke Basin air pollution is actually the result of vehicle emissions, they have placed vehicle emission capture apparatus within a couple of feet and in some cases in line with vehicle exhaust pipes on one of the busiest roundabout junctions in Bermuda, where frequent stops and starts indeed produce more emissions than general driving.

These low level air monitors could also include emissions from Belco's own stacks if the wind is in the right direction. Belco's generating plant air monitors are not set up at an equal distance from the top of the exhaust stacks and some are hundreds of yards away. Hardly comparing apples with apples, but that is nothing new for those who pollute and wish to present damaging data in a more favourable light. Will they share all of the raw data from the roundabout emissions with the public? I doubt it.

Belco could say that they will weight the data to accommodate the fact that the vehicle emissions are captured within feet of the point of discharge but that would not serve their purpose, which I suspect is to minimise the apparent impact of their own pollution. We need Belco's diesel generators at the moment and are thankful for them, but I hope they are not trying to hoodwink our somewhat gullible politicians into approving an expansion of fossil fuel generators. Now is the time to advance the alternative energy options that are commercially available. Belco may make less money for some years but in time Bermuda will be a better place and the residents of Pembroke, who have fought Belco's expansion plans for years and complain daily about the stench, noise and vibration from Belco's operations, will live more healthy lives.

FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Pembroke