Praise for committeeJanuary 23, 2011Dear Sir,I appreciate the efforts of the Government, opposition, and public in holding these joint select committee meetings to help solve gun crime. It is very informative and it shows the public that both sides of Government care. It also gives the public a place to openly and freely voice their opinions in a positive manner. I hope that these meetings bear some fruit and help to cease or at least lessen the gun crime that is destroying this once peaceful island.ERON HILLBermuda InstituteStep up, churchesJanuary 24, 2011Dear SirOn Wednesday night, St Paul AME Church in Hamilton is due to hold a forum on the plight of black males and the church’s relevance in this issue. The church could be real relevant if it started to do more things that could help not only the plight of Bermuda’s black males but Bermuda in general. Most of Bermuda’s serious crimes that have been committed over the last two years have been centred in a one mile block area, bordered by Dock Hill in Devonshire, Berkeley Road, HSBC Bermuda on Front St and Corkscrew Hill at Crow Lane. In that one square mile are 33 of Bermuda’s churches. Roughly one quarter of our total number. They claim to have a lot of the solutions. Well as George Bush put it, bring it on, churches.There used to be one church on Glebe Road that went by the name Shekina Worship which is now relocated in Shelly Bay. They used to run an ad that said the church in the hood that could do you some good. That was certainly false advertisement because the crime rate increased the whole time it was there. And I would like to tell Mrs Seaman that I and my family come from the Parsons Road, Glebe Road, St Monica’s Road and the North Shore Road area. And it is no hood and I hope you noticed that I didn’t refer to St Monica’s Road by that other name it sometimes goes by. Come on you pond dogs, respect your neighbourhood and demand that others do the same.There are probably close to 100 derelict homes in this same area. Why don’t the churches try and bring these homes back online instead of trekking all the way to Haitti, Africa and the rest of the world. I thought that charity began at home. I would be one of the first ones to donate my labour for this venture.Within the last five years or so, the Church of England and the little pink church on Court and Church St have built three office buildings in Hamilton. Canon’s Court next to John Swan’s building on Church Street. St Andrew’s Place behind the little pink church and the brand new blue one across from the Ferry Terminal. Why don’t they get in the habit of building some people’s houses because the Lord surely don’t need no more in Bermuda and there is tons of empty office space in Hamilton. The Church of England built some condos next to the pastor’s house in Devonshire and guess who lives in them? Mostly foreigners if not all. A Bermuda church building houses for foreigners. And then they wonder why we are in the state that we are in.The Salvation Army is waiting for government to replace the old homeless shelter down by the TCD. Why don’t the churches pool some of their funds to carry out such a venture? And in the interim why don’t they buy some stackable cots and use their church halls for use by the homeless at night. Like the churches in the US, Canada and the rest of the world. But no, I think they suffer from the NIMBY syndrome. They don’t want the homeless or needy in their backyard or halls. So yes, the churches can be very revelant. But they have to be seen to be doing things. We are not going to pray ourselves out of this one, Bermuda. It is time to talk about some real solutions. The time for just talking ended about ten to 20 years ago. Those are just a few of my solutions.LESLIE JAMES SMITHSandysThanks for sharingJanuary 24, 2011Dear Sir,On behalf of the Lions Clubs of Bermuda and the Management and staff of MarketPlace stores, we would like to publicly thank the community who gave so generously to this worthwhile project, “Share the Christmas Spirit”. The public exceeded our expectations with 455 food hampers. At a time when so many are finding it difficult to make ends meet, our hope is that there was some relief to those that received the hampers during the festive season. I personally want to thank the MarketPlace for being behind this project for 22 years and allowing us to hold our annual tag day in November, for decorating the stores for the collection of non-perishable items, and for the suggestion signs in the stores to assist the customers with ideas.“Thank you”, Scott Carswell, president, Natalie Rego, Latricka Simmons, Albertha Waite and especially Joseph Cheeseman for all of the deliveries. “Thank you”, Roger Pacheco (Pacheco Farms) and his dedicated staff for their donation of fresh vegetables for each hamper.To all of the Pre-Schools, Primary and High Schools that gave donations and the following businesses Athletic Club, BGA, Butterfield & Vallis, Bermuda Bread, Europa Imports, Fidelity Wellington Distributors and Wakefern Food Corp.To our volunteers, Bermuda Housing Corporation, Mr. Lionel Raynor, Mr. Terry Flood our go to taxi driver, Lions, family members and friends who packed and delivered hampers. Lion Debbie and students at MSA for the wrapping of the boxes. Special thanks to Lions Gerry Waldron, Stephen Dean, Cora Woods for their unwavering time spent lifting, sorting and preparing the hampers, Lion Betty and Dave for allowing their phones to be the contact numbers and all who submitted names of those in need, and TS Bermuda Sea Cadets for the use of their building for the month. Our prayer is that God will continue to give you all good health and have a prosperous year.LION DESSIE WALDRONChairwomanShare the Christmas SpiritThanks for the supportJanuary 25, 2011Dear Sir,A heartfelt “Thank You” to all who assisted in any way to make our annual Tag Days held on December 3 and December 4, 2010 such a tremendous success. We would especially like to thank the taggers who made time in their busy schedules to offer our tags to the public, owners/managers who allowed us to tag at their premises, school teachers who organised students to tag and the students cooperating. Through your generosity, we were blessed with a total of $23,013. May you all be blessed during the ensuing year.BETTY HOWESTag Day CoordinatorThe Sunshine LeagueAn appeal for volunteersJanuary 26, 2011Dear Sir,The “Physically Challenged” are different from the Physically Disabled. It was while viewing CITV on January 26 and listening to those who live with their individual “inadequate mobility” (Mr Keith Simmons and Ms Kristina Bean) that I’d been able to see where the consideration of the Government has come into fruition with the re-designing of kerbs as well as the development of buildings etc. to suit those who many people don’t (for one reason or another) consider the day to day challenges that they do often face, and most people take for granted.As an advocate for those less fortunate, (being a survivor of numerous strokes myself), I do view life now from a different perspective. Just knowing how fragile life truly is does make one want to contribute and help find solutions for those we under “normal circumstances” don’t focus upon until it affects someone close to us, or God forbid ourselves.There are numerous groups that meet on a regular basis and do contribute in their own ways, and are most appreciated for the many things you all do; yet there are many more people in our community that can do far more and I appeal to you to please help wherever you may feel a need for all those less fortunate who are “feeling the crunch”. I now would like to thank you all on behalf of those that may receive a little something extra…RAYMOND RAYSt. George’sUBP supporter speaks outJanuary 25, 2011Dear Sir,May I thank the UBP for:Keeping us safe and in a relatively crime free society, keeping us working during past recessions, enabling our public school system to educate our children, encouraging air arrivals to Bermuda and lastly providing a health care system to those who could not afford it. Just basically doing a good job for Bermuda.UBP SUPPORTERWarwick