January 20, 2004

Dear Sir,

Further to your editorial in today's paper, I think you have fallen into the same trap as the Minister of Transport.

You state: "Dr. Brown was rightly annoyed last week when he was interviewed on the issue. He noted that the Police have been involved in meetings for the last two years as the seatbelt law was drafted and enacted. It boggles the mind that only now are they saying that they cannot enforce it."

Maybe I am looking at the problem too simplistically. It has always been my understanding that the Police should enforce the laws enacted by Parliament.

When laws are drafted, doesn't the Attorney General's Office do the drafting and checking on the viability and correctness of the laws being formulated?

It is always easy to blame someone else for one's own inadequacies. In my humble opinion, it is Government's problem and to the Police Service's. As I said, sir, you, have fallen into the same trap!

Go straight to the top

January 20, 2004

Dear Sir,

This is to the gentleman with CableVision woes: You are going about it the wrong way. You need to write to Mr. Jeremy Elmas and only then will any action be taken.

I know how you feel, but I didn't bother trying to go through the staff employed at CableVision, I expressed my anger on paper, directly to Mr. Elmas and my next billing statement was rectified with no problem. There's no way (unless one allows it) that you are supposed to pay for services that have not been rendered. And that should go for any business or establishment.

Don't kill the goose

January 19, 2004

Dear Sir,

American consumers have relied for years on the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval". Very few know what guarantee this is, but it reassures us. Bermuda's relation to Britain has a similar effect on the international business community. Most people don't know the details of the relationship, or the difference it makes; they are appeased anyway. The new Chief Justice is evidence to them that the guarantee has weight. It doesn't matter for this purpose that the local candidate is an equally good judge. Business wants evidence that Britain exercises a restraining hand: This choice confirms it.

Talk of Independence rises on the Island again. Arguments for it ? black empowerment and dignity, impatience with Britain's alleged meddling, a history of grievance at the hands of white colonials ? never acknowledge the fragility of Bermuda's well-being. Local expressions of confidence suggest that Bermuda is indispensable to international commerce, or merely secure in its niche. Neither is true. Bermuda exploits the current creases and seams in the global business community, creases and seams that are left exploitable because they serve some international interests without roiling others.

Things change. Where would an independent Bermuda look for support if change were adverse?

The answer is the United States. Bermuda would become America's client state from the moment of Independence. America keeps its distance just now, out of respect for Britain. Would it be as tolerant and remote as Britain, were Bermuda to declare independence? The experience of Caribbean and Latin American states, not to mention others, should make one cautious.

Independence would be the wrong solution to a real problem: The alienation focused by differences of race and wealth. Anger would be reduced if business that flourish here were to employ increasing numbers of Bermudians at all levels. That can't happen until Bermuda's public schools, firmly supported by these companies, prepare them better. Opportunities, inclusion, and respect would heal the social breach. Independence would complicate it.

Bermuda is the goose that laid a golden egg. But the goose is not a phoenix. Kill this bird, and it won't likely rise again.

Tired of pigeons

January 16, 2003

Dear Sir,

I live next door to a pigeon-hoarder. First the box was small now it's turned into pigeon condos. It keeps getting bigger and bigger to hold the flying rats, that's what they are. He lets them out every evening. My roof was painted last month and the worker told me about the poop in my gutter.

I've reported him on numerous occasions over the years but nothing seems to faze him. He continues to add on to the condo. He is oblivious to the dangers to his health and his family not to mention his neighbours.

I have two dogs. They are in the house, poop in their own yard no bother to anyone. If I complain to him, he says its because he's black. Believe me if he was white I'd still report him and his flying rats. I've ordered one of these traps and I'm putting it on my roof and I will kill any or all of the pigeons that go in it.

In defence of Pit bulls

January 12, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am specifically responding to the story that appeared in on Thursday, January 8 that stated that people are kidnapping pooches to use as "bait" for Pit bull dogs and that people are putting muzzles on a small dog so that their Pit bulls will win a one sided-contest. This sort of reporting is what causes naive people to think this occurs, so let's try it, thus creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Fabian Minors, a dog warden, agrees with the statements in the paper but I wonder if he has proof that it occurs or was this story just a free advertisement for his dog training course mentioned at the end of the article. I have not seen anyone put before the courts for this.

First, I agree that a very small minority of Pit bull owners do fight their dogs, but it doesn't happen anywhere near as much as the Press makes it seem. The Press sensationalises a story and gives the public the appearance that these organised fights are occurring every day, week or month. This is not the case. I do not condone the fighting of dogs and I certainly don't condone people-aggressive dogs that cannot be controlled, whether they are Pit bulls or Fox Terriers.

If a person wants to "test" (fight) their dog they would never test their dog in any way where they could not determine if their dog is game, meaning, people put their dogs in equal battle so that they can determine if their dog is any good at fighting. They would not put their dog in with a pooch cause a pooch should never beat a Pit bull. They will not muzzle one dog because they would never be able to tell if their dog can take a bit and still fight. This sort of reporting creates a negative impression of pit bulls and Pit bull owners. The vast majority of Pit bull owners do not fight their dogs and the few that do will not test it against a pooch or in a fight where the other dog cannot fight back, unless they read a story like this and believe that it is normal.

Concerning the ban on Pit bulls because they are supposedly so dangerous, that was one of the most foolish pieces of legislation ever enacted on the citizens of Bermuda. There are far more crimes perpetrated on humans via humans so why not ban people that are prone to violence by putting them up in Westgate until the politicians can figure out what to do with them.

There are so many traffic deaths in Bermuda caused by alcohol, I have yet to hear one politician or government official stand up and ban the sale of alcohol so as to protect ten to 20 people that will die every year on our roads as well as those who are injured. I wonder which politician will stand up and ban the sport of boxing in Bermuda ... we are such hypocrites because we would pay money to watch two humans punch the living daylight out of each other but will ban a whole breed of dog because a few people fight them.

Grateful for support

January 12, 2004

Dear Sir,

During the week of World AIDS Day, December 1, 2003, the Bermuda Department of Health, STAR and AVSF joined together to promote AIDS awareness by hosting a number of events which were open to the public. These events included a proclamation ceremony held at Camden and an ecumenical candlelight service held at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity.

I would like to single out a few of the individuals who went the extra mile in providing us with support: Nurse Kimberly Ball of the Department of Health for providing informative HIV/AIDS presentations for radio and other select audiences; Canon Keith Wassall of the Cathedral for allowing us to display the Bermuda AIDS Quilt in a rather unusual manner during the Ecumenical Service; Everest DeCosta of the People's Show for having Nurse Ball and myself as guests; reporters from the local media houses who took care to discuss the issues in a positive manner and without prejudice.

I want to make special mention of the students from the Berkeley Institute HIV Project Team, and their faculty advisors headed by Ms Rachael Smith, who produced the winning entry for the World AIDS Day School Poster Competition. Congratulations on a job well done.

Thanks to the many organisations and individuals who have continued to support the work of the Allan Vincent Smith Foundation in educating the people of Bermuda on HIV/AIDS. It is our continued belief that only through education can people prevent HIV infection, while learning how to care for and support those already living with the virus, thereby encouraging them to be participatory in their own health care and to be productive members of society.

In the coming year, the foundation intends to regenerate the Bermuda AIDS Quilt through a project we call "Panels of Love". We encourage members of the public to consider creating a panel in memory of their loved ones who have passed from HIV infection and AIDS for inclusion in the quilt. Particulars of how to submit a panel are located on our website at www.avsf.bm.

None of what we do in the community would be possible without the tremendous financial assistance we receive from individual and corporate donors. These funds help us to maintain our office, conduct seminars and workshops, and develop programmes that are beneficial to all. Therefore, I would like to also thank the many people, businesses and organisations that continue to support us in this much-needed manner.

I encourage anyone who is interested in the work of the foundation to feel free to contact us by phone or e-mail and express your concerns or suggestions. Of course, your donations are always welcomed.