We’re all the sameDecember 7, 2010Dear Sir,A positive song from 2007 was the song: True Colors by Fredro Starr featuring Jill Scott. The music video to this song had a lot of positive messages. If we all breathe the same air, we are all the same. Stop the shooting, stop the violence!PEACEDevonshireThe real reasonNovember 9, 2010Dear Sir,Of course this is not the whole story... but many white men have disliked our ex-Premier Dr. Brown because they could see that he was not afraid of anyone of them!HELENE STEPHENSONWhat’s four nights?November 18, 2010Dear Sir,Now that the World Rugby Classic for 2010 is complete. I must thank the organisers of a job well done. The Classic put a large boost in the much needed Bermuda economy, especially at these hard times when tourism is in bad shape. Mr. Editor, I work at Hamilton Princess and during the Rugby Classic it was the first full two weeks I’ve worked all tourist season. The Classic bought more business to Bermuda than the Grand Slam at Port Royal, etc. I do feel for Mr. Jay Bean of Frog Lane and others in the area but I hope the classic will put the entertainment music tent back to where it has been to the south since coming to Prospect and this will eliminate the music close to homes. The hotel workers made money. Government, clubs, taxis, retail stores, restaurants, the list goes on and on. What’s four nights of rugby out of the whole year. As a resident of Palmetto Road for the last 50 years may be Mr. Jay Bean could file a petition on the loud noises at Devonshire Recreation Club. Every week, bingo twice a week, loud happy hours on Thursdays. At Devonshire Rec along with loud filthy language, loud football games along with loud Gombey drums. So Mr. Editor, we will sign a petition for these matters not bingo so much but the rest, yes. Oh don’t forget the loud “sessions”, violent and unruly patrons on weekends going on to ungodly hours. So I say again, thank you rugby organizers maybe the BFA and other clubs around the Island could take a page out of Rugby Classic.REC VIEW HILLDevonshireP.s. The behaviour of the fans excellent and happy no guns, no drug sales, no fights, etc.Need and greedNovember 19, 2010Dear Sir,I am writing in response to an article in The Royal Gazette’s Tuesday, November 16, 2010 edition regarding the change of policy for recreational fisherman. The article mentioned that as of January 1, 2011 only licensed commercial fishermen will be allowed to own/use drag nets for bait fish and that recreational fisherman will only be allowed cast nets eight feet wide. It appears that the Department of Environment (AG and Fisheries or whatever they call themselves these days) have bowed to the commercial fishermen lobby and determined that recreational fishermen are detrimental to inshore and offshore fish stocks and in particular bait fish. In my opinion drag nets, as are fish pots, should be banned for at least three years in order for the stocks of fry/anchovies,etc to spawn and mature.There have been several occasions where cast net bait fishermen have harvested a school of bait fish for weeks, taking only what was needed for the day only to have a commercial fisherman put a net around and harvest the entire school. It is a proven fact that commercial fishermen will not police themselves and actually work to two premises, need and greed. Recreational fishing is a wonderful way to spend a day. Please allow us to enjoy this activity and invoke policies to better police commercial fishermen.A CONCERNED RECREATIONALThank you to everyoneDecember 3, 2010Dear Sir,In the hopes that your readers will be informed, the following occurred. On March 27, 2010, my husband and I were on our way to Jamaica. Unfortunately, during the course of our journey, my husband took sick, due to the kind attention of the American Airline crew on the aircraft, he was able, not only to recover but continued on our journey as previously planned. Mr. Editor, I was so impressed with the kind attention my husband received, I feel obliged to share this experience with you in the hopes, that your readers will be informed. The following occurred. My husband and I left Bermuda, March 27, 2010, heading to Jamaica, via Miami. One hour out of Bermuda, my husband took sick, thanks to the stewardess and Dr. Shania Kelly, who was on board, attended to my husbands immediate needs. The flight was full, everyone was so kind, compassionate and considerate, when the pilot, detoured to Virginia for emergency medical attention, where he was admitted for four days, before being allowed to continue his journey. The pilot was so courteous that he called the hospital and spoke personally with my husband. I want to say, Thank you again, to everyone on board that day. God bless you all.RENNARD & LINDA RUSSELLDevonshireGive the CoH helpDear Sir,Have you heard the complaints concerning Christmas Decorations or lights in the City of Hamilton? My personal feelings aside (I don’t celebrate Christmas in the conventional way), I have a few observations and concerns. Why is it the sole responsibility of the Corporation of Hamilton to entice people into Hamilton to spend? (I am made to understand they’re pinching pennies as it is). Has our culture of enablement been so decisively jarred as to result in this bleating from retailers and their fan base? I went on the web and Googled and what do you think I found? Retailers in cities take the lead in decorating. Friendly competition is the norm amongst store fronts and on the sites I found, local government (or municipality) plays a support role. I don’t buy into the complaint’s I’m hearing.Firstly I drove through Hamilton last night (Thursday) and I thought Front Street looked impressive I think they’re emulating what you’d see in a European city. I gather North East Hamilton has some nice touches as well and I will try and get there to see for myself. Observation people are complaining that there aren’t lots of decorations in Hamilton this year. Complain to the big guys like A.S. Coppers, Brown & Company, The Phoenix Store and The MarketPlace. They are the businesses that should be planning months in advance for spectacular light shows, Christmas markets etc. I’m no fan of the Corporation (they need to clean up the drunks and vagrants to get me on board), but I for one do not hold them responsible for decorating the City. You want your cash register to sing, tune up your store front and put a choir out there every day!B. HENDRIXSouthamptonSenator’s divisive thinkingDecember 19, 2010Dear Sir,I still want to know what Premier Cox was thinking when she appointed LaVerne Furbert to the Senate and now, after Senator Furbert’s recent delusional comments that “Bermuda is in a better position than it used to be”, not to mention her other comment, “When I was young, people had to go outdoors to go to the bathroom. I don’t see that kind of poverty in 2010” I am sure that after reading these earth-shaking comments, Premier Cox in her infinite wisdom sees where she erred, and is now shaking her head. Bermuda does not need leaders with negative, divisive thinking and I personally do not see how Sen Furbert’s mindset can help Bermuda’s problems.In the past, in her defence of the former Premier Dr. Ewart Brown, she has made some very inciting and unbelievable remarks on Everest DeCosta’s talk show and to give an example of her way of thinking, I have included an excerpt which includes two comments taken from a letter I wrote to Rick Richardson regarding favouritism and people being unceremoniously cut off the Everest DeCosta’s show on August 26, 2010 (to date have never received a reply) copied to the Royal Gazette, and published in the Royal Gazette on September 29, 2010. The comments made are not only by herself, but also by another female caller and please note these two women were not cut off the show. Excerpt as follows:“Recently, I heard one caller to his show say something to the effect that the people committing these shootings are directing their anger in the wrong direction and that they should be directing their anger at the perpetrators, (correct me if I am wrong) meaning the white race and some time ago, another caller said that she wouldn’t be surprised if she woke up one morning to find that all of the white people had been slaughtered in their sleep. To the last caller, he only said something like, “Well that’s a pretty strong statement to make!’ To which she replied, “Well Mr. DeCosta, I wouldn’t!” (Senator Furbert’s comment was the last one)Mr. Editor, the above comments made by these two females are dangerous and vicious. They are not constructive; they are destructive and frightening this is like pouring more fuel on a burning house the same time the fire department is trying to put the fire out and we certainly do not need this type of thinking in our Government. What we need, Mr. Editor, are clear heads, not hot heads and if this is a sampling of what we can expect from Sen Furbert, then we are not going to improve our lot one bit- we have taken yet another step backwards. Sen Furbert, like so many Bermudians, needs a reality check. Bermuda is in deep trouble in more ways than one and some ARE scratching where they don’t itch even if Senator Furbert doesn’t realize it.Mr. Editor, how can Sen Furbert say that we are in a “better position”? What better position is she talking about? According to the Chamber of Commerce report, for the year ended 1999/2000 - the total net public debt was $84,692,739 (million) and for the year ended 2009/2010 it was $6,153,913,323 (BILLION) that is a difference of $6,069,220,584 (BILLION) extra in 11 years A better position? Please Ms. Furbert, don’t insult our intelligence!PAT FERGUSONWarwickP.s. I wonder if Senator Furbert’s new post is a payoff for her blind devotion to the former Premier.There are still honest peopleNovember 5, 2010Dear Sir,Who so graciously found my gold bracelet at the Bermuda College bus stop on Saturday, October 30, 2010. I looked at home over and over for the bracelet, no luck, but I kind of remembered putting it in my purse. When I took out the bus pass, it must have fallen out. Thank the Lord that someone so honest like Mrs. Darrell found it and put an ad in The Royal Gazette, when I saw it I said “that’s my bracelet!”. I called her, she asked me questions pertaining the bracelet, which was a gift from my late cousin. I will cherish it always. There are still “honest” people like Mrs. Darrell. I’m so glad it was her who found it. May God bless her and keep her safe. Thank you againMRS. LESLENE DANIELSPagetP.s. Unlike Mr. Tom Smith I was able to receive my bracelet and give Mrs. Darrell a reward which she well deserved.