Credit where dueJanuary 19, 2011Dear Sir,An editorial comment in this newspaper on January 13 (“Giving praise where it's due”) rather generously declared that Senator Kim Wilson (of the Wilsongate parking ticket affair) deserved “credit” for eventually paying her $50 parking penalty fine. That credit, in my opinion, was misplaced. It was members of the general public who alerted The Royal Gazette in the first place to the parking ticket pasted on to Sen Wilson's illegally parked government car by the Cathedral on Wednesday, January 5. It was the general public who, by a 90 percent majority polled by The Royal Gazette expressed their view that Sen Wilson was wrong in believing that she didn't need to pay the fine because, by custom, it would somehow be “sorted out” (ie., not need to be paid).The real credit for exposing the Wilsongate affair was the general public the people of Bermuda and The Royal Gazette for following up on it. The only reason Sen Wilson was brought to book was the people's alertness to and confirmation of her peccadillo. She would clearly not otherwise have been inclined to pay a fine for what she clearly did not recognise as an illegal act (and this, need I remind anyone, from a former Attorney General, the supreme legal adviser to the government of the day). If Sen Wilson deserved credit for eventually paying the fine, it was only because the public (and this newspaper) advised her that she was legally obliged to do so, and that any perceived “custom” for government ministers to be exempt from paying such fines was, in fact, wrong.This little matter reminded me of the “justification” that the ex-premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI), Michael Misick, claimed in his testimony to the Commission of Inquiry there in 2009 about possible corruption and dishonesty in government. Misick regularly countered the questions and arguments put to him by the Commission's senior counsel, Alex Milne, by saying, in effect, that financial contributions to him and others in government, which he claimed he could use at his discretion, were based on “the island culture” of not requiring to be accountable for such (and other similar) activities. Misick was claiming, in effect, that many of the activities for which he was then being questioned by the Commission were justifiable by custom rather than by law. The Commission, which was set up because the people of TCI demanded such an investigation, very publicly exposed his misapprehensions about the subordination of the law of the land to the force of “custom.”I don't conflate the slightness of the Wilsongate affair with the enormity of the TCI Commission of Inquiry's extremely serious investigations (which, by the way, did find very substantial grounds for further investigation into government corruption and dishonesty there, which is now underway). I merely point out that a former Attorney General of the Government of Bermuda, now a Cabinet Minister, committed an admittedly minor act of illegality in the belief that “custom” prevailed over law, and that it was the people (and this newspaper) who brought that to our attention and to her admission of being in the wrong. Credit, indeed, where it is due.GRAHAM FAIELLALondon, UKIndignant on streetsJanuary 18, 2011Dear Sir,Heidi Cowen, who was concerned about homeless people, would do well to consider her point. It may be that she wishes the indigent to stay out of sight (the Marie Antionette view of the world) so as not to offend her and tourists. Perhaps a jail just for the homeless would work?It may be that she wishes that Bermuda would provide a more equitable income distribution, such that there were fewer (or no) indigent living on the streets of Hamilton.She, and Bermuda and Bermudians, need to consider the options. Repress those who aren't in the mainstream of the one percent-ers. Provide both education and employment such that income is more evenly distributed. Yes, there will be fewer mansions, but there will be fewer indigent urinating in the streets. It's a balance.It may be that she wishes that Bermuda were some sort of mid-Atlantic Disneyland, where all residents are provided with adorable regional outfits to show off to tourists visiting their adorable regional abodes.Yes, I have visited. And yes I was aware of the huge gap in wealth in Bermuda before I left for your Island. Islands, being insular, small, and easily controlled by powerful interests (whether the state or corporations or their symbiosis) tend to have highly skewed wealth distributions. The indigent on the streets is to be expected. Which is not to assert that it should be so.ROBERT YOUNGConnecticutDrugs and dollarsJanuary 18, 2011Dear Sir,My letter today I'll entitle: “If crimes didn't pay then who got the monies?”Here is why and what I meant when I'd suggested taking the dollar value out of the drug trades … It has only been since the early 1900s that there have been laws making possession of narcotics a criminal offence.I feel if the Laws were to be changed then all them “Wannabes” will have no other choice but to find an alternative way of earning a living Just imagine how many different types of criminal activities will cease if the dollar value was ever to be taken out of the “trade”?RAYMOND RAYSt. George'sLosing our wayJanuary 18, 2011Dear Sir,As a Bermudian living abroad, I have the luxury to have very open dialogue with friends and family back home. This does not appear to be the case for people living on the Island as comments are couched and said in fear of reprisals for any complaints or voicing a negative opinion against authority. When you have people not willing to express their freedom of speech because of fear, then there is a significant cause for concern among society. What has happened to our Island, and where is this all heading?This condition has gradually pervaded society in Bermuda over the last little while, and it appears to be driven by political and bureaucratic motivations to the detriment of free speech and rights to a safe and secure life. When citizens are worried about the consequences that could occur based on a legitimate complaint then the concept of freedom has been removed. A few examples show this concern.A) Some relatives visited us over the holidays and enjoyed a wonderful time. A day before they were heading home to Bermuda, they worked themselves into a frenzy, and broke down crying because they did not have all their receipts from their Christmas gifts and were scared that these would be confiscated by Customs when they returned home.What has happened to our friendly Island when people no longer trust Public Officials and are literally scared of the unwarranted power these people impose on them? When has Customs become the uber-police in exercising their duties to the point of threats, random acts of discretionary authority, and literally scaring the general populous?B) Friends on the Island are trying to build their dream home after many years of saving and making sacrifices. Their experience with Planning has been demoralising, frustrating and downright scary. Their submission has been bouncing around for almost a year with no resolution. The reasons for the delays offered by Planning appear to be autocratic, pedantic and petulant of nature. My friends were so frustrated the wife broke down in tears and wanted to forget building their dream house, as expressed in her words: “We can't fight them, they dictate the rules and if we raise a stink they will delay our approvals forever. We continue to pay the additional costs to justify our application although that is not within our budget.”What has given a department so much unwarranted power that they can hold the development community to ransom? Planning's role should be as a watchdog to ensure quality development resulting in projects that enhance the life, health and safety of the general public. They have assumed a more encompassing role, dictating processes and solutions without any regard to the owner's budget, time frame or needs, while not assuming any liability for this power. Contractors are waiting idle for projects to be approved yet Planning does not see the essential need to fast track works to stimulate activity and get both employment and resources flowing in a stagnant economy.C) When a relative recently returned to Bermuda after a few years' absence, she wished to walk around in the areas she grew up in. She was informed by her grandchildren: “Granny, you can't walk there because you may get shot.” The horror of this accusation and the imposed restriction brought this elderly lady to tears. Lamenting what has happened to her Island, where guns are rampant, major crime and drugs are out of control, and no one is safe even in their own neighbourhood, this grandmother was visibly distraught.The best times I spent in Bermuda were in the late 60s and 70s and were full of wonderful memories. These were times when Bermuda maintained a sense of tranquility, solitude, and happiness, and people were friendly, outgoing and willing to help each other. The current state of affairs shows a level of hustle and bustle that is almost at a frenzy, people are stressed out and no one trusts anyone. This has been a radical departure from the old days. Joni Mitchell's song “Big Yellow Taxi” sums up Bermuda's dilemma with the line: “they paved paradise and put up a parking lot”.D) Imagine the disappointment for a recent high school graduate, who was full of hope and brimming with optimism when applying for his first full time job. After failing a simple aptitude test, he broke down in tears, expressing frustration and disappointment. He had fulfilled all the requirements in achieving a high school diploma and was given the understanding he had attained a certain level of learning with his newly minted GED. This teenager found out this was not true, and realised the system failed him in terms of providing a quality education. The curriculum had been watered down to ensure higher graduation rates, but in doing so it diluted the opportunity for developing the necessary skills and educational standards he required to compete in the work force.E) A son of our friends was accosted by a group of young thugs and robbed at knife point at no provocation by him, but simply as an apparent random act of violence. He was distraught and between tears revealed why he was reluctant to prosecute or even file a report with the police. He stated that “the police wouldn't do anything as they are lazy and don't care about kids”. He also expressed a grave worry about being beaten up by the associates of the perpetrators if this ever went to trial.What kind of society have we created where our youth have no faith in our police force or the court systems? Where is this leading to: anarchy in the streets where crime willfully preys on the innocent without recourse; or a vigilantly force that exercises a law unto themselves?These tears of frustration show that Bermuda society is in a grave position that needs immediate attention. Although these examples are isolated instances, they show that this situation of frustration, lack of trust for authority, fear of reprisals, and a general failure in the social fabric is pervasive across all sectors of life in Bermuda. How do we expect to meet the daunting challenges of life and the changing world we live in if we cannot even be comfortable living our daily lives?People look to authority figures for guidance, leadership and a reference for moral and ethical behaviour. If this has been eroded through improper use of power or inappropriate actions of people in those positions, it has a spiral effect on society as the general populace starts to adjust and accept the new standards that are being set. A massive education programme is required along with an overhaul, or removal of those offending officials as the only recourse to get the situation rectified.Bermuda has enjoyed tremendous success over time. The people have benefited greatly and have attained one of the highest standards of living in the world. Times have changed and the ability to live in bucolic isolation away from the world no longer exists. Decisions elsewhere in the world have ramifications on everyone, including Bermuda.Being heavily reliant upon a single industry, such as offshore companies, is dangerous. A change in political decision making (ie the US changing the tax laws governing offshore companies), or a negative local trend (ie increased cost of services or reduced faith in the stability of the business environment) can stop the offshore industry in its tracks.To avoid these concerns and start to take control of the initiatives to ensure the long term health and well being of Bermuda, we need to begin with an internal examination of ourselves. We need to turn our tears of frustration into smiles of satisfaction that can only be achieved through a willingness to recognize our shortfalls and put forward the effort to change our current dilemma. If not, Bermuda can become a casualty of world conditions, and the efforts exercised by the people of Bermuda over the last couple of hundred years to build it up to a position of envy by many outsiders will quickly unravel.As a final note, unfortunately, I too am scared of repercussions by being outspoken against certain groups. I worry that should my name be made public, efforts in the future by myself, family or friends in dealing with the various authorities will come with severe consequences. Therefore I unfortunately sign off with an alias, like so many other Bermudians have done, which is not right.CONCERNED BERMUDIAN ABROADCanadaEconomic fixesJanuary 19, 2011Dear Sir,I usually write in an anonymous form but this time I feel that its my right to say what I think about what's going and not going on with the economy from a simplistic view mainly about International Business and how I see it relating to our economy. It also saddens me that I am leaving my Island in order to make things work for me and my family.Right now Bermuda is going through and will continue to go through some very strenuous times and I'm still puzzled as to why this Government is still doing nothing to attract International Business back to the Island. If I have this completely backwards, which I don't think I do, it doesn't make sense.1. Today we have over 500,000 sq ft of empty office space and more still being built …2. Today we have more landlords with empty properties3. Today we have less Payroll Tax and Social Insurance being paid to Government4. Today we have less money being spent in local businesses, plus a multitude of other money issues going on not to mention government projects dirty word that!Why hasn't the Government tried to attract International Business back by offering breaks on tax and permits permits being another dirty word!If we lower company taxes for new business for a five- to seven-year term, this would encourage what's remaining to stay and attract new International Business's back to the island this is what else I see:1. More office space being rented instead of being empty2. More Payroll tax and Social Insurance to Government maybe less than normal but better than what they are getting now3. More landlords' properties being occupied4. More money being spent in local businesses.This is not the fix but it would be a great direction in which to go in what else are we looking at doing? There is no other wave out there for Bermuda to ride and jobs are not safe if this economy keeps going down the path that it's going.JOHN STRAWDevonshire