December 24, 2003

Dear Sir,

When I was a child, I did childish things. When I became a man, I did away with childish things. I come from a privileged background, with three sisters and four brothers. Having the privilege of being reared from a single family, I had a mother who worked day and night to ensure that her family had the requisite values to survive all turbulent times. My sisters cooked for me, washed for me, ironed for me and even packed my clothes away for me. My brothers beat up, fought for me, taught me and loved me.

At the age of 22, through disagreement, I left the secure family nest to chart my own destiny. I made mistakes, I found that I did not know how to wash clothes, cook, or clean the house. As time evolved, my friends realised that I was becoming a responsible member of society. They accused me of hiring help to assist me in my daily endeavours. As time passed, I became a productive and valued member of my surroundings. I became independent, and interdependent on my world. As time passed, I followed the correct path, taking advantage of opportunities afforded me. I travelled overseas for pleasure, business and further education.

I married while in college and was the proud father of a bouncy baby girl. Following living with the English for four years, successful graduation and preparation for return to Bermuda, I needed to register my daughter. My daughter's passport registration necessitated nationality, I was insistent - over the wishes of English support staff - that my daughter be classified as not English, but Bermudian. I note with interest the Art of Concealment of the Anglo Saxons and the role that Bermudians play in their own destiny. I note with interest the childish things that Bermudians do. I note with distress the continuing immaturity of Bermudians. We come from a privileged background. We come from childish things. I need growth. As time evolves, it is time that I leave the secure nest. Give me my Independence Now!

BARRETT DILL

Sandys Parish

A note of thanks

December 15, 2003

Dear Sir,

The following letter was sent to the Organising Committee of the Christmas Boat Parade, in the care of Steve Thompson and copied to the Royal Gazette.

Dear Steve,

This letter will express my heartfelt thanks for once again organising this Christmas event that all Bermudians delight in viewing in our beautiful harbour. Your committee, its band of volunteers and sponsors deserve our sincere gratitude for all your hard work. I would be grateful if you would pass on these sentiments to all concerned for a job very well done. With best wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Your sincerely,

LAWSON E. MAPP JP

Mayor of Hamilton

New parish talk is trivial

December 17, 2003

Dear Sir,

The UBP's Suzann Roberts-Holshouser's verbose talk about making St. David's a parish is about as boring as her talk about the weather. Here we have the overcrowding of our jails with 95 percent black males in jail. Here we have families sleeping in cars or renting guest houses weekly because they can't afford the sky rocket rents. Here we have a foreign governor suggesting that he should decide who our Chief Justice ought to be. Here we have Gerald Simons' UBP-inspired public education system which as the PLP predicted is a total mess and the only thing Suzann can talk about is trivia like making St. David's another parish. Mr. Editor, God help us all, if the UBP ever get back in power because truly, one would have to be under the weather to endorse such trivial pursuits.

I also write to you in response to William M. Cox ‘s letter to the editor printed Saturday December 13 titled “Advantages of a Colony”. Mr. Cox begins his letter with these words: “When the century-long Spanish monopolistic grip on the settlement and exploitation of the New World began to weaken after the defeat of the Armada in 1588 England began tentatively in the 17 Century to encourage the establishment of colonies at first only where it would not come into confrontation with Spain namely along the Northern part of the North American Eastern Seaboard.” Mr. Editor, I can quite understand Mr. Cox ‘s excitement and enthusiasm for continuing ties with the United Kingdom. He is a proud, white, Anglo-Saxon male. He is rich, educated and trained to think a certain, particular kind of way and therefore naturally believes that an Anglo-Saxon, Eurocentric perspective is more pertinent, if not superior to any other.

The question is, Mr. Editor, is Mr. William M. Cox also capable of understanding that black people who are not brainwashed, scared or frightened into silence and inactive submission, may view Independence from Britain differently. That they may view Independence from Britain symbolically, as the climatic finale of freedom from 400 years of continuous British Anglo-Saxon terrorism, kidnappings, enslavements, lynchings, rapings, murders, global genocide and ultimately as an end to 400 years of racist, tyrannical colonial government and in the specific case of Bermuda, meddling, neocolonial government! Perhaps now Mr. Editor, Mr. William M. Cox can understand my excitement, perhaps now he can understand my enthusiasm and my legitimate reasons for the immediate discontinuing of ties with the UK... now and forever!

DR. AMENEMHET TAMERRY

Pembroke

We do need a lottery

December 20, 2003

Dear Sir,

It is time for us to accept that we do have gambling ranging from betting shops to private clubs to slot machines. I do not support casinos but I see no harm in a well controlled national lottery which does not encourage people to stand in front of a bandit and loose their wages. What we do need is a system to tax gambling for the national benefit and to support such things as sports training and the arts, both of which could use help.

WATCHING

Paget

Check our Consititution

December 26, 2003

Dear Sir,

This is with reference to the article appearing under the heading “Scott slams colonialist UK” on the front page of the December 24 issue. Unfortunately, I believe that our Premier is again putting his spin doctor skills to the test and trying to mislead the populace of this island. For those persons who may be interested, it is section 73(3) of the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968 which governs the appointment of Chief Justices and the section reads as follows: “The Chief Justice shall be a person qualified for appointment under subsection 5 of this section and shall be appointed by the Governor, by instrument under the Public Seal, acting after consultation with the Premier who shall first have consulted the Opposition Leader.”

From what I have gleaned from your newspaper, the procedure established by this section of the Constitution was followed to the letter in that the Governor consulted with the Premier before making an appointment by instrument under the Public Seal. I admit I am not a lawyer but no matter how many times I read section 73(3) of the Constitution can I determine how the Governor is prevented from establishing a consultative committee to advise him regarding potential candidates for the post prior to his consulting with the Premier regarding his (the Governor's) recommended candidate.

And Premier Scott knows full well that there needs to be a clear demarcation between the government and the judiciary (as well as the Public Service, the Police Service, and the Auditor General) in order for these bodies to carry out their functions in an impartial manner no matter which party forms the government of the day. Therefore I can understand full well why “the elected Government of Bermuda had no role to play in establishing the composition of this interview panel and (his) views as Premier were not sought beforehand”.

Regrettably, I believe that Premier Scott's public outcries, press releases and letters to Mr. Rammell regarding this appointment have done nothing to further the partnership between the Bermuda Government, Government House and the UK government and may, if repeated too often, cause a polarisation of views that can only be detrimental to all parties in the long run. As an aside, I cannot help but wonder if Premier Scott would have protested so vehemently regarding the establishment of this panel if they had come out in support of his (the Premier's) candidate.

STEPHEN KENDELL

Smith's Parish