Just deal with it

May 16, 2003

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to add to John Barritt's call for the Attorney General to apologise to Justice Storr.

It seems to me that this Attorney General has an attitude problem and if there is a just Governor in office, this overdue problem should be dealt with. I wish to add that if the Government needs evidence; I have just the right cold bucket of water to cool this hot madam.

If she will contest the bucket of water, she and the Government may find themselves in front of the World Criminal Court for crimes to humanity. So it is only human to let someone defend himself. That's all I want to do and no one is allowing me to speak. May this serve as a notice to all parties that Mr. Porpiglia will publish the history of the property known as 14 Secretary, St. George's mortgage not due until 2009.

SANTO PORPIGLIA

St. George's

P.s. The surname Porpiglia is written on the First Road of Rome, and my great great was a senator of Rome. She may have touched the wrong bone.

Take warning seriously

May 19, 2003

Dear Sir,

Allow me to once again express MY opinion through your column.

I cannot sit idly by and not write to the people of Bermuda.

I am confused, bewildered, upset a bit angry with what is taking place regarding the "Cuban-bus crisis'.

First of all I would like to say that I have a lot of respect for the current Minister of Transport and, indeed, many of the MPs of the current government. But this Government policy is one that begs rethinking.

Why are we sending right-hand drive buses to a country that 1) is a communist country, 2) is not a friend of our biggest trading partner, the US, 3) is our competitor with respect to tourism and 4) has a very deplorable record when it comes to human rights.

If we are so concerned about helping a less fortunate country than us, why not send the buses and other aid to Haiti or Jamaica for that matter?

When the US Consul General Mr. Denis Coleman speaks we should listen.

When the US Consul General says that "the move could cause problems between the US and Bermuda" I think our Government should really take heed.

I am sure the current Government would not tolerate the same human rights violations in Bermuda that the Cuban people have endured and continue to endure.

Yes, Canada, Britain, and many European countries deal with Cuba but the difference is these countries do not need the US as much as Bermuda does.

Like it, deny it, or hate it, Bermuda needs the United States of America. The US does not need us.

I hope that in the final analysis that if this bus deal goes through and the Bermuda Government is labelled a friend of Fidel Castro and his regime, then I hope that those who brokered the deal will be able to consciously live with the results.

I must confess that I once went to Cuba to try and create a business opportunity at the request of a supplier of mine.

I was there for 10 days and I fell in love with the country and its people.

However, there are constant reminders of the poverty and one cannot help but want to help these kind people.

There are many of our neighbours to the south who would happily accept the kind gesture that is being proposed by the Minister of Transport. And we cannot blame him (the Minister) for trying to be compassionate to the Cuban people.

I urge the Minister to rethink this and I hope that this does not jeopardise the excellent relationship we have with America.

RAMADHIN (RAMMY) SMITH

Corporation doesn't care

May 9, 2003

Dear Sir,

Judging from recent 'Letters to the Editor' and the excellent article by Roger Crombie in today's Mid Ocean News entitled 'Hamilton's parking pain', it would seem the long-suffering public has had enough of the Corporation of Hamilton's dereliction of duty over the decades to provide Hamilton with adequate parking.

It seems futile for the Chamber of Commerce to spend many dollars each year on the 'Buy Bermuda' campaign, when residents can no loner find parking spaces in town. Frankly, it is easier to shop overseas, eliminate the frustration of driving around the block time and again searching for that one hour spot. Just as you get stuck into serious shopping it is time to rush out and search for another parking spot.

Gill Riihiluoma's recent letter highlighted the notorious concrete flower pots/tanks which are known around town as 'Sherratts'. These hideous tanks are standing on concrete island block which are about six feet wide and are decorated with yellow stripes. There are 15 such concrete tanks on 15 concrete islands on Queen Street. One does not have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that valuable parking spaces have been decreased. Into the tanks have been planted struggling trees surrounded by a sea of cigarette butts which are certainly not adding to the beautification of Hamilton. Could the city fathers not have persuaded retail stores to put up hanging baskets or window boxes as are seen in many attractive towns in other countries? Waterloo House and Monty's Restaurant are good examples within our own community. It seems incongruous that Works and Engineering are busy chopping down a flourishing cedar tree of historical value in order to build a sidewalk while the Corporation is busy planting puny trees on top of sidewalks. In today's Mid Ocean article, Roger Crombie rightly says that people don't want to use Bull's Head parking. For most seniors it is too far, women are nervous about it and it is never been acceptable to the vast majority of the public. Spend millions more of taxpayers' money and build another 10 storeys there and people will still not want to go there. People want to park right in town. Right in town so they can shop and support the retailers of Bermuda. Seems the Corporation doesn't care about the retailers nor the shoppers. They have their own specially designated, parking places behind the City Hall for their all day and completely free parking. The public is becoming increasingly aggravated with the decades-old unsolved problem of lack of parking. With the advent of the cruise ships this month local residents are penalised even more with parking spaces taken away on Front Street for taxis, buses and the train. Increased stress on residents does not bode well for our attitudes to the tourism business. So get out of your air-conditioned ivory tower in the City Hall and find a solution please for the taxpayers.

SWEATING IN HAMILTON

A clear waste of money

May 15, 2003

Dear Sir,

In the last few years Clearwater Beach and area has become very popular with leisure activities. I for one have spent a lot of time going to and from Clearwater, it's a great open space for leisure seekers, i.e. walkers, runners and cyclists.

I became very upset to see that Bermuda Land Development Corporation have decided to put an island in the centre of the road, starting at the second roundabout going east towards Clearwater Beach. I have been trying to think for what reason or what purpose it will fill putting an island in the centre of the road - some people say to stop speeding. I don't think so, stop overtaking maybe, but for whatever reason, the only reason I can think of is to keep people employed, poor excuse, first of all it's got to be costing a fortune and second the upkeep to keep it maintained. Clearwater is supposed to be open so let's keep it that way, use the money to create other facilities that the public will benefit from.

Now I am all for having trees and shrubs planted, have them going down the sidewalks on either side of the road, and keep the road open, where it will be safer, instead of worrying whether you are going to hit the island in the middle of the road.

ROBERT HENDERSON

Stamps fit for a Queen

May 17, 2003

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to respond to a Letter to the Editor signed S.R. Kendell and published in today's Royal Gazette.

S.R. Kendell questions the lack of an announcement regarding the issue of a special stamp on June 2 to mark the 50th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. He also questions the $25 value of the stamp and suggests an attempt by Government to ignore the fact that Bermuda is still a British colony and the Queen our Head of State.

The Bermuda Post Office decided to mark the 50th anniversary of the coronation by issuing two stamps and a souvenir sheet with the same stamps on June 2, 2003. Both the stamps and the souvenir sheet will have their own special first day covers.

After that decision was made, Bermuda was informed that a new portrait of the Queen will be released on June 2 and it was suggested that Bermuda join nine other Overseas Territories in issuing a single stamp showing the new portrait. This presented the following problems.

1. Bermuda had already committed to issue both two stamps and a souvenir sheet to mark the 50th anniversary of the coronation.

2. Issuing a single low-value stamp is not economical and there is no current postal need for, say, a $3 stamp which, as a commemorative stamp would only be in circulation for one year.

There is, however, a long-overdue need for an up-to-date Express Mail stamp and it was therefore decided to release the new portrait of the Queen on an Express Mail stamp, which has the added advantage that the stamp can remain in use indefinitely. The 50th anniversary of the coronation stamp and souvenir sheet issue has been made public and posters to that effect are on display in all of Bermuda's post offices. Hopefully there will be some media coverage closer to the date of issue. Because we were only informed of the new portrait recently - and made the decision to issue an Express Mail stamp only a few weeks ago - a special bulletin has been sent to collectors with standing orders for Bermuda stamps.

As to S.R. Kendell's reference to the Silver Jubilee I would like to point out that Bermuda issued three stamps on February 7, 1977 to mark that occasion. Twenty-five years later Bermuda issued four stamps and a souvenir sheet with four stamps to make the Golden Jubilee on February 6, 2002.

When Bermuda issues the 50th anniversary of the coronation stamps and souvenir sheet, as well as the Express Mail stamp on June 2, 2003, it will have issued 16 different stamps and four souvenir sheets commemorating Royal events in less than three years. That has to be a record in itself!

Finally, I would like to assure S.R. Kendell of the following: While Government may occasionally suggest a stamp issue - I am certain that all governments do - the Bermuda Government has never interfered with any stamp issue that has been developed by the Stamp Design Advisory Committee of the Bermuda Post Office.

HORST AUGUSTINOVIC

Chairman

Stamp Design Advisory Committee