February 8, 2002

The following was sent to the The Constituencies Boundary Commission, Court No. 5, Court Street South, Hamilton HM 12

Dear Sir Frank, Dame Lois and Gentlemen:

Thank you for providing the public with a limited opportunity to take part in the important decision you are being asked to make.

In my view the question of the number of constituencies into which the Island should be divided is inappropriate for a technical commission such as yours. It is a political question which should have been thrashed out in the Legislature and through a constitutional convention rather than being thrust upon you. It has been pointed out that a political debate will occur after the Commission has submitted its report to the Legislature - a curiously backward way of going about this very important question.

In my view, therefore, you would have every right, as commissioners, to refuse to act on the question of the number of constituencies. Alternatively you might put before the public several of the choices which are possible - say for 40 constituencies, 35 constituencies, 30 constituencies, 25 constituencies of where they might end up as voters in the different possible layouts. The figures given out so far are not as helpful as maps which give a visual picture in addition to the rather dry statistics. A referendum giving a choice will give a clear indication of the will of the people. It would save you, as Commissioners, from the invidious task of the six of you choosing for 60,000.

Since so far you have given no indication of following this advice, I would like to answer the question directly. There ought to be at least 40 constituencies. Our government is both a national government and a local government at the same time, dealing at one moment with other countries, and at another with local questions like roads, garbage collection and so on. It is because of this that a large number of MPs is helpful when people need to bring something before the Government. It allows for a fairly wide number of persons with various kinds of knowledge and practical experience. It means that there are members of the ruling party who must be taken into consideration by the Cabinet in coming to decisions - this was very important in recent UBP Governments, when the backbenchers made sure that a referendum on Independence was held on a sensible basis so that the result was a conclusive reflection of the opinion of the people.

Thirty-six to forty MPs is also part of our tradition. This is true, as well, about the parish boundaries. Last summer we celebrated Bermudian culture in Washington, and this spring we celebrate it again during the Agricultural Exhibition - another tradition. Traditions are important in keeping alive our own culture as well as assisting in keeping our community stable. To change too much at once can cause an inchoate form of unhappiness which may lead on to trouble. In moving to single-seat constituencies Bermuda is already facing a large change. Perhaps today's workers' demonstration is brought on in part by the boundary meetings. It is stupid to say (with a sneer) that we can dispense with the colonial boundaries, for all of our traditions and culture are part of our colonial past and present, and the parishes are nearly 400 years old.

Patently it might be necessary to make one or two minor changes. Tucker's Town with its few voters should be joined in with Hamilton or Smith's Parish, and the Paget-Warwick inequality will need to be rectified by moving a constituency boundary westward. At the same time the PLP platform called for the Parish Vestries to be revived - an excellent and democratic move. When this is carried out the retention of parish boundaries as far as possible will continue to be important. It is unfortunate that as commissioners you feel your instructions prevent your investigation of other forms of voting. Even the old four-person constituency system can benefit the community by making it easier for a minority group to gain places in the elected parliament... a view expressed by Ms Lani Guinier, the professor who was so assailed by the Republicans in 1993 that President Clinton withdrew his support for her appointment as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.

I remember that when the present constitution was put together its proponents said that it would make Government more efficient. Efficiency in Government is desirable, one might think, but in fact precipitate action can all too often arise from a rapid, emotional and incorrect assessment of the facts, leading to mistaken policies which are damaging.

W.S. ZUILL

Smith's Parish

Respect the Premier

February 9, 2002

Dear Sir,

I was elated when I saw the workers on their march to the house of Parliament on TV on Friday, February 8, 2002, I thought that is what Bermuda needs - the workers to stick together - when one feels that he/she has been mistreated then all must feel mistreated, that shows advancement over the years gone by when the attitude seemed to be “I am all right” so you stand and suffer on your own.

Congratulations, Bermuda workers for truly united we stand and divided we fall.

All of a sudden to my dismay, came that outrageous tirade of blatant disrespect for our Premier who is a true example of the way a lady should carry herself.

I admire the way she withstood all the hostility that was spate at her by the woman who put on a real show the closer the cameras got, I wished for a moment the cameras would go blank and the show would have ended. Not even a dog should have been spoken to in the manner that the Premier was subjected to. I am quite sure that someone in so large a crowd could have said to that woman - please show some respect to the Premier of the Country and calm a little.

Madam Premier, I personally think that you are doing an excellent job and I feel confident that after careful consideration of all the worker's concerns you will address each issue favourably and fairly. Do not get weary in well doing you have done an excellent job over the past few years.

LOIS L. WEEKS

Pembroke West

Libby's generosity

February 18, 2002

Dear Sir,

We take this opportunity to hail a young lady who has touched the hearts of all of us here at the Physical Abuse Centre. She is Miss Libby Brewin, a student at the Bermuda High School. When all that is wrong and vile consumes our world, our eyes are opened by the innocence of a child. Miss Brewin celebrated her 12th Birthday on February 2, and she did it in grand style; she was sympathetic to the cause of the women and children housed at our shelter. In lieu of gifts for her birthday bash, Libby ask her celebrants to donate monetarily to the Physical Abuse Centre on her behalf. We are happy to say that Miss Brewin turned in $315.00 on Monday, February 4, 2002, to benefit our cause.

We would like to ask that she be recognised through this column for her unselfish kindhearted deed. Libby, The Physical Abuse Centre salutes you.

MRS. JUNE AUGUSTUS, J.P.

Chairperson/Fundraiser

Kids are impressionable

February 16, 2002

Dear Sir,

As the writer of the letter signed “Old School Jam”, I would like to clarify and defend my position. I'm sorry to see that the male teacher was offended by what I wrote and had to defend his credentials. However, if he had read my letter in the context of how it as written, he would see that apart from the reference to ponytailed hair, none of my other comments were specifically directed at him. The reason why I mentioned long-haired teachers was to point out how illogical it is to dictate that male students keep their hair short. Obviously, it wasn't me who made the unwritten law of society that says that women can wear long hair but men cannot. However, it is this “law” that the schools base their rules on. So, if a male student comes to school with his hair in a ponytail or cornrowed, he is labelled disruptive and sent packing. This is where the hypocrisy comes in because what is viewed as untidy and rebellish in a young person is viewed as trendy in an adult. Does this make any kind of sense? It's a clear case of “do as I say, not as I do.”

In addition, I did not single out the ponytailed teacher as being not much older than the students as I have no clue as to how old he is. When you have teachers in their early 20's, you can do the maths and figure that the children don't have to be in their twenties, as the teacher suggested, for there to be a small age gap. The reason I'm even mentioning the teachers by age is that teenagers will naturally identify with people closer in age to them. And like it or not, most teens aren't impressed by how much time teachers spend on extra-curricular activities. At that age they are very much into themselves and how their peers view them.

Therefore, they will copy the visible style of whomever they admire most at the time, be it their friends, Janet Jackson or “Miss Doe” the Social Studies teacher! In conclusion, no matter how brilliant or educated one may be, it is still the outside appearance that society judges us on. I think that we have all been guilty of looking at someone and forming an opinion based solely on how they look. Speaking from personal experience as a parent, I've met some teachers and thought “You've got to be kidding!” Remember, first impressions are lasting ones. I say that to reiterate my position that it's my hope that the minority of teachers who see themselves in either of my letters will aim to give our youth an all round example to emulate.

OLD SCHOOL JAM (PART II)

Sandys

Whither recycling?

February 9, 2002

Dear Sir,

Every time I take the magazines and news papers to the garbage bin I wonder how many trees have been chopped down to produce The Royal Gazette and Mid Ocean News and feel guilty for buying them knowing that the paper would not be recycled. Shame on rich Bermuda! In London, England places are provided where you could take the waste paper to be recycled and some localities it was collected by the local council itself. I suppose you will not print this since I have mentioned The Royal Gazette but it's not your fault.

CONCERNED

Paget