Share Bermuda?s beauty

March 11, 2006

Dear Sir,

I would like to respond to the comments of Maria Smith in her letter ?Beach is private?.

I can understand that the property above the high water mark is privately owned. I can also understand the concern that trash can accumulate on the site if it is not properly disposed of. I do not believe, however, that people should have to ask for permission to access a public beach. The beach is public and should therefore be available to all members of the community, rather than having those who own the land surrounding the beach controlling the access rights.

Situations like this always call for compromise and cooperation. Regarding this situation, I think Bermuda should adopt laws similar to that of the country of Barbados. Access to the beach should be the right of every Bermudian, as is the situation in Barbados for Barbadians. In addition, many of the seafront properties must provide a public right of way across their land to the ocean. To provide compromise, I feel that those who access the beach should not cause any harm or damage to the property they use to access the beach. They should also keep the beach clean so that they can continue to enjoy the serenity of the environment in the future.

To tell people they must ask for permission to access something that is rightfully theirs is an obstruction. I hope the owners of the land didn?t purchase that property under the assumption that they could restrict access to the beach (which essentially makes it a private beach). Let?s not be greedy and share the beauty that Bermuda has been blessed with. Beaches are for everyone so let?s provide unrestricted access for all.

SERGIO

Warwick

Confusion over beach

March 11, 2006

Dear Sir,

I?m confused. First, Works and Engineering Minister Burch says that Gibbets Beach (aka Police Beach) is a public beach and he will make sure everyone is aware and to use it. I call the Parks Department to see who is responsible for cleaning this public beach and I am informed that the beach is private and that the owners are responsible for cleaning up the mess.

So I call Works and Engineering to get clarification about Police Beach and I?m informed that the beach is public and that W&E has gone to great lengths to survey the property. I explain what I heard from the Parks Department and they stated that they are wrong.

The Saturday, March 10 Royal Gazette contained a letter from a person familiar with the beach that said it was a private beach and while I respect her knowledge about Police Beach, I think that the incumbent Government official should bring clarity to this situation.

More importantly, the beach is a disgrace and yes, I have picked up my fair share of garbage that has accumulated over the past four months and quite honestly, I see no effort by whoever is responsible to make the beach even reasonably presentable.

We plan to continue using the beach until there is official clarification. Until then will someone at least make an attempt to clean the beach?

A FLATTS RESIDENT

Eye contact important

March 13, 2006

Dear Sir,

I consider it very poor manners when our elected officials fail to remove their sunglasses when being interviewed on TV. I don?t know about any one else but I like to look into the eyes of someone talking to me, that way I think I can spot falsehoods as they occur rather than having to wait for the next day?s newspaper.

ANDREW PINK

Devonshire

Don?t blame victims

March 8, 2006

Dear Sir,

Regarding Jamahl Simmons? comments in today?s Royal Gazette.

Mr. Simmons is absolutely correct in stating that we must name perpetrators for what they are. However, in this case he is talking about predators not paedophiles. I also agree that we must take the issue of men being sexually involved with young girls seriously and stop the ?giggles and laughs?.

What I do take exception to is the belief that girls must be the ones to take responsibility for their own victimisation, that they need ?character development?, ?sex education?, and to ?value themselves?.

What victims need is protection from predators. What victims need is for perpetrators to be held accountable for their behaviour. What victims need is an educated public.

What victims don?t need is a society and culture that continues to blame them.

KATHY HARRIOTT

Southampton

Kindness really counts

March 12, 2006

Dear Sir,

On Saturday March 11, my daughter and I were involved in an altercation with a tree on Middle Road. Miraculously we escaped virtually unharmed. We would like, through the medium of your newspaper, to thank all those who helped.

We don?t know the names of the men who immediately came to reassure us, offer their help and eventually pull us out of our squashed car but we thank them all most sincerely for their kindness.

Despite the fact that we were relatively unscathed, the shock was still tremendous and I really appreciate the people who lent cell phones and listened to my undoubtedly inane babble as we waited for the ambulance. Bermuda people are pretty special!

A special thank you to Canon Francis who was instantly on the scene offering assistance ? and also came to the hospital to see us. All the emergency personnel at the scene were fabulous and we?d especially like to thank Patty and Mr. Tucker, the ambulance crew, who were so very kind to us ? and very entertaining as well!

There?s nothing like joking around to put things back in perspective and laughing was more fun than crying! Thanks to Dr. Dalton at the hospital and the nurse, whose name I never got, for looking after us and stitching us up! Thank goodness it was just a finger each.

It was a scary experience for us both but it was made so much better by the kindness and caring that all these people demonstrated. Thank you very much everyone! May God bless each and every one of you.

LYNN AND ALEX FURTADO

St. George?s

Outrageous racism

March 9, 2006

Dear Sir,

Calvin Smith asks Elizabeth Kitson, to explain his question, ?Why on earth would I try to stir up hatred in today?s Bermuda, when a Government supported almost entirely by people who look like me are in control??

I will help Mrs. Kitson out with an answer. Mr. Smith?s government is deeply divided (as it has always been). This was particularly obvious when the PLP changed horses after lying to us in mid-stream at the last election. It was glaringly obvious just last week during the education debate. Race hatred and its fomentation is the glue that holds Mr. Smith?s party together.

No country (outside Africa) would tolerate in its government the levels of incompetence, corruption, dishonesty and outright lying in the way Bermuda seems to do. This can only be explained by its sole consistent quality: its blatant, venomous racism.

The constant references to ?back to the plantation? are only one small part of the racism inherent in almost every utterance of Mr. Smith?s government. It is vicious, egregious, and above all ignorant. Bermuda had no plantations for us to go back to.

If the UBP had ever behaved with the outrageous racism that characterises the PLP, Bermuda would by now have sunk without a trace. We may well sink yet if we have to carry the burden of Mr. Smith?s racist government much longer.

IN A GLASS DARKLY

City of Hamilton

Talk is not action

March 9, 2006

Dear Sir,

I suppose it has been obvious for a long time and I am just more hopeful than realistic. It seems to me that the PLP government confuses talk with action. Just today we were regaled in your admirable paper with the information that we were to pay $350,000 for an anti-gang plan. Another foreign ?axpert?, this time a ?gang axpert? will talk about gangs to a ?multi-addiction conference?, which will then, presumably, talk some more. He has already spent time talking to Government. All that really seems to be in the works is talk and then more talk.

?P? is a moderately gifted talker ? indeed, words are his profession. Perhaps that is why he thinks paying people to talk about a problem is the same as getting something done about it. Perhaps this is at the bottom of one of the PLP government?s most besetting sins: incompetence. In seven long, painful years almost nothing has been achieved beyond a long series of ?agendas?, ?initiatives? and other euphemisms for all talk, no action. About the only tangible result of all this hot air is the Berkeley and it seems sadly likely that even that colossal boondoggle won?t be very durable.

CUT THE C**P

Warwick

Why BAD is good

March 9, 2006

Dear Sir,

Please allow me space in your newspaper in order to express an opinion concerning a front page story entitled ?Mixed Review for Regiment? which appeared on March 8, 2006. In the article the public was informed that Sir John Vereker had commissioned a review which was to be conducted by the Defence Board. This is comparable to the Police Force conducting an inquiry into allegations of systematic police brutality. It just doesn?t work.

How is it that in the 21st Century this particular institution is allowed to function in such secrecy? How is it that the Government of the present day, which has promised transparency, allows a report as important and relevant on the role of the Regiment which of necessity includes conscription, to be released anonymously? Would it not be better for those responsible for the conclusion reached and they presented to the public via the printed media to be named by that same media. That way they could not only be held accountable but would also have the opportunity to answer questions. As it now stands this report, which not surprisingly supports the outdated and unfair system called conscription, remains nameless.

One is only informed that the Defence board, whoever they are, are actually responsible for its contents. Just a few questions for the interest of the general public. Exactly how many members make up the Defence Board? Who appoints them and what criteria is used to determine whether or not they qualify. Is there any effort made to ensure that at least half of the board have no ulterior motive or personal agenda? How many of the board have a very favourable view of the Bermuda Regiment? From what materials or resources are conclusions drawn? Is there any input from the many thousands of soldiers who have suffered at the hands of this diabolical institution over the last forty years?

Just a few questions for a group which, for all intents and purposes, is obviously both biased and partial in its deliberations. How else do you explain the following ridiculous statement ?Its Strength (that is the regiment?s) is its people, conscription notwithstanding?.

In other words in spite of conscription, or modern day slavery, its people is its strength. What an extremely absurd and contradictory statement. How can their strength be derived from a system which is not only inherently evil but also manifests itself in so many negative ways and in so many different people. After all this particular ?Island Version? can aptly be described as racist, sexist, ageist, and classist. Yet we are told by this nameless board that the Bermuda Regiment should continue with its current role and should also continue to draw most of its recruits via conscription.

That is tantamount to saying that despite the blatant violation of young men?s rights in this supposed democracy lets continue this practice irrespective of how many are hurt in the process.

And trust me there are literally thousands who have been victimised to varying extents over the years whose stories need to be told. So if there is any review called for it is indeed in this area. Find out how many have been stripped to their underwear and then thrown into Bermuda?s version of Abu Gharib. Find out how many have been placed in our local mental institution because they simply could not take the pressure. Find out how many, conscientious objectors in their own right, have spent time at Westgate or the Regimental jail. How many have suffered permanent physical injuries due to regimental duties. How many have been scarred so deeply emotionally that to this day they find it difficult to talk about experiences which took place years ago.

That?s what needs to be reviewed. Not the role of the regiment but the results of this institution which are not what their propaganda machine would like the public to believe. When the truth finally comes out, and by the grace of God it will, conscription will no longer survive in this island. Hopefully this will be in the very near future. Those interested in participating in its dismantling please feel free to become a part of the newly formed coalition Bermudians Against the Draft (BAD) for this is our primary objective. We can be reached at the following numbers.

BAD

292-0155, 332-0155, 799-5509

P.s. One last question for the Review Board. How is it that conscripts are paid less than three dollars an hour in a day when many struggle to make ends meet?

Don?t delude yourself, Cal

March 10, 2006

Dear Sir,

Recently we saw a letter from Calvin Smith begging the question of Mrs. Elizabeth Kitson ?Why on earth would I stir up racial hatred..??. Calvin, comedians have nothing on you. You must seriously be delusional if you do not think that virtually everyone ? and I mean everyone ? in Bermuda fully understands that you and your PLP posse make it your primary objective to stir up racial hatred so that you can maintain the plantation mentality ? or at least try to! Cal, asking stupid questions in print only serves no real point ? we do understand what you and the posse are doing but please be adult enough to admit it.

And while I am up on the horse ... the Renee Webb speech on what?s wrong with Education does two things:

1. It hit the nail on the head ? and she never said that it was ALL the teachers fault, only that they bear a major share of the blame ? and, except for teachers and Mike Charles, I venture to say, the public agrees with her wholeheartedly! and

2.When you take the partisanship out of politics, honesty and intellect jump right out in front !

CLEMENS OF MISSOURI

Southampton

Crombie is hilarious!

March 11, 2006

Dear Sir,

Roger Crombie?s ?How to save money on your phone bills? was absolutely hilarious. I laughed out loud ? too bad I was inside a library, on one of those quiet floors!

AKILAH BECKLES

Queen?s University

Kingston, Ontario