One wonders

February 2, 2003

Dear Sir,

In The Royal Gazette in February 1986, Mr. Ottiwell Simmons called for a board to investigate the collapse of the Holiday Wholesaler, to track down the $1,235,000.00 from our hotels that was advanced. He complained that Halmar had already promised to repay the cash loaned on their behalf. But the then Premier, Sir John Swan dismissed the plea for a full-scale investigation of the Halmar's bailout.

Mr. Larry Dennis the Government Auditor it appears made no effort to reclaim the money owned to the people of Bermuda. That was advanced interest free to the hotels, which was never signed nor confirmed by the Bermuda Hotel Association. It was stated that the agreements, enforceable in law.

One wonders why no real effort to collect was made as in now happening with the Berkeley Institute Construction Contract.

RAYMOND RUSSELL SR.

Thoughtless slaughter

April 23, 2003

Dear Sir,

I Speak for the Trees!

Dr. Seuss wrote, 'I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.'

But there seems to be no Lorax in the Ministry of Works and engineering these days. The Minister himself seems more like the 'Once-ler' in his willingness to help one landowner while harming the entire neighbourhood of Ord Road.

The Minister demonstrated once again his complete lack of appreciation or understanding for the gravity of his Ministry's actions in removal of culture, heritage and environment by destroying an extraordinary Cedar Tree. The subsequent knock-on effect to the quality of life in this area of Bermuda is profound with the tree's absence. Such actions certainly are not progressive. More like regressive in respect to promoting Bermuda's heritage, culture and beauty.

The landowner should equally be held accountable by the neighbours and neighbourhood for his ignorant shortsighted permission to remove the best cedar tree along the entirety of Ord Road. It has amazed and disappointed me how the ignorance and actions of so few people can decrease the quality and beauty of an entire area, our neighbourhood. This single act of self-interest has affected the quality of life of us all and will only be replaced with more concrete.

This cedar tree was not ordinary; it was spectacular! How many people were cooled by its shade of sheltered beneath its thick canopy of needles? How much history passed beneath or was created around this tree. this tree was the finest specimen on Ord Road and possibly in Bermuda. The Ministry of W&E has helped in creating a poorer community and country, while the landowner has decreased his own property value by having a priceless tree removed and replaced by worthless concrete.

The tree is now gone and what remains in its absence is a stark reminder of what users of Ord Road have sacrificed. Telephone poles and concrete sidewalks have replaced beauty. Where was the creativity to incorporate this tree into the sidewalk plan as other examples on Ord Road can attest. Why was this sidewalk to nowhere necessary? this section of street has been left ugly and will remain ugly. The house behind is now ugly. The neighbourhood is uglier. Removing this tree has harmed everyone. Many people will now remember that tree with sadness where it brought beauty and happiness before.

To those who removed this remnant of the past, of history and beauty, shame on you. You have shamed the residents of Ord Road. You have shamed yourself! What you have thoughtlessly destroyed in a few hours could not be replaced by nature in 100 years, or by W&E ever.

The death by your hand of one of the best ancient specimens has shamed Bermuda's natural heritage and destroyed one of the greatest living parts of the Ord Raod culture, society, and environment. People like you are changing Bermuda for the worse with no understanding of our heritage and respect for the best of Bermuda. Shame on you for the ugliness you have created.

ORD ROAD LORAX

Warwick