Get control of crime

July 27, 2006

Dear Sir,

I am Bermuda born, living in California.

It saddens me to read how things are changing for the worse, in Bermuda.

When I read the story of the lady from New Jersey, that had her purse snatched while sitting in the restaurant, I don?t blame her for not coming back, just think of how many people she will tell this story to.

Also to read of the sale of guns on the streets in Bermuda. Sooner or later, tourism will be effected, then what will Bermudians do? Bermuda Government needs to get control of this not later, but NOW.....

BERNETTE BLUEFORD

Walnut Creek, California

Tax housing allowances

July 25, 2006

Dear Sir,

Congratulations to ?Call your Parliamentarian? for the excellent letter published July 22 regarding the inflationary impact that housing allowances have on rents and house prices to the detriment of the vast majority of Bermuda?s residents, especially the less well off.

He/she suggests that we should respond by denying ?Good Corporate Citizen? status to the companies that pay these housing allowances. Whilst I do not disagree I have another suggestion. Why not apply payroll tax to the housing allowances at an appropriate rate, such as 100 percent.

This would of course persuade companies to pay the money to employees as salary rather than housing allowance but this is exactly what is required. Put these employees in a position whereby it is in their best interest to resist higher rents just like the rest of us try to do.

OBSERVER

Warwick

Justice for all

July 17, 2006

Dear Sir,

Black people in Bermuda are beginning to sound like the racists who spat on and stoned Dr. King.

Whites have historically run roughshod over the human rights of the Island?s disenfranchised black majority (the Tucker?s Town land grab immediately springs to mind) and have employed the same poisoned rhetoric to argue passionately against first emancipation and later, universal adult suffrage. Fortunately, a critical mass of black people and a few courageous whites (like Dr. Barbara Ball, for example) challenged the rule of the white landed gentry and successfully ushered in an expanded version of democracy. Alas , how quickly do we black folk forget that, not too many moons ago, we were lobbying our Government for the same rights and freedoms that many of us are now seeking to deny the island?s gay and lesbian community.

The issue is not whether we feel that same sex relationships are ?right? in the eyes of God ? indeed, in a secular democracy such a consideration has no place. The question is whether all of the citizens of this little paradise that we call home should enjoy the same rights and protections under the law.

In order to be deemed worthy of protection under the human rights legislation, one need only be born human. Not human and ?straight?; not human and white; not human and able-bodied. Simply being born Homo sapiens is enough to be entitled to such protection.

In closing, let us recall that the rocky road presently being traversed by our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters was once the only road that we knew, and that the same irrational hatred being spewed in their direction also fell on us. Our collective historical memory of the myriad horrors of slavery, colonialism and segregation demands that we exercise much greater compassion and a willingness to act on behalf of those whose very lives are daily threatened by discrimination based upon sexual orientation. Indeed, the pages of history may one day condemn us for our cowardice if we choose to remain silent in the snarling face of this institutionalised bigotry.

Remember: Justice must be made manifest either for all, or not at all.

COLWYN BURCHALL , JR.

Devonshire

C&W has lost its way

July 28, 2006

Dear Sir,

I was almost touched the other day when that Cable & Wireless executive told us about his concern about the state of telecommunications in Bermuda. I know that Bermuda has had for many years one of the most modern and progressive telecommunications infrastructures in the world so I was puzzled about his concern.

Then I remembered the account of the Cable & Wireless annual general meeting that had appeared in your newspaper recently and I began to put things into perspective.

Cable & Wireless has been a failing company for some years and only a few months ago there were reports that the Company was going into bankruptcy. For many years chief executives there treated the Company as a cash cow and not as a communications company where forward planning is a must. The bottom line overshadowed everything else. Their cable fleet was sold off, their jewel, Hong Kong Telephone, was broken up and sold off. Even here in Bermuda they sold off their headquarters building. Their satellite dish points helplessly to heaven! It would be informative if that executive would tell us of the successes, if any, that they have accomplished elsewhere.

So I believe that executive?s concern was really for Cable & Wireless which had lost its way, and not Bermuda, and now needs KeyTech and other successful telecommunications companies to rescue that tired giant.

Be assured if such a purchase was possible at such a ridiculously low price it is probable that KeyTech might go the way of Hong Kong. Cable & Wireless might benefit and survive but I am not so confident about Bermuda. Our main industry is here because of the strong and secure and well tested telecommunications infrastructure. Introducing uncertainty will be dangerous to every one?s well being.

DIEM

Paget

Positive achievements

July 26, 2006

Dear Sir,

On behalf of the Board, Trustees, Staff and 2006 Graduates of the School, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to your newspaper and especially to Jennifer Hind and her staff for the wonderful ?Salute to Graduates? featured in The Royal Gazette on July 17. It is such a positive newsworthy event for your newspaper to honour our young people in this way, particularly those for whom academic achievement has been a harder struggle.

I also would like to thank Jennifer Hind for arranging for a wall poster of the Gazette?s Graduate Tribute for posting on our School Wall of Achievement.

May I also add how heartening it was to read the June article on Overcoming the Challenges of Autism which featured the speech from our graduation ceremony written by our student David Henderson.

I?ve also been most pleased to be contacted by your Tricia Walters for a mature graduate?s story for the upcoming ?Back to School Supplement?. Just today, I was contacted for permission to use three of our graduate photos in the Market Place?s upcoming recognition of their employee graduates.

Your attempts to focus on positive achievements are especially important at this time when Bermuda is facing the devastating news of recent attacks.

SHARON DAWSON

G.E.D. Tutor, Adult Education School

Clean up Bermuda

June 24, 2006

Dear Sir,

I just want to thank Works & Engineering for the wonderful job they did in cleaning up Georges Bay Road, cutting hedges covering the sidewalks across from Southampton Glebe School, and the cleaning up of Bernards Park after Bermuda Day.

I am used to seeing Bermuda in a pristine condition but right now some areas are looking shabby. Pedestrian crossings, stop signs, give way, Road names need some paint. Some road signs are missing. Board Railings along roadside are broken. Come on Bermuda, let?s get it together.

HOPEFUL

Sandys

Wrong priorities

May 29, 2006

Dear Sir,

I am puzzled that the first, so-called accomplishment of the Premier and his group visiting Washington was to press the US for eradication of the stop list that prevents minor offenders from entering the US. When did that become priority number one? Everyone seems to agree this would probably, if ever, take a long time to accomplish.

What is even more puzzling is that while the present Government wants to open passage those who have committed minor offences they push for Independence without the benefit of a national referendum. Succeeding in this will instantaneously guarantee that those 60 percent or so who wish to work abroad, and have no prior offences on their record, the inability to do so without the special provisions in our passport eliminated upon going Independent. For the remainder of us who enjoy the travel and visa benefits conferred on us by our British link I would be very concerned about future travel restrictions imposed by the post 9/11 world.

Were I a young Bermudian I would be very concerned by this and wonder what the future held for myself and future generations.

PRIORITIES PLEASE

Pembroke