Blame the men!

September 8, 2004

Dear Sir,

Women Scorned ? Don?t Blame Us! This letter goes out to some of the women of Bermuda (and you know who you are)! There are some of us out there that need to step up and start finding out what our men are doing behind our backs!

The word on this Island is (and always has been) watch out for Bermudian men. Personally, when I am out with my friends, I could have my choice of at least five married men, and more single men that have girlfriends (?friends?). That is all without even trying!

Usually when this happens, the man tells us women that he is single. So you get to know each other? and sometimes, God help us?. you become interested! You exchange numbers and plan on seeing each other again.

To make a long story short, you go out a few times, you talk on the phone every day and you get a lot closer. Next thing you know, you have some strange woman knocking at your door, coming to your job, etc. calling you every name under the sun, and if the occasion calls for it ? it gets racial! This is all I have to say? blame your men, not us!

I know that this is not always the case, but I am afraid to say that most of the time it is!

Your men are the ones out there misleading other women, sneaking around behind your back and lying to your face. We get introduced to their friends, family, etc. and nobody is going to ?rat? on him, because they are his ?boyz?.

We all need to stand up, wake up and get fed up with some of these men.

Do you wonder why it happens so much on this Island? Because you let it happen!!

Kick them to the kerb and stop blaming the other women for stealing your man. If you cannot keep tabs on his extra-curricular activities and/or keep him happy? that is not our fault!

Also, when you and your man break up, let him go! There is nothing more un-classy, and trashy than making a scene over an old relationship because you feel cheated. Get over it and move on? you won?t look so stupid if you just be a woman and walk away with your chin up.

I am not covering every instance of infidelity in this letter, because I know that there are women out there that seek married men, and that are home-wreckers. I also know women that cheat on their men? the same goes for you! Let?s all have some respect for each other!

MISLED

Paget

Freedom to have affairs?

September 5, 2004

Dear Sir,

I wonder whether the Rev. Sharpton was correctly quoted in Saturday?s The Royal Gazette. He is quoted as saying: ?Those are those that forget when you couldn?t even vote unless you own property here. (I seem to remember that applied to all persons whether they were black, white or green.) When you couldn?t come in hotel like this and have an affair or even spend the night. Negro amnesia.?

For a minister of religion to state that to go to a hotel for the night for an affair is liberty and justice (in effect). The only excuse I can offer for Rev. Sharpton?s remarks is that apart from being a minister of religion, he is a politician!

ANTONY SIESE

Making a dream come true

September 3, 2004

Dear Sir,

I was heartened to see your article in the Young Observer section of toady?s paper entitled ?Young boy?s dream come true?. It was well-written, and I thank you for your interest in this story. I had the pleasure of meeting with the Whitman family while they were here, and my son Jesse enjoyed making a new friend. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who assisted in making Michael?s dream come true.

Thanks to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Grotto Bay Beach Hotel and staff, the musicians, taxi drivers, tour guides, fishing partner, Dolphin Quest, the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo, and most notably, Mrs. June-Ann Furbert who made all the special arrangements.

Duchenne/Becker Muscular Dystrophy is a progressive, degenerative and terminal muscle-wasting disease for which there is no cure.

I also have the pleasure of being acquainted with another Bermudian boy, Jeffrey Medeiros (age 13), who also suffers from the same illness, and I continue to be amazed at the inner strength and joy these boys exhibit! They possess such precious, loving spirits; you cannot help but be touched by their acquaintance. I feel so very blessed to have made new friends in the Whitman family, and look forward to staying in touch with them.

DEBBIE STAMPER

President

Muscular Dystrophy Support Association

mdsupportnorthrock.bm

The destiny of Bermudians

September 5, 2004

Dear Sir,

I would like to take issue with the front page of my newspaper this morning, Saturday September 4. Quote ?Sharpton: Bermuda must control its own destiny.?

The correction I wish to make is this:

?Bermudians must control their own destiny.? Yes indeed ? but we do not all think alike Rev. Sharpton.

DIANA WILLIAMS

Pembroke

Hospital deserves praise

September 3, 2004

Dear Sir,

Frequently, we read in the news of mismanagement, lower standards and less than professional behaviour of the staff of our number one local medical facility, KEMH. Recently I had a surgical operation at the hospital and my experience was quite the reverse.

From the phone call I made to the operator, to the follow-up home call from the nurse, I felt I was something special. The interviews by the surgeon and the anaesthetist, and the explanations by administrators of the operating room and nurses of the procedures to be used, were all given with clarity. I was relieved and reassured by their words, and what I felt was their genuine concern for my well-being.

While I did not understand the elaborate display of equipment on hand, I could see that everyone was familiar with its uses as they put me through various pre-op tests. This too was reassuring.

All of this adds up to, what could have been a most worrisome time, was a comforting experience. Eight days later I am well on the mend.

I am sorry that in my blue haze state I did not remember the names of those who were directly involved, but then it was a team effort. A big thank you to Dr. Elliott and all his helpers at the Hospital.

ALLAN E. DOUGHTY SR.

Paget

What is unethical

Dear Sir,

I looked up the Thesaurus on Microsoft Word for the meaning of the word unethical ? it said unprincipled, immoral, wrong, bad, unscrupulous, dishonourable, disreputable, corrupt, depraved, dishonest, crooked, shady and fraudulent.

Then I looked up the word illegal which is interpreted unlawful, against the law, prohibited, banned, illegitimate, illicit, dishonest and criminal.

Seems to me that they both have the same meaning, i.e. deliberately doing something that is wrong.

So are we practicing double standard here? Mr. Shaun O?Connell of Bermuda College, and one of my former professors, allegedly made remarks that were considered unethical but he was treated as a criminal and fired from his job. So why doesn?t the Premier do the right thing and sack his Cabinet colleagues if they carried out these unethical practices at BHC for their own personal gain.

I am a PLP supporter and I am sure that many other grass root supporters feel very uncomfortable with how the Government is being run under Premier Scott. You have people appointed to jobs for which they don?t even have the basic qualifications ? now that is unethical in my opinion. Mr. Ahad at Bermuda College is a notable example and ironically enough he was the one who got Mr. O?Connell fired. There are jobs.

CONFUSED

Speeding is out of control

September 3, 2004

Dear Sir,

If you drive at 35 kph everybody passes you. If you drive at 40 kph everybody still passes you. If you drive at 50 kph most people pass you. If you drive at 60 kph only the fools pass you, but we have a lot of fools in Bermuda.

As you leave Hamilton, there is a sign at the foot of Lane Hill indicating the speed limit is 35 kph. I have used Harbour Road, Middle Road and South Road without seeing a single sign all the way to Dockyard indicating the speed limit. There are a few signs stating that the speed is monitored by electronic devices, but this system is not in operation.

May I suggest that we place signs on the road indicating the speed limit because the question of sped on our roads is out of control.

Affordable housing needed

September 2, 2004

Dear Sir,

I have a few questions to ask anyone that can give me answers to:

I am a single, hard working mother and I have found myself in the same situation as many other people looking for accommodations. I have had notice to vacate my home in which I have resided for quite a few years but I have inquired into other apartments to rent.

You wait and wait, hoping your application was successful and please don?t call landlords that are male because they would not consider renting you any apartment. What? You will be delinquent in your payments? The other answer is that they want just couples only.

What happen to the promises that where given to most of Bermuda, that once the PLP are elected that the situation will change? All I hear is the squabbling going on between both parties (UBP & PLP) about who are to blame for things that are going wrong, they need to stop acting like children and start fixing the problems. Affordable housing what is that?

A new drink?

I cannot afford to be a first time owner of a piece of property in Bermuda because everyone is out to make that great big almighty dollar. What are we suppose to do, when we find ourselves in these circumstances. I am trying to look at the future, hoping things will improve but I just cannot believe that in my lifetime, I cannot afford to live in Bermuda where I was born and my great-great grandparents were born.

Something has to be done now. Not in the future. We hear the same story every time. That fairy tale is getting to be boring and as long winded as there promises. We need to find places to live now.

CONCERNED MOTHER OF FOUR