War is a servant to Peace

November 5, 2004

At this time of Remembrance, I believe that there are lessons to be gotten from the Act of War. Chief amongst these is the fact that War should and must have its place, and that is as a servant to Peace.

And while we cannot forget those souls that sacrificed their lives to achieve this end, oft times in the face of naked aggression, we must remember the efforts by those who, in times past, unselfishly modelled their lives upon and preached the message of Peace.

It is worth remembering also the fact that War diminishes a people.

A true leader, one whose utmost concern is the welfare of his people and those within his borders, knows this and pursues, with all his or her heart, the course of Peace. Notable amongst these adherents are Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Emperor Haile Selassie, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Princess Diana, Bob Marley, all leaders in their own right, and not a few others. All understood it.

Because it is a simple message. One of Peace.

...and Love.

Rent Atlantis to seniors

October 26, 2004

I have an idea to share. Sir John Swan should rent out his apartments ?Atlantis? to all the seniors who can?t afford to live on their own. The widows can pair up and rent an apartment and the widowers can do the same, maybe four in a two-bedroom apartment. If they?re married, two couples can share a two bedroom together.

The apartments already have a nice pool, an exercise room, an elevator, rooms to do crafts or play bingo and games with lovely over city and land views.

They are already in the city close to churches, doctors offices, pharmacies, supermarkets, restaurants and bus/ferry terminals.

The Seniors can live the life with no more stress of big rents because Sir John could charge them $200 - $300 per person per month which can be deducted from their pension and deposited directly into his account.

Of course for this rent there will be no loud music, no night sessions, no wild parties on the premises, no gathering on the sidewalk, no overnight guests and no sleepover pajama parties.

Come on Sir John, talk this over with Louise Jackson, Dr. Grant Gibbons and others and let our seniors prepare to move in on January 2005. What a great way to give back to our Island?s best!

Too late for Social Agenda

October 31, 2004

A Social Agenda? Six years too late, the PLP have had ample time to gather their complaints and to pick them right.

When finally they got their chance and were elected, what has taken them six years to get started on a ?Social Agenda? which to my mind should hardly be a political matter but the social conscience of the whole country, especially a country as wealthy as ours, to basically ?Do the right thing??

A Social Agenda, from where I sit, consists of what is needed to make it viable.

The ?Have Nots? will have more? hardly, unless we can stop the coffers being raided and the perception of a fiefdom halted.

Education must be a top priority, no child should proceed to the next grade without a set standard achieved, special tutoring offered as a must, the standards are far too low at present, and to let a child graduate who cannot write a grammatical letter, or read, let alone comprehend, is a crime that should be placed firmly at the feet of the educational system; for they expose that child to a life of mediocrity if not failure, through no fault of the child?s.

Housing being a basic essential for all, must be made available through the construction company?s and the banks.

The elderly senior citizens should be given a pension in line with the cost of living and after a certain age.

(They) should have a comprehensive health plan and medications should be free or considerably reduced. Not all the elderly in Bermuda may need this help, but if it is needed, it should be available.

The present state of the seniors is extremely serious and for many to have to decide to pay their rent, eat or buy their medications is a national disgrace, for a country as wealthy as Bermuda.

We manage to spend thousands to keep our prisoners in comparative comfort and yet ignore the plight of the seniors who have contributed greatly to making this Island the lovely place it is, the envy of the world.

Crime to be dealt with quickly and a swiftly. A no tolerance policy clearly understood by the law breakers, which is not the case today.

They flaunt every aspect of the law abiding citizens with a certain arrogance that gives one to understand, they don?t care, and they know that they can get away with it.

Accountability, whereby any corruption, theft, and gross mismanagement of the people?s purse, is swiftly acknowledged, brought to justice and prosecuted for all to see.

Economy. Sustain Bermuda?s economic stability and growth, by leaving the off shore companies alone, except to thank them for their contribution to both our economy and our social lives, especially to their response to our friends raising for charity, which has been notoriously generous.

A challenge indeed, one that, if we are united in wanting and even demanding, an honest decent, caring Government, we can together, achieve.

Especially if in our Social Agenda, we make sure we have a referendum enabiling us to choose any of the above.

P.S. There isn?t one thing here that is new or innovative, but it is certainly overdue.

?Racist excuse? infuriates

October 22, 2004

Inciting racial disharmony? Bermuda is one of the few countries that has successfully created racial harmony, a peaceful blending of the races.

The Premier?s remark about ProActive being given the contract for Berkley was disgusting. ?...if the tendering process had not been given to young, yes let?s say it black companies...? The racist excuse got my goat.

Alex Scott, I think you owe the people of this country an apology. Keep your personal bias to yourself. I wonder what the reaction on this Island would have been if the word ?white? had be used.

Dividing us as a nation by colour is just not on bye. Now I feel better.

Dear Sir,

With reference to previous articles in your newspaper concerning Hope Homes, I feel a need to honour the memory of a very dear friend and priest.

I refer to Father Pat Mackan. He was a Catholic priest, who served at St. Anthony?s Church in Warwick and at St. Theresa?s Church in Hamilton.

He should be remembered for all his hard work, dedication and tender love of those physically challenged. Among other things Father Mackan founded Hope Homes in the early 80s.

He will always be remembered by those who experienced his compassion.

Dear Sir,

It must be clear that a class of people from the unions, professions and business, has taken over the PLP.

And there is no one representing our labour force.

Recently the president of the BIU, Mr. Derrick Burgess along with Mr. Clifford Schorer owner of the Sonesta Beach Resort, i.e. the Southampton Beach Resort, stated that they had reached an agreement in September of 2003 on behalf the staff which resulted in them cirumventing our 2000 Employment Act, it appears with the blessing of the PLP.

Sacrificing 70 employees for 200 homes has made these employees victims of political oppression and bigotry.

It appears that no deceit, no treachery is beyond politicians and unions a fiat decision must have been giving.

Cost of a Social Agenda

SENIOR CITIZEN

Paget

A troubling Government

RAYMOND RUSSELL

Pembroke