Accountability and PLP

October 12, 2005

Dear Sir,

On October 6, 2005 Senator Walter Roban spoke to the Island's Press on behalf of the PLP Government. In his address to the media, Sen. Roban made the following remark: “We repeat our party's commitment to democracy and preserving all institutions that contribute to its growth and prosperity.” I call on the PLP to explain their definition of “democracy”, particularly when it seemingly has aspirations of kerbing the powers of the Auditor General, when it discusses the watering down of the judicial appointment process in their submission to the BIC, when it insinuates that it will curtail the freedom of speech in the Press and when it ignores the will of the people by continuing the Independence debate.

It is becoming ever more clear that (and with the utmost of respect) our distinguished Premier (or “P”) is simply not up to the job of ensuring good governance, accountability and democracy. His failure to hold a Press conference where he could potentially be grilled about his now infamous e-mail, was (again with the utmost of respect) cowardly. I remind “P” that freedom of the Press assists in preserving the institutions that contribute to growth and prosperity, for if it were not for the press would we have known about the BHC scandal, Berkeley's overruns and the Bermuda homes for People “lottery” debacle? Imagine the abuse of public funds that would occur if it were not for the Press. Would we still have institutions that contribute to growth and prosperity? I doubt it.

Continuing partisan diatribes advocating Independence and thinly veiled racist remarks which themselves are divisive do little to contribute to the institutions of growth and prosperity. The PLP expressed their intent in 1998 to be an open and accountable government. They certainly are “open” with their utter contempt for the 69 percent of people who do not share their views on Independence and “open” with their use of remarks that raise the ugly spectre of racism. I recall three such instances in recent times from members of the PLP Cabinet: (1) Ewart Brown's remarks that voting for the UBP would be like voting Bermudians back into the plantations; (2) Renee Webb's remarks that contracts should be given to people who look like us; (3) “P's” e-mail. This is simply unacceptable and should not be tolerated. Sadly no resignations have resulted from these outbursts.

Mr. Editor, accountability does not apparently exist under this administration. Lashing out at the Press is futile and will merely ensure (hopefully) that the Government comes under even closer scrutiny. Perhaps “P” and his Cabinet should go on secondment to the United States or the United Kingdom and shadow politicians in those jurisdictions, where politicians really are held accountable and the Press often hounds elected officials out of office. “P” will very quickly realise that he has it easy in Bermuda since the Bermuda Press is not exactly hard hitting in their questioning.

Finally, how can “P” and Sen. Roban on “P's” behalf demand respect when “P” continuously disrespects the will of the people? “P” should remember that if he wants respect he has to get it the old fashioned way - “YOU EARN IT”.

MICHAEL M. FAHY

Smith's

Missed opportunity

October 26, 2005

Dear Sir,

I had the pleasure of reading a recent letter to the Editor in which the writer related to workers at the Dockyard being sent to the UK for training. I know this is a fact because I met several of the UK brides on their return to Bermuda.

However, just as important, and who has the numbers relating to the countless Bermudians sent to the UK for free education, room and board to become registered nurses by the Department of Health under Dr. Simon Fraser in the 1950s and 1960s. When I went to work for the Health Department in the 1960s I was told that all public schools were given this opportunity. I actually saw files relating to Bermudians afforded this privilege. Being a Mount Saint Agnes student I was not aware of this programme. I understand now, although I never realised it then, that those were the days of segregation and racism in Bermuda.

In late years when working in Canada and the United States I met many West Indian nurses who had been trained under the aegis of the United Kingdom.

UNDERPRIVILEDGED IN PARADISE

Pembroke

Facts and logic ignored

October 18, 2005

Dear Sir ,

In the October 18 issue of The Royal Gazette, CaIvin Smith's article (“Independence fears are derived from ignorance”) ignores many decisional facts and logic.

First, he begins by citing England's desire to avoid losing its independence to Germany in the Second World War. England by itself has 50 million people, excluding Scotland and Northern Ireland. A better comparison would be, “Why doesn't Rhode Island (population 1.5M) seek independence from the US, or any of the other 50 US States? Clearly, all of them have infinitely more resources, economic support and ability to stand alone than does itty-bitty Bermuda. Are 50 US States too “ignorant” to go independent of the US?

Second, Mr. Smith concedes that 66 percent of Bermudians do not want Independence, period, but Mr. Smith can't understand why. Bermudians don't want Independence for a long list of reasons; here are a few: (1) Visa issues: Loss of British citizenship and passports will lead to onerous visa requirements, which are being increased every year if not every month. The undersigned has travelled on Caribbean passports; they do require visas to go everywhere outside the Caribbean, including the US. Who among us wants to get a visa to go virtually everywhere or is prepared to spend days (and sometimes weeks) in NYC to get these visas while standing in long queues and filling out applications, providing bank statements, proof of worldwide medical insurance, showing cash in hand to cover the trip, producing hotel reservations, airline tickets, etc.? (2) Right to live and work in the EU: Loss of British passports also means loss of the right to “live and work in the EU”, a right which many of our young people cherish. Job opportunities, worldwide, are simply more available to those who don't require visas to make routine trips. Mr. Smith may not care, but young Bermudian workers want the option of being able to be hired to work outside Bermuda. (3) Loss of major businesses and jobs: Insurance companies, money managers, etc. have made it clear that some, and possibly many, of them will leave Bermuda. Which Bermudians want to lose their jobs with these companies? Who among us will hire those people? (4) Less new foreign companies will relocate to Bermuda: This means less jobs and revenue in Bermuda. (5) Flight of wealthy local residents: A less stable, more crime prone Island, and with its diminishing number of insurance and similar companies, will inexorably lead to a flight of many wealthy local residents, who contribute countless millions of dollars to Bermuda's service industry and to its retailers. Bermuda's economy will lose foreign dollars. (6) Real estate values will be lowered, especially among the foreign-owned properties, and, with more unemployment here, the value of local homes will decline as well. (7) Bermuda dollar issues: Less big businesses, less jobs and less wealthy foreign residents means less foreign dollars to exchange for Bermuda dollars; the Bermuda dollar will crash, as have the local currencies of its Caribbean brethren (Jamaica's now being 60:1, for example), because Bermuda produces nothing and has nothing to exchange for foreign currencies. (8) Pride is not a reason: 300 million Americans in 50 States are not independent and they have lots of pride. (9) Today, security is the key. Crime is already out of control in Bermuda. With Independence, riots may well again occur, as they did in 1970. Will you be mugged, your home seized, you or your family killed? There will be no Governor or British Parliament to send in the troops to restore order. (Of course the Brits must charge us for such expenses; we pay zero taxes to Britain.) American tourists will be long gone, and the US (which hates our Bermuda tax haven anyway) won't care, mush less help. We'll be on our own. (10) Most of all, the only reason to go Independent is to give Bermuda its own flag and song. Who really cares? Yes, the word “ignorance” belongs next to the word “independent” for any teeny-weeny country that might be so foolish as to go it alone in our violent, terrorist ridden world.

A TWENTY YEAR RESIDENT

Warwick

Passing the buck

November 1, 2005

Dear Sir,

It would now appear that the hotels are the ones who are to blame for the continual decline in tourism over the past 15 or more years. Talk about “passing the buck”, which seems to be the norm with this Government. Admittedly, hotel rates are very high, but you have to get the tourists here first before blaming the hotels.

We all know why tourism has dropped off and at the top of the list is the astronomical airline prices, the hassle of going through airports, and being squeezed into seats where only an infant would be comfortable.

No longer is a tourist safe riding a scooter on our roads, (and that includes residents) with a very good chance of being involved in an accident, or having their belongings stolen. There is very little for them to do, unless they want to spend their time lying on the beaches, which are still in good shape, but they can do that in any number of places in the States.

If you think about it, there are many reasons why we are not attracting visitors, and it is pointless to lay the blame on any one area, it is all over.

During the busy times of the 1950s to the 1980s, the best form of advertising for Bermuda was by “word of mouth” and having worked in one of the busiest hotels during that period, I know that to be a fact. The same probably is true today, but in reverse.

It only needs one unhappy visitor, being hassled at the airport, an unfriendly cab driver and so on, and that “word of mouth” can be heard by hundreds, but we all know this!

SEEING IT AS IT IS

Pembroke

Failing our children

November 7, 2005

Dear Sir,

I have great concern regarding the education system on this Island and the people who are responsible for our children's future.

This Government needs to understand that this is not a dress rehearsal; this is one chance only. We get it wrong and we fail!

We (parents, teachers, MPs and administrators) have been failing our children for too long; it is time to say enough is enough. It has to stop now. We have done wrong to a generation of our children and should be ashamed to have let this continue for so many years, under the leadership of the UBP and PLP. Both these parties have used our children as political pawns and we as parents have allowed this to happen.

Are you happy with the progress your child is making under this education programme?

Do you realise this Government pays more per child than the parents of “private schools” to educate your child?

Do you think your child should receive the same quality and level of education of children in the private system?

Do you think your child should receive the same quality and level of education that the children of MPs receive? (Where do your MPs children go to school?) See above.

Do you think the standard to graduate should be higher than a failure? (1.00 GPA to receive a BSSC/2.00 GPA for Berkeley Certificate)

Do you think when your child graduates from high school they should be able to apply to any university they wish to attend and not just the ones down south? (See where Berkeley are taking their students to look at Colleges and the academic level for entry.) How many students will even achieve this level upon finishing senior school?

Do you think your child should be able to fill out a job application form when they graduate from senior school? (Be advised they pass up from one year to the next even if they fail. Our Government decided they all need to stay in peer groups. So fail and move ahead.) You go to school, you move ahead! You don't go to school, you still move ahead!

Do you think your child deserves to have text books in school to review and to prepare for their lessons? At one time these were handy tools. Books to review and prepare. You are only as good as the tools you are given to work with. No books=no good. I was told text books are too expensive to supply to every student so no one gets them. I offered to purchase my child's books and was told she would have an unfair advantage over her peers! Bear in mind that private school students (your MPs children and your public school teachers children) get text books for each subject even though the cost to educate per year is lower.

Do you think the people in charge of this system today were educated in this manner (no text books/no teachers/ no structure in school life?) Ask your MP (Lister, Butler, Brown, Horton, Scott, Cox, Furbert, Burgess) I can only say that every Member of Parliament and the Board of Governors of the senior school should hang their heads in shame for the chaos they have perpetuated with this education system.

I wonder why this is allowed to continue and why we have no person of a higher power making any noise or taking any action to correct this debacle and why this started under the UBP and continues with the PLP.

I would say this Government is afraid that your educated children will be a financial and career threat to their children. So it is best to keep yours “uneducated” and “stupid” as they and theirs continue to reap the rewards of their private school education at the same time taking your tax dollars to fail your children. ‘They are truly great.'

In conclusion I give our MPs a grade of 1.00 out of 4.00 the same grade which enables your child to graduate from the senior schools. A failing mark on their way to Westgate!

P. HILTILEEN BURCH

City of Hamilton

Making buses better

November 3, 2005

Dear Sir,

It is nice to see the PTB continually updating its fleet of buses, as public transport in Bermuda is really rather good.

It is a shame, however, that the basic design remains the same. Elsewhere, buses are configured with an exit door in the middle so that people can get off at the same time as others are getting on. Maybe the PTB is worried that people will use that door to get on without paying. Maybe the need to pay on buses and ferries should be dropped. Anything that gets more people onto public transportation, reducing the number of private vehicles on the road, should be encouraged.

And how much of the overspend at the new bus terminal was caused by the perceived need to build a ticket office? It would also be nice if all new buses came with an engine that could be switched off without the fear that it may not start again.

That way we would be able to breathe in the new terminal while waiting for our bus, rather than inhaling the fumes of a dozen other buses parked there with their engines running.

ANDREW (NEXT STOP) DOBLE

Hamilton Parish

Consular motorcade

November 2, 2005

Dear Sir,

I was downtown today and before my eyes was a be-flagged and beribboned and highly visible car which I presume belongs to the American Consul unless it was decorated for a Yankee wedding.

I would think in these dangerous times it would be unwise to leave such a car unattended even here in terrorist-free Bermuda, but I guess our consul wants everyone to know he is driving by. Come on, it looks almost as though the Consul is a character in a Graham Greene novel. It is really quite a low profile job. Does he need the decorations?

KEEP IT REAL

City of Hamilton

Perfumery not closed

November 4, 2005

Dear Sir,

In today's paper a visitor from New York was under the impression that The Bermuda Perfumery was closed. I am happy to say that it is not the case. In the fall 2004, the gardens of the perfumery were closed and the business was sold separately to my family. In the spring of this year, we moved the Perfumery to historical Stewart Hall on Queen Street in St. George's.

Unfortunately, most visitors' maps were printed before our move and many people thought the perfumery was out of business. I am proud to say that the Perfumery is doing very well in its new location, that we still make all our perfumes and that we give a free tour of our operations to our visitors. We invite all Bermudians and tourists to visit us at our new and charming location.

KIRBY BRACKSTONE

Owner, The Bermuda Perfumery

St. George's