Drugs in schools

December 10, 2004

Dear Sir,

I just finished reading Stuart Hayward's article in today's Bermuda Sun, on “drug-sniffing dogs in schools” and I found him to be a bit contradicting at times.

To say that the issue is not one of clear right or wrong is sitting on the fence. If we have students bringing drugs to school, how can the issue not be clear? The student who had drugs at Mount Saint Agnes was not the first student to bring drugs to school, and that student will not be the last one.

We live in a completely different society to what was when he and I went to school. We are now dealing with students who have a completely different mindset. I don't ever remember a student bringing a cigarette to school, let alone drugs … and if students are bringing drugs to school, yes, by all means have drug-sniffing dogs doing random searches at schools. Have we forgotten that these are the halls of learning for our leaders of tomorrow, and that they should be drug free? I frankly can't see how you can lose with random searches. I don't see any student bringing drugs to school when he or she does not have a clue when there is going to be a random search. It would be suicidal!

I disagree with Mr. Hayward when he brings in the fear factor of the civil rights movements when dogs were set upon the civil rights activists, or that having drug-sniffing dogs in schools might reawaken too many painful memories with the image of leash-tugging dogs searching among children and their belongings. I think that is a bit dramatic, as these civil rights incidents took place 40 or 50 years ago, and I am sure that 99 percent (or any) of these students are emotionally tied to the civil rights movements or what happened back them.

When I say that we should have drug-sniffing dogs in the schools, I am not talking about a 200-pound snarling, leash-tugging, German Shepherd, like the ones Mr. Hayward was depicting. I am talking about a cute little drug-sniffing dog that I saw on a TV programme some time back about drug-sniffing dogs at Miami Airport, and they were using a very small cute dog. This is the type of dog that they could use in the schools. A cute, friendly little dog that that is non-threatening, and can get the job done. We have joined the rest of the world, and obviously, the rules have changed. We are no longer the “Isle of rest”…we have become the “Isle of unrest!”

I agree with Mr. Hayward when he says that the PLP would do well to be less dogmatic about its position and that we need more flexibility from Government leaders, also, by the PLP adopting a rigidly defensive stance when there is no clearly definable reason, is neither constructive, nor, useful.

As we know, drugs are in every corner of our society, so to eliminate the problem, I say use whatever means necessary, and if it means drug-sniffing dogs, then so be it! After the terrifying issue with Dr. Brockenbrough at the hospital, I would think that any person who has other people's lives in their hands, should be randomly drug tested as you never know who is using drugs.

Mr. Editor, I still wonder why the PLP MPs never consented to a random drug test as the opposition did. If I were a sitting MP, I would take a text in a minute. What was that saying? Lead by example?

PAT FERGUSON

Warwick

Justice - Bermuda style

December 12, 2004

Dear Sir,

After following the case against Antoine Anderson, all I am able to say is: “Is that it?” He was just found guilty of grievous bodily harm. What about attempted murder? I feel he made an attempt on Mr. Trott's life.

Now I'm not saying that Mr. Trott was perfectly innocent in the situations leading up to this horrendous event. And, yes, in my world it was horrendous! But I don't care if he broke into Anderson's house or coughed in Anderson's direction. Anderson should not have acted in the manner in which he did. Last time I checked, that's why we had the law. Mind you, in recent history the law hasn't proven to have had much effect. But still, Anderson should have called the Police and reported the break-in.

Bermudians today have this “take things into my own hands” type of attitude, which is so sad. When did it become socially okay to take vengeance, even if we don't get the type of performance from the Police that we would like? Then, instead of sitting back and complaining, as most Bermudians love to do, we all need to demand better performance. A better Bermuda!

I must say that the one thing about this story that really angered me wasn't the fact that Anderson chopped Mr. Trott with a machete, beat Mr. Trott with a two-by-four, burned plastic bags over both of Mr. Trott's legs, released dogs on Mr. Trott, and wired a battery to Mr. Trott. It's the fact that Anderson's father found no fault in what his son did! I have one question for him. Are you crazy? Your son physically injured another human being and felt no way about it. I would be not only embarrassed to call that man my son, I would also be angry and outraged in how he acted. Don't you realise that your son's actions are a representation on how you raised your son? The fact is your son caused enough harm to Mr. Trott that he had to have several surgeries to save his life.

No wonder why Bermuda's going to the dogs. With parents like this, it's a wonder how Bermuda stayed so civilised. All I can say is this, “Prepare yourself for change, Bermuda.”

K. DESILVA

Paget

Thinking of Bermuda...

December 13, 2004

Dear Sir,

I spent six months in Bermuda during the winter of 2003/2004 helping to repair the hurricane damage on the Fairmont hotels. During that time I learned a great deal about Bermuda, its history and its people.

As I was reading the article in your paper, as I do every Sunday on the Internet, about Bermuda not comparing favourably to Barbados, I found myself getting very irritated.

I found Bermuda and its people to be very friendly, and I cannot recall in the whole six months that I was there of ever having any complaints about the waiters in the restaurants or of having any trouble in any store in your wonderful country.

As I sit here I can look out the window and I see it is snowing again and the temperature is minus 21 Celsius.

All I can think is it would be nice to be in Bermuda right now.

BEN NEUFELD

Winnipeg, Canada

Stamps too similar

December 13, 2004

Dear Sir,

One would think that the person or persons in charge of choosing colour and design of the various denomination of stamps to go on sale at our post offices around the Island would make sure that the colour and design would be vastly different from each other so that there would be no mix-up in distribution. Not so!

Last week I went to the General Post Office to purchase 200 ten cent stamps. When the post office clerk was putting the stamps in the plastic envelope, I asked to see the stamps as they looked like the 35 cent stamps to me. She showed it to me, and the sheet was in fact, a sheet of ten cent stamps. I paid the $20 charge and left.

On Monday, after using one sheet of the ten cent stamps, I then reached for the second sheet, and low and behold, this almost identical sheet of what I first thought was ten cent stamps, was in fact a $1.10 sheet of stamps that was worth $55, when compared to the $5 price for a sheet of ten cent stamps, this is a difference of $50!

This leads to the question. Why would the post office choose to have three denominations of stamps so closely resembling one another that would allow mistakes like this to be so easily made? The stamps in question are the ten cent stamp, the 35 cent stamp, and the $1.10 stamp. They are all pale blue in colour, with the design of fish swimming on them. I examined the stamps, and it almost seems as if they had taken one negative, made prints from that, then turned the negative around, made more prints then put a different denomination on it … I don't know! All I know is that we have too many stamps that look alike and one could easily make a mistake.

I took the $1.10 sheet of stamps back today and pointed out the error, because if the P.O. clerk had to reconcile at the end of the day, she would have been $50 out. But, if that $1.10 ten sheet was included in the batch of ten cent stamps when issued to her, she would not have been out of pocket. I just wonder how many other sheets of $1.10 stamps were sold for ten-cent stamps? Incidentally, I did get a new sheet of ten cent stamps!

PAT FERGUSON

Warwick

‘Very special night'

December 9, 2004

Dear Sir,

We would be remiss if we let another day go by without our giving a huge thanks to all of the groups who participated in the carol singing at Camden on December 4.

These groups, the St. Johns Youth Choir, St. George's Prep, Southampton Inspirational Choir, the Warrenaires, Steve Easton, the Salvation Army Band and Dennis Fox, for so generously donating their time and volunteering their voices toward this very special night of welcoming the holiday season on the steps of Camden.

Additionally, we would like to thank the 600 people who attended and especially the Premier and Mrs. Scott for opening their home to the public. We would also like to thank Michael Robinson at Burrows Lightbourne and Mr. Nanette at J.F. Barritt and Son for donating the refreshments.

We hope to see all of Bermuda, visitors and residents alike back on the steps of Camden next year as we continue this holiday tradition.

Seasons Greeting to all.

TOM BUTTERFIELD

Director of The Masterworks Foundation

Giving praise, thanks

December 7, 2004

Dear Sir,

1 Timothy 6:18-19a: “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves.”

Recently I heard a pastor say that if you want a breakthrough, pray about it, work for it, and when your breakthrough comes, name it and give God the praise. The Matilda Smith Williams Seniors Residence's Tag Day was held on Friday, November 19 and Saturday, November 20, 2004. We wanted a financial breakthrough. We prayed about it, many taggers came out to help, the public responded and as a result we raised approximately $15,200.00.

The Fundraising Committee first gives all praise and thanks to God for this blessing. We are then especially thankful to the public, for generously giving to the Home. To all who supported the Residence by selling tags, we greatly appreciate your assistance and look forward to your help next year.

IANTHIA EVE (Mrs.)

For the Fund Raising Committee