Who is he to play God?

March 20, 2006

Dear Sir,

In response to the statement made by Mr. Charles Jeffers that persons over the age of 55 should not participate in the democratic process of referendum for Independence. With due respect to Mr. Jeffers' opinion, regarding this matter, I strongly disagree.

Persons ... falling in this category, have sacrificed in this Bermuda system, paid their dues and contributed to reach this age bracket. Young people however have not contributed as much, are not articulate and informed on certain issues.

And another thing, who is he to play God regarding who dies first, the young or the older folk. If you look around Mr. Jeffers, the younger folk are dying off faster than the older folk, due to their fast lifestyle, violence and total disregard to society and life, and that is my opinion, Mr. Editor.

Another thought on this subject, maybe the existing Government should consider making it legal and binding regarding age discrimination in the areas of employment, housing etc.

Also maybe they should consider giving those in that age category their pension cheques before they become 65 so they can enjoy life, being as you have already got them in the graveyard.

OVER FIFTY STILL LOOKING NIFTY

City of Hamilton

Our traffic problems

March 28, 2006

Dear Sir,

A question for all your readers: What do stop signs, yellow lines, speed limits, Government cars and traffic police all have in common?

Answer: Nobody seems to know why they exist.

I say that to say this. Our community has a number of important issues that it is currently facing. Of all these issues, our traffic problem should be the easiest one to fix, as it only requires us to slow down and drive and ride responsibility when we use the roads. That is all that we have to do - slow down and drive and ride responsibly. So why are we finding that so hard to do?

Paradoxically, the simplicity of the traffic solution is also its difficulty for it actually requires all of us to work together as one single community. Without the complete and permanent support of the entire community, our traffic problems simply will not go away. As the good old adage goes, if we always do what we always did, we will always be what we always were.

I'll finish as I started.

Question: If we are not collectively smart enough to want to fix our traffic problems, and if we are not ready, willing and able to come to together as a single community to fix them, then what hope is there for the rather more difficult issues of education, housing, racism, Independence, and equality for all?

Answer: what indeed is the answer to this question.

My answer is this. Unless we work together to solve the traffic problem, there is very little future left anyway, and the rest of the problems will simply sink us even further.

HAV TROTT

Hamilton Parish

A wonderful outlook

March 22, 2006

Dear Sir,

I hasten to write in response to today's Letter to the Editor from Phil Cracknell “Sordid political trend” and would just like to say RIGHT ON, PHIL! You have, once again, said it like it is and, in my opinion, this is your finest piece of work.

I know Phil personally, having worked with him and played golf with him (yes, that's right, his disability never even stopped him from playing golf!) and he is a remarkable man and should be an inspiration to us all.

He speaks from personal experience of living and experiencing discrimination first-hand, yet you never hear him moaning about it, blaming or begrudging others more able than himself, nor having any kind of bad attitude or chip on his shoulder. He doesn't live in the past, he gets on with life, making the most of it.

He has a wonderful outlook and personality that makes you enjoy being around him. More of us need to be like him!

DIANA FEARIS

Devonshire

Cut back on spending

March 27, 2006

Dear Sir,

Re: The waste and spend Government.

I want to nominate the present Government for the “Unnecessary Waste and Spend” Award for its latest Budget proposals and its actions over the past few years.

In the Waste category, I would place the following:

1) The Berkeley project, starting out at $68 million and rising to $120 million, excluding the possible $10 million arbitration award and the taxpayer paying all subcontractors bills!

2) The writing off of $49 million by this Government of monies loaned to the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

3) The writing off of $80 million over five years in the Public Service Superannunation Fund. The net investment return over three years to 31 March 2004 was a loss of $47 million! Is this fiscal responsibility?

In the unnecessary ‘Spend' category, I would place the following:

1) The planned Government TV station costing an initial $975,000 and then ongoing running costs of who knows how much?

2) The increase in MPs salaries of $602,000 per annum, increases of 27-79 percent overall. Will the full-time politicians get all the long holidays/breaks of the other MPs or will they get a normal four to six weeks off? I wonder.

3) The opening of a London office costing at least $500,000 and then the running costs thereof.

4) The increase in the number of Government employees over the past seven years resulting in a huge, added expense for the taxpayer.

5) The importation of consultants for every single project. Can't we, Bermudians come up with some home-grown solutions?

6) The trips, trips, trips for everything from meeting to conferences. Are these all necessary?

7) All the new Government cars on the road.

I could go on and on but, by now, you ‘get my drift'.

The middle-class Bermudian taxpayer is paying for the wastage and excess of this present Government. It is time for all Bermudians to hold your elected officials accountable and demand that they cut back on their spending. Demand that they be truthful and conduct the business of Government in a transparent manner.

I am looking forward to the next General Election because I know where my vote will not be going.

BORN BERMUDIAN

Paget

Divide and conquer

March 23, 2006

Dear Sir,

I have delayed writing this letter as I was in shock for about a week, after reading Calvin Smith's question to Elizabeth Kitson asking her to explain his question “Why on earth would I try to stir up hatred in today's Bermuda, when a Government supported almost entirely by people who like me are in control?”

Is he kidding? Does he live on another planet? Does he consider us all total fools? Did he say that comment with a straight face? If it weren't so sad, it would be extremely funny.

Prior to 1998, I really thought the races got on pretty well here in Bermuda (as did all of my friends - black and white). However, since 1998, the PLP Government and their cohorts have consistently tried to cause trouble between the races. Indeed, it is the only way they can stay in power - by constantly trying to divide the races and foment hatred of whites.

The UBP never ever ran this country on the basis of trying to divide the races; indeed, every effort was made (from the 1960s on) to promote racial harmony. No good will ever come out of the type of behaviour from the PLP representatives and-or their cohorts.

Have you ever heard of a Government that is successful, if the ONLY way they could stay in power is to promote hatred and fear? It just won't happen and, unless this Government changes its tune, the Island is doomed.

CAMELOT

Smith's Parish

Seriously understaffed

March 30, 2006

Dear Sir,

I have just returned from a visit to our Transport Control Department. I pick up my ticket and it states the time of my arrival of 9.15 a.m. and it also states the estimated waiting time to be six minutes. I wait with bated breath for my number to be called as I watch the monitor in case I miss the call. After 30 minutes I realise that nothing is happening at TCD other than more and more people are arriving and taking a ticket. There are two ladies at the desks but the people they appear to be serving have not changed since my arrival at 9.15 a.m.

The room is packed with people and waiting outside too. I pull out my cell phone and ask to speak to the Director of Transport - I think the name given was Randolph Brangman - well he is too busy to take my call so I speak with his secretary. I explain that I am one of many people sitting waiting in the outside reception area and work appears to have come to a standstill and I would suggest that Mr. Brangman pop his head out of his office and see what is happening.

She then tells me that some staff are on vacation and they are very busy - she did not seem to understand that there was no one in the reception area desks to be very busy and I was always led to believe that in this day and age an employee has to get approval for holiday dates - and surely all of the employees at TCD were not allowed to take vacation at the same time.

I realise I was going to have to sit and wait until my number appears and it was going to be a long wait. Suddenly Mrs. Kent Smith (who is in a senior position at TCD) appears and manages to get the backlog of people at the information desk moved. Mrs. Kent Smith then asks if anyone with a four number on their ticket who had been there for over an hour to stand up.

The whole reception areas moves, and Mrs. Kent Smith again says - only people who have been here for over an hour. Everyone produces their ticket which clearly indicates what time they arrived at the information desk - TCD shot themselves in the foot with this new number system.

There are signs all over the reception - Pardon our Progress - I had a chuckle, what progress?

The point of my letter is why are the Customs Department getting 60 - I believe that was the number - new members of staff to help at Customs when TCD could surely benefit from a boost to their staff ratio.

So Government, wake up, and realise that the TCD is sadly understaffed and need some help to run an efficient Department. Also please give Mrs. Kent Smith a great big Efficiency Award - she is a wonderful person.

FRUSTRATED TAXPAYER

Smith's Parish

Those Belmont poles

March 20, 2006

Dear Sir,

I think I have a good idea for the poles at Belmont Golf course. For the top of each pole has a medium-sized flag of different countries. It would look great and attractive!

JUST AN IDEA

Devonshire