Dialogue on Independence

November 3, 2004

Rather than reacting negatively to the contents of the recent letter written by the Association of Bermuda International Companies (AIBC) which commented on the issue of Independence for Bermuda and whether such an important issue should be decided by a referendum or the results of a general election, Calvin Smith and others should follow the Premier?s lead and encourage a dialogue on the subject with this important stakeholder in our economy.

Many thousands of Bermudians either work directly in the International Business sector or benefit indirectly from it.

I?m thinking of restaurants, hotels, shops, taxis and other services. Far from ?scare-mongering?, it?s a fact that all the big ?exempted? cpmpanies have offices in multiple jurisdictions such as Cayman, Dublin, the Isle of Man etc. They could move their operations out of Bermuda in a weekend if they felt sufficiently uncomfortable here.

The balance sheets of worldwide ACE, XL etc. are so large that those beautiful new buildings on Pitts Bay Road hardly figure in their accounts! Those buildings will remain, sure, but who would occupy them to pay the generous salaries that so many of us take for granted?

For better or worse, the International sector is the primary engine of our economy at the moment. They rarely get involved in local issues other than through their philanthropy. We had ALL better pay attention to IABC views on Independence.

Bishop abuses authority

November 8, 2004

I am deeply concerned by the sentiments expressed by Bishop Goodwin Smith in the article published on November 5 entitled ?Bishop attacks move to protect gay rights?.

While I accept that Bishop Smith has the right to espouse a chosen religion, it is inappropriate for him, as a former chairman of the Human Rights Commission, to seek to impose his religious beliefs on the rest of the populous. Moreover, it is an abuse of public authority for him to openly state that we should use religious differences to discriminate against others, especially in regard to such fundamental and sensitive areas as housing and employment.

Civil rights are the capstone of democracy. They transcend race, religion, sex, gender and sexuality; they must be balanced one with the other.

Bishop Smith is guilty of scare mongering when he makes assertions that equal rights are an assault on Christianity. Furthermore, his statement that extending equal rights to all Bermudians will result in religious leaders being forced to marry same sex couples is both sensational and uninformed.

Contrary to Bishop Smith?s assertions, Bermuda has a clear history of protecting civil liberties, be they fundamental rights or otherwise, that relate to areas of religious controversy without waging war on religious establishments.

The right to divorce and to remarry following divorce is guaranteed in Bermuda under statute.

The public policy that underpins the legislation is clearly at odds with the tenets of Catholicism. Notwithstanding the conflict between that policy and Church doctrine, the Bermuda Government has never sought to force the local Catholic communion to alter its stance on divorce or marriage following divorce.

A similar position holds true in relation to the right to divorce in Bermuda and Judaism. In Judaism, the husband must agree to the divorce before it can be made final for religious purposes.

If he refuses to agree to the divorce it is wholly possible for the couple to be declared divorced by a civil court but still regarded as married under Jewish law. The Government has never sought to usurp the authority of Rabbinical Law to force a Jewish husband to consent to a ?religious divorce? when a civil divorce is granted.

It should also be remembered that the doctrine of some local Christian churches is clearly at odds with the legislative policy underpinning legislation that grants equal rights to women. Notwithstanding that difference, the Government has never sought to force a Christian denomination to alter its doctrine as it relates to women.

Our society has a clear ability to recognise civil rights and balance those rights one with another. Given our historical success of entrenching civil rights and balancing them with competing and conflicting religious canons, I cannot understand how Bishop Smith came to the conclusion that equal rights pose a threat to Christianity.

Discussions on human rights or civil rights are, by their nature, complex and require great sensitivity and an understanding of the world that exists outside our families, religious bodies, places of work and so on.

No discussion of these rights will be productive, and democracy in Bermuda will not be served, if individuals whose responsibility it has been to promote the understanding of fundamental rights and freedoms publish and disseminate uniformed and sensational information.

It is hoped that, before again agreeing to speak publicly on the issue of human rights, Bishop Smith will fully apprise himself of the nature of fundamental rights and how they can and should be protected in our society.

Concerns over animal care

What is a reasonable level of care?

While reading this section recently, I was shocked to discover that only two main factors were considered necessary for a ?reasonable level of care? of animals in Bermuda.

These factors are food and shelter.

Yet in the Care and Protection of Animals Act 1975, they state that an offence has been committed if: ?evidence that a person failed to exercise reasonable care or supervision of an animal thereby causing it pain, suffering or injury is, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, evidence that such pain, suffering or in was caused or was permitted to be caused wilfully?.

If you look around the Island, you will find dogs chained up, barking at anything and anyone in order to get attention.

Others have given up and resigned themselves to a pathetic life at the end of a chain. Is this not classified as wilful neglect, causing suffering to an animal?

These loving animals should not be used only as security. They are not inanimate objects which require no attention, but living, breathing, sociable animals who need to be loved and treated with respect.

Who decided this ?reasonable level of care? and on what basis? If it is acceptable to treat a dog like this, then why not a child?

Many consider that their dogs are their children, and their treatment should be no different. Unfortunately, a growing number of people consider that dogs are only useful for one thing: to protect their property. In this case, I would say to them that a security alarm would be a better option.

My landlord has a dog. It barks almost constantly, day and night.

He is tied up, and receives no attention. I have contacted the SPCA, but their hands are tied since the dog is well fed, has water and shelter and appears healthy.

I cannot believe that in one of the wealthiest and most developed countries in the world, animal rights? laws are so archaic. Many people on this Island treat their cars better than their pets.

It is time for people to stand up and demand better rights for animals.

Animals need love and attention as much as they need food and water. Dogs are social animals, and require company. They should not be left alone for long periods or ignored.

Horses should not be allowed to walk around a busy city in the middle of the day in summer when temperatures can reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and have to contend with traffic, pollution and a carriage full of often overweight tourists.

They should have suitable stables which allow them to move, are cleaned regularly and have plenty of food and water.

Cats should not be abandoned and left to fend for themselves. We are to blame for the large feral cat population and should be held accountable.

People who mistreat animals should receive heavy fines and imprisonment or community service. Research has proven that people who mistreat animals are more likely to harm humans.

We need to petition the Government to protect animals, and if they are unwilling to do so, then it is up to us, the community to do so.

If you see animals suffering, then confront the owner, request that he/she give the animal to the SPCA for re-homing.

Animals are, after all God?s creatures too, and for an Island which prides itself on its faith and commitment to the church, you are doing a very poor job of protecting the very creatures which need your help the most.

Honest ferry crew praised

November 7, 2004

Last Friday I dropped my wallet on the fast ferry from St. George?s to Dockyard.

I arrived home and was surprised to receive a telephone call from Ms Joyce Trott of the Department of Marine and Ports, informing me not only about the loss, but also the exact quantity of cash I had left in the wallet.

Apparently Ed Burchall found it on the boat, counted the money, deposited it in the Ferry Terminal for safe keeping, and arranged for the telephone call to my house, all before I was even aware I had lost it.

Can I therefore pass on a special thank you to the professionalism and honesty of the crew for providing one of those special ?Bermuda moments?.