Message getting through

May 23, 2003

Dear Sir,

As a CURE Commissioner, I would like to respond to MLS of Smith's Parish.

The mandate of CURE (The Commission for Unity and Racial Equality) is to improve race relations in Bermuda.

The only way to improve race relations, is to make people aware of them, because for too long (white) people felt that if you didn't say anything about racism, it didn't exist.

The purpose of the newspaper ad was to make people THINK and TALK about race relations in Bermuda.

Now MLS of Smith's Parish is thinking and talking about race relations.

I hope MLS will now go out and talk about race relations with other people.

Maybe this will get more people talking (and thinking) too.

Then our media campaign will have been a success.

SACHA BEARDEN

Commissioner for CURE

Looking for answers

May 20, 2003

Dear Sir,

I have just one question, "What happens to the working class white Bermudian"?

For years we have been bombarded with "save the black male", support black businesses and people. Both Governments have spent much time and money on raising the standards and awareness/education of the black working-class. even CURE looks out for the black working-class, not for the Bermudian on a whole - read your own paper any day!

For years I have tried to live my life as a law-abiding God-fearing citizen. I got the best local education I could (and my parents could afford). I got quite a decent job, got married and had two children. Even though I always wanted more, we stopped at two because of economics. Always, renting at market levels, we have never had spare money. Started our own business to make a difference (both in the Island and in our pockets); this led to a spiralling downfall. As I found out later Bermudians didn't want to support us - black Bermudians wouldn't because we were white and my husband was only paper-Bermudian. White Bermudians wouldn't because we were stepping out of our place (Bear in mind, all Bermudian families are mixed somewhat). Bermuda families are mixed somewhere).

Well years later we closed shop and struggled to pay off debts. Today we are still struggling - each day you choose between paying for a decent education for your children or owning your own home.

My husband is making less now than he was 20 years ago - forget factoring in inflation! We are talking about gross wages!

Why is it that as an expat he was worth so much more! Why is it that so many expats automatically, mysteriously lose their employment upon marrying Bermudians? Why do employers prefer expats? How can someone's experience and qualifications deteriorate with becoming Bermudian?

Mr. Editor, I do apologise that is more than one question. But here are some more - Why is it that I see expats coming to the Island, being able to buy condos within five years of working here and so many Bermudians are having to leave the Island because they can't afford to live here?

Let me tell you, I have my little island home but if I could afford to go somewhere else (legally) and buy my family a home to call our own - I would go tomorrow.

It is horrible to be in someone else's house, have them dictate everything you do with it. I am even afraid of someone complaining because my children are too loud.

Bermuda had better stand up and take control of the entire situation! We are losing our young families to more-affordable jurisdictions. Those that are staying are growing up in stress-filled homes with an overpowering feeling of despair and both parents working around the clock.

A PLACE TO CALL MY OWN

Paget

P.s. No, I am not prejudiced, just fed up with non-existence!

Clean up the park

May 16, 2003

Dear Sir,

I am writing to this paper in the hopes that someone, somewhere will finally do something about this situation, which has been allowed to fester to the horrible state it is now in. I am talking about the Spanish Point Park and areas leading down to the entrance to the Spanish Point Boat Club. For the past one and a half years nothing has been done by Government or the Parks Department about it. Below is a list of the problems:

A large group of very loud people who have set up chairs, tables, a BBQ, Christmas lights and music. They swear, fight, drink and intimidate people using the park.

A `tenant' who has taken up nightly residence in the men's bathroom

Litter everywhere!

Large boat trailers left for months on either side of Park property.

Derelict boats pulled up all along the water's edge from the park entrance to the Boat Club entrance.

Tarpaulins strung amongst the trees on the water's edge by the bus stop.

Litter everywhere!

Kids and men on scrambling bikes racing all over the park.

Cars driving into the park itself and driving all over the grass areas.

Drugs being used and sold.

Litter everywhere!

Something must be done. It is in a very bad state and everyone in the neighbourhood and visitors to the park are affected. It is so bad a lot of the times that the foul language and music and fighting gets way out of control. There are even times of the day that there are several Works and Engineering trucks parked all over the area. There was even a container parked and left for a week taking up a whole side of the parking bays.

Why is this the only park that is this bad and nothing is being done about it? This must be stopped. It is not good for the neighbours, visitors to the park or tourists. Please put an end to it once and for all and clean up the areas.

I invite the news stations to come one day (evenings and weekends are the worst times) and film the areas from the Park entrance and parking lot all the way down to the end of Point Road. A good view of the area just past the bus stop can be seen from the north corner of the Boat Club property looking over.

FED UP!

Pembroke

Cut the lines now

May 28, 2003

Dear Sir,

Thank you for allowing me a few lines in your column. In today's edition of the Royal Gazette, on page 5 there was a caption which read, "Airport terminal scheme may take off in "near future".

After reading the article, I was a little annoyed about the situation. On Monday, May 26, Bermuda Day holiday, I was sitting on Front Street watching the cruise ship passengers lined up in the rain boarding their ship. This line moved very slowly; therefore, once the passengers were on board they were definitely soaking wet.

Taxpayers funds are being spent on a lot of trivial things, such as larger cars, flowers, and the fast ferries, how about spending some of that money on persons who help to bring income on the island of Bermuda.

Lets put our money where our mouth is. Ten years is too long for a common courtesy such as shelter from the rain and wind.

CONCERNED CITIZEN

Somerset

Govt. not for the people

May 22, 2003

Dear Sir,

Slowly but surely we are coming to the end of the fiasco that has been going on for almost five years, and when the UBP return to power the first thing we expect them to do is get rid of all the big cars that the PLP furnished themselves with the minute they got into power, and I trust they will not be sent to Cuba?

While on that subject, in the event that the used buses are sent to Cuba, nobody has said who is going to foot the bill for shipping them down there. The country has been put into so much debt all ready, so what difference will a few more thousand make?

It's interesting to hear on the talk shows how the PLP stalwarts seem to simply ignore all the mistakes and cover-ups the Government has made since coming to power. In fact one caller made the lame comment that everyone makes mistakes and they should be forgiven, but I have yet to hear anyone admit to any of the mistakes that have been made.

Usually you hear some excuse or other which is an insult to the intelligence of any Bermudian. The BHC, Berkeley School, and all the affordable housing that was going to be made available for Bermudians, to name but a few of the many mistakes there has been more strikes in any five year period in the history of these Islands.

The streets are not safe either from traffic or crime. I thought the super ferry boats were brought tin to cut down the traffic on the roads going into Hamilton but that has not happened, and how they are talking about bringing in larger taxis. Next it will be Cadillac Escalades and Stretch Limousines.

The PLP was voted in to be the People's Government, but they have failed miserably. The one thing they have done successfully is spend money, with not much to show for it, and the debt they have put the country in will not be cleared for many hears to come, so it is imperative that we vote for people who will get the country back on it's feet, and who will take care of our people, especially the Senior Citizens.

In closing I would like to ask who was the bright spark who decided to change the name of the Ag Show? - frankly I don't care if they call it "The Pig & Cow Show", but for those of us who have attended for many years it will always be "The Ag Show".

SEEING IT AS IT IS

Pembroke