October 28, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am glad to see that Ms Sharlita Steede has spoken up about the personal allegations that Col. Burch had splayed all over the news. Even if his claims were true, I find it really disturbing how nasty this man can be at times. If he wants to defend the Housing Corporation, then fine. But to do it by attempting to humiliate this woman is really wrong. You would think that a man of his position would take the high road, but I guess not. Let him hope that no one ever publicly speaks up to expose any skeletons in his closet.

On another note, I would like to pass on a message to our Honourable Premier and the rest of the PLP coming from a young, black female in the community. I am not buying this bologna regarding this new 'social agenda' of yours. I am tired of hearing about what you are 'going to do' I want to hear about what you are doing! Empty promises don't pay Bermuda's bills! Some people may buy it, but I'm not one of them! Maybe we should just rename the PLP the PPP ? 'Pushing Propaganda Party.'

FED UP

Hamilton Parish

October 22, 2004

Dear Sir,

In response to the woman who came on the talk radio yesterday (October 21), yes, tailgating is wrong and so is speeding.

I'm not bashing you since it would be nice if people would stop tailgating yet, at the same time, it would also be nice if you "released your love" from the gas pedal of your car and drove slower (haste makes waste and in Bermuda so far, speed either causes nasty accidents or death). Of course if you have to speed to pass someone that's different.

CONCERNED ABOUT ROAD SAFETY

Pembroke

October 15, 2004

Dear Sir,

Finally the Police are doing something about the disgraceful situation taking place on our roads, and although it's about 15 to 20 years overdue, it's a start.

Unfortunately a number of people have to die before any action is taken. Now we need to know if this Police presence will be here indefinitely, or is this a "flash in the pan" that will disappear in a week or two?

About 90 percent of all road users break the law in one way or another, and that includes buses, taxis, trucks, private cars and two-wheeled vehicles, so it's easy to assume that there will be a lot of complaints about being held up, especially those going to work, but we cannot have it both ways, either this situation gets solved, or more people will get injured and killed.

I have driven all kinds of bikes over the past 50 years, and nothing used to give me greater joy than riding along the South Shore on a sunny day with a light breeze blowing in my face, but in recent years it has become a nightmare trying to avoid huge vehicles coming at you at high speed and choking on the fumes from all the traffic.

Finally, common sense made me give the bike away. Whatever can be done to make driving more comfortable for all of us, let it be done, regardless of the inconvenience. I see the Police have already given out several hundred tickets, now are these just warnings or are they fines? If they are fines, is there a time frame when these fines should be paid, or are they just going to be added to the already outstanding hundreds of thousands of dollars on the books from fines that have not been paid over the past number of years?

SEEING IT AS IT IS

Pembroke

October 26, 2004

Dear Sir,

As one who has lived through the Independence of a small country in this region and the misfortunes it brought, I feel I have the right to ask Premier Scott the following questions.

If Bermuda becomes Independent do you have a plan and a budget?

1) How much will the Independence celebration cost?

2) How many foreign embassies do you propose to open?

3) What will be the cost to set up a foreign ministry and train the staff to run it? Where will the new ministry be? Will we need to purchase or rent another government building?

4) What will it cost us to join the United Nations? What will it cost to rent or buy the embassies that we will have to open? I presume a minimum will be UN, US, UK and EEC. With real estate running in the millions in those countries, I need to know.

5) Who have you in mind to steer our foreign policy?

6) Who do you have in mind to be our first Governor General?

7) How will I benefit from all this?

I know the word Prime Minister may keep a smile on your face. Independence has attracted few smiles since Britain started shedding her colonies. I am a neutral observer, with no Bermudian racial baggage or political agenda to tout, but history has shown us that action without a plan and the money to back it up can be disastrous.

Show us the plan and how much it is going to cost and them we can decide intelligently if this is what we need.

J.K. WILLIAMS

City of Hamilton

October 21, 2004

Dear Sir,

If our Government in its wisdom cannot see the use of Morgan's Point for a container Port, Morgan's Point would be an ideal port for mega- cruise ships. Since cruise ships are getting larger and larger and only having one berth in Bermuda that can handle them like our King's Wharf in Dockyard, the tender pier would have to be extended in length and breath and also made into a solid pier so cruise ships could moor themselves properly.There is plenty of water in the Little Sound to be able to manoeuvre large mega-cruise ships into the pier.

Since Hamilton and St. George's are a "no-no" for mega cruise ships, Morgan's Point would be the ideal place for a second mega-cruise ship port. I'm sure the people living in the area would rather see a cruise ship docked here at Morgan's Point than looking at a container port.

A large hotel could be built on the hill just inside the main entrance to Morgan's Point overlooking the Great and Little Sounds. A lovely view. Close by to Morgan's Point there is the Southampton "water lens", so getting water to a hotel there shouldn't be too much of a problem. There's so much potential at Morgan's Point just going to waste.

Just think about having a second mega-cruise ship port at Morgan's Point, maybe our Government could approach a large conglomerate like Carnival Cruise Lines and see whether they might like to set up business here, they might even be able to finance this whole proposal, wouldn't that be a first for Bermuda? I know Morgan's Point very well. I worked there for 20 years when the US Navy were here in Bermuda.

October 15, 2004

Dear Sir,

The UBP has decided to be drug tested. All passed. This provided wonderful leverage for shaming the PLP into doing the same thing, which of course the PLP won't do because the UBP thought of it. This is what occupies legislators' time.

The UBP is doing this so that it might stand as an example to our young. If I ever have children, politicians will not be on my list of role models I point out for my children. Certainly not ones that make sentimental empty gestures in lieu of practical and pro-active drug policy. The UBP has broken new ground in enforcing laws. There is a new test of citizenship. You are guilty of taking drugs until you can prove otherwise. If you are a politician, under this outrageous proposal of the UBP, you are not assumed to be law abiding until you prove you are.

To what other laws could this be applied? How about child abuse? With drug abuse, the only direct victim is the user who made a choice to commit a crime against his or herself. Child abuse is obviously worse as children don't ask to be abused and abused children very often end up being drug abusers and abusers of other people. So from now on, as a responsible Opposition, I propose that all UBP members' children fill out questioners stating how they would rate the competence of their parents and list any infractions of the child abuse laws. They should list all grievances as children are not in position to make a judgment in law. Their various complaints will be vetted by a new bureaucracy of lawyers. Only then will I accept that members of the Opposition to be anything other than child abusers.

I think smoking should be next. No need for the population of insurance premium payers to pay higher rates so that members of the opposition can get their lungs fixed after wilfully and irresponsibly abusing them.

While we're at it, we might as well investigate embezzlement, bank robbing, murder, non-payment of traffic tickets, spitting and urinating in public.

Soon the general public, led by the UBP, will adopt all these guidelines or be shamed. Citizenship for the deserving only! To deserve you must prove! Are you a good citizen? Oh citizen do not falter! Reply! Proudly shout : "Yes, I am a good citizen! And I can prove it!"

JOHN ZUILL

Pembroke

October 27, 2004

Dear Sir,

I read with interest you headline on October 26, 2004, 'Independence: Almost no positives,' attributed to the Association of Bermuda International Companies. The article went on to quote the ABIC as to the preferred method by which Independence should be decided and state their view that there should be consultation with all stakeholders and that 'independence should not be forced on a reluctant population,' among other things. Consistent throughout the article was reference to the (substantial) amount of money they contribute to these islands.

Sir, I find these comments extraordinary. I was under the impression that self-determination, and the method by which it is achieved, was the sole prerogative of the Bermudian voter. Have Bermudians relinquished this right or, for that matter, sold it? This unwelcome foray into local politics is a sign of the times ? we live in a global community and perhaps the ABIC , with their 133 members and their contributions to the economy, feel that they have a right to step into local politics. This level of asininity is akin to the Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom spearheading a letter campaign to American voters telling them to vote for John Kerry. Even Kerry supporters were repulsed by this.

Let me reassure the ABIC that Bermudians, and Bermudians alone, will determine the method of self-determination. We will also determine whether we go it along or stay as we are. Perhaps the ABIC can use its energy in meeting the challenges in its own backyard. In the 2001 Commission for Unity and Racial Equalities Workforce Survey, international companies have a considerable way to go to address racial imbalances at the executive, senior and middle management levels. The report goes on to say that promotional practices can also be improved. "With promotions, the results of the survey reveal generally undesirable practices in terms of equal opportunities that companies need to address." International companies were one of the biggest offenders, according to the survey.

CORDELL RILEY

City of Hamilton

October 27, 2004

Dear Sir,

I would like to respond to the letter in today's from Dee Charles and the Horse and Buggy dilemma on going.

Mrs. Charles needs to take a break. She said that she would have to put her horses down if she could no longer hack her horses throughout Hamilton. Well she is no animal lover if that's the case. Anyone who has animals, and who loves them, wants their well fare looked after. If she can come out with that statement then it seems to me she does not really love her animals, just uses them for her own greed. These horses are tortured during the summer months, yes, Mr. Editor, tortured. They are subjected to hot, hot weather, pulling all these tourists, in Hamilton, where the traffic is very heavy and therefore having to breathe all those fumes. Horses should not be treated this way. The SPCA needs to do more. They must look in on these horses and check that they are not over heated and that their hooves are free from any diseases.

Dee Charles does not know how to treat her horses. I have seen the same team of brown and white horses, driven by her husband, from early in the morning until well after 5 p.m. She did say that the horses are only supposed to be driven for 9 hours. I have also seen her taking fat tourists up Cox's Hill and walking the horse up the hill. Now anyone who knows horses knows that you never walk a horse, with a full load, up a hill but rather trot them because it puts too much stress on them from the weight if walked. I also think there should be a law whereby only so much weight can be put on these horses.

I do believe that they should choose another route. The Botanical Gardens would be an excellent place for tourists to go and have lunch and go for a leisurely Horse and Buggy ride. There is no road so beautiful as South Shore. I am sure with a little thought this could be accomplished, which was a suggestion from someone in your paper the other day. The route they have now is the pits. Remember Belco has Cemetery Road closed so Serpentine Road is fully congested with traffic. Who wants to see our beautiful Electric Light Company Building anyway? Give me a break.....

I am an animal lover and every time I see these poor animals treated this way I could just cry. They are sweet animals and if Dee Charles wants to give one away I will give him/her a good home.

A GAL FROM DEVONSHIRE

October 11, 2004

Dear Sir,

Last week the senior citizens of Purvis Park and Elizabeth Hills suffered a blow when the Bermuda Housing Corporation decided to put up our rent by $300.

How do they expect us to come up with $300 when we do not have it? Instead they suggest we lose all our dignity by going to the Social Services for help. Most of us are widows and widows' pensions went up a little over $700. We are supposed to eat, pay medical bills, medicine, health insurance, electricity etc.

People do get old and life is not easy. It is difficult to manage money these days.

Mr. Fergerson built these places especially for LOW INCOME ELDERLY.

The excuse we are given is that labour is higher, but that's not our fault.

They have our rents and we do not ask much. All places need painting and plumbing gets old. That is still not our fault. They must get their heads together and see that these sort of repairs are done earlier, rather than let everything fall into disrepair.

Married couples may make it as they have two pensions, but for a single person it is a sheer nightmare and a worry. Mr. Ferguson only asked us to pay extra $35, years apart.