April 17, 2002

Dear Sir,

Re: Mathematics Challenge for April 2002, Mathematics Education Month

The Bermuda Council of Teachers of Mathematics (BCTM) would like to express our thanks and appreciation to our sponsors: ACE Group, Annuity and Life Reassurance, Ltd., The Argus Group, Bermuda College, Bermuda Union of Teachers, Bermuda Microsystems Group, BELCO, Centre Solutions, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bermuda, Hasana Productions, Ministry of Education and Development, PricewaterhouseCoopers and XL Education Initiative for their generous contributions to the Second Middle School Mathematics Challenge held on Saturday April 13, 2002.

The Middle School Mathematics Challenge proved to be an excellent avenue for students to showcase their mathematical skills. Through our sponsors' kindness, teachers, parents, and general members of our community were provided with an opportunity to see "mathematics in action". Your patronage was beneficial to our students. The results were as follows:

First place - Clearwater Middle School

Second place - Whitney Institute Middle School

Third place - Sandys Secondary Middle School

Fourth place - Dellwood Middle School and Spice Valley Middle School (Tie)

Once again, thank you for supporting mathematics education. The Middle School Mathematics Challenge is our attempt to recognise and to reward excellence in mathematics. This event would not have been possible without your assistance.

April 17, 2002

Dear Sir,

It must now be patently obvious to to even the most politically blind and naive observer that Jennifer Smith and her present clique are incapable of running the PLP government - except into the ground.

There are a host of reasons for this dismal and abysmal performance.

Jennifer Smith has staffed and surrounded herself both in Cabinet and the top echelons of the Civil Service with people of mediocre and dubious credentials and abilities.

The result is that she betrayed her supporters, the working class and a number of people who for the first time gave the PLP a chance.

In fact, certain members of her Cabinet have openly aligned themselves with and even physically joined or championed the cause of 'big business' locally and internationally. Ms Paula Cox is a case in point, and if you examined the histories of each of her Cabinet appointees you will reveal people who are political newcomers who have limited and sheltered life experiences and little if any management of people resources.

They walked into ready-made positions with no experience. How then could you expect them to appreciate what the rest of us lived practically all our lives? It is a case of the "tail wagging the dog".

In short, they have done and are doing their incompetent best and must be changed before they lose the next election and all that many of us have struggled for over 30 years to achieve.

But, we must be careful not to "throw the baby out with the bathwater" as suggested by some of our more astute commentators. We must transform the PLP with the least amount of disruption possible. It must be the smoothest and most seamless transition our political maturity can muster.

I envisage the following changes and visionary programmes which will move us forward as a Party, a Government and a country whilst holding at bay the detractors both in the PLP and amongst the UBP. We need bold men and women to grasp the PLP helm and put us back on the course to achieve our stated goals of equality for all.

To lead us to a quick election and Independence. In closing, I invite you to consider a Cabinet that is absent Jennifer Smith, Lois Browne Evans, Eugene Cox, Col. Burch. Envisage a Cabinet with new recruits Reggie Burrows, Wayne Perinchief, Dale Butler, Arthur Hodgson and El James all of whom have management of human resources and life experiences. The salvation of the PLP as a Party and as a 'winner' at the next election depends upon these new recruits. Do they have the resolve, the nerve and vision along with the likes of Renee Webb and Ewart Brown to remove us from the embarrassment of the present Cabinet's debacles and betrayal of the hopes and aspirations of our people?

Or are we to accept that they are too comfortable or simply not interested with who wins the next election as long as they are 'alright'. Are they too cowardly to remove their supporters from the tyranny of the new bondage the present PLP regime has placed upon us? Let us all watch closely as we run up to election time.

Who will stand and be counted? Where have the real men and freedom fighters gone? Is there a way forward?

April 19, 2002

Dear Sir,

I'm writing in regards to Bermuda looking to join Caricom. After reading the literature provided on it. I'm still not convinced that this the avenue we need to take at this time. To be perfectly honest, I don't see any benefits at all.

What they are offering we already have, i.e. cultural identity, it seems counter-productive to even discuss this venture at this time with an election looming. I look with interest at the countries that all currently associated with Caricom. I don't want to seem pessimistic, however those countries listed; their economies leave a lot to be desired. It would behove the government of the day to tread lightly and pay careful attention to domestic issues that must be addressed.

With the Progressive Labour Party well into their first term, they are to be commended for their accomplishments. However, I sincerely hope maintaining the government will be a top priority as opposed to joining Caricom

April 5, 2002

Dear Sir,

Further to the article in , dated March 31, 2002 the following article may be of interest and moreover encompasses many divorced paternal nightmares that face them. Society, always highlight the negatives of father hood, never their hurdles and struggles.

This article is from "Relocation as a Strategy to interfere with the Child-Parent Relationship, By Dr. Ira Daniels Turkat, Ph.D from the American Journal of Family Law. Vol. 11, No. 1 (Spring 1997). Some of the definitions of a:

"Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome" by, Dr. Ira Daniel Turkat, Ph.D Definition encompasses four major criteria, as follows:

1. A mother who unjustifiably encompasses her divorcing or divorced husband by:

a. Attempting to alienate their mutual child(ren) from the father

b. Involving others in malicious actions against the father

c. Engaging in excessive litigation

2. The mother specifically attempts to deny her child(ren):

a. Regular uninterrupted visitation with the father

b. Uninhibited telephone access to the father

c. Paternal participation in the child(ren )'s school life and extra-curricular activities

3. The pattern is pervasive includes malicious acts towards the husband including:

a. lying to the children'

b. lying to others

c. Violation of the Law

4. The disorder is not specifically due to another mental disorder although a separate mental disorder may coexist.

I wonder, can any one tell me if there is correlation between our troubled children and fathers systemically removed and or fathers who simply remove themselves from their children? Studies show that children perform to a higher educational level when a father is involved or conversely, our prisons are mainly inhabited by inmates who did not benefited from a father's love and discipline,.

Then, why our youth is having so many problems?

April 6, 2002

Dear Sir,

In response to the letter "What about the children? - Court observer - April, 16. Riding on a mere observation - that's true! The story does go much deeper and you shouldn't voice your anger so quickly!!

If my memory serves me correctly; they both raised their children - how many years were they married? Trying to rekindled her relationship with her children - Bull. She applied to the courts (the right thing to do) she wasn't exactly trying to run out the back door and skip the country. The mother wanted to enhanced her education - she was awarded an educational scholarship that is worth thousands of dollars.

It was granted to her for her many years of hard work, loyalty and dedicated representing her country - Bermuda. No international report, we all know that she is a good mother.

The USA schools are not up to standard, then why do so many Bermudians send their children there to be educated? The United States of America, a country of opportunities beyond your wildest dreams.

You mentioned many acts, what about the act to be happy in life? The mere mention of a divorce shows that the married was over. If she was living in his country, do you really think that she would have received custodianship of her children?

We have heard so much of this long and drawn out story. With so much confusion, I'm not surprised she left Bermuda so quickly - trying to seek peace of mind. She has tried to keep her personal life - personal. I think it is shameful to accuse this lady of such ridicule especially when she is not here to represent herself. She fell in love with another person - that's life - as we all know so well... Something that happens every day in life. She has been through stressful times, and I wish her and her family all the happiness that she deserves.

I know that the father will see the children. It is really educational concerns, a new marriage or a person who prefers to live the remainder of his life in bitter denial?

Love is very powerful thing and a divorce is never easy. It happens to the best of us. Let her go... and I wish you well.

May God Bless all of you.