April 20, 2002

Dear Sir,

Today someone asked my why was it that a telephone call to Jamaica cost twice as much as one to Portugal. Since I do not call either place I did not know that there was a difference, much less the reason for it. However, I did have to agree with the individual who commented that if the Government were truly concerned about the furthering of contact between Bermuda and the Caribbean, negotiating a lower price for telephone calls would be of more benefit to the people than spending $98,000 for some nebulous benefit, from which only the hierarchy would benefit as they travelled from one conference to another to meet with real Prime Ministers of real countries.

Another person wondered out loud if the Government is spending $98,000 on Caricom, how much were they spending on the much greater issue of growing prostitution.

While I had no answer to either of these questions I could not but wonder at the silence and inaction of our individual "representatives", for whom we voted and who are supposed to be representing us, when they read an article like the one in the Bermuda Sun (April 19) on the "twisted values" of the hierarchy and decision makers. If the voters change their mind at the next election, they will be as responsible as the hierarchy. They have the wherewithal to make a difference but they choose to give their support to these "twisted values" of the hierarchy.

EVA N. HODGSON

Bailey's Bay

P.s. On VSB Caribbean News this week, I heard a Caribbean commentator declare that Caricom seemed not to know their purpose or function and that they were "just drifting". I could not but wonder why we needed to join "drifters". We are doing enough drifting on our own!

April 30, 2002

Dear Sir,

I thank "Observer" for writing and yourself for printing "Let her go"(April 26). The letter is riddled with bias, discrimination, and total misinformation. It's very helpful in proving that the system dealing with children suffering divorce is both inept and discriminatory. Social problems encountered of late support a review of the system as called for by your good self Mr. Editor.

Observer being influenced to the point of blind bias with failing sight stumbles and falls flat making mistake after mistake.

The unsigned letter attacked me, I sign my factual reply.

1. Noticeable is the complete absence of the children's welfare, it's all about mother. It's inferred no report is needed to remove children from their country, schools, friends and father, because the mother is good! By the same rational, no report would be required to have the children stay in their country with education and everything they associate, including a good father, while mum studies during the academic term before returning to Bermuda as was the case prior.

2. It stated "the mother did not run out the back door", and being a good mother did the right thing. Oh really! Why was there a court order to return the children to Bermuda having been taken to the home of a man other than their father?

3. The mother was awarded an educational scholarship. Is that right? Seems to me it was an athletic scholarship, but recall the judge being told mother would be caring for the four children and studying with no athletic involvement. If there is a scholarship who cares for the children?

Observer, profess wisdom above two judges, and two caseworkers who saw the need to protect the children via a USA report.

4. Issue is taken with the USA schools, failing to see the point (as in will not). Schools were claimed to be of a high standard, the judge ordered attendance at this standard. It proved they were not as claimed by the mother, further no schools of that standard existed locally! The judge allowed them to leave anyway, therefore a court order is being broken daily!

If father breaks a court order he is jailed, a mother can flout the law, double standards are encouraged by people like Observer.

The letter ends by bringing in God, bad move. Divorce is matter of fact to you, but God hates divorce with its young casualties.

What a hypocrite, if a man had a child outside marriage moved his children's home, school and country removing a mother, would you write to have God bless the father? I think not, you would call him a low life, dead beat dog!!

Mark Twain was thinking of you when he wrote "What a hell of a heaven it will be when we assemble all the hypocrites there"!!

Meanwhile back on earth, we have our own hell brewing, partly self inflicted by removing good caring fathers and leaving children to act out the consequences.

EDDIE FISHER

Sandys

May 9, 2002

The following was sent to Cellular One chief executive officer Kurt Eve and forwarded to The Royal Gazette.

Dear Mr. Eve,

As you are aware, for the month of March my cell phone was charged over $17,000 with fraudulent usage. This was extremely unfortunate and very costly for both of us. Although this was an inconvenience, I feel I must mention how incredible the customer service was that I received from your employees at Cellular One. Barbara in accounts was very efficient and helpful in resolving my true charges and deleting the fraudulent ones. Danjou was incredible, as he made sure that I was completely satisfied with the replacement phone that I received. Overall, I am overwhelmed with the quality of service and speed in which this problem was rectified.

Thank you for going above and beyond my expectations. I look forward to many years of continued partnership with you.

SUZIE PEWTER

Hamilton

May 7, 2002

Dear Sir,

The current scandals at the Bermuda Housing Corporation and the Berkeley school project demonstrate how unwise it was to politicise the post of Attorney General with the appointment of Lois Browne-Evans. Since the Director of Public Prosecutions reports to her, she has an obvious conflict of interest, which creates a dilemma in ensuring that the public receive fair and proper investigations.

Our former Attorney General, Mr. Saul Froomkin, QC, resides here and is in private practice, and everyone on the Island knows of his world-wide reputation and interest in reducing white collar crime. Here is an excellent opportunity for Government to get this monkey off their back. Mr. Froomkin would be the perfect person to head up a Commission of Inquiry, to include two experts from abroad who have no local connections, and therefore no axes to grind. Everyone will gain; Government in showing it has nothing to hide, and the public in receiving assurance that there is no corruption in the vital areas of housing and education.

I hope that Premier Smith and her Cabinet give serious consideration to this proposal as it is essential that public confidence in an honest Government be restored.

JUSTICE

Paget

May 8, 2002

Dear Sir,

At this particular time in Bermuda's history a quotation or two may just be of interest. "Nothing is easier than spending public money. It does not appear to belong to anybody so the temptation is overwhelming to bestow it on somebody". Calvin Coolidge

"You know you're rubbing people the wrong way when you get under their skin". Franklin P. Jones

"Few things are so apt to be permanent as a bad habit, a prejudice, or a temporary tax". Origin unknown

"There is only one absolutely foolproof tax shelter, it is called unemployment". Gene Brown

"Men do less than they ought unless they do all that the can" Thomas Carlyle

We dare not use the name "Little Theatre" for obvious reasons, but the House of Assembly could be more appropriately called, if not named, The Playhouse.

Perhaps these concluding quotations might be just the required prescription for the 40.

"The worst is a corruption of the best" Old Latin proverb

"A politician thinks of the next election, a salesman of the next generation"

Finally my mother, unlearned but perceptive said, "A word to the wise is sufficient".

NAIDUMBRED

Hamilton