No ordinary Joe

February 13, 2004

Dear Sir,

I'm a Bermudian who has resided in Arizona for the previous ten years.

I read The Royal Gazette every day on the Internet and it never ceases to amaze me how the Island is slowly deteriorating in many areas... “The continued loss of tourism business”, “The cost of living in general”, “Unaffordable rents and housing” and in particular “Violent crimes” and the continuing “Out of control drug situation”.

I remember the old Casemates prison was treated as a “holiday camp” 30 years ago. When they built the new Westgate facility, I had hoped things would change and it would be more like a real conventional prison. Sadly, that is not the case.

In most parts of the world and particularly in the US, a prison sentence “strikes fear” in the hearts of most criminal perpetrators. Not so in Bermuda! Westgate is treated as a joke! Anyway, to the essence of my letter.

Here in Maripoca County, Arizona (which incorporates Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale etc.) the Sheriff is Joe Arpaio. Some of you may have read and heard about him! When you are sentenced to a period of prison time at his correctional facility... You had better watch out! There is no “pampering” in his facilities. When you have served your sentence, you do not want to go back!

It's high time in Bermuda, that the court's and correctional facilities, treated the criminal element in the same fashion as ‘the real world' or your situation in this respect, is never going to improve, only worsen. For information on the good sheriff, go to www.mcso.org.

BRUCE McCLARRON

Mesa, Arizona

The 51st state?

February 12, 2004

Dear Sir,

Just back from de game, bye! Now, there is no excuse for the BFA “suits” here other than disrespect or disorganisation or some in-house motive.

How can you play the ‘Star Spangled Banner' as Bermuda's national anthem with the suits etc. all standing stiff and facing the Bermuda flag? Even if you did not have ‘God Save the Queen', play ‘Bermuda' or something Bermudian! Shame on you!

THE STATE OF BDA?

Devonshire

Driven by greed

Dear Sir,

I am totally saddened about the devastation under way at the Loughlands property in Paget. Where once a grand and beautiful house stood surrounded by Bermuda flora and fauna, now stands this grotesque symbol of what represents the times in Bermuda - pure GREED.

Mr. Gilbert Lopes picked up this property at some million-dollar figure fully confident that this Government would allow him to change the zoning and turn it into yet another concrete jungle like he created at Shelly Hall. Clearly he has to apply to the Department of Tourism to change the zoning and be approved before making any plans to build 80 some condos. All of Bermuda must realise that this property cannot be developed without the approval of the Department of Tourism.

Haven't we seen enough examples of tourist properties zoned for Tourism that have been sold off and then developed and sold as condos? I would appeal to the Department of Tourism to stand firm on this one property or the bottom result will be that Bermuda will be left with no quaint and beautiful guest houses which this Island was once known for.

Bermuda does not need another 82 condo development - I gather there are 80 odd condos already been approved at Dunscombe Road in Warwick, not even two miles away from Loughlands. Bermuda needs to protect its heritage, its land - its beauty. Where once you could walk up from the railway trail and admire the Bermudianas growing around this time of the year and smell the wild freesias at the Loughlands property, now all you see is mountains of sand and rubble, trees which were destroyed in order to ‘clear' the way for this project.

How sad. How terribly sad that we are not forward thinking - that we are not leaving anything for our children to admire. Where is it going to end. What will it take to make people wake up and smell the reality - that which is, this Island is being taken over by greedy people and destroying it at an amazingly fast pace.

Why even have governments and laws and Planning departments if nothing can be done to protect our beautiful Island. Eight beautiful acres of land will be sacrificed soon and it won't be to relieve the shortage of housing. How sad.

TRUE BERMUDA RESIDENTS

Paying the price

February 13, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am an avid sports fan and love to support my respective sports teams as well as my country. On Thursday, February 10, I travelled to the National Sports Centre with my nine-year-old son to support the Bermuda national football team. I was greeted with the shock of my life when I arrived! I was told that I would have to pay $15 for my nine year old to see the game. When I protested that this must be a mistake as it had been advertised on the radio that children 12 years and younger would be charged $5.

I was then told that the Trustees of the National Sports Centre had changed the prices and made them effective immediately. What about informing (more like warning) the paying public of these dramatic changes rather than springing on us at the last minute. Nonetheless my son really wanted to see the game and we were there so I reluctantly paid $30 for him and myself to enter the gates.

Of course on Thursday my son wanted to see the Bermuda National Football team play again. Therefore, I called the Bermuda Football Association informed them of what I was forced to pay at the last game for my son and inquired whether this would be the case going forward. I was then told by the BFA that the prices were revised back to the old prices for children, however, I would not be refunded the extra $10 paid at the previous game by order of the Trustees of the National Sports Centre.

A word of warning to the Trustees. If you wish bigger crowds to attend and support our national teams it would be unwise to force the working, tax-paying public adult prices for their children over five years old! This would make it impossible for families of four and five to enjoy an otherwise good sporting event.

OUT TEN BUCKS!

Pembroke

Permanently parked?

January 30, 2004

Dear Sir,

I was amused to read about the outstanding parking tickets and the fact that the numbers were down to the previous year.

Maybe if they issued a ticket to the blue truck NA394 which is always parked, never moved, on Washington Street, it might bring the numbers up!

This truck has been there since June. Complaints have been made to the Secretary of the Corporation of Hamilton (which was never answered) the Police. TCD and the Traffic Wardens. All to no avail.

It sure makes you wonder how the system works!

HOPING FOR MORE

SPACE ON WASHINGTON ST!

Devonshire

Calling all Guides

February 10, 2004

Dear Sir,

This year marks the 85th anniversary of the formation of the Bermuda Girl Guides Association, which we shall be celebrating at our annual Thinking Day Service on February 22nd (the birthdays of both Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouts and Guides, and his wife, the first Chief Guide) at 3 p.m. in the Anglican Cathedral. As it is a special year, we are inviting all former Guides who earned the Queen's Guide Award, the highest achievement for those of Girl Guide and Ranger age, to join us at this service and stay for a group photograph afterwards.

We have made great effort to trace all the recipients, over 60 of them and dating back to 1949, but this has proved quite a challenge as the majority have married and changed their names. It would be much appreciated if you would kindly print this letter, requesting any Queen's Guides whom we may have missed to call at 295-2669, so that I may send them an invitation.

With many thanks for your help in this matter.

MARY V. HOPKINS