August 1, 2003

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to use this space to vent my frustration with ZBM's coverage of the annual Cup Match. As folks know, Cup Match is the most anticipated local sporting event of the year. Fans speculate, predict and argue about who will win or lose. Persons show their support during the days leading up to the game by wearing red and blue for Somerset or light blue and dark blue for St. George's.

It is a community event that brings Bermudians together.

For various reasons, there are some supporters who cannot get to the match. Therefore they rely on radio coverage of the game. In recent years, at home viewers have been fortunate to see limited footage on ZBM TV-9.

These same at-home viewers were not so lucky on the first day of Cup Match 2003, as they missed the “First Day Breakfast Show” that promised to air promptly at 9 a.m. Due to technical difficulties, they were tortured with a repeat of commentary shown already on ZBM the two nights prior to Cup Match.

To add insult to injury a scroll of yellow writing ran through the screen stating: “Due to technical difficulties, the breakfast show will air at 10.30 a.m.” Who would want to watch that, one hour and a half delayed, while the game is in full swing and you are now preoccupied with listening attentively to the radio?

Additionally, the coverage that started at 4.30 p.m. was of poor quality.

The picture was dark and blurry. One could not help notice that when VSB showed highlights of the game on their evening news, their picture was clear, colourful and a pleasure to watch.

Come on ZBM! After so many years in the game, you should be up to the challenge! If you are not, step aside and let VSB do their thing! People should have a choice.

SEETHING RED & BLUE

Sandys

August 4, 2003

Dear Sir,

What is Bermuda's judicial system coming to? This laddie Brangman beats up a 77-year-old woman, leaving her in a coma from which she's unlikely to recover, and steals her purse. And he gets three years probation? Come on! Rehabilitate him if you like, but only after he serves a sentence worthy of his abominable and cowardly crime. While I sympathise with his troubled past, this is the judicial equivalent of nothing more than a slap on the wrist, and does not send the sort of message that is likely to deter would-be offenders.

Gilbert & Sullivan were spot on in ‘The Mikado' with their famous lines: “My object all sublime, I shall achieve in time, To make the punishment fit the crime, The punishment fit the crime.”

Far too often these days, the punishment doesn't nearly reflect the seriousness of the crime. It is to be hoped that Government will take immediate steps to address this shortcoming, but I for one am not holding my breath.

DAVIE KERR

St. George's

August 4, 2003

Dear Sir,

We have been to Bermuda many times since our honeymoon in 1964 and, of course, always love visiting there.

The Newstead was our favourite place to stay because of the wonderful staff, the location and the beautiful surroundings. We always felt like we were visiting friends when we arrived.

When we stayed there last year, we were disappointed in some of the changes that were being made. Now we hear that the Newstead is being sold.

We hope that whoever purchases it will bring it back to the way it was when we first started visiting, including the dining room with its “silver service” and barbecues on the terrace several nights a week. Those are some of the reasons we liked coming to Newstead. It's fine to update it but please don't change what makes it so special.

Another thing that disappointed us last year was the fact that there are no variety shows any more at the big hotels. They were always enjoyable and we can't understand the reason for discontinuing them. I'm sure visitors would like to go out to a show occasionally, but there are none to be found.

We will continue to visit Bermuda in the future but will miss staying at the Newstead. Hopefully, it will be bought by someone who can bring it back to the way we remember it.

KEN & CAROLE SIRI

Monroe Township, New Jersey

July 22, 2003

Dear Sir,

Pamela Gordon, as Premier, was subjected to a ‘mole' giving up the confidential plans that the UBP had developed for the future to the PLP hierarchy. No doubt the ‘mole' was a PLP supporter.

How ironic it is to see the PLP receive a dose of their own medicine with the ‘leak' of the BHC report.

PHIL CRACKNELL

City of Hamilton