Vision statement needed

November 13, 2005

Dear Sir,

When I participated in one of the controversial focus groups for the Government earlier this year, I expressed my strong belief that what is missing for Bermuda is a Statement of Vision to get us all focused on the greater goal for the country. This would also help each of us to identify our own way to contribute to that vision as citizens of this country. I should add here that it is my opinion that Bermuda could not be successful as an independent country until we have experience working and living together under such a unifying force for our quite diverse community.

There are a lot of good organisations working feverishly to address the many issues that challenge us (without, I fear, significant cohesive results in the bigger picture). With a vision for the country, they could develop their mission statements and subsequent goals to align them more effectively.

I am no expert on the methodology for developing such a vision statement for a large entity but I am certainly willing to work with others to make a contribution to this end. I can be contacted by e-mail at kimsnorthrock.bm look forward to hearing from all interested persons.

KIM SMITH

Pembroke

I'm willing to help

November 12, 2005

Dear Sir,

Re: Justice for Rebecca. In reply to ‘Justice for Rebecca' of October 18 I too feel that the people of this Island should be concerned that justice was not done. I would be happy to donate to a fund and would hope that maybe a Canadian lawyer here or those somehow connected with Canada might do some pro bono work. We need someone to set this up. A phone number or name and you can knock on my door.

ALSO FOR REBECCA

Paget

Poor use of money

November 8, 2005

Dear Sir,

I am reading a book on the history of the First World War by David Stevenson and have got to the section on summer-autumn 1917. What does this have to do with us?

Well initially, much in the same way that the majority of Bermudians were up for a change in Government in 1998, loyal populations in all the European belligerent countries were in favour of war. However after three long years of atrocious conditions at the fronts including huge troop casualties, deprivations and lowered living standards there was no end in sight.

Troops were mutinying and back home men and in particular women were marching against reduced food and fuel supplies. This was especially the case in France and also in Russia where the conditions hastened the communist revolution. It was also true to different extents in Britain, Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The reactions of Governments were to introduce mass propaganda and indoctrination programmes. In every single country these programmes were complete failures. Dealing with food and fuel shortages at home, resting and treating troops as human beings were found to much more effective in raising morale that indoctrination.

Of course the First World War governments did not have access to television. However, they had the best possible media methods and manpower resources.

I am not suggesting for one moment the situation in Bermuda 2005 is anywhere close to Europe 1917.

The point I am making is that just as in the First World War it is not better public relations or increased information that is effective for governments, it is actually dealing with problems that gets the best bang for the buck and generates good PR. Here in Bermuda spending money on a Government Television Station when so many problems still appear to be unresolved in the community is poor use of taxpayers' money. It also diverts energy away from dealing with real problems.

RON LUCAS

Smith's Parish

Tremendous success

November 14, 2005

Dear Sir,

Please allow us space to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of the sponsors and volunteers that made the Haunted Playground for Children at Fort Hamilton on October 27 and the Fort Hamilton Halloween Ball on October 29, the tremendous success they were.

Despite the weather, both were well received, and we had a great turnout for both events.

We see Fort Hamilton as a true Bermudian gem and would like to thank The Corporation of Hamilton for allowing the use of the fort. We feel that they shared our goal to provide a safe and positive Halloween option for Bermuda's children and it should be known that without their help the haunted playground would have been purely conceptual.

Also, none of these events would have been possible without the involvement of our sponsors and volunteers. Therefore, we would like to thank Logic Communications, Belco, Frameworks, Toys ‘n' Stuff, BGA, Pure Water, Miles Market, The Edge, Jackson School of Dance and Barritts & Sons, for showing their support and coming onboard.

Lastly, many thanks are given to all of the volunteers that donated their time and energy to the playground and Halloween Ball. Neither event could have been a success without the heart and dedication of these fabulous volunteers, so thank you!

Guests of the Fort Hamilton Halloween Ball can check for their photos online at www.volcanic.bm.

THE VOLCANIC TEAM

City of Hamilton

Silencing of Gina

November 9, 2005

Dear Sir,

I've been watching the news from my favourite Island these past few days. In fact I've been watching the news from Bermudaville for almost 100 years.

For all those people in the land of oleanders and loquat trees who might not remember me (and it was a long time ago!) I was a really famous writer ... Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn ... I was the famous American communicator and I know democracy when I see it.

And, my friends and neighbours, I want you to know that maybe what you used to have with the old United Bermuda Party was democracy with some lack of social conscience, but what I see now is the beginnings of dictatorship.

Yes, my friends, something bad is happening in River City. Take what's happening with my friend Gina Spence ... and me and Gina, well, she's a lot like me ... Gina works with your kids ... she is the great communicator who can talk to your kids and they listen to her. I know Bermudians and I know that they, that is, you, want your kids to have a better life than you had. I know that you want your kids to learn from the past so that the things that you experienced will never happen again. Things like Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Think by Yourself, Freedom to Change the World ... these are the things that are more important than maths and English and biology. And not only is my friend Gina getting silenced ... so are your kids. This is slavery in a different form. This is slavery in the form of a dictatorship which won't allow a person to educate your children to be free to express themselves ... whoops, where have I heard that phrase before?

You don't believe me? Here's a lady, one of your own, who not only works with kids but someone the kids ... YOUR kids ... listen to. Do they do that with you? Here's a lady who has been working with your kids for years and she has been a member of the United Bermuda Party for years. In fact, she has been an announced candidate for the United Bermuda Party for months now. And she's been working with your kids, and they've been listening to her, for all that time. If you don't know Gina, well, you should - and you'd be impressed. She is fair if nothing else but she's also passionate about children and the future; she's a teacher who is effective (not so common these fine days); and she's full of energy and action. She's a leader and she is the future of your fair Island.

Now, let's look at fairness and see who's talking out of both sides of their mouth. And by the way, note that these are the people who say they want to lead you down the garden path into the future of democracy. Gina's employer, the Bermuda College, has a PLP Senator as Chairman of the Board of Trustees (think he doesn't have some power?) Gina's employer let her work with your kids (presumably indoctrinating them with the radical policies of the United Bermuda Party) for years while she was clearly a member and a candidate.

And, my friends, here's the kicker(s) - the Government's supposedly fair and impartial Broadcasting Commission includes Murray Brown (he's an old friend of another fella named Brown ... Ewart), Scott Simmons, the official spokesman for the PLP, Wayne Perinchief the PLP Minister, Ira Phillip, one of the PLP's staunchest, and publicly so, supporters, and a few other PLP major-domos. Now these same pinnacles of Fair Play, yes, people, that's what you voted for, Fair Play, say it's OK for PLP Senator David Burch to host a radio show on a station owned by a PLP MP and interview the PLP Leader of the Pack, Big Al the Man (otherwise known as P). But it's not OK for a United Bermuda Party Senator, a woman, and a free thinker ... to work with your kids.

Now, seriously, do you really want any more of this? Is this what you want for the future of your country and your children? I, say to you, from my humble home, next time you are asked for a vote ... express yourselves and very, very loudly.

SAM CLEMENS

Southampton

Government TV

November 8, 2005

Dear Sir,

The new Government television has sent howls of “dictatorship!” in the air again.

This is one issue - the coming dictatorship of the PLP - that can be put on the list of things that are not really important or probable. On that list are Independence, the “P”'s possibly racist response to an extremely rude e-mail, the arrival of the Prince, Burch on the radio etc. etc. etc.

Among the things that are ignored by the public and its Government is education. Time and again talented men or the PLP and UBP have ministered this department while the rest of their party ignores them. I believe it is happening again with Lister. But never mind that.

On to more immediate and much less important and very expensive things like Government TV! The problem with it is not that we are headed for a dictatorship - which is laughable - but that it directly competes with the existing TV industry. Since we have money to throw away, why not buy time on the existing TV channels?

Also if you have a Government TV station who will watch it? What, we're going to be right in the middle of 24 Hours and flip over to the Government station to check out the latest departmental promotions? Whose hired!? Whose fired?! When's the next Department of Ag Fish audit?! Why not have Government announcements on a channel people watch?

Set up a Government TV studio out in Dockyard somewhere and shoot the things out there. Or better yet - hire one of the excellent video producers that are on the Island right now. Then put it on after the news so people actually bother to see it.

Why spend all the extra money?

JOHN ZUILL

Pembroke

He cares about Bermuda

November 13, 2005

Dear Sir,

Please permit me space to comment on our UBP Opposition leader Dr. Grant Gibbons.

Grant is a very honest, intelligent, articulate, hardworking, caring Bermudian. He is not your on-the-sidewalk, baby kissing, handshaking, wave to everybody kind of politician. But he brings trustworthiness and credibility to the Government process. If and when the UBPwins a General Election, he wll bring good governance once again.

Under his leadership the UBP almost won the last election. Presently under the leadership of Grant and his colleagues young Bermudians, black and white, are coming to the UBP as a credible alternative to the present Government. I suspect the wider community is doing the same, if not thinking of doing the same. Grant is a very caring white Bermudian. He really cares about the welfare of his fellow Bermudians black and white, as he cares for Bermuda generally.

Recently, I have read and heard of those who think we must change the leadership of the UBP and replace Grant with a black person in order to win the next election. This sort of thinking is regrettable. To have to select a leader, black or white, because of the colour of his skin and not because of his character and ability, is to perpetuate the type of negative racial thinking that has affected Bermuda for far too long.

In the case of the UBP it is offensive to the very underlying principle on which the UBP was founded. The principle on which the UBP was founded was and is: “To build respect and tolerance between the races, and bring about social and economic equality of the races in Bermuda, it was recognised that more had to be done for the black race because they had been economically, educationally, and socially suppressed in the past.” It is still that philosophy that binds the UBP as a political party.

It is good for any organisation to change the leadership from time to time and to allow fresh new ideas to be introduced. When the time comes for this to happen within the UBP it will be done democratically according to our constitution, and with dignity,sensitivity and thanks to Grant for all that he has done. But that day has not yet arrived.

QUINTON EDNESS

Warwick

Address gangs first

November 9, 2005

Dear Sir,

For a Government so wrapped up in its own not-so-hidden-agenda of Independence, here's another wake up call! Last Friday night, at approximately 1 a.m. I was leaving town on Reid Street after a pleasant evening with friends. I made it as far as the crosswalk outside Captain's Lounge when my path suddenly was blocked by about 50-75 young men, most of whom were dressed in shades of red.

As I waited for a few minutes to allow them to settle a brawl occurred. Not ten feet in front of me I witnessed a youth being sucker punched, fall to the pavement head first, unconscious. Then he was immediately surrounded by the mob and all hell broke loose. Somehow I managed to manoeuvre my scooter through the mob and get out of the ensuing street fight. As I was rounding the corner onto Queen Street I saw four horrified tourists begin to high-tail back to Front Street.

Now, I do not want to harp on this too long but it does seem evident that certain priorities of this Government are a little out of whack!

Need I remind certain people in power that this size population does not even constitute being called a city in most North American jurisdictions. As far as I know most “cities” this size with our per capita incomes don't seem to have this amount of racism, homelessness, educational dysfunction drug and gang violence, traffic congestion, environmental pollution, or the high cost of living and rent! Nor do I think most “cities” this size - even without all our current social crisis, are bragging about going independent.

But I suppose that when the current administration achieve their “Social Agenda” and become independent they will then tackle the insidious gang related problems and other insanely obvious issues plaguing this Island of only approximately 70,000 people. PLP Government ... please wake up - soon!

MARK HOWIE

Hamilton Parish