Is this money well spent? February 2, 2007Dear Sir,I just read in today’s paper (February 2) that Government is giving $15 million to Bermuda football. Wow, that’s just great! I’m sure it’ll do wonders for us when it comes time to play. I mean, just look at what that $11 million did for our cricket team (Canada 162/8, Bermuda 106/all out in today’s match!!). One thing’s for sure...World Cup should be very interesting!

Why do other sports such as rugby, volleyball, sailing etc. get pushed to the wayside why it comes to funding? More than half the time, these teams do far better in their respective sports in overseas events than our cricket and football teams.

On another note...is anything EVER going to be do with the old Club Med hotel site? A new hotel perhaps, a housing development maybe? Just wondering...it’s been years now!

SIMPLY ASKING

Pembroke<$z18.5>Fishing for answersThis was sent to Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield and copied to The Royal Gazette.

<$> February 3, 2007Dear Minister ButterfieldI am writing to you in the hope that you can answer some concerns we have regarding your decision to allow the longlining fishing vessel Eagle Eye II to fish off Bermuda.

1. Is the Bermuda Government aware of the international agreements regarding longlining fishing vessels?

2. Has your Ministry obtained information as to the peak passage of hundreds of thousands of seabirds through Bermuda waters?

3. Has your Ministry ensured that the>Eagle Eye ll has measures in place to prevent the drowning of seabirds?

4. Are you aware that the proposed method of longlining (surface setting) is the most lethal type of longlining to bird life.

5. Has the Ministry engaged an independent observer on board to monitor progress and by-catch (including turtles and birds).

In the 1980s, longlining became an increasingly popular method of fishing, partly in response to the increasing demand for high-quality, high-value fish destined for the clientele of upmarket restaurants. During line setting, longliners set a single line up to 130 km long behind the boat. Attached to it are literally thousands of baited hooks. An estimated 1 billion hooks are set annually by the world’s longline fleets. Some of the baited hooks are eaten not by their intended targets, but by seabirds. The hooked birds are dragged under water and drown.

The Problem

Albatrosses and other seabirds often feed by scavenging for food behind fishing vessels and other boats, waiting for prey to be disturbed or scraps thrown overboard. When longlining, fishing boats set thousands of baited hooks on a fishing line to catch fish, seabirds scavenging behind these boats try to eat the bait from the hooks as they are set behind the boat. Some birds swallow the hooks and are dragged underwater and drown. More than 300,000 seabirds are killed in this way each year. 26 species of seabird, including 17 species of albatrosses, are in danger of extinction because of the deaths caused by longlininB>

The Solutions

Many cheap and readily implemented solutions have been, and are being developed. Employing these will be of benefit to the fishermen themselves because the more bait eaten by birds, the smaller the catch of fish.

* Towing bird-scaring (or tori) lines behind the vessel. These have plastic streamers tied to them that flap in the wind and scare birds away from the baited fishing line.

* Using an underwater setting tube. These set the fishing line underwater out of reach of the birds.

* Tying enough weights to the fishing line so that it sinks more quickly out of reach of the birds.

* Using thawed not frozen bait as it sinks more quickly.

* Dying the bait blue. This puts birds off eating it.

* Setting lines at night. Most albatrosses feed mainly by day.

The Bermuda Audubon Society and BirdLife International believe measures like these should be as routine a part of longlining as the line itself, and international agreements have been developed to encourage their use.

In 2004 an international treaty, the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) was signed by many nations including the UK. This agreement requires signatory states to take specific measures to improve the conservation status of these birds. The Agreement is established under the auspices of the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) and is legally binding.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) developed an International Plan of Action (IPOA) to tackle seabird by-catch in 1988. This lists the measures that fisheries can adopt to reduce their by-catch.

Several fisheries have international regulatory bodies. They set fishing quotas and limits and encourage the implementation of best fishing practices. These regulatory bodies can introduce measures to protect the particular wildlife (for example, to concentrate fishing to times of least impact to seabirds).

I look forward to hearing from you

Yours sincerely

Andrew Dobson

President, Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Bi<$>A shared dance mission February 4, 2007Dear Sir:The core values of the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda centre on the value of dance training in youth development. Dance promotes athleticism, self discipline, poise and a positive self image. We applaud the Government of Bermuda’s recent announcement regarding its investment in the Island’s youth through sport. In making his announcement, the Hon. Minister K. H. Randolph Horton JP MP has reinforced his support for the same values when he announced substantial funding for football programmes.

The difference is that the NDFB is considerably smaller and is largely privately funded, but its mission is the same as the Honourable Minister’s.

Just as the Minister of Education, Sport and Recreation has committed to using sport as an effective programme to develop Bermuda’s young people, the National Dance Foundation also wants to contribute to the development of a healthy and well-adjusted generation of young people. The only difference is the medium for this development.

The Foundation is committed to providing young people who love to dance with world class training not available on island so that they can explore their full potential.

That’s why it’s surprising that owners of some dance schools are upset with the Foundation because we know they believe in this mission, too.

The mission of the Foundation is to contribute to the positive development of Bermuda’s youth by raising the standard of dance excellence in Bermuda.

[bul] We are in the early stages of building a great Foundation. It will be world-class and will help cement Bermuda’s reputation for cultural excellence. As with Government’s investment in the long-term development of sport, it takes focus, continuity and professionalism to do this.

[bul] The Foundation’s training and scholarship programmes complement, not compete with, the ongoing classes offered by the island’s dance schools.

[bul] Our focus is on any dancer who has the talent and determination to excel. We ensure that these students have access to world-class training, regardless of dance school affiliation or financial means.

[bul] In the last 12 months, we have allocated approximately $450,000 of the net funds raised by the Foundation directly to programmes, including $120,000 in scholarships and bursaries for study in Bermuda and overseas. This is an unprecedented source of scholarship and bursary funding for Bermuda’s dancers and teachers. This does not include any salary allocation to support these programmes and falls within the long-term target funding allocation of 66% programmes/34% administration.[bul] In 2005, we established a partnership with one of the world’s great dance schools and companies, American Ballet Theatre, to offer an international summer intensive, saving Bermuda dancers the cost of travelling overseas for world-class dance instruction. The tuition for this programme is virtually the same as any similar programme overseas - but it’s available here in Bermuda. There’s no air fare, no accommodation and no out of pocket costs to Bermuda dancers - but the same world-class experience, with dancers from around the world, right here at home. With five levels of instruction supported by seven instructors, four pianists, seven programme assistants, a physician and a physiotherapist, there has never been a programme of this scope or calibre in Bermuda before.

[bul] In 2006, we established the Young Dancer’s programme, which features a customized dance syllabus for dancers aged 9 -12. The in-depth curriculum and quality instruction in this programme rival those found anywhere in the world.

[bul] n 2005 and 2006, we brought master teachers from Juilliard, Alvin Ailey and Paul Taylor to Bermuda to teach modern and jazz. These classes are offered free of charge. There will be many more master teachers from many more great companies coming to Bermuda.

[bul] In 2006, we established professional development workshops for teachers featuring some of the world’s most respected master teachers, Franco De Vita and Raymond Lukens. This programme is a first for Bermuda and represents 20 hours of instruction annually - again, offered free of charge to Bermuda’s dance teachers.

The Board of the National Dance Foundation is one of Bermuda’s most experienced and diverse non-profit Boards. They are advised and encouraged by a distinguished Honourary Board. Their names are listed here. They represent significant dance and business experience. Many of them were members of the National Dance Theatre of Bermuda and one was its Chairman for 15 years.

To those dance school owners who have withdrawn their support from the National Dance Foundation, you have all made important and lasting contributions to the development of dance in Bermuda. We share your passion for dance. But at the heart of your disagreement with the Foundation is your belief that the programmes run by the Foundation don’t require fulltime staff. On this, the Board and Honourary Board disagree with you.

We are in the initial stages of building a world-class organization that will offer a wide variety of opportunities to Bermuda’s young people. It takes time, consistency and professionalism to do this right. The programmes we are running now are not the sum total of the programmes and scholarships that will eventually form the Foundation’s annual calendar of activity.

The young people of Bermuda face an onslaught of challenges and they do so in the context of a public dialogue that is often characterised by race, gender or financial bias.

The National Dance Foundation has created a neutral, welcoming environment where any talented dance student can work with other talented dancers — from Bermuda and from around the world — to pursue his or her dream of dance. It doesn’t matter which school they’re from. If they qualify for our programmes but can’t afford the tuition, we will give them financial support.

We are committed to these students and the adults who support them. We are motivated by their best interests and inspired by their passion. We know that we have the opportunity to create something of lasting value for Bermuda. We so deeply appreciate the philanthropy that makes this possible.

DON KRAMER

Chain<$>

Members of the Board and Honourary Board of the National Dance Foundation

Don Kramer, Chairman

John Campbell

Sophia Cannonier

Connie Dey

Jeffrey Chant

Jean Hannant

Penny Cox

Georgine Hill MBE

Mary Faulkenberry

Geoffrey Moore OBE

Vanessa Hardy

Ruth Thomas MBE

Sal Hodgson

Dame Jennifer Smith DBE DHuML JP MP

Kerry Judd

Lady Vereker

Carlos Lee

Rachel Moore

Alison Purvey-Adams

Victoria Rowell

Sonja Salmon

Cole Simons JP MP

Sallie Singleton

Alan Thompson

Catherine Zeta-Jones

The shame of adult egosDear Sir:I wish to begin by thanking your publication, and in particular Nancy Acton’s work on the National Dance Foundation’s Master Classes. It is always a pleasure to see our hard working dancers celebrated in such ways.

I should let you know that it has been yet another successful series, and for those dancers who attended, it seemed they all enjoyed the experience completely. I know I can personally speak for my daughter who is still “glowing”. The classes, which were privately sponsored, were FREE and should have been packed to the rafters by ALL aspiring dance students. Children, when given an opportunity to experience world-class training, for free, should move mountain and earth to be there.

Thus it saddens me that some “adult” egos have prevented a good majority of our local dancers this amazing opportunity. Some dance schools, and whatever their “problems” are decided that it was in their best interest not to allow their dancers to participate in the master classes. WOW! Adults preventing children from a world-class opportunity! The tragedy of this entire thing is that it’s the kids who have missed out— the kids— the dancers.

What an embarrassment. Such talent, given a wonderful chance, was wasted, because some adults have personal issues. I could say that if someone had done something horrible or if someone had abused a child’s rights, or the like, and then there might be a reason for questions. Alas, there are no such evils to be found here. No, its a few “egos” who have issues outside the realm of dance entirely who have made the conscious decision to withhold their dancers from the Master Classes. In a time where youth development needs as much push as possible we have adults saying “NO” to this world-class opportunity.

To these schools I say this; if your agenda’s larger than the needs of your dancers, then I entirely support you. If not, you seriously need an ego-check! I only hope your dancers will forgive you. To the members of the National Dance Foundation, American Ballet Theater and primary sponsor Partner Re, thank you all so much for yet ANOTHER fantastic series. Long may it continue?

Sincerely yours,

Philliay<$>Consider the message February 1, 2007 Dear Sir:I thought that when the Premier announced that he needed a bodyguard that he was joking. After all most businesses in Hamilton have from time to time suffered a brief intrusion by one of the gentlemen off the street, usually the worse for wear after a few drinks. The unwanted guests have always been dealt with with minimal drama by Security personnel or by the Police.

My concern is that, in this 21 square mile country with its tiny population, the Minister of Tourism should be seen to require a bodyguard. What kind of message does that send to our prospective visitors?

SUSAN HARVEY

Paget