Bring back the 'cane'

March 3, 2003

Dear Sir,

Please allow me space to voice my concerns about the increase in violence that has occurred in our country in the last three to four years.

So now the option I'm left with is to put pen to paper. To Dr. Gibbons I would like to say that if the UBP Government is successful at the next General Election I can only hope that the very first thing that you and your Government address is legislation, I say that because we now have crimes being committed that the punishment does not match.

The punishment may have matched crimes of 30, 40 or 50 years ago. But the nature of the crime have gotten far worst, and in the last three to four years crimes have increased tremendously. The nature of crimes has increased and the types of punishment have decreased. Until we have punishments in place to deter the types of crimes being committed. We will never start to get Bermuda back to Bermuda of old, where you could boost about the peaceful and safe island we live in.

I read in last week's Royal Gazette a storey about a man who turned his life around (congratulations) and now assists the counsellor to counsel prisoners. But the joke part of it was that this man is doing 33 years in jail for robbery and we have murders that are going unsolved and the ones that are solved the charge is usually changed to manslaughter and the sentence most times between eight to 12 years and of for good behaviour. People appearing in court for assault are being fined 250 to 500 dollars, you are fined equal the amount or more for speeding, and there are many more examples.

Years ago if you did something wrong in school the teachers would cane you (give corporal punishment) and when you got home your parents would also give you a good licking. But now the teachers cannot cane you and the power has been taken away from the parents to lick you. The cane needs to be put back in the teachers hands, power given back to the parents to lick their kids, and the Cat and Nine Tails back into prisons.

We need new legislation put in place, along with counselling and anger management programme where our youth can come and receive help. I would also like for government to offer the program free to persons who cannot afford to pay because a lot of our youth are in financial difficulty and if they are refused help because of this and without the new legislation we will never see our Island home lifted up out of the very very sad state it is in.

KIMMIE MELLO

St. David's

P.S. I am voting for a government that is willing to change legislation and put the programs in place that will help get our island back to the Bermuda of old.

Teen alcohol is the problem

March 12, 2003

Dear Sir,

No more skirting the issue. Let's all face it. Bermuda has a serious problem. Drugs and the issues relating to such a topic can cause a wide range of conflicting points. But we Bermudians genuinely fail ourselves by neglecting to address these conflicting points especially on the subject of drugs. This is the real problem on our drugs issue.

This letter looks at addressing a point about Bermuda's most used and abused drug of choice - alcohol. I think we should raise the legal drinking age to 21 and aggressively take steps to maintain such an amended standard. What is the reason behind wanting to make such a change? I believe that this small example will show our young people that we have their long-term well being at heart.

I think we are and have been compromising the priceless value of their lives for far too long. Indeed, it seems that the only concerted attention our elected governments (PLP & UBP) give toward the alcohol abuse or use issue comes each year when it is decided how much more in potential revenue can be obtained from increases to its taxation rate.

I do not believe that this measure alone will solve all of our current social ills. However, I do believe it will help by addressing an important contributing factor in a few issues relating to our greatest possession - our youth. One of these issues is the prevalence of public displays of violence. I believe alcohol has had a major role in some of the appalling public displays of violence seen recently. This will not entirely remove alcohols contribution to such violence.

But hopefully it will help to limit it a bit. In this case, the familiar saying "something is better than nothing" is a desired result that can happened with such an action being taken. Please note, I haven't even begun to touch on the enormous health benefits that can be obtained as well. To our current and future government, I admonish you: Failure to act is an Act sure to fail.

ZANE STOWE

Smith's Parish

Legalise it

March 14, 2003

Dear Sir,

It would seem that the triumph of the narcotics squad have proved far more negative than positive for our community.

KING RIZLA

Warwick

How to stop panhandling

17 March, 2003

This was sent to Secretary of the Corporation of Hamilton Roger Sherratt and copied to The Royal Gazette.

Dear Mr. Sherratt,

It is disturbing to read that the Corporation of Hamilton is considering banning beggars from the City of Hamilton. Beggars need food, clothing and shelter just like every other human being, and they need some means of obtaining the necessities of life, whether legal or illegal in nature. A ban from the city will simply move begging, and potentially theft, to other neighbourhoods. No doubt a less Draconian solution to our begging problem can be found. Other communities that depend largely upon tourism for their revenues have tried a "voucher" system which works as follows:

1. Concerned community members are able to purchase vouchers, usually for small denominations of money, e.g. a dollar each, which they carry with them as they choose.

2. The vouchers are printed on unusual paper which makes them difficult to counterfeit.

3. Beggars soon realise that they can more easily solicit a voucher from a local resident than cash from a tourist they have never seen before.

4. The vouchers are accepted by local businesses for food, clothing, haircuts, shoes and other necessities. The vouchers are NOT redeemable for alcoholic beverages under any circumstances. (Some communities also forbid using the vouchers for cigarettes.)

5. Merchants who have accepted the vouchers are reimbursed fully and promptly for the used vouchers by the coordinating agency, such as the Chamber of Commerce or the Corporation of Hamilton.

Communities that have tried this system have documented sharp declines in incidents of tourists being harassed and accosted by street beggars. I fully realise that it is impossible to completely solve he problem of begging by this method. However, a major reduction in the amount of begging directed at our invited guests/tourists can only be of benefit for our community and local businesses. I hope that the Corporation of Hamilton will seriously consider this suggestion.

As the courts aren't enforcing the laws against begging, one cannot assume that they will enforce even harsher penalties for banning offences. This system is simpler and much smaller in scope than the "pay and display" parking voucher system. It has worked in other communities. Why not give it a try?

MRS. JASEN MONIZ

Smith's Parish

Take care of home

March 5, 2003

Dear Sir,

I listened with shock over a regular ZFB broadcast when the Pastor Rev. Dr. Conway Simons requested the church take up a collection to help Morris Brown College in Atlanta in their financial troubles. I say to Rev. Conway Simmons Morris Brown College is in financial trouble with the US Federal Government because poor administration of the College resulting in the school losing its accreditation leaving the students with no value to their credits.

I would have totally supported Rev. Conway Simmons if he requested to the church to assist our own schools in our home Bermuda. CedarBridge, Berkeley, Dellwood, Whitney, Clearwater, Sandys, Gilbert, Port Royal and the Bermuda College etc. always are in great need of "financial assistance" to help with their Parent Teachers Students Associations which help tremendously with the running of these schools.

So Rev. Simmons lets take care of our own at home first. The need to assist Bermuda schools is always greatly helpful because it helps our costs and assistance to keep the high expenses of running schools down. Thank you Mr. Editor for allowing me space in your valuable editorial.

FORMER PRESIDENT OF A PTSA

PARENT A.M.E. CHURCH MEMBER

Bad apples are everywhere

March 6, 2003

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to respond to comments made by a prison official or officer who attacked. Sen. Neville Darrell on passing comments that prison staff are a part of illegal drugs getting in Bermudas Prison. I don't think this person has a good memory about two years ago the Royal Gazette did an article with a few prisoners and they all stated that staff have been involved in passing illegal substance to inmates.

To the complainer: there are bad apples in all services; police, prison, customs worldwide. Please wake up open your eyes and see.

TAX PAYER

Warwick

A word of thanks

March 17, 2003

Dear Sir,

Please allow me space in your column to express the sincere thanks of the Bermuda Cathedral Organ Fund Committee to all those who supported the Organ Play-a-thon, which washed on Sunday March 16, 2003 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Ruth Lloyd Henderson, as Cathedral Organist. The event commenced at 12 noon immediately following the 11 a.m. Service with a 30 minute recital by Mrs. Henderson.

This was followed by one of her students and organ scholar Jonathan McBeath. The programme continued on with 28 organists from across the Island and various denominations playing for segments from fifteen minutes to one hour until midnight.

The event was a great success and to date has raised at total of $6000. Of this sum, $4000 was raised through the efforts and support of Organ Scholar Jonathan McBeath. All proceeds from this event will go towards the refurbishment and upgrading of the Cathedral's ageing (1936) organ. Again, many thanks to all those organists who participated in the event, and their sponsors for supporting this worthwhile effort.

Of course a very special 'thank you' to Mrs. Henderson for this brilliant idea to raise the much needed funds and her continued efforts as Cathedral Organist and teacher.

REG RAWLINS

Chairman, Cathedral Organ Fund

Keep cannabis illegal

March 14, 2003

Dear Sir,

Re Dr. Grant Farquar's letter about the danger of marijuana, Royal Gazette March 12, 2003. As a fellow psychiatrist, albeit a retired one, I would concur with all that he wrote about risks associated with marijuana.

Chronic use can be associated with ill health, and a higher death rate. As well here is an increased rate if mental illness and serious accidents.

All the above is a cost to the community. That is the present situation. Looking at the future, reports are circulating that the potency of marijuana plants is being much enhanced by skilful manipulation, whether through horticultural methods or genetic engineering is not clear to me.

In Bermuda I have heard opinions circulating that an unacceptable amount of street violence has been developing as the result of difficulty of obtaining the drug Marijuana.

Even if it is a drug with some sedative effect, the cure for withdrawal symptoms should not be greater access to the drug. This side steps the issue of medical usage of marijuana in terminal cases of neurological conditions or cancer and such, which would require stiff legal regulations such as are in place for morphine products today.

EMILY LIDDELL

Pembroke

Traffic fine mania

March 10, 2003

This has sent to the Clerk of Magistrates Court and copied to The Royal Gazette

Dear Sir,

Please find enclosed my cheque for $50 in payment of a parking fine. I trust that this money will go towards a much needed cause of improving the driving skills in Bermuda. I am concerned with the amount of drivers who fail to switch on there head lights within the prescribed time of half an hour after sunset.

Another serious problem is the obvious lack of proper attention drivers pay whilst using their mobile phones. Personally, I think funds should be made available to the police, in order for them to tackle these problems.

I look forward to your response, but should you not reply, then I can only assume your driving skills fall into the category I have described above.

NICKEAY

Southampton