A loss to the community

July 30, 2002

Dear Sir,

Let me express my disappointment with respect to Mrs. Wineinger's resignation as CEO of the National Drug Commission (NDC). Mrs. Wineinger was clearly prepared and able to be upfront and direct about what needed to be done by the NDC to lead on this issue.

Unfortunately, it appears she did not receive the backing of her chairman.

The Government chose well by selecting this fine Bermudian to lead the National Drug Commission. Mrs. Wineinger's growing understanding as to the depth of pain our community is experiencing from alcohol and drug abuse was refreshing. I applaud her efforts as she spoke about understanding the stories of individuals and families torn apart by alcohol and drug use and her ability to articulate the steps she (it appears not the NDC) was prepared to take to establish quality services in our community. Her resignation brings sadness.

RECOVERY ON THE ROCK

Paget

Insensitive leadership

August 7, 2002

Dear Sir,

A number of people have reacted to Mr. Toppy Cowen. However, to my surprise, no one stated the obvious by pointing out that not only did black people vote for the UBP for 30 odd years, after having achieved universal franchise, but for most of that time the UBP had a white person as their leader!

We have more evidence that a black person will vote for a white leader than that a white person will vote for a black person who they are not controlling.

That is not to say that the issue of race is not very relevant for a very large percentage of black people just as it obviously is for many white people. It would be disingenuous to pretend that the euphoria and high excitement within the black community in November 1998 was not because they perceived a “black” party to have won when many doubted that it might never happen.

The fact that the Premier and those around her have insisted that the PLP is not a “black” party does not negate the perception of many PLP supporters.

In fact, regardless of what one may say, and despite the many other tangible reasons, a great deal of the dissatisfaction and disillusionment within the black community with the Premier is just because the Premier has shown so little empathy for the most disadvantaged within the black community and real insensitivity to the many injustices inflicted on the black community despite her rhetoric of a new Bermuda. Moreover, the anger of many of the Premier's core supporters with those of us who have been critical is because she has a black face.

A few black folks still have such low self esteem that they want nothing more than to have a black leader of a “black” party irrespective of how she does or, does not, perform in their interest. I have been told to my face that I am “destroying” the black community because of my public comments of dissatisfaction. If it is not perceived as a ‘black' party why should I be condemned if I do not show mindless loyalty to a leadership that is reflecting none of my “race proud” values.

However, my political concern about race - and I clearly have concerns - is not only to see a “black” party in control but to see it performing very differently and with much greater fairness than did the UBP. Irrespective of my personal analysis, who have we seen expressing overt dissatisfaction with the PLP leadership. The biggest irony of all is that we can begin with the Labour Union itself and the Garbage Collectors, then there are the teachers, the nurses, the taxi drivers and the home schoolers. Those who overwhelmingly voted for the PLP.

Then there are those who are distressed but have not organised themselves, such as the homeless and the long term “temporary” Civil Servants who may work for decades without benefits. On the other hand who have had concessions, consideration and dialogue and who have expressed quiet satisfaction? The hotels, the restaurants, the banks, the international companies and the Chamber of Commerce. Those who overwhelmingly did not vote for the PLP.

Race is an issue because many black PLP supporters feel that the preference that the Premier has shown to the wealthy in the white community is not merely the consideration that they must have because they control the community while she has shown so little interest in, and indifference towards, those who have suffered in the black community, often because of their support of the PLP - despite her rhetoric of a “New Bermuda”.

Unless there is in the tragic position of having no representation that is sensitive to their predicament.

EVA N. HODGSON

Bailey's Bay

Why do we spoil Bermuda?

August 8, 2002

Dear Sir,

At about 5.10 p.m. last evening (August 7) my wife and I were driving home in rush hour traffic following behind a taxi. The driver was alone in the cab and we were shocked to observe him crumple up a cigarette pack and throw it out his car window. Ironically this discarded item landed on the grass of the South Roundabout very near one of the plaques placed by KBB commending the area for its beauty.

What is the meatality of Bermudians today? What is so difficult about hanging on to trash until you can discard it at home or use one of the numerous bins placed in public areas throughout the island? Why do truck drivers have to throw beer bottles into gardens? Why do people waiting at bus shelters throw their trash on the floor near the trash bin rather than in it?

Anyone walking in Bermuda will be astounded at the amount of trash infesting our vegetation only a few feet away from roadsides. South Shore campers have made the dunes and shorelines a disgrace. There are many issues causing the deterioration of our quality of life here. Littering should be the most simple to fix however.

The taxi driver mentioned should realise that the tourists who give him a big tip after a ride in which he extols Bermuda's beauty will not be coming here in the future if he and others continue to defile our island.

OSCAR THE GROUCH

Paget

P.s. Do we need to put CCTV inside taxi's now - along with GPS?

Consume the problem

July 24, 2002

Dear Sir,

We're all familiar with the traditional images of an oil spill cleanup in action - men in rubber boots mopping down shoreline rocks with absorbent cloths, others spraying down everything with detergents, whirring pumps and excavators drawing off the liquid gunk and contaminated soil respectively and the whole mess bagged, barreled of barged off site for disposal elsewhere, hopefully! However, this leaves us, in respect to our million gallons of jet fuel problem at the airbase, with a bit of a quandary. To clear up the mess by this method will result in:

a) a large hole in the ground.

b) a fleet of barges to make it somebody else's problem.

c) Enough industrial strength detergent to finish off by seepage whatever marine life would have been killed or crippled by the fuel.

Add to that, the fact that due to the penetration of the rock base, you will never be able to get all of the contaminated stone clean. Power washing only cleans the surface, and there will be plenty of back-seepage for years to come. Factor in the $65 million price tag, in addition to the unseen (as yet) costs of the small army of lawyers battling to and fro over who's going to pay for all this, and them. Plus, the ill feeling generated all round as a result of this, and you can see the good times ahead for years to come. There is another way about this problem that could, with the proper application, (and experimentation before hand) solve our cleanup problems, our transport and disposal problems and that pack of legal advisors from Transylvania.

There is a very old cleanup firm whose employees work for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no holidays, no special equipment or chemicals. Not only that, but their work force lives on site, with their immense number of offsprings staying to help out with the family firm until the job is done. Afterwards, they eat each other, or die of starvation. No, I have not been sniffing glue.

Over 30 years of research and development have gone into the production of strains of naturally occurring bacteria which evolved to subsist on petroleum emissions from the ocean floor. They consume the oil, leaving as residue, water and carbon dioxide. This is all they eat, and once they start, they start multiplying like blazes. In terms of advisors we will need:

a) one geologist/hydrologist

b) one microbiologist

c) one expert on the local ecosystems. Dr. Sterrer springs straight to mind. (You know, that nice man whose written all those books about our environment.

As for the rest. Several local crew to man an auger drill, and possibly, a few air compressors/water pumps (if needed). If, the experimental phase proves a thumbs-up, first drill into the contaminated zone where it threatens the water lens, then seed with the activated microbes. If we can established them here, they will form a living shield between the lens and the zone, before they begin to devour their way back into the main formation.

GLEN LIMA

Paget

P.S. For a sample of what I'm talking about, click on ‘united community services of America' then find ‘oil munchers'. Bon Appetit!