May 15, 2006

Dear Sir,

My husband and I have recently returned from another wonderful holiday on your beautiful island, unfortunately we were appalled at the state of one of our favourite places, John Smith's Bay.

There was a large amount of broken glass on the beach, bottles and other rubbish in the trees and on the terraces above the beach and also in the car park. Every day I visited I picked up a handful or two of broken glass and disposed of it. One would not want children playing on the beach without shoes on.

It seems a few people who make this mess take no pride in their lovely island and cannot be bothered to walk a few yards to a litter bin.

ALICE COLEGATE

Maidstone, Kent

May 12, 2006

Dear Sir,

I wonder if the Bermuda Police would be interested in offering sponsored speed traps. For a reasonable fee you would have a radar team operating on a road near you for a few hours, splitting the proceeds from fines 50-50 with them. It could be a nice little earner.

I was nearly 'taken out' on my run this morning by a sports car ? surely the most practical vehicle for Bermuda since the ice yacht was invented. I wouldn't say it was close, but I had to go home to change my shorts.

Yours on speed,

May 23, 2006

Dear Sir,

In today's , page 2, the articles headed, "Butler criticises Burch comments?and rejects UBP Cabinet post," is further cause for Bermuda to be concerned about which way it is going.

t is hard to believe that a man of Minister Butler's intelligence and past history as an educator, could utter such nonsense.

In these two articles, Minister Butler is talking out of both sides of his mouth. Out of one side of his mouth, he criticises Senator Burch for his "house nigger" comment, and out of the other side of his mouth; he makes the asinine statement that any black that joins the UBP, wants to be white! How ridiculous can one get? His comment is as offensive as the "house nigger" comment?he might as well have said the same thing, as there is not much difference between the two.

Where in the world are we going with this nonsense? It seems that if things continue the way they are, we will probably be going straight back to the "plantation", but this time around, the only difference is that the PLP will be the plantation owners, Talk about turning the tables! And, if this does happen, I wonder if we'll have a "New Klux Klan" instead of a Ku Klux Klan?

Remember the famous words from the cross, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do?" Well I say, "Forgive Minister Butler because he hasn't a clue".PAT FERGUSON

Warwick

Editor's Note: Mr. Butler has denied saying that blacks that join the UBP want to be white. Instead, he says he said blacks that join the UBP want to be "right". stands by the story.

May 23, 2006

Dear Sir,

Personally I believe that people who are up in arms over the blasphemy of The DaVinci Code are seriously in need of a life. The book is a work of fiction. Look up fiction in the dictionary. It will tell you right there "made up", "not real" ? a lie.

If you don't want to see the movie, don't go and see it. If enough people don't go and see it, it will go away that much quicker. But standing in front of a theatre, waving placards or writing protest letters only increases the profits of this film, since more people will go see it to find out what's so controversial about it. Feeding the controversy in no way diminishes it.

Go home, people. Get a life.

PAT BROWN

City of Hamilton

May 23, 2006

Dear Sir,

My skin colour is white. In my pocket I carry a green card. Issued by the PLP, it proclaims that I'm a "member in good standing" and that my membership is "Valid for Life". I treasure my Green Card even though it doesn't entitle me to vote, work or anything else. I joined the PLP some 15 years ago, not because it was in power (it wasn't) or because I thought it ever would be. I joined because its politics and platform more closely identified with my priorities than those of the UBP.

My all-time favourite (Independent) politico and MP was and is Stuart Hayward, but that's a different story.

Have I ever been harassed as a white PLP member? No. Maybe that is because I present no threat to anyone. I'm not enfranchised to vote and therefore politically neutered. One might say irrelevant.

Having been conceived and baptised in Bermuda some 68 years ago, having had a principal family home here for 70-plus years, having paid taxes and employed a staff, contributing to the economy ? matters not. I'm not allowed to vote. Not even at PLP meetings!

Taxation Without Representation. Should I hold a Tea Party? How many, like me, long-term residents in good standing, lack the right to vote? I reckon most of us are white. Is that why?

Your series "Whites in the PLP" doesn't apply to me. I'm intensely interested in politics, a (white) donor to the PLP, but I have no standing as a voter. I've been excluded even from attending PLP membership meetings. Needless to say, my nose is out-of-joint, but I'll continue supporting the PLP financially as long they don't mind taking dollars from an alien. I still believe in its potential for progressive politics, though reality devastates my expectations.

Last week I hosted the Bermuda diplomatic delegation for a reception at my Washington, D.C. home. I noticed that the Premier was sporting a lapel pin, as usual: PLP. Oh, Alex, how much I wish you'd remove that party label from your lapel and substitute a Bermuda Flag ! You do represent ALL of Bermuda in your official duties, not just the PLP. I'll wear a PLP pin on my lapel 24/7 if only you would switch!

STEWART R. MOTT

Sandys

May 29, 2006

Dear Sir,

Personally I have zero sympathy for Americans and their monstrous gas-guzzling machines. They have been through three oil crises and each time they bound back and think they can keep demanding more and more cheap gas be available to them. And between each crisis the size and power of their vehicles increases.

Oil is a finite resource. There will never be another drop of oil recreated to replace what is being drained from the earth at an ever increasing rate. Just what do people think is going to happen? Every year millions of new consumers join current drivers at the pump. China, with one-fifth of the world population, is just starting to flex its oil consuming muscles. People with money think it's some kind of status symbol to buy a huge Hummer or even the SUVs you see driving around Bermuda all the time. What on earth does anyone in Bermuda need an off road vehicle for? Then they have the gall to complain about how much it costs!

Grow up people. It will never get better. In years to come it will get worse.Why aren't people importing electric cars into Bermuda? Perhaps the Government needs to start looking at bringing in ethanol and encourage people to buy hybrid cars.

In the end, the only ones who can get things rolling are the consumers themselves. Only if we want better modes of transportation will we get them. Stop whining about it and start doing something about it. And in case you're interested, I ride the bus.

PAT BROWN

City of Hamilton