'So why can't I?'

May 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

There is a general atmosphere of lawlessness in Bermuda due to the actions of some politicians, the inaction of most politicians and the inability of the entire judicial system to successfully prosecute many people. As a result more and more people believe that they can get away with almost anything.

"Hey, they do it why can't I? And even if I do get caught they probably won't or can't do anything about it."

Tragically this attitude prevails on our roads.

Tragically this attitude is killing people.

The leaders must change or we must change the leaders.

What is the speed limit?

May 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

For the past 20 years or more, a plea has gone out to all road users to stick to the speed limit and use care and caution every time a serious accident happens, and after all these years and many deaths it has only fallen on deaf ears, which proves that "pleading" is absolutely useless and strict laws have to be put in place.

First of all, one has to ask: "What is the speed limit ? 20 mph?, 22 mph?, 35 kph? ? or what?" Every time this question has been asked it has been completely ignored. So to make a start, a "speed limit" has to be put into place and enforced, lets say 45 kph (28 mph) with a 4 kph leeway which can occur when going downhill.

Next, a "zero tolerance" law on drunk driving. Anyone caught operating a vehicle under the influence should be arrested and kept in jail until they can be dealt with in court in the appropriate manner, and the vehicle impounded, and one would hope that after appearing in court they would not be allowed to drive for a very long time.

By far the worst offenders on the road are bike riders; just yesterday on a short journey to Warwick at least five of these riders zoomed past us at high speeds, unimpeded, and just as we came around the bend in front of Saltus a kid shot out of the main gate on a scooter right in front of us, causing brakes to be applied sharply, and on top of that, for some unknown reason he looks behind as he crosses over. To prevent any further casualties a strict clampdown must be imposed on all bike riders starting with control on the speed limit, no overtaking at any time. They should have to wait in line like any other vehicle. If the bike riders are brought into line the other road users might get the message and start driving carefully and with consideration of others.

It is imperative that those who do break the law are dealt with in a severe manner, meaning taking away licences and impounding vehicles for a long time. If these suggestions sound "over the top" I am sure most people in Bermuda agree that travelling on these roads is close to the point of no return.

There used to be a commercial on New York radio many years ago aimed at speeders, and it finished up by the person saying, "The faster you go, the faster you go".

Amarals to the rescue

May 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge two people who have basically restored my belief that there is more good in our community than bad.

My family's home was broken into during the mid-morning hours of Wednesday, May 18. A quantity of cash and personal items of sentimental value were removed from our home.

However, because of the observance, persistence and courage of brothers Carlos and Anthony Amaral, the thief was challenged and subsequently chased for a distance until Police intervened and arrested him. As a result, every single item stolen from our home was recovered and will be returned to us. One person's deplorable actions could not possibly undermine what Carlos and Anthony did that day ? my family and I will forever be grateful to them for their swift and courageous actions.

We would also like to thank Det. Con. Bill Foggo and his team for their diligence during and after the incident. If you are visiting or driving by the Amaral fruit and vegetable stand this Saturday on Middle Road, Devonshire, please give your praises to Carlos and Anthony.

Suffering in silence

May 23, 2005

Dear Sir,

I listened with interest to Mr. Rolfe Commissiong's statement that middle income earners are suffering in silence when it comes to home ownership. This has always been the case. Not only do middle income earners spend a substantial amount of their income on rents, but they also spend their income in other areas associated with exorbitant costs of the functions of daily living in Bermuda.

There is no affordable housing for people in middle income brackets. I commend the effort that the Bermuda Housing Corporation has under taken regarding the Harbourside Village project. However, a more positive and innovative outcome would have been made if some dwellings were set aside for the middle income earners.

Mr. Commissiong, we middle income earners are worried, with sleepless nights worrying how to cut corners in order to obtain that magical down payment. Please be a voice for us.

Referendum is important

May 25, 2005

Dear Sir,

Mr. Walton Brown's opinions are always helpfully informed. You can not fault his scholarship. But this old bug-bear of the referendum to decide Independence as opposed to an election will not by solved by his good light. Comparisons to other countries are not going to hold sway in Bermuda. The UBP tried to foist an education programme on Bermuda that was good because it was done elsewhere. The people didn't want it. They got it anyway. It didn't work elsewhere. And it didn't work here. Why we have to do it everyone else's way I do not know. But apparently thinking for ourselves is a bad idea.

For a host of reasons, including our old nemesis ? racial division ? people in Bermuda do not vote because they have made a political choice. They vote out of fear. The UBP knew this and were able to keep a substantial bloc of whites and conservative blacks voting for them, year in and out. The positive utility of black unity worked the same way for the PLP. Since the UBP was unable to actually present an image or aspiration of truly united Bermuda, many blacks felt they had one choice ? they voted PLP.

It is my view that in conjunction with voter fear is a slow motion struggle between the voting population and whoever was the governing party. Frustrated by its lack of choice, the public struggles to push through changes that are necessary but which the voting public can not mandate by vote. In other words, an enormous amount of public pressure is brought to bear on the Government from outside the traditional voting procedure.

You can sense this in the frequent outbursts of dissatisfaction with either party one sees in the paper, on television and in conversation. This struggle has been going on for years.

A referendum is important in Bermuda because a very large part of the population would not trust either party to walk their dog, much less take them to Independence. And that group is not racially divided. That's a local reality. And as we know ? All Politics Is Local. Local ? that's us, not some international precedent.

Best they can offer?

May 17, 2005

Dear Sir,

I have read the The Social Agenda booklet cover to cover twice, seeking illumination without success.

I've arbitrarily rated each Ministry's contribution on a scale of one to ten. Only to one Ministry have I accorded a score above five, that being the Attorney General and Minister of Justice which received two sevens, a six, a five and a two. The only other marks above a two were one five and one four, that being for all of the other ten Ministries combined. The Agenda is replete with sagacious comments such as "we will encourage" "I am establishing" "will be introducing" "will provide" "will introduce" "will instil positive" "will also introduce" "will insist" "will identify" "will monitor" ad nauseam. It all sounds like an MC practising for a talk show. Where's the beef? This is the agenda which the Premier has been touting since the last election as the solution to all Bermuda's problems. Monday night's people metre rated the Agenda with a ninety plus disapproval rating. If this is the best this Government has to offer then God help us all!

Time for leaders to lead

May 21, 2005

Dear Sir,

Re: "Opposition Members bolt House"

As I read via the Internet of the recent House of Assembly, my head again shook in anguish. The UBP immaturely picked up their marbles, refused to play any more and went home. With our country having so many social time bombs with fuses getting ever shorter, again political madness hinders progress and the growth of a self supporting colony which has prospered due to its uniqueness of, beauty, location and people.

Is it not a fact that people in authority, for example teachers, parents, police, clergy, and politicians are to lead by example? It is any wonder that our youth are the way they are, not all, however, surely a majority have no examples to follow except of those in authority. The UBP, for the majority of our political history, sat in the driver's seat and led as they saw fit, as the ruling majority. Remember the PLP inherited many of the previous party's seedlings that have sprouted and now need to be up rooted and discarded.

Since change for individuals is often difficult, for lack of acceptance, when will the UBP accept reality that they are not the ruling party today but the Opposition? Does the Opposition intend to oppose all and any possible solutions? Solutions are what the people and country need, not examples of packing up and leaving when or if things are not the way that they see fit.

Our country, with scores of substance abusers, broken homes, carelessness of road rules, unaffordable housing for Bermudians, young men who have history only of the inside life of prison, millions of dollars put into the building of the CedarBridge and deplorable numbers of graduating students being taught by some teachers who don't even have teaching degrees, are just a few of the issues that we as a nation face. The list of important situations of course is far greater if we are to be open and honest. We are in trouble. Come on UBP, PLP, when are we as a people of moral character and with any sense of dignity to take off the blinders and see what's right in front of us? No one likes to take responsibility for not achieving set objectives, however to admit something is the first step to open the door for change and growth.

Surely we need change. Our success for the future depends on some unity. When will our leaders, lead? Be it the PLP, UBP, NLP, it is time for BFB, Bermudians for Bermuda. If the House of Assembly continues to have bickering sessions instead of policy and decision makings, then we are doomed.

As adults, we need to lead and show examples of stability, to set the path for our generations that are here and coming behind us.

Enforcement is key

May 18, 2005

Dear Sir,

As you are aware, there is a saying "A picture is worth a thousand words". Your photo on the front page of an accident, graphic in detail, will not have the effect you hope for. As you stated, it will be disturbing to the family of the accident victim and to his friends. Though the intent of the fourth estate is to shock and to drive home the realities of as stated, careless driving, reckless behaviour and other traffic violations, I am sorry to say all you have done is cause more pain to the family and friends of Eugene Christopher.

You in the media must aim your critique in the direction where it will do the most good: Traffic enforcement. Traffic enforcement is the total Police effort directed to obtain compliance to traffic regulations after programmes of traffic safety education, driver training, traffic engineering etc. fail to reach the desired results of safety on the roads. The immediate objective of any traffic enforcement programme is to deter the traffic violator or "The Potential Violator". These goals, though attainable, cannot be reached until motorists become aware that Police enforcement is continuous and followed by prompt and decisive court action. Motorists develop safe driving habits when they are aware of the consequences suffered by apprehension and the punitive results.

The majority of drivers never think that "it can happen to me". The safety of Bermudians and visitors to the Island is firmly in the hands of law enforcement and the courts. When you start hurting them in the pocket, when you hurt them with their freedom, when they realise that a driving licence is a privilege and not a God given right, then you will see change.

True act of kindness

May 22, 2005

Dear Sir,

To the lady who shared her Star Wars doll with a Learning Disabled person after the movie was shown at the Liberty Theatre on Saturday afternoon last. You do not know the pleasure you gave our son by this act of kindness. We wish to thank you with all our hearts.

Be part of the solution

May 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

There is a well known verse in the Bible that talks about there being many mansions in my Father's house. That sounds real good in the weekly services held throughout Bermuda. But that is not going to solve the housing crisis. My message to all of Bermuda's church leaders is before any of us get the use of any of those aforementioned mansions. Let's build some earthly mansions and help solve our housing crisis.

Starting with you, Bishop Vernon Lambe, stop grumbling because your parishioners have to walk a little bit to get to your services. If your service is that good and enlightening they should go one better than the Camel man and walk two miles to get to your church. Tear up those plans you have drawn up for a parking lot and get some plans drawn up for some homes for some of your homeless people where they can to rest their tired and weary bodies.

Canon James Francis, the Anglican church is one of Bermuda's largest land owners. They were also given a mandate to build schools and homes. You have done a perfect job when it comes to the church. There is at least one in every parish. And every church has a parsonage. And most of those are very large at that. When was the last time the Anglican Church built a home for their parishioners? Come along, Canon Francis, stop paying lip service to the problem and be a part of the solution.

There should be a moratorium on the construction of any new churches in Bermuda. There have been at least 30 new ones built in the last 30 years or so. And the crime and the like keeps increasing. So more churches are not the answer. We need more homes and affordable ones at that. My challenge to Bermuda's church leaders is: Put your land where your mouth is and let's solve the problem. Create a Habitat for Bermuda and I will be the first person to sign up to volunteer to help to build those homes to house my fellow Bermudians.