June 5, 2005

Dear Sir,

I write to provide my formal support for Dr. Sean O'Connell.

I was a student of Dr. O'Connell from 1990 when I entered the Bermuda College, until 1992 when I graduated. I was in Philosophy 101 during my first year and in Logic 201 and Epistemology & Metaphysics 201 during my second.

Dr. O'Connell's class was an academic turning point for me. I had graduated from the Berkeley Institute and Saltus Grammar School but was unable to attend university, despite being offered a place at the University of Western Ontario, because with two older siblings in overseas education at the time, we could not afford it. The Bermuda College, and specifically Dr. O'Connell's classes, allowed me the chance to continue my education in challenging subjects that were both qualitative and quantitative. I consider myself fortunate to have had the quality of education, guidance and support that Dr. O'Connell provided.

I cannot bring light to the incident leading to the allegations against him. I can, however, say that in each and every class over two years - and in the years since when I have been invited to speak to his students - I have found Dr. O'Connell to be a true intellectual, a fierce academic and a fair and honest man committed to the rigorous education of Bermudians of every race, to standards recognised at the highest levels. I am a black Bermudian, and I hope that future generations of Bermudians at a cross roads - in need of intellectual encouragement and quality education - are able to have the benefit of Dr. O'Connell's instruction.

EVERARD BARCLAY SIMMONS LL.B (Hons) MCIArb MBA

New York City

Congratulations, Nancy

June 6, 2005

Dear Sir,

With your permission I would like to address an omission I recently committed and one which needs correcting. What brought this to mind was reading over the last couple of weeks on the appointment of Ms Nancy Volesky to the position of Director of E-Commerce within the Department of Telecommunications. I know the loss to the Private Sector will be for the gain of each one of us. I congratulate Nancy on her appointment.

I have worked with her for several years in a number of projects before, during and after her Chairmanship of the Chamber of Commerce's Business Technology Division. The key role this division played in Government's Green Paper on E-Commerce, the forum on Business Preparation for and Recovery after a Natural Disaster, the regular Wired Wednesdays and many other issues were due to a large extent through her drive and the enthusiasm she instilled in others.

In my final report to the members of the Chamber of Commerce at our AGM, I spoke of the work her predecessor, John Narraway did in the strategic planning process which changed an eager e-Commerce Division into a very vibrant purposeful Business Technology Division while regrettably neglecting to mention Nancy's true leadership role. As John later graphically confessed, “I may have helped load the gun, but she certainly pulled the trigger.”

Through the Chairmanship roles of Nancy Volesky, John Narraway and the current chair, John Kyle, this division should be an example to all on how active participation in any business related organization (or community group if you are not a business person) can lead to better networking, representation and collective lobbying which will benefit you and the entire membership/community. I wish her well in her new career.

CHARLES GOSLING

Past President

Bermuda Chamber of Commerce

Stop this status madness

June 7, 2005

Dear Sir,

Mr. Minors, I read your story in the RG on June 6th regarding your Bermudian status; I too was recently told the same ridiculous crap; that ‘I am not Bermudian'.

I called Immigration and asked why this was so given the fact that I was born in Bermuda (an eighth generation Bermudian with my family dating back to 1740), I hold a Government of Bermuda passport and I am listed on the Voting Register (and do vote). I guess this is not enough, perhaps I needed to be on the Sea Venture in 1609 to qualify!

So now I have to pay a $10 fee to get listed on the register and to get a stamp in my Government of Bermuda passport to state that I am a Bermudian.

Absolute craziness!

K.S.

(100 PERCENT BERMUDIAN)

City of Hamilton

Double whammy

June 7, 2005

Dear Sir,

Hello…Dr Brown…. Are you there?

Can you believe that not only have we had numerous human deaths on Bermuda roads in the last six months but we have also now had a horse killed? What are you doing Dr. Brown, and for that matter, every other Bermudian?

Bermudians, this is a double whammy. Firstly, it is again reinforcing that we need to take more responsibility for the way we are all driving - this horse and rider were hit not only by a vehicle that was speeding and over taking stopped cars (obeying the law) but they were hit while on a painted zebra crossing !!! Secondly, the innocent horse - “Louise” - was doing her job - promoting tourism in Bermuda - trail riding is even shown in the advertising done for Bermuda.

Dr. Brown, are you not outraged? What are you going to do and when you are you going to take action? Lucky for you , you ARE in a position of power - Minister of Transport and Tourism.

Here is a fun fact: It takes a maximum of 30 seconds for a trail ride of 10 horses to cross South Shore Road from Farmer's field to the trail going down behind Warwick Long Bay. That is even with the horse grabbing a bite of grass on either side! Trail rides have been going across South Shore Road at that spot for the last 30 plus years - and finally a zebra crossing gets painted on the road (about 3 years ago) and a horse still gets injured! This is unbelievably outrageous don't you think?

Should we ask to have a picture of “Louise” put on the front page so that Bermudians could see her injuries?

The bottom line is that this was a innocent life that was cut short by a reckless act. Dr. Brown, lets not overlook this instance because it was an animal that was killed and not a human life. Please use it as a catalyst to start a MAJOR crack down on reckless driving because what ever is being done currently isn't working!

VANESSA

Paget

Disgusted by Air Canada

This was sent to Air Canada and copied to The Royal Gazette.

May 31, 2005

Dear Sir,

It has just come to my attention that effective July 2005, Air Canada will further stick its claws into my piggy bank in the most ludicrous way. Your airline plans to charge me ten percent of the airline fee to allow my three- month-old son to accompany me on any trip.

For clarification, my son will sit on my lap, will be fed by me and will not receive any special life vest, or service for that matter. And yet you can charge me ten percent of my fare? What's next, will you charge pregnant women extra for their unborn baby or overweight people for the extra pounds that may spill over their seat? Maybe you'll charge people who have longer hair or big noses! How you can get away with charging something for nothing is beyond me. On second thought, maybe you are offering a babysitting service on the flights and that is what the fee covers (do you change diapers and burp babies as well)?

I regularly fly at least eight times a year and Air Canada will no longer be the airline I choose first.

Disgustedly,

FERGUSON

City of Hamilton

Out of touch

June 3, 2005

Dear Sir,

Once again, a magistrate has clearly shown he lives in the privileged proverbial Ivory Tower. Certainly Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner is out of touch with life in the ‘trenches', so to speak.

As reported in June 2's Royal Gazette (‘Maybe he should have just knocked', page2), he had no sympathy for Mr. Alvon James Brangman for taking a hammer to his neighbour's front door. The magistrate's flippant comment that Mr. Brangman should head to St. Brendan's only shows the said magistrate is out of touch with reality and is probably under the delusion that he is a wit, no less.

There are hundreds of scientific studies that show loud noises affect humans, animals and even plant life negatively. It impedes learning, sleep, growth, mental health and the quality of life itself. Even the most steady and sane person can be driven to distraction by continuous loud noise. This is fact.

Magistrate Archibald Warner does not seem to have addressed the problem which came before him - the problem of a very selfish neighbour - but only to have huffed and puffed with self-righteous indignation and low wit.

MARK EMMERSON

City of Hamilton