August 28, 2005

Dear Sir,

I am not an economist. Thus my comments could be made by the most casual observer of the most obvious.

Laissez faire or unrestrained capitalism is the survival of the (economically) fittest. History has taught us that human beings have been as willing to devour or exploit their own kind as the tiger or lion or other wild animals have been to devour other kinds of animals. Any Government intervention, even the slightest, to restrain the "bestial" inclinations of the (economically) "fittest" is a nod to our humanity. Even the United States, the only other country which worships the economically "fittest" as much as does Bermuda, has one or two laws (e.g. restraint on monopolies) intended to restrain the "bestiality" of the economically "fittest" so that they do not completely "devour" every one not in their class. We all know how limited is their success.

When one considers the poverty and difficult life of so many in Russia today in order that a few may become inordinately wealthy, one wonders how so many can view Russia as having improved its situation with its new found commitment to "the survival of the economically fittest".

As for Bermuda, I think that this Government has shown sufficient desire to copy the worst of the UBP, and the former Premier made it very obvious to all Bermudians what her values are in regard to the survival of the economically fittest that no one need to worry too much about too many restraints being placed on the economically "fittest" in Bermuda, no matter what inclinations they may show towards devouring or exploiting the economically least fit. The fact is that so few of us have put so little pressure on this Government to show its humanity that all of us who supported the PLP stand condemned in terms of our own inhumanity.

EVA N. HODGSON

Bailey's Bay

P.s. On a totally different issue: Since waste is becoming a problem, Bermuda needs to do like Rwanda and turn our waste into "biodegradable energy" or usable gas, and fertiliser for farms.

Ugly incident

September 1, 2005

Dear Sir,

We've heard about vagrants in town becoming more aggressive. This morning I experienced first-hand an unpleasant encounter with one of the drop-outs that gather daily to get drunk while sitting on the Church Street benches by the bus station.

I was minding my own business walking past Fed Ex on the other side of the road from the vagrants on Church Street when a male vagrant, bottle in hand, crossed the road and without smiling or saying anything began to aggressively pull faces at me, mimicked my walk and basically aped me to passersby in the street. I ignored him and walked on.

A few minutes later I had to retrace my steps and saw that this man was still giving me a steely stare. I decided that I was going to take action as I refused to be intimidated by this idiot. I walked past while he stood lounging in the sun with his bottle in his hand and made a short comment of protest to him in front of his pals. I walked on to shouts of abuse.

At this point I was some 15 paces from him, heading away from the taxi rank past the cycle park. What happened next shocked me. A 12-inch piece of rusted metal pipe hurtled right past me and clattered on the road narrowly missing my legs. He had hurled the object at me and missed by a few inches. Shouting and commotion was heard behind me. I carried on my journey and did not turn around but I was shocked and shaken on my return to the office.

What is this Island coming to? This happened to me, a young woman in business attire, walking by herself at 10 a.m. in the centre of town on a business day in broad daylight on a sidewalk with shoppers, other business people and (Department of Tourism please note) tourists walking past. What impression does this give to visitors? Are we prepared to continue to let vagrants rule our city sidewalks? What is being done to deal with this issue? Lots of talk and little to no action, that's what.

Although I agree some of these people are peaceful and keep themselves to themselves I am wondering if it will take a respectable, innocent member of the public being seriously injured in an attack before the relevant authorities take the vagrancy problem seriously.

DISGUSTED IN PEMBROKE

Not so picture perfect

September 2, 2005

Dear Sir,

Please allow me space in your newspaper, for the most ridiculous item of the day.

I worked at the Airport for more than 13 years, greeting and welcoming tourist to Bermuda. Several weeks ago I was boarding flight to the US as I started to walk on to the ramp towards the stairs, there was a young family (tourists) in front of me with two young children, the father asked the family to stand at the bottom of the stairs, so he may take a picture of them boarding, immediately one of the security guards jumped in between them and stopped the father from taking a picture, no pictures to be taken on the ramp he replies. I stood in disbelief and thought that all of my efforts over the years had gone down the drain. I have never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life. I felt very sorry for the family, because I came very close to intervening. I am sure it would have caused a disturbance, but I could see that he was hired in body and not mind which would explain his reactions.

ROBERT HENDERSON

Smith's Parish

A crying shame

August 24, 2005

Dear Sir,

I would like to know if you could answer these questions for me. The first subject: Sufficient houses or apartments for rent, not for purchase, because there is no way that the average Bermudian can afford to purchase a home. The old hospital over on the US base in St. David's, the old Clay House in Devonshire, and the Holiday Inn, in St. George's.

We here in Bermuda are strapped because we do not have sufficient housing to rent, and there are at least these two or three places that can be reformed into at least two or three apartments, for rent. No more condos please.

I drive by Clay House everyday, and am very upset to see that it has fallen in a state of disrepair, and so close to the road. Who in the world owns it? I refuse to believe that it belongs to a Bermudian; because if it does, and they are letting it go like that, well all I can say is that's a crying shame.

I was told that the Holiday Inn might belong to a non-Bermudian, if that is true, why haven't we negotiated the price? And the same goes for the old hospital building in St. David's. But, like a friend said the other day, we are in chains, and that is the way the powers that be want it, yes, they have us just where they want us to be, helpless, and powerless, so we can be controlled, without a fight. After all where will we get the power to fight?

Second subject: Why have we allowed the crime to get out of control as it has. What is it called? Is it keeping us under subjection? You know, keeping the police and the courts busy making money, no matter who gets hurt in the process, no matter whose mother, father, child gets hurt. For the life of me, I cannot remember the right word to use.

I would like some answers, please.

HELP

What if there was no car?

August 20, 2005

Dear Sir,

Today was the most terrifying day in my life, next to the fire on Christmas night. My precious pit bull bit and chewed a large frog and was having seizures and was temporally paralysed due to the poison from the frog.

Thankfully we had my boyfriend's car available to rush him to the vet immediately. Had we not he surely would have died. Yes he is just a dog to some, but my baby to me.

What if we didn't have or car? I am single with a partner though we are un-married. Thank God this thing about no cars for singles is not a reality. I fear my Dino would have been dead. So think good and hard before acting on this. Someone else a single, may have a serious emergency. Perhaps your mom or dad.

DINO'S MOM

Devonshire

P.s. Many thanks to Simon and staff. The vet at Endsmeet.

Facts without the hype

September 6, 2005

Dear Sir,

I have one request for yourself and other members of the media who oppose Independence (including Limey in Bermuda), it is quite misleading to keep printing that 65 percent of the public oppose Independence. Correction, 65.5 percent of 403 persons polled a year ago said that they oppose it. Who were the persons polled representative of (in my circle of family, friends and acquaintances, I have yet to have one person say that they were polled)? Regardless of where these persons were chosen from, 264 people in no way equates to 65 percent of the public! Until the public are given the opportunity to decide, can the media just give us the straight facts without the hype?

DAVID WILLIAMS

Sandys Parish

Editor's note: Polling is a scientific process, in which the people polled are broken down by race, gender, income, age and other demographic factors to create a "sample" that reflects a community. For Bermuda, a poll of about 400 people is accepted as being sufficient for creating an accurate sample. In the end, a poll's credibility depends on its past record. The Royal Gazette's polls are conducted by Research Innovations, which accurately predicted the popular vote in the last two General Elections based on its polling. Finally, Research Innovations polls every quarter, and the polls have consistently shown 65 percent of people oppose Independence, although the number of people saying they support Independence or have not taken a position has varied.

On the Spot care

August 5, 2005

Dear Sir,

My daughters and I recently vacationed in Bermuda. We are former residents and I am Bermudian by birth. I wish to express my sincere thanks to one of your restaurants and its staff for the assistance given to one of my children.

On July 20, the children and I met to have lunch at the Spot Restaurant. My youngest daughter, Nicole, is a Type 1 diabetic. Upon ordering our lunch, we noticed that Nicole's sugar level was extremely low. She began to go into a diabetic coma. Kash, the manager of the Spot Restaurant, immediately called for an ambulance. Mrs. Davis, a waitress, brought cokes/orange juice to Nicole. Between the two staff members of this restaurant, Nicole was well taken care of until the ambulance arrived. Ambulatory care was given at the restaurant and Nicole was able to remain at the restaurant.

Kash and Mrs. Davis then proceeded to ensure that Nicole quickly received a sandwich and fries (carbonated food) in order to stabilise her condition. There was no charge for her meal.

I wish to publicly thank and commend Kash and Mrs. Davis for their quick action taken during this incident. Nicole could have gone into a complete coma and very quickly, without their assistance.

Spot Restaurant is a great restaurant. I give all the staff thanks for their service.

SUSAN CRANE

Niagara Falls, Canada