The following letter was sent to Mr. Peter Bromby Sr. and copied to The Royal Gazette:

January 23, 2003

Dear Mr. Bromby,

It is obvious from reading your letter to the editor (Seatbelt Law Will Die) dated January 22 that you are seriously misinformed about seatbelts in particular and road safety in general. The dissemination of this misinformation is most unfortunate and potentially harmful. I would therefore respectfully draw your attention to the following points.

Prior to recommending the introduction of mandatory seatbelts, the Road Safety Council undertook a complete review of the relevant literature, all of which is available on the Internet. I suspect, sir, that it would take you many weeks to wade through the reference material that was used. I would nevertheless be glad to point you in the right direction if you have the interest.

It is a well-known fact that the vast majority of road deaths and serious injuries occur within one mile of the driver's point of departure. The mundane daily routine that you describe in your letter, therefore, provides you with no immunity to crashes. It is also a well-known fact that most deaths and serious injuries occur at speeds of under 35 mph. The public service announcement currently airing on local television includes a dramatic demonstration of the potential consequences of an unbelted crash at just 30 mph. Although this crash test was carried out at a slightly higher speed than our current legal limit, I might be forgiven if I make the assumption that you probably regularly travel at this speed.

What do we realistically hope to achieve by the introduction of the seat belt law? Certainly, it is plain to see that in Bermuda the vast majority of deaths and serious injuries occur as a result of motorbike crashes and not car crashes and the Road Safety Council is doing its best to address this serious problem. However, what is also obvious is that at least one death and 30 to 40 serious facial, neck or chest injuries occur every year as a direct result of not wearing a seatbelt. The cost of this subset of entirely preventable injuries alone is estimated to be in the millions of dollars, money that you will agree could be better spent on other pressing health needs.

In the road safety business, seatbelts are well known to be the most cost-effective intervention ever invented. They come standard with every vehicle and are user friendly. You need only speak to anyone who has lived in a community where seatbelts are mandatory to realise that wearing one becomes as routine as inserting the key into the ignition.

It would be most unfortunate if you, Mr. Bromby, or anyone else for that matter, lost your life or experienced an unexpected rearrangement of your face just because you decided to leave that most effective of protective devices, the seat belt, dangling next to your right shoulder unused. I know about old dogs and new tricks but go on … give it a try. You never know when your number is up … it might well be on your next trip to Tony's convenience store.

JOSEPH FRONCIONI, MDCM, FRCS(C)

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Chairman, Road Safety Council

January 24, 2003

Dear Sir,

Minister Webb's now infamous “People who look like me” comment is in urgent need of amendment to “People who think like me”. If you look like Minister Webb but don't submit to the PLP party line you can forget any hope of being the recipient of the non-existent, but highly touted, “ad-hoc policy” of economic empowerment.

Former PLP Spokesman Corey Butterfield and the Hardell Group's ever-expanding legal battle with the Smith Government is one example of their lack of credibility on this subject. The disgraceful shock firing of Sen. Kim Swan from St. George's Golf Club several years ago is another. These individuals, on both sides of Bermuda's political fence, have suffered similar fates for daring to think independently.

Sen. Swan, it would seem, looks enough like the group of people Renee Webb was referring to. Corey Butterfield and the Hardell Group appear to adequately meet the qualification as well. In Sen. Swan's case he never thought like Minster Webb did - at least politically. Mr. Butterfield on the other hand, who both looked and thought like Ms. Webb, had the gall to stand up against interference by a PLP Cabinet Minister in a Human Rights Commission discrimination investigation.

The Smith Government's response? Attempt to economically ruin everyone involved.

This is not about economic empowerment for black Bermudians at all. It's about political payoffs for those currently in favour and retribution for anyone who dare step out of line. PLP Sen. Calvin Smith eloquently articulated his party's hypocrisy on race during a Senate session when he said to UBP Senators Swan and Santucci: “You used to be black once”.

Not quite the characteristics of a Government committed to empowering an economically under-represented majority and fighting for the rights of the oppressed, is it?

CHRISTIAN DUNLEAVY

Warwick

January 24, 2003

Dear Sir,

Some months ago there was an article in one of the local papers about the famous artist Mrs. C. H. Tee who, in addition to her Front Street emporium, gets a little more money from renting rooms at her house.

The article was about her decision to take the deposit of some potential tourists who couldn't make it to Bermuda for some unfortunate reason - my recollection is that this was shortly after September 11. A legitimate business decision...

Last week, you printed a grateful letter from some family in the US who couldn't come to a local guest house because of a medical problem with their son. Cindy Ashton, the proprietor, not only sent the deposit back in full but also expressed sympathy to the family. Again, her choice....

Now, no doubt, Mrs. Tee got richer, but Bermuda got poorer. Cindy Ashton's act of kindness (and I know it ain't random!) made her a little poorer, but Bermuda got a whole lot richer.

Maybe Mrs. Tee could have a cup of coffee with Cindy to explore this concept!

CLASS ACT

City of Hamilton

January 16, 2003

Dear Sir,

Is not the criticism of the Rev. William Hayward excessively unfair? Your report this week regurgitated complaints from an earlier piece - concerning punctuality, “uninspiring” sermons and his unmarried state. The first seems trivial, the second subjective and the third irrelevant, though unpleasant as innuendo.

As a regular visitor to Bermuda who has attended well-conducted services at St. Mark's, I have personally found the Rev. Hayward to be a kindly, compassionate man clearly interested in the welfare of his parish.

ANN GEMMELL

Toronto, Canada