Don?t lose control

January 17, 2007

Dear Sir,

In all my 30 years of driving a car in Bermuda, I have never ?Lost control? of my vehicle. I have had the odd fender bender and backed into the occasional wall, but never ?lost control?. And yet every day I read in the Royal Gazette of another driver who ?lost control? of his or her vehicle ? generally resulting in a major injury or crash. So what is the difference between them and me? I don?t believe it is luck. I believe it is a choice. When I drive I choose NOT to: speed, drink alcohol, smoke, talk on my cell phone, drink coffee, overtake on blind corners, cut corners, etc.

It seems to me that you only ?lose control? if you do not heed the rules of the road. And your ?losing control? might not only affect you ? it could mean disaster for any other innocent road user who happens to be in your vicinity. So let?s stop making it look like the car has a mind of its own and sometimes gets away from you. If you lose control it?s your fault.

Ahh, for the simpler life

January 15, 2007

Dear Sir,

When I and my wife moved here from America six years ago, we moved into an apartment one third the size of the house we were vacating on Long Island. We had to get rid of many of our possessions, including eight hundred books out of my library. Since then I have been at pains to replace some of those books, which I have found to be essential to me. I have no interest in most contemporary books. I am a student of the literature of the past. (At present the Elizabethan playwrights ? other than Shakespeare.)

With the exception of some of the more obvious classics, which are available in paperback (the Penguin series, etc.), the books I require ? literary criticism, analysis, and so on ? ancillary to the classics, some of them in themselves minor classics, are not to be found on the shelves of most bookstores, which are given over for the most part to ephemeral, meretricious publications: fly-by-night ?best sellers?, half-digested, polemical treatises and the like. Books that have something of value to offer may have to be specially ordered.

To determine their availability there has always been the standard reference work, ?Books in Print?, in several volumes, which is to be found in all libraries and most bookstores. At the Public Library in Hamilton I was told that ?Books in Print? has ceased publication, because the information it supplied, including the names of the publisher(s), is now to be found on that newfangled contraption, the computer ? which I do not possess. The Reference Librarian said he would check for me the availability of up to six titles, and he did check the five that I gave him.

I sat beside him, hoping to learn how, on any future occasion, to fend on my own. But, after some hesitation, he had to press, to locate any relevant listings, at least half a dozen keys on the computer ? a procedure which I could barely follow, let alone remember. Aside from anything else, I find it ironic, as well as unforgivable, that now when one sets out to buy a book, one learns that it may be possible only through the interference of an intermediary, a middleman, in the form of an ?infernal machine?.

What you can do for CURE

January 24, 2007

Dear Sir,

We live among generations of Bermudians removed from the immediacy of visible and tangible racial disharmony on our island. To a large degree, many of us have allowed the fantasy to prevail that race is no longer an issue. For those of us born in the post civil rights era, racial inequality only becomes apparent when we return to our island qualified and attempting to enter the workforce. We find ourselves knocking on the door only to realise that in some instances the right qualifications aren?t enough; the colour of our skin, our social connections, and our gender continue to serve as barriers in our current social climate. Bermudians, both black and white discount the power of racial inequality because as our economy booms, a select few across the spectrum now have access to a larger slice of the pie.

It can be simply stated that as our economy booms, the gap widens between those who have access and those who do not because we have yet to address systemic inequalities in our society. The end result is a lag in healthy interracial interactions and racial disharmony flares. We need to look no further than your paper to have a taste of the frustrations rampant in Bermudian society today. We are talking here of the frustration relating to the state of race relations in Bermuda. Even more disheartening is an apparent lack of willingness to engage in useful dialogue. It is only with concrete knowledge that we begin to arrive at a place of mutual understanding thus improving interracial knowledge and moving toward social harmony.

If we want to move toward social harmony we have to accept that perception colours reality. The perception of many on this island involves the concept that race continues to be a social and economic barrier. If we accept that this perception exists, we have a duty to address the issue for the greater benefit of Bermudian society. In Bermuda, we are diverse. This diversity is reflected in our faces, our ethnic origins and our economic status. Rather than a celebration of diversity, we find that the focus on race and culture continues to serve as a source of division. Racial disharmony works like a poison, weakening our island?s foundation and preventing us from developing a true and inclusive ?Bermudian? identity. Without acknowledging our past and each other?s opinions and beliefs regardless of race, we cannot move on, together.

Bermuda, it is time to do something that we have never done. We each need to accept the role that we play in this saga. We need to accept that in order to change we have to have uncomfortable moments. We need to remove our collective heads from the sand and be honest, first with ourselves and then with each other. Talking about race isn?t easy. But we believe that without truly open discussions and a willingness to dialogue in an honest and respectful way about that which is truly uncomfortable, we will, as a people, continue to be disheartened and discouraged. The harsh reality of a fracturing Bermudian community will continue to hold and will begin to further erode our foundations.

The Commission for Unity and Racial Equality (CURE) is equipped to assist individuals and their respective groups or institutions in commencing this very dialogue. With facilitation, we can assist those persons in moving beyond their silenced frustration into a place of being heard. We believe it is only when we respect each other and listen to each other that there can be real movement away from intolerance and toward social harmony. We welcome anyone who feels that they have been discriminated against, or denied opportunity, to meet with us, join in our workshops, and meet with our Commissioners. Help us to make your voices heard. We each have a responsibility to become part of the CURE.

End disfiguring of Bermuda

January 24, 2007

Dear Sir,

I add my voice to those who object to our island becoming a concrete jungle. Our economy is clearly overheated. I believe we must save what little land we have by taking drastic steps. The first step should be to introduce legislation to stop the selling of land, houses and condos to people that are not Bermudian. Nobody should be able to buy a piece of the rock unless they are Bermudian by birth, status, permanent residency or have Bermudian parents or grandparents.

Further, I am thoroughly appalled with the proposals to develop high rise buildings. I?m disgusted with our Government that pretends to represent labour, but instead represents business interests. Thos who wish to disfigure our island with high rise buildings and hotels on beautiful lands are already rich and have an unquenchable desire to feed their egos and feather their empires at the expense of the majority of the population who are just trying to buy a home for themselves and ensure that their children have a roof over their heads.

We should be preserving for our future generations the precious little land we have left. Bermudians should be demanding that our taxpayers money be spent wisely so that there is enough left over in our budget each year to buy places like Southlands for our national interest.

Why close the Causeway?

January 28, 2007

Dear Sir,

It seems as if we are now scared of weather related words as opposed to the actual events. As an East Ender I was surprised at the closing of the Causeway this past Friday. The mere mention of hurricane force winds causes panic as it never did before. I know is has been said we must be proactive in protecting the public as demonstrated by the closure in light of the hurricane force winds, but those same winds blew across Kindley Field Road, Grey?s and Watford Bridges in Sandy?s and the whole length of North Shore Road, yet why were they not closed?

I know that what happened in 2003 is now the catalyst but the circumstances on Friday were much different. With all respect to those lost and those who survive, bad decisions and bad timing led attempted crossing of a partially flooded Causeway at the height of a hurricane and tragedy. It was in fact the storm surge which accompanies a true hurricane that caused the damage to the Causeway and subsequent loss of life. No tidal surge accompanied those winds this past Friday. We in the east have for years attempted and succeeded crossing in similar and stronger winds, in fact up until the minute of closing that was the case, and while I think it to be prudent to want to be safe, common sense must prevail on the part of the motoring public.

Perhaps a better move would have been to ban the passing of two wheeled vehicles as we (Yes, I have a bike. No car.) are the most susceptible to the high winds. This would have eliminated the total disruption to the eastern end. Now it may be said that this misses the point of the closure, well then those persons should attempt to answer the question I posed at the start of my letter. Very selective winds they must have been.

Improve customer service

January 17, 2007

Dear Sir,

I would like to touch on to subjects that is very important to us Bermudians & visitors. If you want business to improve teach your staff manners on how to approach customers. Drop what you are putting away and say ?Good Morning, may I help you?. Stand near in case they do need help or ask a question. Let your staff know the people that come in is part of your wage and your business and make them feel wanted. Because I myself have walked out of shops because of their attitude, as if they were doing you a favour. Make a point, owners and managers. Next thing that is appalling is our mail Post Office Staff. I received a letter yesterday from England dated December 17, 2006. From England to Bermuda December 17 to January 17, 2007. I sent a letter the first week in December, my friend has not received it yet. Somebody better do their job.

Govt. not committed

24th January 2007

Dear Sir,

This was sent to Neletha Butterfield, MP, Minister of the Environment and copied to . I am enclosing a Royal Gazette Supplement entitled ?Our Waste, Our World, Our Choice?. The contents are endorsed by your colleague, Hon. Dennis Lister JP MP, Minister of Works and Engineering. I would like to bring to your attention the words on pages 3-5 under ?Our Natural Resources?, ?Humans and the Environment? and ?Waste?. ?Our resources, like open spaces, beautiful beaches and a variety of plants and animals, are important for the quality of life?. ?More humans, using Bermuda?s natural resources, has (sic) meant a reduction in the amount of land and resources available for plants and animals. The effects of urbanization include increased pollution, increased energy consumption, less land use for food production, fewer natural habitats and less open space for recreation.?

Sometimes I wonder if Cabinet Ministers ever communicate with each other? On the one hand, we have the Ministry of Works and Engineering trying to encourage residents to recycle and dispose of waste in a more environmentally responsible manner. On the other, we have the Minister of the Environment considering Special Development Orders to give foreign developers carte blanche to build numerous high-end residential units on restricted land or land zoned for tourism (affordable only to foreigners, not Bermudians). I would call these inconsistent and conflicting policies.

Do you realize the amount of waste, pollution and damage to the environment that will be caused by the building of all these residential units, the majority to be owned by foreigners as they will be beyond the reach of most Bermudians? You only have to look at the pictures on page five of the Supplement to see that we already have too many people living on the Island now, dumping their garbage indiscriminately across the land. We already have too many cars on the road causing massive grid-lock during rush-hours. We already have air pollution and sewage pollution making us, Bermudians, sick; yet you are proposing to allow numerous foreigners to come in and live here, causing more waste and pollution and putting stress on us, Bermudians, and our Island home.

Does this Government have a long-term plan of Sustainable Development or were the millions of dollars spent surveying and canvassing the general public over the past three years just lip-service to placate the Bermuda population? If all these hotel/residential developments are allowed to proceed, we will have our answer; that this Government is not at all interested in the Environment or Bermudians in general. It will show that this Government is out to benefit a few wealthy individuals to the detriment of the Bermuda populace. I shall be happy for you to share this letter with your Cabinet colleagues. I know these same sentiments are held by many Bermudians and the Cabinet should be aware of them when making their collective decisions.

Take divorce out of courts

January 25, 2007

Dear Sir,

Your recent articles featuring the downfalls of the adversarial system in dealing with issues of separation and divorce are long overdue. The importance of getting family breakdowns out of the courts can make great strides in ?fixing? many social ills in Bermudian society today. With over 50 percent of marriages failing and many affecting children who are a result of those marriages, it is important that a way be developed so that both parents, whenever possible, assist in raising the children-even when divorce or separation becomes a reality. When one partner ?uses? the other partner through the courts to create financial legalised blackmail through the ?care and control? of the children, the court awards to one parent also the wherewithal to alienate that other parent from the children.

Shared parenting through mediation is the answer. Many men feel marginalized by the current adversarial system in this process due to women historically receiving virtually total ?care and control?. The children suffer the most without having the benefit of both parents... and therefore society suffers without children having the benefit of both parents. Looking at the high rates of social ills resulting directly or indirectly from divorce when households become single-parent tells it all. For the sake of solving many of our social ills, let?s get divorce and separation out of the court system.