July 16, 2003

Dear Sir,

The reason we vote is to send a message that we do not accept the current government and its behaviour. Although there are some good people in the PLP, it isn't enough to put this party in power on July 24.

In 1998 I believed (as many UBP supporters did) that the PLP would be an open government and tackle social issues, crime and housing. We were fed up with the UBP and its unnecessary preoccupations. Unfortunately the behaviour of the Smith government is both arrogant and reckless in its undertakings (both here and abroad) with our small and vulnerable island.

The gross mismanagement of public funds and lack of accountability, the unessential social travel by Jennifer Smith, et al to destinations that are not in the interests of Bermuda, the cries of racism when things aren't going their way, political attachment to areas of the world, which, in reality, need Bermuda more than we need them and the lack of information available and rare communication from the top down are just a few of the obvious.

The disdain for those who dare to ask, the secrecy that follows, the overall lack of good management within the party along with some very vocal Ministers with some “big chips” to unload add up to a dangerous cocktail for the future of this Island.

I will vote UBP again and mean it. I am not giving the PLP my vote and ‘affirming' their poor performance. I want a government that is cautious with our money and our future while providing a healthy mix of representation of this island.

AMS

Pembroke

July 15, 2003

Dear Sir,

I think the people of Bermuda who voted for the PLP have traditional minds when it came to the previous election of 1998 and the present election of 2003. I feel that the people don't really know why they choose to vote one way, but instead base their decision on colour.

I have spoken to black people in society and asked them who they were going to vote for in the 2003 election, and they replied: PLP. I asked them the reason for their vote and the majority of their answers said they have voted for them for years, but they never really said anything else in the PLP's defence. So I also asked them what has the PLP done for the Island that you could see as a major change, and none of them could even answer me with that simple question.

My point is that the average PLP voter is led like a horse with its blinders on and is brought up with one side of the story being taught and things like this because of colour division. Average PLP voter looks at the UBP as just a white party and most of them probably don't even know that there are blacks in the UBP.

I am a young Bermudian and I never for the voted UBP or PLP, but in past four to five years I have definitely seen this Island have a downfall. Crime in Bermuda has tripled with no punishment given to make the criminal think twice, but instead wondering how much it will cost to get out this time. Bermuda's environment is falling down with the trash on the streets, so what happened to “KBB”?

There are old motorcycles laying on every corner without the thought of the proper authorities retrieving them where people could go to the Police station to claim them.

I am tired of seeing all these wild chickens and clothing stores all over the place which makes us look like a poor country, and I think that there are more immigrants on the Island than Bermudians. How long is four years? 48 months or 192 weeks or 1,460 days or 35,040 hours.

This period of time is long enough to see major changes if properly challenged, because the Government definitely found time to spend all that money.

MR. B

July 18, 2003

Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to the letter from Constituency #25. “Well put” and I agree 100 percent that you cannot believe everything from the media whether it be verbal or printed. PLP can make the same promises that the UBP are presently making and have made in the past 30 years.

How can one party make changes or a difference in five years, what has been put in place by the opposing party for the past 30 years? People of Bermuda need a wake-up call. Would it be in your best interest to change parties now or continue to show your support in good & bad times. (No one party is more perfect over the other, never has been and never will be.)

The way I see it now, both political parties have been given the opportunity to lead this Island and both have had their share of hard times. Can you honestly say that the past five years, opposed to 30 years is enough time spent to show major changes.

Cup Match is just a week away. As a Somerset fan or St. George's fan, do you continue to support your team, regardless of the victory or defeat; or do you change sides, because your team has had some bad plays in the game and you feel they are incapable of ever reaching that victorious moment? Just something to think about, before you cast your vote.

CONSTITUENCY #2

St. George's

July 16, 2003

Dear Sir,

I was amazed to read in The Royal Gazette last week that Randy Horton stated that his daughter had attended private school and there was racism present. I happened to know that the private school his hearing impaired daughter attended bent over backwards to all her needs.

She would certainly not have got the individual attention and help in any other school on this island. The PLP praise our education system and we are forever hearing all they have done to improve education for our children. If it is so wonderful why do nearly all PLP MP's have their children in our private schools?

I understood even the Premier's niece attended the private school Mr. Horton accuses of racism.

RETIRED TEACHER

St. George's

July 14, 2003

Dear Sir,

“Sunken ship” writes, “Why is the PLP so intent on turning this once-prosperous and happy island into a third-world Caribbean country? Exaggeration never helps. The Tourism industry was in serious decline in 1998, so the prosperity of those in tourism was already a thing of the past.

Clearly a great many people were not very happy or they would not have voted so overwhelmingly for the PLP. The greatest problem for the PLP was that they too closely followed the polices of a rejected UBP.

It is to be hoped that if they win this time they will remember, and be more considerate of, all those who were NOT happy under the UBP.

EVA N. HODGSON

Crawl