An open letter to cabbies

July 15, 2004

Dear Sir,

Everyone knows someone that has been struggling with this issue ? whether for, against or indifferent. On July 14 the GPS bill was given a hiatus. Many of the sentiments apply regardless of whether you are a taxi driver or not. Substitute the word taxi with Bermudian and it starts to make a whole lot of sense. This is an open letter to my Taxi family:

I have never been prouder to have been born a taxi driver. Thanks for inspiring me to share the following. First and foremost ? take time above all to give thanks to God ? whatever the level of your faith. To the taxi executive & other supportive groups ? well done! It's a victory! Celebrate humbly and give thanks for coming through yet another battle with few casualties but stay focused ? now is not the time to gloat ? commit to continuing the fight against mandatory GPS. It is not over yet!

Rededicate yourself to being the best taxi owner or operator, and an ambassador to your country. Have proof in 365 days that you have. Take every opportunity to speak positively about our profession, your fellow drivers and be unselfish in your catering to the public whether locals, tourists or guest workers but never feel the need to compromise your safety or livelihood.

Refuse to let the dispatching companies make us their scapegoat for complaints of poor service because of complacency, antiquated methods and equipment. Acknowledge our own shortcomings and take responsibility for legitimate complaints and work towards minimising them. Demand the resources and tools from government and dispatching companies to help us serve the industry better.

Feel pity for the few that fell prey to the chance at getting rich quick off the sweat of many but help them with a new approach if they are genuinely concerned about the industry first. Respect the opinions of others even if they don't agree with you. Be open to new ideas and be prepared to state your opinion with a civil tongue. Do not contradict yourself or negate your good intentions through your actions.

Do not stand idly by and let another operator tarnish the reputation of our business by his actions or failure to comply with the regulations in place. Work towards changing what needs to be changed. This is your business ? how you chose to conduct it is your business but don't minimise the efforts of others who don't chose to do what you do or jeopardise another's right to make a living.

Elders ? don't let the next generation forget how you started, how you struggled, how we have matured into an essential service. Next generation ? don't let the elders stifle your need to embrace new ideas and technology to keep up with changing times and demands. Show them how you will let their legacy survive and prosper. Educate yourself on the issues & support others who face struggles with government. Make Government and Opposition, their respective departments and boards accountable for their actions or lack of action, whatever the issue. Don't forget to applaud their successes! Remind Government that we will never forget but we will no longer waste time rehashing.

We will move forward from today to clean up our house ? and theirs! Thanks to the Senate, the Opposition UBP and all supporters for understanding the broader issue and speaking out on behalf of the industry. Thanks for the inevitable radio, television, talk show and print media coverage resulting during this battle.

This was an unexpected but effective way to air our concerns to a broader base without depleting our meagre resources to compete against Governments costly, premature and arrogant advertising blitz. And finally, thanks to the Premier, the PLP, Dr. Ewart Brown, Derek Burgess' BIU and all our detractors for underestimating the power of those born to drive Taxi. You have all given us our last wake up call! Be proud to participate & speak out even if it isn't your cause! Start from now!! Are you ready?

Go back to move forward

July 16, 2004

Dear Sir,

I want to share an incident which took place on the morning of Wednesday, July 14, 2004. At about 8 a.m. as I approached the Aquarium I noticed a standing line of cars in Flatts from the stop sign to the top of the hill. I could not believe that no one in the line of traffic had the courtesy to stop and let some of the traffic come through the stop sign so I did just that. I gave a hand signal to the vehicles behind to indicate my stopping. I stopped and allowed about ten vehicles to come through the stop sign. Even so, the line continued over Flatts hill. All oncoming drivers showed their appreciation.

However, the traffic behind me was not so polite. Within the 15 seconds or so that I allowed traffic through the stop sign the number of rude residents laying on their horns and shouting out negative comments to me was very un-Bermudian, to say the least! What causes people to be in so much of a hurry that they cannot give way to sitting traffic for a few brief seconds?

The traffic situation on our roads is deplorable thanks in large part, I think, to the introduction of being able to purchase a new car without having to wait a year since getting rid of the previous one. Has anyone noticed how many walls have been crashed into lately? All of our roads have a third lane especially for bike riders. Why is everyone in a hurry?

In our quest to keep up with the fast paced changes of the rest of the world, our Island's standards are rapidly declining. We seem to continuously adopt everything new from overseas whether it be in food, fashion, music, technology, new educational or business initiatives and the like. And before one new idea has had a chance to take root along comes another.

Our slow paced paradise that many of us at the age of 30 and above will probably remember very well has now become an island of irritated inhabitants seeking instant gratification in everything, short-temperedness, disintegration of the family structure, immorality, selfishness and greed, crime and the like. What made our island different was the fact that we welcomed our visitors, we attended church, we all helped each other, no one was in too much of a hurry to go the extra mile to help the next person and most importantly our Island was safe. Our Island was the envy of the rest of the world which wanted to be like us. Now the tables have turned.

It saddens me, as it does many other Bermudians I'm sure, that my children will probably not know their home island as I did. Sometimes we need to go back in order to move forward. Residents of this island need to slow down in all aspects of life for we will be the ones who will reclaim the Island we once knew.

Let's improve Hamilton

July 6, 2004

Dear Sir

I read today that Government is blaming the Corporation for indecisiveness regarding the proposed Par-la-Ville Car Park hotel. I must admit that I am beginning to become concerned about whether the Corporation has the ability to make any kind of major decision. The committee charged with these types of decisions is chaired by Reg Minors and I know him to be a pretty sharp businessman but what gives here?

The City of Hamilton is the single most important part of our tourism package. It's here that we have our shops, our restaurants, our entertainment, connections to various other parts of Bermuda ? in a nutshell, Hamilton is the vibrant centre of Bermuda and it is not keeping up with the times. Yes, we have beaches and hotels and other attractions but Hamilton is for everyone and there are pressing matters that the Corporation should at least be able to move forward one way or the other. Aside from the Par-la-Ville hotel proposal and ongoing thoughts about the docks, in my opinion, the single greatest issue that they need to get moving on is the waterfront.

No one disputes that the Hamilton waterfront needs to be revitalised and redesigned to provide the maximum benefit to tourists and locals. Even the Corporation must chuckle when they think that we park cars along our main waterfront and one of the worlds most beautiful harbours!

Almost every major (and minor) city in North America has revamped it's waterfront to produce entertainment, cultural attractions, economic opportunity and just a higher quality of life for residents. We park cars! After spending thousands of dollars and seeing the results of many man hours of quality thinking, the Corporation has tons of ideas on what can be done.

Many of these ideas ? some of which won prizes ? are wonderful but totally impractical and can be written off right off the bat. But the Corporation must get off its butt and start moving and make some decisions on these ideas and many others. Sitting around and talking in the back rooms of City Hall and never commenting on their deliberations is unfair to us and makes them look irrelevant. If the Corporation can't make a decision, let someone else do it...just get moving and stop talking!

Where are the Police?

July 16, 2004

Dear Sir,

It's no surprise that people run amok on Bermuda's roads when there is not a visible police presence to enforce our traffic laws. On any given day you can encounter those who ride and drive foolishly; putting themselves and other road users at risk. Malabar Road in Somerset is especially bad. Last Friday evening while I was out walking across Grey's Bridge into Somerset, I witnessed a small group of about six or so bikers "pack racing" towards Dockyard taking up the entire side of the road.

Several minutes later, the same group came roaring back at an extremely high speed on their noisy cycles and flew by me with their heads ducked behind their handlebars. I tried to get a licence plate of one of the culprits but all I could get was a meagre description of the lead riders' cycle ? a black Scoopy with a lot of chrome parts ? laying down flat on his bike! These pack racers are a menace to the rest of the motoring public and should be stopped in their tracks.

Police ? where are you? I never see a Police vehicle doing radar or routine stops along this stretch. I'm sure other people have complained to you as this particular stretch of road in Somerset is extremely bad and it's high time to crack down on dangerous riders such as these who use Bermuda's road for their personal racetrack.

Summertime sees an abundance of campers and school children on holiday frequenting the area and something has to be done before something tragic happens. It's time for a serious crackdown. Make your presence felt!

Money for another field?

July 16, 2004

Dear Sir,

Government is spending more of the public's funds for a field (White Hill) when housing is a must, not to mention the need for the revamping of the homes for the senior/mentally or physically disabled. Now let's get real, do we need another field, specially a playing field? Come now, you lot, we have a National Sports Centre incomplete and you "wanna" spend a million dollars. Where is you lot's compassion and dignity? Stop playing games with the public's purse strings. Enough is enough. We can't support this Island by playing games, we need to take care of our own.