June 7, 2004

Dear Sir,

The whining and complaining letters in your paper in regard to the Sports Hall of Fame has disappointed me. There has not been one positive letter. Therefore I want to congratulate the hard-working committee that made it all happen. They have put in a huge amount of time and effort reviewing the accomplishments of the many athletes whose names were put forward by the public. They first reduced the list to 50, and then, with difficulty, they reduced it to 25 worthy candidates who each received a certificate and are to be congratulated.

I was fortunate to have been at the Sports Hall of Fame dinner and ceremony. When the names of the ten inductees were read out we heard about their exploits in their various sports. On big screens we saw photographs and videos and were told of their continuing work for youth and sports in Bermuda. It was evident that each one was completely deserving of the honour. I also observed the good sportsmanship of most of the 15 athletes who had been passed over this year. They were quick to offer their congratulations to the winners and there has been no whining from 14 of them; though each one was bound to have felt some disappointment. They are all eligible to be put forward again next year, and I feel sure that they will all be inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in the future.

I also would like to commend Adrian Robson on his excellent article, 'That Crazy World of Bermuda Sports', in Friday's paper. He put it in perspective.

June 2, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am fed up. Fed up with driving past the guys on the wall outside the Warwick Bowling Lanes and White Hill. You can't tell me they are there during the work week just to chat with mates. These guys are selling drugs and we all know it. We all expect the Police to pick them up, but when they are tried in the courts they get off with a fine. Let's face it ... our laws in Bermuda regarding drug offences are long overdue for an overhaul. When is it going to happen and who is going to make it happen?

Dear Sir,

You recently carried a letter from a resident in St. George's, under the heading, 'A senseless act', concerning the destruction of palm trees along the South Shore Road, Smith's, opposite St. Patrick's Church. I completely agree with everything that the writer said. I was horrified when I saw this butchering in progress. However at that time I figured that this was work being undertaken prior to a road widening project? Those Chinese Fan Palms have been there for a good many years and have survived not only Hurricane Fabian but also other storms and pollution from passing traffic. Many years ago when the Department of Agriculture carried out all roadside pruning, the director, the Late Gordon Groves, became vary angry and justifiably so, when his workmen cut the foliage back to severely. What he would have to say about this latest act, would be very interesting to hear? This random act is completely senseless and mars the scenic beauty of the roadside. As Andrew Pettit remarked in your column, the way they have been left makes the overall scene even worse, for they will not grow back.

How I wish that there was legislation in place to stop this type of destruction of our plant life from taking place and to insist on a cleanup, together with replacement planting on a set back line.

June 4, 2004

Dear Sir,

As an annual tradition my family and I attended the Bermuda Day Heritage Parade. As always I enjoyed the outing just to get out and relax, watch the parade and just enjoy the festivities of the day.

My only complaint is with all the different dance groups that you see today, there were little girls, some as young as about five years old, dancing in the street and winding up their tender little bodies in a way that was not suitable for the public eye, just not appropriate for children period.

We wonder why the youth of today are going astray, it's what we are teaching them. The Bible says: "Train up a child in the way that they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it." I say to next year's dance group leaders, please teach the children a more sensible dance/march. We are definitely sending out the wrong message to the future leaders of Bermuda. Looking forward to next year's parade with more appropriate dancing and not the kids gyrating down Front Street.

May 30, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am making my annual visit to my daughter and son-in-law and for the first time needed to use the Bermuda bus service. Embarking at Middle Road, Paget, I enquired of the driver the cost and method of payment. I wondered if I had made any sound as I was completely ignored as he continued his conversation with a passenger.

The bus was full with standing room only, but immediately a young lad stood and offered me his seat which I gratefully accepted. As I prepared to disembark on Front Street I again enquired of the driver the cost and method of payment. There was a grunted "three dollars", and I offered the correct money. The driver jabbed a forefinger at a receptacle from which I surmised that I was to drop my money into the slot.

As an obvious visitor to Bermuda I have to say that I was singularly unimpressed that someone in regular contact with visitors should be not just unhelpful but infernally rude. What a contract between the driver and the schoolchildren ? the youngsters were very friendly and courteous and extremely well-behaved and smartly dressed. Coming from the UK I sadly have to say that our own schoolchildren do not attain such high standards while travelling on public transport.

Later on meeting my daughter at Trimingham's to make a substantial purchase, I was surprised to find a cashier too busy cashing up to be concerned with customers ? and there was more than an hour to close! Only last week I read Mr. Trimingham's comments in your paper about too many people shopping off the Island. I have to say that I am not surprised! Perhaps rather than criticise those who spend their money elsewhere he should concentrate on staff training.

Likewise the Bermuda bus company might like to consider sending some of its drivers to charm school. I will be in no hurry to avail myself of bus rides or purchases.

Having said all that I must say that I have met many charming and helpful staff in shops and restaurants etc. but inevitably it is the bad experiences that one remembers.

BRIDGET WIGLEY

Swansea, Wales, UK

June 4, 2004

Dear Sir,

I have just returned to London from my second visit to Bermuda.

My first visit was just after Hurricane Fabian and Bermuda was, understandably, looking a little rough around the edges. The Island seems to have recovered and are now looking stunning with the hibiscus and agapanthus in flower.

On both occasions, the beauty of the islands and the charm, hospitality and friendliness of all the Bermudians I met, helped contribute to a perfect holiday.

Having a passing interest in history, I paid a visit to the Historical Museum on Queen Street where the photographs of old Bermuda were of particular interest to me as an architect.

Something, however, seemed out of place. It took me some time to work it out, but then it suddenly came to me ? among the many portraits and photographs of Bermuda's great, good and interesting characters, I spotted only three black faces (one, a Victorian photograph of a dapper looking man in top hat, driving a horse and cart. The others, children in a 60s school album from an American base school).

This was remarkably different from the situation on the street outside where black Bermudians seemed to be in the majority. Was it possible that black Bermudians had made no contribution to the Island's development worthy of commemoration (other than driving carts and going to school?).

Conversations with Bermudian friends confirmed that this was not the case and they mentioned Cup Match, Gombey Dancers, the Enterprise event and Dr E .F.Gordon, W. L.Tucker and Dr E. A. Cann and the struggle for universal franchise as being among Bermudian black heritage of interest. The lack of any display on black Bermuda presents a rather slanted picture which is confusing to visitors from abroad and presents no role models for young Black Bermudians to relate to.

Could it be time for a re-hang which shows a more comprehensive picture of Bermudian society?

ALEX ALLARDYCE

London, UK