Did he or didn?t he?

May 15, 2004

Dear Sir,

I have read with fascination about this debacle over Mr. Ahad?s qualifications and indeed original representations to both the Bermuda College and now to Department of Education. Did the guy go to Cambridge and Oxford or didn?t he?

If the newspapers have it right, then if Mr. Ahad made fraudulent misrepresentations about his credentials and experience in order to gain employment, wouldn?t this be sufficient to give him the boot? I mean do we have to wait to see about this alleged Ph.D. purchase before action is taken.

I should think XL is getting a nice taste of the ?new? Bermuda (in PLP lingo). I know if I spent millions (gratis) to develop a system beyond reproach for the public school system only to see it be administered by an alleged charlatan I would be some kind of annoyed.

SALVATORE

Paget

Watching workmen

May 21, 2004

Dear Sir,

My tax dollars are being misspent! I watch, with increasing frustration, the Works and Engineering crew who are repairing the wall opposite Chapel Road in Paget. A crew of four or five men has taken approximately two weeks to almost complete a job that I believe I could have done in two or three days, and I am not a trained mason. A very complex wall on some private property just west of this site is being repaired by one man and it is almost finished.

Not only that but I noticed this morning that the cap to the wall, originally Bermuda stone, has been taken off and replaced by concrete as it was not done right the first time. Are these men paid to redo the poor work they did in the first place? As they are unionised, I know the answer to my question. Maybe the initials, W&E, on the shelter the crew spends half the time in, means Wave and Enjoy rather than Works and Engineering as much time is spent waving to everyone they see!

FRUSTRATED TAXPAYER

Warwick

TES is influential

May 21, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am a Bermudian expatriate living in the southeast of England. I am a teacher of nine and ten year olds in a local primary school. I was very distressed and, I have to say, embarrassed to read your article about the expatriate teacher who claimed to have had such a difficult time at Berkeley Institute.

My embarrassment stems from the fact that I myself went to Berkeley Institute and was and am proud of the education I received there.

However, I am very much aware that there was indeed a ?them and us? situation between local and expat teachers, and this did extend to the students as well. However, this was not entirely the fault of the local people. Expats at the time did not always mix with locals, and this helped to create the division. However, I would like to think that in this day and age, people?s attitudes would have moved on. Unfortunately, the TES is a very important publication for teachers in this country and this could do a lot of damage to Bermuda?s image.

I was particularly disturbed by the article because I am extremely proud of the fact that I was born and brought up in Bermuda, and I tell the children in my class (and anybody else who?ll listen!) about my life there.

I have pictures in my classroom, and have talked about the Bermudian method of collecting water during our Geography topic. I think it would be a real shame if outdated attitudes were to spoil the genuinely good opinion that people I know have of Bermuda. Hopefully lessons will be learned.

LINDA FRIDAY (NEE ROBINSON)

Thatcham, England

What about us?

May 25, 2004

Dear Sir,

I suppose you have a difficult time choosing what to print and what not to print, and I suppose it?s possible you may do further May 24th coverage on another day, and I know you can?t please everyone all the time. I?m well aware that there were 50 different groups in this years parade, all of whom I?m sure would have loved to have been featured in your paper.

However, I?m afraid I must make mention that first time participants, the Bermuda Islands Pipe Band, accompanied by visiting band, the Mystic Highlanders Pipe Band from Mystic Connecticut, managed to merit neither a mention nor a photograph in The Royal Gazette today.

The BIPB, in its previous incarnation as the Bermuda Cadets Pipe Band, was the traditional lead band for the Easter Parade (before my time on this earth, never mind the band), until its demise in 1968. By the time the Bermuda Day Parade came into being, BCPB had fallen out of the habit, and never rejoined until this year. For that we have the President of the MHPB, Mr. Bob Scent (who acted as Drum Major for this contingent), to thank for spurring us into action.

It was an e-mail from him in January to say he was bringing a group over to Bermuda aboard the MV Horizon in time for the parade, and could they join us for the parade. We happily accepted.

The parade itself was challenging, most of us unused (and unfit!) for a two mile uphill march in the sun & humidity, but we never stopped marching or playing until we reached the National Sports Centre, where our sole casualty collapsed from dehydration once the order to dismiss was given.

What a trooper! We were well received, and we were proud to participate. Not that we are trying grab for glory, but a mention or picture for our visitors would have been nice.

ADRIAN COOK

Drum Sgt/Event Co-ordinator BIPB