January 6, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am writing as an outside observer concerning the issue of Sunday shopping.

When I first visited Bermuda in 1992 I was taken aback by the regular business hours of your stores. I remember trying to buy some flowers outside those hours to take to a dinner at someone's home I was visiting. I was out of luck, I think I found a bottle of wine to take instead, but the experience made an impression on me.

Being from New Jersey, I was quite accustomed to getting pretty much anything needed at just about any reasonable hour. I quickly realised that Bermuda had something that we, here in the land of instant gratification, had lost ? evenings and weekends off. I was impressed that Bermuda's people just got what they needed when the stores were open and enjoyed their weekend time without giving much thought to what a good thing they had going.

On the other hand, in the States, we take for granted the freedom of this get-anything-just-about-anytime marketplace. But, we do pay a dear price for it in both our family lives and our freedom to enjoy our weekend time. These sacrifices may seem small for the convenience enjoyed by the rest of the consumers who want to shop at all hours. However, as someone who had to work many Sundays (for the Home Depot), I can say that it was a strain on my family and myself.

My philosophy of business remains free market driven. If there is a need for Sunday shopping in Bermuda, someone should be able to fill that need.Just be aware, ahead of time, of the full cost of such freedom. I think Bermuda will lose a small component of what makes its culture so special in the opening up of business hours as we have in the US.

If our competitors started selling appliances on Sundays, Joshua Bate Trading Bermuda would not follow suit. Our people deserve better, our prices will still be better come Monday, and what little we would lose will be made up for in the quality of life we all enjoy. Keep in mind that should you need to do some shopping on weekends all websites are open 24/7.

JOSHUA BATE

Vice President, Joshua Bate Trading Bermuda, Ltd.

December 19, 2003

Dear Sir,

The saga of the choice of the new Chief Justice marks a sad chapter in Bermuda's journey toward self-determination and ultimate political independence. It has highlighted just how easily the judicial branch of government can be subverted by political manoeuvring.

It seems that almost immediately after he was promoted to Premier, Mr. Scott was in dispute with the UK Government, and its local representative in particular. Under the Bermuda Constitution the decision as to who will be our Chief Justice lies with Britain, after consultation with the leaders of the Bermuda Government and the Opposition. Note it does not say, "after a recommendation from the Premier," because the word "recommendation" in government parlance would carry a much stronger obligation on the part of the UK to carry out the wishes of the Bermuda Government.

Under the Westminster model of government, which we have inherited, the judiciary is supposed to be separate from and indeed above politics and the selection process for judges is supposed to be equally untainted by partisan politics.

Of course, the relationship between politics and humans mirrors that famous relationship between smoke and fire: where there's one you generally find the other. Bearing this in mind the Americans have taken a more "in your face" policy (Americans would say, "less hypocritical") with respect to the selection of judges.

They elect some of their judges, and US Supreme Court justices are nominated and chosen by politicians. No system is perfect because its designers, humans, are imperfect.

However, knowing British tradition and practice in this regard, it was truly amazing that Premier Scott would mount a public campaign to promote his favoured candidate. He could have ranted and raved in the private chambers of Government House, even in the cloistered meeting rooms of Whitehall, and his viewpoint would have stood a chance of succeeding; but the moment he went public, he guaranteed only one outcome, an outcome that would be diametrically opposed to his public preference.

The UK Government could not be seen to be bowing to overt political influence in an area in which the Bermuda Constitution gives it wide discretion, and it could not be seen to be undermining its own man in Bermuda who would surely have had to be replaced if it went against his recommendation. So it's clear that Premier Scott's public strategy to promote Mrs. Justice Wade Miller ensured that she would not get the job.

This is a shame because I believe that Mrs. Justice Wade Miller would make an excellent Chief Justice. All the reasons that Premier Scott gave in her favour are totally valid. He has done her career a great disservice because his behaviour has caused many people in this country to suspect or believe that she might have some bias favouring the Government or the governing party. I, for one, do not think this is so.

But surely Premier Scott could have figured all this out for himself. Why then has he done this? Well, as one of those on the outside I can only speculate, but consider this. In its first five years in power the PLP Government has caused a stench of corruption to rise from these shores like no time in our entire history. So much so that Scotland Yard was brought in to investigate the Government of Bermuda, an unprecedented event! No doubt the Governor is privy to more of the findings of this investigation than most people.

Is it be possible that these troubling events, matters that have been heretofore swept under the carpet, subject to the muzzle of "sub-judice", had a bearing on the UK Government's insistence on having an outsider being the new CJ?

After all, the same cast of characters were re-elected by Bermuda's electorate, in the absence of more factual revelations before the election. If charges are now to be laid before the courts regarding corruption in the Government sector, then this new CJ will surely be the one to preside. The recent decision by another judge with respect to a politician's son only underscores the perception of the inability of a local judge to properly handle such matters.

In light of this background the Premier's publicity campaign takes on an undertone of desperation. It irks me, as a Bermudian, when anyone suggests that we cannot handle our own affairs because I believe in the ability, common sense and honesty of the Bermudian people. I have publicly supported the progression to independence for Bermuda.

But the developments of the past five years, and particularly those relating to the choosing of the new CJ, have given me pause. I'm sure many other Bermudians are mulling over the ramifications of the actions of the Government in recent weeks.

E.T. (BOB) RICHARDS

January 3, 2004

Dear Sir,

'Sir John: UBP Needs Overhaul' was the headline of on December 29, 2003. My first reaction was curiosity and anticipation. What did he have in mind?

I had only to read the first paragraph to discover he had nothing new to offer. Just the same old tired rhetoric on such weasel topics as "white elite" and "restructuring and recognising the cultural and racial and intellectual dynamics of the country". Whatever all that means.

When he went on to slam Grant Gibbons, John Barritt, Michael Dunkley and David Dodwell, my reaction turned to outrage. John Swan seems to have conveniently forgotten that he was the cause of landing the UBP in the mess it was in for years he resigned as premier.

When he resigned in a childish pique after the failure of his suicidal bid for Independence, his sole objective was revenge on those of his parliamentary colleagues who opposed the madness. It mattered not a whit to John Swan that he could have been sounding the death knell of the UBP as a political force.

I cannot even compare him to the well-known rodent leaving a sinking ship. He did his best to sink the ship. Now, after his sojourn on the sidelines, he comes galloping back on his knight's fully armour-plated charger, lance extended well in front, to try to slay what is left of the UBP.

His excessive praise of the PLP Government suggests, despite his denial, that he is thinking about joining the PLP. Of course, that is his prerogative and I see no logical reason to persuade him otherwise.

John Swan's insulting and inappropriate evaluation of Grant Gibbons is disgraceful. As leader of the Opposition, Dr. Gibbons tried his very best, and the UBP only lost the General Election by a few votes. That kind of performance calls for praise and congratulations, not condemnation.

John Barritt , Michael Dunkley and David Dodwell are among the hardest workers in Parliament. They are always up front in the firing line. For Swan glibly to write them off as "people like that" is the ranting of a man still deeply immersed in a full tank of sour grapes.

Sir John Swan's foray into independence was ill-considered and ill-timed. Equally senseless was his attempt to saddle Bermuda with the MacDonald's fast food chain, despite a powerful petition signed by 7,000 protesters. It was an exercise of the grossest political insanity.

Mr. Woolridge's speech to the Hamilton Rotary Club on the adverse effect Independence would have on Bermuda remains one of the finest patriotic statement in Bermuda's history.

the tragic by-product of John Swan's lunacy was his campaign to prevent Jim Woolridge from becoming the next Premier. To ensure that he got his own way, Swan even sacrificed the Parliamentary careers of two of the UBP's most promising new MPs. Dr. David Saul and Pamela Gordon were catapulted into the premiership before they were ready, and most likely against their wills. Both landed in a hornet's nest.

At that time, Jim Woolridge was at the height of his popularity with the voters. The Bermuda electorate would gratefully have accepted him as premier. John Swan made sure it did not happen.

I suggest that Sir John Swan remounts his heavy-footed charger and rides out of Bermudian politics. Any usefulness he had for the UBP vanished long ago.

T. C. AITCHISON

Pembroke