Support for Dr. Gibbons

November 16, 2005

Dear Sir,

I have to admit that I have grown tired of politics and become very cynical about politicians in general, both local and overseas ones. If I do start reading articles or opinion pieces in your newspaper about politics I soon grow tired of them and give up after the first or second paragraph. So it was that yesterday, November 15, when I began reading the full text of the Opposition?s Reply to the Throne Speech my cynical approach led me to believe that I would give up within a minute.

But once I started reading I got hooked and read every word through to the end and went back and re-read a number of sections. It was the most practical and sensible speech I have read in a long time and it has got me enthused again about the Island I love.

There is an opportunity for us to build a better future for all Bermudians with Grant Gibbons leading us. Using the words from the last paragraph of your Editorial today I do want a leader with competence, intelligence, sincerity and dedication and I do not give a fig?s leaf for raise-the-rooftops rhetoric or charisma. Grant Gibbons has got me enthused again and I am willing to throw my support behind him to ensure that he becomes Premier of Bermuda.

Project will hurt tourism

November 5, 2005

Dear Sir,

I was somewhat concerned to see the magnitude of the proposed plans for the new development of the Trimingham?s building in the paper recently. Although I am sure the Bank of Bermuda has attempted to present something that is within reason I wonder if there might be a better solution that would benefit not only the bank but our retail/tourist business as well.

I went online to Google maps and took a look at the properties involved. What I noticed is that the buildings directly opposite the Bank of Bermuda?s main building are roughly the same size, if not larger, in area than the Trimingham building. These buildings happen to house retailers and some offices. Might it not be a better situation if the bank negotiated a deal with the owners of these buildings to buy them out or swap properties and move their retail customers down to the better located Trimingham?s site?

The bank could also find a way to accommodate the offices in one of the buildings it is moving out of or they could add offices to the Trimingham?s building on a much smaller scale. The bank could then build a new full size building opposite its HQ without any worries about hurting our tourist trade. You could put retail banking on the street level and even connect the two buildings via a bridge or tunnel.

This would greatly centralise your operations and be far more efficient for Hamilton during the construction phase. The bank would have a commanding presence at the entrance to Hamilton via both land and sea along with a direct access to the park where you would create additional value to Bermuda and it?s people. I sincerely feel we must not abandon our retail trade nor make things difficult for them to continue.

They have enough on their plates with the competition from overseas purchasing. This would be a very strong endorsement by the bank showing their faith in the retail sector as well as a diversified Bermuda.

A Zimbabwean?s view

November 15, 2005

Dear Sir,

I rarely comment on social issues, especially when the baby is not mine. But all this talk about Independence leaves me with no choice. I am a transplanted Zimbabwean who, a little over two decades ago experienced the euphoria that Independence brought. Having stayed in Bermuda for about a year I must say you have a beautiful land. Don?t cut your nose off to spite your face.

Why is the present government so preoccupied with the independence issue to the point of madness? If it ain?t broken, why try to fix it? Independence for Rhodesia meant bringing in majority rule, elimination of racial discrimination, equality in the workplace, freedom to send your kids to any school of your choice, etc. Bermuda already has these parameters in place. So why the preoccupation? If businesses desert the Island does your Premier has a contingency plan to feed the people, create jobs and send their kids to school?

Independence means absolutely nothing if there is no sound economic plan to go with it. Ask any Zimbabwean and they?ll tell you that. The best economy in Africa reduced to a heap of dust in just a few years. People can?t eat Independence. Don?t be hoodwinked by politicians out to score a cheap political buck. To quote a certain somebody: politicians think about the next election, statesmen think about the next generation. Let the statesmen stand up.

What the PLP wants

November 15, 2005

Dear Sir,

I have been wondering why the PLP Government is so stubbornly opposed to a referendum to settle the issue of Independence. Now, after reading comments attributed to Government Ministers Burch, Perinchief and others, in today?s RG, I believe I have the answer.

The PLP doesn?t want a referendum because it thinks the rest of us don?t want Independence. The PLP wants Independence because it wants to show all those white people who used to run Bermuda, (most of whom are no longer with us), a thing or two about who is now in charge. And, while it?s about it, the PLP Government is going to tell all those black people who support the UBP exactly what it thinks of them ? and the language won?t be pretty. To hell with the consequences.

Schools need textbooks

November 18, 2005

Dear Sir,

I have a wish list and my first wish is for the Ministry of Youth and Sports to be generous and give the Ministry of Education $1 million of their $11 million, so that every student and teacher in our public school system can have textbooks for every subject they take/teach school. I think this would be a handy and cool tool to have when you are being taught a subject.

I am sure that the teachers would really appreciate the students being able to prepare for their lessons; being able to read a chapter or two before coming to class. I would bet any money the teachers would really appreciate not having to photocopy the lessons every week which will give them more time to prepare for the students.

This seems like a win/win situation to me. The cricketers have $10 million to play and entertain and the students have $1 million to prepare and graduate. Another solution would be to continue as we are, our students leaving school to enter Westgate study for their GED and more than likely have textbooks then leave as a lawyer, doctor, or maybe even a politician. This is my first of many wishes. Do you have one?