September 7, 2002

Dear Sir,

To all our friends in Bermuda,

The Society of American Travel Writers again wishes to thank the wonderful people of Bermuda for the concern, care and charity demonstrated to members of our organisation during the tragedy of last September in the United States.

The Society was just concluding our annual convention on your wonderful Island and were preparing for departure home when the horrors of 9/11 unfolded.

The warmth and outpouring of sympathy, even to total strangers, on the part of all Bermudians was amazing and so appreciated. All that concern helped in no small measure in coping with the unknowns that we were facing during that tumultuous time. And knowing that your own nation lost citizens in that catastrophe was another lesson that we live in a small, small world.

A year has helped heal some of the scars from that terrible day. The fond memory of what Bermuda did to help our members deal with their concerns will live forever in our Society's collective memory. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

MARTIN HINTZ

President, Society of American Travel Writers

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

September 9, 2002

Dear Sir,

It is absolutely ridiculous that Belco can deliver such abhorrent service and get away with it. Of course I am referring to the man-made outage that occurred this past Saturday. We lost power at 4 p.m. on Saturday and did not have it restored until after 10 a.m. on Sunday. By then anything that was perishable in our refrigerator was irrecoverable and had to be thrown out.

Only after reading your newspaper's piece on the incident did I learn that the outage was a result of the irresponsibility of Belco's workers. Was it beyond their capability to re-check the field markings with their own Records and Technical Services Department before digging? Are their workers really that irresponsible and incompetent? Is Belco really apologetic about the inconvenience they caused their customers?

I would like to know why Belco effectively stopped rerouting services at 11 p.m. on Saturday night? Is it because only 1,000 homes were then without power - a number that was manageable from a PR perspective? In view of the fact that the outage was their own doing, Belco knew where the problem was and should have had it resolved quickly. Failing that - which seems to be Belco's track record - Belco should have worked through the night to restore power to all customers. This is sheer and utter incompetence from a farce of a company.

I challenge Belco to compensate each of the 1,000 customers that had to do without power for 18 hours with a cheque equal to an amount for perishables lost, say $100. I'm sure that you can identify the customers who were not rerouted. Come on, Belco, show us that you are a responsible company.

ANNOYED CUSTOMER

Warwick

September 6, 2002

Dear Sir,

While many politicians were absent at the recent Labour Day Celebration, former Premier Sir John Swan was described by an acquaintance as looking very comfortable while standing and chatting to others in attendance. One may ask what his interest is in labour celebrations, as he could have stayed at home like other Parliamentarians.

Isn't it all about presence? Wild Discovery frequently features sedate old lions basking on the rocks, really in no hurry for the next hunt but ready to pounce if the opportunity arises. Visionaries are like lions, they have an action plan and will enact them when the time is right! As someone said: "Position yourself to win, for the same reason that spiders build their webs near porch lights - that's where the action is."

Recently my wife and I have had numerous conversations with staunch conservatives, labour supporters, supposedly non-political professionals and the average middle class in debt, younger generation. We feel that some people, who are generally thought to be wealthy through family inheritance, wear the label of 'ethnocentrism'. They believe they are superior to others. They are believers in the old guard and don't support Sir John Swan.

However, if you have struggled all of your life, been denied entrance into theatres, discriminated against when applying for a job, or socially not accepted in inclusive surroundings such as clubs and housing, you would probably support Sir John in his endeavour to have a better Bermuda.

In the meantime, too many people think they are in the comfort zone. They don't want to be disturbed or become involved. They are the 'mushroom people' who live in the dark, but as long as they own a piece of the rock everything is okay! That submerged lot might consider waking up one day to find their solid lifestyle, as weakened as the Bermuda dollar! What will happen at 'budget time' next February if the current spending patterns are not removed?

And finally, now that the new (electoral) boundaries have been established, our community might want to encourage the politically undecided young women and young men to become involved and convince them the importance in voting for a strong, fair and honest government. Let us all work towards a multiracial island! It's a win, win situation.

W. A. (TOPPY) COWEN

Paget

September 6, 2002

Dear Sir,

This is an open letter to the fathers in the Child Watch Group.

Today is the day I finally get to the keyboard on this thorny subject! Firstly, I am not unsympathetic to the situation where children born within an established marriage or long-term relationship are deprived of contact with a parent with whom them they have established a genuine, loving relationship.

However, I believe the agitating fathers need to consider a few points about care and custody. What would be your truthful answers to the following questions?

1. Did you keep the promises you made to the mother of your child/children?

2. Were you a dependable and loving parent when you lived with your children and their mother? Or did you ever live with them?

3. Does your history in the family relationship give cause for anxiety on the part of the mother?

4. Do your working hours make it possible for you to personally deliver your children to school and ensure their after-school care?

5. Do you finish work at a regular time, early enough to ensure proper meals, homework and quality time with your children before bedtime at a reasonable hour?

6. Would caring full time for your children put a crimp in your social life?

7. If your relationship with the mother of your children is so poor that she does not trust you to care for, protect and cherish them while they are in your care, what are you doing to improve this situation?

8. Is the child in question old enough to be reasonably left in your care, old enough to know you and feel secure and cherished in your company? Please be realistic about this one!!

9. Are you supporting your children financially, not only to supply funds for basic groceries, but for clothing, day care, medical expenses, and assistance with rent to keep a secure roof over them? In the case of children born from short term relationships, it would appear that in most instances the answer to questions 1,2 & 3 are probably NO. Sadly, in this same category the answers to questions 6 and 8 are likely to leave room for real concern also.

Let me explain something to you about motherhood. Motherhood is not a few minutes pleasure followed by intermittent participation when we are not too busy with our employment, sports activities, social life and extracurricular "romances".

Motherhood starts with nine months of total physical immersion, hormone and body change, culminating in an unforgettably painful and joyous delivery. This is followed by weeks or months of breast feeding, which requires full time availability, 24/7, not to mention the diaper changing, bathing, cherishing and ongoing hourly attention required for babies under two years of age. This, in case you have not noticed, is combined with a protective instinct a lioness would be proud of.

Motherhood never becomes part time. The welfare of our children has to be our first consideration, above food, sex, partying or even our employment, time has to be taken off to care for sick kids. That is the way God made us.

We might, if things become unbearable, abandon a bad relationship with the father of our children, but we will never abandon our children; by giving birth to them we have committed ourselves to their welfare for as long as they need us.

Sometimes this proves to be much longer than the traditional 18 or 20 years. If you only want to have your child in your company to show off like some sports trophy or to spite the mother by causing her distress and anxiety maybe you need to look at your motives and get a life! Maybe you should concentrate on establishing a truly successful and committed relationship with a woman who will help you provide a cherishing environment in which to raise children.

For the record, God took only one rib from Adam and created only one woman for him to raise children with. Women generally do not seem to have a problem with that concept. Fidelity and dependability and loving care are qualities that not only women, but children too, need to see in a father.

If you show the character, the community is more likely to support your concerns.

MARGARET DYER-FORSTER

Mother of four, grandmother of eight