A crashing crescendo

April 24, 2008

Dear Sir,

Well, Road Safety Week reached a crashing crescendo this morning (Wednesday) with two – not one but two – four-car pileups on Kindley Field Road. These were caused, apparently, by drivers being distracted by mock accidents, including bloodied actors, on the side of the road.

I wonder how many calls were made to 911 about these mock accidents, diverting Police and Ambulances from real ones. I wonder how many other real accidents there were because drivers were distracted by these mock accidents. The bikes and signs are distraction enough, without having apparently badly injured people all over the place.

D. LEWIS

St. George's

Maintain the tradition

April 21, 2008

Dear Sir,

I was saddened to see how poorly run the 'Ag Show' was this year. It has gone downhill since this Government has taken it over. Of course we all know this is their plan, as they have been trying to get rid of the "Ag Show' since they came into power. I don't know about others, but I am getting quite tired of every tradition, that came before the PLP, has got to be changed or gotten rid of completely.

Tradition is not tradition, if it is not kept the same throughout the years. Even the programme was just a pamphlet, the map of the grounds was totally unreadable! If you were able to get a program you were lucky. Places were closed for judging when the judging should have taken place the day before. Stalls were not set up at 10.30 a.m. It seems the only ones who were organised and running smoothly were the equestrians. What about the stalls for the horses, if you have a high-strung horse or a show pony (which are extremely high-strung) you obviously could not show, as there would be nowhere to keep such animals.

I would love to hear from the exhibitors who pulled out of the show (where were the cows, cake decorating and butter sculptures?), or did not exhibit at all (the woodwork was practically none existent, compared to other years). I'd like to know their take, on why they didn't show, what changes need to be made to make the 'Ag Show' successful again. As for the main act that was brought in, I'm sure we can do better than that! Four people dressed in track suits skipping double-dutch was not very professional.

And I am sorry, but an Agricultural show should have the Governor arrive by horse and carriage and not fancy cars (which is more commercial than agricultural). It certainly looked out of place. We need to go back to the old ways, this is the one thing that should not change.

This is the only show that exhibits our pride in our agriculture and compete to see whose talents of producing the best quality on the Island. I would love to hear if others feel the same way, because people I talked to at the show seemed very disappointed. I'd also like to know just how many schools did not participate?

TRADITIONALLY BERMUDIAN

Pembroke

What is Brown afraid of?

April 22, 2008

Dear Sir,

I received an e-mail this morning from a friend who had just read the morning Royal Gazette's article on, "Why does the Premier need so much security?" (I have since which read the article) She went on to say that she and a group of friends were walking along the Railway Trail on Sunday evening, and who should they encounter along the trail, none other than the Governor, Sir Richard Gozney and Lady Gozney, both were in shorts and T-shirts, enjoying a casual Sunday evening stroll. And guess what? There was not a bodyguard in sight!

Now don't you think that being a representative of the Queen, that the Governor would warrant a bodyguard? Apparently not, because Britain probably feels that Bermuda is a safe enough place not to warrant bodyguards. I would like to know, "What, or who is the Premier afraid of, or is this just some presidential paraphernalia thinking of importance? What will we have next, three "armed" security guards running along each side of GP1? I personally find all of the above a bit heavy for a little twenty-one square mile island. Let's face it, there are important issues that need attention, and then there is self-importance. It seems self-importance takes the lead here!

PAT FERGUSON

Warwick

Slow down drivers

April 24, 2008

Dear Sir,

May I submit two lines taken from a past edition of the Saturday Evening Post.

"He hurried to an early grave

Never to enjoy the time he saved!".

I suggest that they be printed in large bold print in Letters to the Editor (or anywhere else that will catch peoples' eye).

BRIAN NORTHCOTT

Smith's

Honour everyone

April 19, 2008

Dear Sir,

The new public holiday is called National Heroes Day (note the plural and the implied inclusiveness). I don't think it's supposed to be National Hero Day (note the singular and the lack of inclusiveness). If we're going to celebrate all of the people who made a more than significant impact, why single out one person? Why don't we honour all of them every year? Might be interesting to honour Lois, Freddie, Jack Tucker and Sir John Cox all on one podium.

JOHN FAIELLA

Southampton

Move the crosswalks

April 23, 2008

Dear Sir,

I did not know Tyaisha Cox or her family. However, every time I drive past a bus that has a crosswalk in front of it, I can't help but remember what happened and think how we can prevent this from happening in the future. It will happen again, if we don't move the crosswalks. I believe Dr. Brown promised the family to move all cross walks to "behind" the bus stops making the pedestrians more visible to motorists. If he didn't, he should have. Is this another broken promise? Tyaisha's life should not have been lost in vain. Move those crosswalks before we lose another child!

CONCERNED

Southampton

Author needs help

April 17, 2008

Dear Sir,

Along with a co-author, I have nearly finished writing a book on the history of aviation in Bermuda and was hoping for some assistance from The Royal Gazette readers. The very last flying boat to visit Bermuda was the Short Sunderland "Excalibur III" in March/April 1981. It was owned by Charles Hulton and was mostly moored off Saltus Island during her stay. Wing Commander (Moe) Ware and Hugh Watlington were both on the crew for its transatlantic flight to Gander, Newfoundland and Ireland. It is important that we illustrate this historic aircraft in the new book but we have been unable to find any good photographs. If anyone can help us with pictures/scans/slides whatever then please get in touch.

TOM SINGFIELD

25 Chennells Way,

Horsham,

West Sussex, RH12 5TW, UK

A remembrance

April 18, 2008

Dear Sir,

I read The Royal Gazette periodically online. I grew up in Bermuda and was sad to learn today of the government's proposal to no longer officially celebrate the Queen's birthday. I remember as a little girl standing on a hill holding one side of a banner that read "Bermuda Loves You" with the hope Her Majesty would see it as she drove by. She did! And she smiled!

WENDY VICKERS ROUGHTON

Plainsboro, New Jersey

Watch Govt. spending

April 21, 2008

Dear Sir,

I would like to commend our Government for saving upwards of $800,000 by cancelling their subscriptions and advertising in The Royal Gazette. I just wish they would try and save money where those of us know it is being squandered by the millions by poor decisions and management. I for one would be more than happy to pay $1 for my daily paper because finding 90 cents in change every morning is an absolute pain and dimes are so easy to lose. I'd rather you have it to help keep watch on our out-of-control Government spending.

MY TEN CENTS WORTH

Pembroke

Spare us of the indigestion

April 21, 2008

Dear Sir,

I have been following the story of our mean spirited and vindictive government withdrawing advertising and circulation support from The Royal Gazette. I have a couple of suggestions which should assist you in taking care of any revenue shortfall. First of all, I am sure there will be occasions when government will be forced to use The Royal Gazette and they should be charged the open rate as any other advertiser would be.

Secondly, you should make it a policy to never put a picture of any cabinet member in the newspaper except under exceptional circumstances (such as obituaries, etc.) The benefit to the company and community would be two-fold. You would save masses of paper which is expensive to import and those savings would go straight to the bottom line. An added benefit would be that the general population is spared the almost daily dose of indigestion which they suffer when looking at that pack. There are many good things in your papers without ruining them with pictures of bitter and hostile politicians.

TAXPAYER

Warwick

Drivers feared the Police

April 21, 2008

Dear Sir,

John Kane's letter in today's paper is another excellent example of a good message being preached to the converted. His opening paragraph should be required reading by all motorists. "The greatest fear of a driver in getting behind a wheel is not that he will have an accident but that he will be stopped by the Police".

In the 1970s and 1980s, the local Police force enforced the rules of the road with authority. Drivers feared the Police. Now roles seem to be reversed and the Police fear drivers. They patrol in groups of two and three and maniac drivers continue to endanger everybody's lives. We read there will be new initiatives to combat dangerous driving and reduce the death toll. Is it really necessary to reinvent the wheel or simply enforce existing laws with Policemen who are not afraid!

And don't just stop at speeding. Ban locals from riding livery cycles when they've been taken off the road, ban bus drivers who have one arm leaning on the cash till, ban the use of cell phones period, ban all vehicles with tinted windows that prevent the occupants being identified, ban all illegible designer license plates and ban the practice of children riding on motorcycles in front of the driver.

WHO'S KIDDING WHO

Warwick