UBP should start againJanuary 18, 2007Dear Sir,Mr. Jamahl Simmons MP and Ms Gwyneth Rawlins have courageously stated what they think and feel about their party, the UBP. How they said it is slightly different, but their message was similar and, as far as the UBP is concerned, it has heard it all before, but, this time, it signals the UBP’s demise.

Viable political parties, in a democracy, are usually in various stages of flux but where the UBP made its colossal mistake was in the papering over of its structural weaknesses. A bit like nailing a good piece of pine to a rotten piece of pine — eventually the good piece will weaken and fail. They should knock the whole structure down, dig a new foundation and start again with modern material.

KATH BELL

Paget

Work for the good of allJanuary 15, 2007Dear Sir,As we reflect on the magnanimous contribution and impact of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I thought it appropriate to share with your readers a few excerpts from one of his sermons entitled A Christmas Sermon on Peace, which Dr. King first delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Christmas Eve 1967. I happen to read it on this past Christmas Eve 2006 and its essence is as relevant today, especially here in Bermuda, as it was 39 years ago. Dr. King said:

“But we will never have peace in the world until men everywhere recognise that ends are not cut off from means, because the means represent the ideal in the making, and the end in process, and ultimately you can’t reach good ends through evil means, because the means represent the seed and the end represents the tree—”

“All of this is saying that, in the final analysis, means and ends must cohere because the end is preexistent in the means, and ultimately destructive means cannot bring about constructive ends—”

“One day somebody should remind us that, even though there may be political and ideological differences between us, the Vietnamese are our brothers, the Russians are our brothers, the Chinese are our brothers; and one day we’ve got to sit down together at the table of brotherhood—”

Already the New Year has experienced the venom of political guilefulness and manoeuvring. Ugly words like racism, betrayal and treachery are echoing throughout this Island. My prayer is that the leaders of this country recognise the efficacy of working together for the good of the whole and not the benefit of the few and that Dr. King’s words will finally transcend his dream into our reality.

SHAWN G. CROCKWELL

Sandys

I have a dream —January 16, 2007Dear Sir,Having witnessed the shenanigans from leaders within our Parliament over the past year, from nasty name calling like “house nigger” and “racist dog” to the subliminal messages within comments like “plantation questions” and “racists in party branches”, I have my own dream to offer Bermuda, in the spirit of celebrating the message and teachings of the great Martin Luther King.

I dream from this day forward, that every Bermudian is turned colour blind. I can be a patient man at times Mr. Editor, but this particular dream I want delivered now, without delay, because I just don’t think Bermuda can take much more of this style of leadership. We all deserve better.

ALLAN D. MARSHALL JP

Smith’s Parish

The ugly truthJanuary 17, 2007Dear Sir,Many other people have been doing a great job articulating the many reasons why the Southlands project should not be allowed. They have predicted no gains for our Island and her people. They have easily predicted strain on our roads, our power supply, our waste disposal, our social tensions, our housing shortage and our connection to our natural and cultural heritage. They have rightly pointed out that SDOs are only to be used if a development has tried and failed to receive planning permission and yet is somehow clearly in the best interests of the Country.

Several confused and perplexed voices have pointed to Government’s own sustainable development initiative and failed to see how the same government could be pushing for this hotel. The developers have had two years to prepare this plan and yet when the public was given only two weeks, right after the distractions of the holiday season to file objections, more than 100 were filed. These and other totally convincing arguments have been laid out as to why this proposal must be totally rejected.

I am writing to offer one more reason. Have you seen the plans? Have you seen the artistic renderings? That thing is ugly! The lines, the proportions, the shapes are ugly. What the architects have drawn is one of those built landscapes that looks completely out of place and doesn’t feel good to be in. The worst part of the design is a monstrously wide bleak staircase that might look OK in front of a megalithic New York bank but cemented into a false hill leading down to the water?

I’m not sure too many well-fed tourists would want to tackle that climb anyway. Even if this thing were right for Bermuda in every other way, it would be wrong because it’s just that ugly>

TOBY BUTTERFIELD

Sandys

Give youth a hand upJanuary 17, 2007Dear Sir,There seems to be a big gap between the younger and older members of the community.

I feel it is manly because we don’t understand each other. Please allow me to speak on behalf of the youth,so that some may get a better understanding of what’s on a lot of our minds.

We are the result of a lot of evils that have been implemented into our community. We (1980s babies) were born when crack was introduced, raised while it spread and now have to live with its effect. That’s just one ill. Other hard drugs, alcohol, the high cost of living, the player mentality, the change of the school system, the removal of parents’ right to discipline their kids and the media are a few more social ills that plague our island. How, you might ask. Well the results show all each one has something to do with one or more of the following problems: fatherless homes, motherless homes, unsupervised children, homelessness, broken families, lack of respect, poor education, robbery, violence,and murder to name a few.

We the young people as well as the older people have to live with these things everyday. The difference is it has hit a lot of young people before we could make a start in life.

There is a lot of anger among the youth of Bermuda, a lot feel that they have nothing or no one. Yes, we make a lot of mistakes and cause some problems, but who will help us get on the right track, because believe it or not, a lot of us want it. It’s easy to say get up get out there and make something of yourself but when you haven’t had someone to guide you through life and show you what steps to take you can get caught up very easy. I can go on all day with this but I think you know what I’m trying to say. The community needs to come together, young and old people from all walks of life. If we do our part and Government does theirs, we can put this island where it needs to be.

Myself along with a group of other young people guided by Gerald Fubler are trying to get a youth centre that proved to work set back up in the West End and eventually in every parish. The first was set up in 1994 by youth, most of them under the age of 14 led by Mr. Fubler, a great man who has worked hard for the youth. Together they stopped at nothing to make it happen. The centre gave the youth some where to go where they could have fun and get a chance to make positive choices instead of just the negative ones seen everywhere else. Needless to say, when it was closed in 1999 it hurt a lot of youth and a lot fell by the wayside.

Help us, help the younger ones under us. Let’s give them somewhere to go where they can get help with school work, any problems they might have and have good clean fun. To learn more about our plan and everything the center will have to offer or to come on board with us, you can give us a call at 734-2241 or e-mail us at www.bdawestendyouths[AT]hotmail.com. It takes a community to raise a child. Parents can’t do it alone lets pitch in and help out where we can.

You say the children are the future, well it’s time to invest in the future!

MAKAI DICKERSON

Chairman

The West End Youth Community Club

Somerset$>Waiting for the rainJanuary 17, 2007Dear Sir,I am writing in regards to the utter uselessness of the Bermuda Weather Service. Like a lot of people right now my tank is low, but I’ve been counting on the heavy rain that the Bermuda Weather Service has been predicting for today (the 17th) since at least the end of last week. Well all we got was some light rain, which we all know is not good catching rain, and accordingly the Weather Service switches their 11.30 a.m. forecast to suit how the weather has turned out.

Isn’t the purpose of a weather service to some what predict weather before it happens? No one expects 100 percent accuracy but our Weather Service never gets it right, and always changes the forecast to suit how the weather has actually turned out. And the most infuriating thing about this is that they are never held accountable for their mistakes.

The Bermuda Weather Service is run by Serco who is hired by the Government, therefore our tax dollars pay for it, I think we deserve better.

NEED MY GRANDDADDY’S SHARK OIL

St. George’s

Blinded by the lightJanuary 17, 2007Dear Sir,Perhaps the owners of vehicles with fog lights do not realise that they are designed to be used when it is foggy and so are low down and shine upwards. As there is practically never any fog in Bermuda the fog lights, which drivers always seem to have on, just succeed in blinding oncoming traffic.

It would be very considerate if people could resist using their fog lights and just use dipped head lights.

Unless of course it is fog

CAR WITHOUT FOG LIGHTS

Smith’s

Must-see movieJanuary 13, 2007Dear Sir,“The Pursuit of Happyness” is a must see movie because what happened to Chris Gardner can easily happen to anyone here and some are unfortunately still in shelters similar to what he and his son had to sleep in.

It’s tough when you have a job and rent is so high you can’t afford living at that place so,you unfortunately have to sleep in your car or in other less fortunate places.It’s even harder when you’re looking after a child by yourself and you’re in that predicament.

So count your blessings and remember there are those less fortunate than you who wish their lives weren’t that way.

MOVIE WORTH SEEING

Pembro

<$>Registering confusionJanuary 11, 2007Dear Sir, What I find to be the most annoying part of this whole passport fiasco is the fact that I was eligible to waste three years of my life in the Bermuda Regiment, but I’m not on the register as a Bermudian. How in the world does that happen? I don’t need to enlighten you on the credentials to be enlisted. Oh what the heck, you need to be Bermudian, that’s how. Maybe the Regiment could forward the $11 on to the Registrar for me since they know who I am.

JUSTIN DECOUTO

St. George’sImpound vehiclesJanuary 16, 2007Dear Sir,Give the courts the power to impound offender’s vehicle — private or commercial, impound period to be the same as disqualification time. Set up an impound compound at Southside, at the end of impound/disqualification period offender applies to get his licence back and his vehicle — however he pays $500 recovery fee (to cover costs of maintaining compound). The deterrent of no vehicle for the family or business may make speeding less con.

RETIRED POLICE OFFICER

SouthamptonOne way to save livesJanuary 5, 2007Dear Sir,SPEED BUMPS. That is my answer. Why can’t Government put in speed bumps on Bermuda roads, that should cut down the crazy driving.

Too expensive? Not at all! When you total the amount of lives lost and the amount of lives that will be saved.

MAGGIE BENEVIDES

Florida