Halting the tide of 'fascism'May 10, 2002

Dear Sir,I shall be interested in who will join Dr. A.M. Ware-Cieters (May 10) when she puts her "feet in the street demonstrating against such fascist sentiments" as those expressed in "Arthur Hodgson's comments". No doubt the Premier will lead, but you Mr. Editor, cannot join her because you wrote an editorial which gave some kind of approval to some kind of registered.

The NLP cannot because they too, approved of the idea. Those in BIBA cannot, if they agree with Chris White, who approved of the idea. A whole score, or rather that somewhat maligned "handful" who call in to the radio talk shows cannot since they, (both Bermudians and expats) have expressed some kind of support for the concept.

I hope that you will send a reporter when she and the Premier set forth to stay the tide of fascism which she seems to perceive is about to engulf us since the PLP came to power.EVA N. HODGSON

Bailey's BayFamily planning neededMay 10, 2002

Dear Sir,While I do not doubt the claims of Ms Lugo regarding Bermuda Housing Corporation, it also raises the issue facing Bermuda today — family planning. If Ms Lugo cannot afford to house her 'three young kids' she shouldn't have had them!

The state shouldn't be made to pay for people who choose to have children they simply cannot care for adequately. And by that I do not just mean having the financial means to house them properly, but to spend time with them, listen to them and be involved fully in their education.

There are too many young people having two, three and more 'trophy' children they cannot care for and once they have outgrown the 'cute puppy' stage are not interested in them.FAMILY PLANNING

DevonshireSpeeding PoliceMay 13, 2002

Dear Sir,I am a young person and I just got my driver's licence a couple of months ago. Nonetheless, even as a young person I have to complain. I would like to know why the Police almost always either speed for nothing or speed with no siren or lights on. One day I was taking my mother's car to her and a Police car almost struck me. He was halfway on the opposite side of the road speeding with no siren or lights. I had no time to stop and could hardly even slow down and almost had to go on the sidewalk to avoid him. I asked myself, if he is going to go that fast he could at least put on his siren to let me know he is coming, isn't that what it's for?

Another time me and my friends witnessed a police car speeding for no reason. He was doing at least 60 or 70 (kph) with no siren or lights, just to get from Dean's Bakery in Somerset to an accident just down by Arnold's Supermarket. Also even when they are training, shouldn't they put on their siren? I know that others have witnessed the Police speeding recklessly too, almost every day and can't or won't do anything because they are the Police. I know for sure that my complaint will not be heard by writing to the Police, which is why I wrote to the Editor. I would like to ask you a question. How are the Police going to stop the reckless driving and speeding when they are doing it themselves?A YOUNG DRIVER

SomersetReview broadcast licencesMay 10, 2002

Dear Sir,Doesn't BBC's contract with ABC & CBS suggest that the local broadcast network be required to carry the network programming instead of pumping out hours and hours of foreign news reruns? BBC's service is abysmal, and maybe their staff contributes to their low-quality programming.

During the NFL play offs one of BBC's technicians switched off a 'do or die' game with two and a half minutes to go. The reason — The clock struck midnight! BBC's licences do not need to be reinforced, they need to be reviewed! I, for one, would like to see new licence holders for broadcast television in Bermuda.SPANISH POINT VOTERThe media is a conduitMay 9, 2002

Dear Sir,I really have to wonder what planet the Premier and her cohorts are from. I, like most people on this planet, rely on the media as my source of information. If the Premier has a problem with the media due to real or imagined past wrongdoings, then she should keep it just that-her problem. Why is she making her personal problem our problem? If there was public misinformation circling the community, as a responsible (and compassionate) leader she should have stamped it out instantly. If the Premier didn't trust that her comments would be communicated accurately then she could have held a televised press conference. That way, unless it was her clone speaking, there would be no doubt that what we were hearing was fact.

If I was to believe (which I don't) that this Police Station fiasco has been one big misunderstanding, then our whole community from the Mayor on down was on the same (wrong) wavelength. Come on! Furthermore, if it was indeed a genuine misunderstanding then what our great leader chose to do was let us squirm a bit as due punishment for believing the media. What other rational explanation is there for waiting to respond other than that? This almost reminds me of the story of Marie Antoinette with a local twist-our one's cry must have been: "Let them wait!" The sad bottom line in all of this is that the Premier's actions, fuelled by her mistrust of the media, has come right back full circle to the people's mistrust of her.MISLEAD

St. George's