We need to be flexibleJuly 8, 2002

Dear Sir,I heard on the local news last night that the Minister of Home Affairs may have to extend the contracts of several West Indian Policemen, recently recruited from overseas. What about the British Policemen, also recruited from overseas around the same time? Are they, for whatever reason, considered unworthy to have their contracts extended or have I missed something somewhere?

When the suggestion was first made to recruit Policemen from overseas again, after what I and many others considered much too long an interval, I did express my concern to the Police hierarchy of the day that a blanket three-year contract would not be appropriate, for the following reason: several Policemen all come out at the same time; they all come out on the same length of contract; therefore the chances are pretty good that they'll all leave at the same time, and we're back to square one. My suggestion was, why not negotiate with each individual to see how long he's willing to serve here? Some people might only fancy two years, whereas others might fancy five or even longer. I think the keyword in contract negotiations has to be "flexibility", and I honestly feel that overseas Policemen are essential to maintain law and order in Bermuda.

While I have absolutely no problem with the principle of Bermudianisation, there are simply not enough quality Bermudians to fill all the jobs that are now available to them, and the Police (by the very nature of their job) are probably pretty far down the list of anyone's preferred options. It's a great career, but it's not to everyone's taste, and I think every effort should be made to retain overseas Policemen in the Bermuda Police.

DAVIE KERR

St. George's

Attack from the skiesJuly 7, 2002

Dear Sir,Another Bermudaful day. Another helicopter day.

It's just 9 a.m. and I can hear it approaching my peaceful little valley below Gibbs Hill. As this obnoxious machine passes to and fro (not once but several times), I am reminded of the famous scene from the musical 'Miss Saigon' as it strafes my neighbourhood.

Even the horse living on the farm next door is upset and is saying so.

Later that day I decide to take a visiting friend from the US out to Whale Bay. One of the most remote and quiet of our national parks, its tranquil waters and scenic fort usually fascinate and refresh both locals and visitors. But wait ! The evil "whirlybird" is back, moving up and down along the reefs, ruining the ambience for beach-goers and golfers on Port Royal.

Considering previous letters about this hateful, noisy invader, there may be enough of us now to purchase a bazooka.

FREDERICK PILLSBURY

Southampton

We got a good dealJuly 5, 2002

Dear Sir,There has been some discussion of late regarding the return to Bermuda of the US Baselands.

First, any discussion/negotiations with the American Government must be tempered with the fact that the US is the most powerful country in the world. As events have proven recently, they set the agenda.

During the last war if you wanted to enter or leave Bermuda you either did so by ship or by flying boat. There was no airport until the Americans came and built it.

For 40 years they ran it at the American taxpayer's expense — free of charge to us. Part of the post-war boom in Bermuda was nurtured by that fact. No one ever said anything, though we though it would last forever.

What have we got with the return of the Baselands? We have 2.8 square miles of land where there was only water before. We have an airport that can take the largest planes, and it was free for 40 years. I think it is a very good deal.

The old Naval Base should be a multi-purpose park for the people of Bermuda, the clean up of same being spaced over a number of years.

PAGET