Ticket GP cars

April 2, 2008

Dear Sir,

It has always annoyed me that drivers of GP cars park on double yellow lines, loading zones or more than an hour in Hamilton without parking vouchers and get away with it. I realise that these are Government vehicles but shouldn't they lead by example?

This morning as I was entering the MarketPlace in Hamilton I heard a voice behind me saying "Ticket, what ticket? Is Government going to pay Government for a parking ticket, no way!" I turned to see GP111 parked on a double yellow line and the driver was making these comments to someone on the street who had obviously said something to him. It annoyed me so that I decided to write my first letter to your paper.

I agree that it seems ridiculous for Government to pay Government but it is not the 'Government Car' that put itself in the parking spot in the first place, it is the driver. Therefore, I feel, the car should be ticketed and the driver made responsible for paying the fine. Surely each department must sign these cars out to a specific person or Minister and know who is driving and where the car is on any given day.

When you or I do the same thing aren't we accountable as the driver? What is the difference? Maybe if the driver had to dip in his or her pocket, this bad habit,(and disregard for the law), would stop. Thank you for allowing me a voice.

VERONICA RENAUD

Pembroke

We are losing so much

March 31, 2008

Dear Sir,

I am writing to let you know that loyalty to your boss is no longer appreciated. I attended a few deceased friend's funerals who worked for 40-45 years on their various jobs and no appreciation was shown in reference to their dedication and loyalty. The last funeral service I attended a few days ago was about a worker from Mid Ocean Golf Club. The obituary was read and I was listening for a tribute from his employer, or even seen a wreath or arrangement for all the years he dedicated to service to that club. There was nothing. No one came as a representative to speak on the Club's behalf abut their deceased member of staff. I was saddened because Bermuda is losing all of its kindness in culture, but I should not be surprised because that's what happens when we have change. (I guess being loyal is no longer valuable).

I am enclosing a copy of the Disabled Beatitudes. Please print them again, it has been quite a while since the community last saw them. I am sorry Premier Brown is cutting back advertising in your newspaper. Wake Up Bermuda, that is the first sign of dictatorship. Not everyone listens to Hott 107.5 or Government TV to get Government information out. I will still be buying The Royal Gazette.

WILLARD FOX

Smith's

BEATITUDES

FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED

Blessed are those who realise that I am human, and don't expect me to be saintly, just because I am disabled...

Blessed are those who pick up... and lift... and pass... and deliver... cheerfully, and sometimes without even being asked...

Blessed are those who understand that I am sometimes just weak and not lazy...

Blessed are those who forget the deformity of my body and see the shape of my soul...

Blessed are those who see me as a whole person, unique and complete, and not as a 'half' or one of 'God's mistakes'...

Blessed are those who love me — just as I am — without wondering what I might have been like...

Blessed are my friends, on whom I depend, for they are the substance and joy of my life. Daily they assist on my long journey home to my FAT HER.

Margaret Carter

June 1, 1919-Dec. 27, 1992

A card of thanks

April 20, 2008

Dear Sir,

The Rebecca Middleton Foundation wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the Bermuda community for their generous financial support and assistance to Rebecca's family.

By now we are all aware that in July of 1996 the Middleton's beloved daughter was brutally raped, mutilated and murdered at the tender age of 17 when visiting with a friend here in Bermuda and last year the family once again attempted to have the case reviewed and reopened, but their attempts were unsuccessful. Despite their distress at the outcome, they now realise that they will never see justice for their daughter.

While the Foundation is no longer helping to raise funds for this case, we continue as a group of individuals, under the name 'Friends of Rebecca Middleton', to focus our efforts on raising public awareness and support for changes to be made in certain laws, especially when we learned that it was because of an antiquated law still in place that made it impossible to gain justice for Rebecca.

To this end, we welcome the fact that a motion has (again) been tabled in the House to review the Double Jeopardy Rule. We encourage the leaders of this country to engage in substantive and meaningful discussion on this motion when the House resumes in May.

Finally, we urge all Bermudians to support these efforts to correct (or to establish) laws to protect innocent victims of crime and provide them the same privileges afforded the accused. We must all believe that it is in the best interest of each member of our community to hold and to be held accountable for our actions.

KIM SMITH

Pembroke

Where will we put it?

April 6, 2008

Dear Sir,

Re: Club Med Hotel and Morgan's Point Clean Up. I'm all for progress and enhancement of the tourism industry in Bermuda. Regardless of what company is allotted the demolition and clean-up of "Club Med" hotel, riddled with asbestos or the clean-up of Morgan's Point with its oil spills and more. The burning question and concern by every citizen of Bermuda should be... Where are the tons of rubble and toxic waste from both sides going to be disposed? Somewhere on the Island? Or the middle of the ocean?

VISITOR TO THE ISLAND

Devonshire

Honour Brian Burland

April 22, 2008

Dear Sir,

Today, April 23 is the birthday of the Bard, as most of us know. But fewer will know that it is also Brian Burland's birthday. While I was talking over lunch with a couple of friends conversation moved around to how now more than ever, Bermuda needed its literature. Within an hour, in another conversation, this time on the telephone, Brian's novel 'The Sailor and The Fox" came up. Both my conversation partner and I gratefully confessed how critical that work had been to our understanding of our society, when we were younger men. I am grateful to Brian Burland. Happy Birthday and God bless.

RON LIGHTBOURNE

Pembroke

We salute The Gazette

March 31, 2008

Dear Sir,

To the Wednesday morning front page story about the government eliminating its subscription to your newspaper, we, as long-term visitors to the Island, applaud your position and salute all you do to bring a breath of fresh air and insight into what happens on the Island. We've been visiting the Island of Bermuda since 1969 and the calibre of information given by The Royal Gazette has been outstanding. Keep up the good work.

ROBERT L. DILENSCHNEIDER

New York, NY

We are all human

April 14, 2008

Dear Sir,

I am writing to express my utmost thanks to a fellow motorcyclist who stopped to assist me after seeing me pushing my bike along Harbour Road near Keith Hall Road early on Sunday evening.

This gentleman took it upon himself to push my bike all the way over to Middle Road and down to the gas station across from Warwick Lanes. This took a great deal of skill and effort on his part, but through his sheer determination I was delivered from a good 40 minute hike, which would have been extremely difficult for me, as I have a fractured humerus. Oh and by the way, he wasn't the same colour as me.

Normally I cringe when I see race applied to issues or situations which really have nothing to do with black or white, however I feel the need to do so in this case in order to make a simple point. Whether you are a white person who sees every young black male who looks or dresses a certain way as an uneducated, militant menace to society or a black person who sees white people as self-serving, disingenuous oppressors, you cannot deny the basic human experience we are all currently sharing on this planet. If you are in denial of this very basic fact of our existence, that we are all equally human regardless of how we perceive ourselves and others, you need a ringing slap. Far too often we hear about, or experience first hand, situations where the wickedness of prejudice manifests itself in the people of this island. This needs to stop, we need to support each other.

I think about the Bermuda we live in today and I am overwhelmed with hopelessness. We are a community increasingly divided by our material possessions, where we put the X on our ballots, and the colour of our skin. I see people looking to politicians for the answer to these critical problems, but when I look at them I see no solution. No politician or party is going to get us out of this one, no policy or law is going to exercise this demon, yet we sit and watch them scrap in their 'Big Discussion'. What is it exactly we are expecting to happen? Anyone with eyes, ears and a couple brain cells knockin' around in their head knows that they are never going to do what really needs to be done (no offence, I know it's complicated). No, if the people of Bermuda want to see a change it has to come from grassroots, from the people. Each and every individual has to make it work every day, there is no other way.

There is goodness in all of us, we all share an unbreakable, innate human connection and an intrinsic motivation to help others. There is no greater joy for a human than to help another. Education and critical thinking are key, it's so easy to get caught up in the collective mentality of your respective social group and lose sight of what is really important. We need to break free.

So, to my good-hearted fellow motorist – safe for the push bredren! I'll make sure I pass on your good works. And to all my other fellow Bermudians, it's up to each one of us individually to unconditionally promote goodness in every interpersonal interaction we have, it's our only hope.

LET'S HAVE IT!

Smith's