Govt. did not cave in

February 6, 2008

Dear Sir,

I agree with the Government and the BIU in the settlement of the dispute over the controversial pilot.

I hope that your editorial in today's paper does not mean you feel you must cater to the right wing plenty times. Upon being challenged, right or wrong, the Government took another look.

Talk about a give-in by Government when there was no arbitration going on has no merit in my opinion. Leadership is always a target.

ROSS TUZO

Warwick

Barnett is right

February 6, 2008

Dear Sir,

I do not know Phillip Barnett personally but have the greatest empathy for those in the hospitality industry. He is not wrong.

Please allow me to publicly reassure our guest workers that Bermudians do appreciate their valuable contributions and not all Bermudians share the same narrow minded view of the letter submitted to The Royal Gazette dated January 27.

Bermuda is a very rich and affluent Island because of contributions made by guest workers, permanent resident certificate holders, status Bermudians and birth Bermudians. All of us make Bermuda the warm and friendly place it is today. It is very sad and disappointing to read such unkindness about the very people that give tirelessly of themselves to our community.

As a volunteer myself I see first hand the amount of time given back unselfishly to Bermudian charities and organisations alike. Without our service providers where would we be? Rather than pointing out why companies like ACE, XL and others are here let's instead thank them for their enormous generosity.

The real story is not the talents we all have but the attitudes. Unfortunately I find myself apologising for those that continue to wear the blinders and do not open their hearts for a better and prosperous Bermuda.

NAOMI BUCKLEY

Smith's Parish

Why did you wait?

January 23, 2008

Dear Sir,

I find it very interesting that in the year 2008, 45 years after the introduction of party politics to Bermuda, The Royal Gazette has "launched a campaign for the doors on Government secrecy to be opened".

As the Editor of The Royal Gazette, a newspaper that traditionally has been anti-PLP and certainly there are few who would disagree that your newspaper has been more of an opposition to the PLP Government than the Opposition United Bermuda Party, I am not surprised that the shareholders of Bermuda Press Holdings Ltd. would invest in this campaign at this time. After all, the shareholders must have agreed to thousands of dollars in legal fees for the witch hunt that was conducted by your newspaper with regards to the stolen police files.

At least if there was a Public Access to Information Act (PATI) legislation, it would not be necessary for civil servants, or others in the community, like the Son of the Soil, to remove files from Government offices and pass them on to your newspaper and/or Opposition UBP members like Michael Dunkley and Louise Jackson.

Recently the topic of PATI came up on the Everest DaCosta talk show. "Political commentator" and environmentalist Stuart Hayward told listeners that in 1989 when he was a Member of Parliament he pushed for a Freedom of Information Act. I wonder why The Royal Gazette, the UBP and others in the community, including the former Premier, who was either sitting in Parliament or the Senate at the time, did not help to push through legislation at that time. Was the previous Editor of The Royal Gazette, David White, not as interested in such an act before because there was a different party in power at the time?

I will continue to contend that the extreme interest by your newspaper to have access to public information is not in the interest of the public, but more so that you can use the information to embarrass the government.

I agree with Walton Brown when he said: "There's no public outcry for public access to information. This is one driven by the media (Royal Gazette). I'm not saying it's illegitimate to pursue it, but Government will quite rightly focus on the needs and aspirations of the people first. "

And by the way, contrary to your assertion that Alex Scott was forced out of the PLP leadership by the end of 2006", I must remind you of the results of the constitutionally held PLP election in October, 2006 which were made public. The PLP delegates voted overwhelmingly for Dr. Brown to take up the mantle and lead the PLP. Mr. Scott was not forced out. He was not accepted by the majority of delegates.

LAVERNE FURBERT

Hamilton Parish

Editor's Note: One day, Bermuda will get to the point when a campaign launched in the public interest is not presumed to have some kind of devious motivation attached to it. It is worth noting that The Royal Gazette did not publish contents from the Police files, but was made a defendant in the case and defended it on principle, and that it is the taxpayer who has ended up paying much of the bill, since the Government lost the case.

David L. White and others are quite capable of speaking for themselves, but it is important to note that this newspaper supported and consulted with the government on PATI. One of the reasons for pushing this campaign now is that PATI had fallen off the political radar under the Brown administration and that access to basic information has become increasingly difficult under this administration.

But the main point is this: PATI makes the public's right to information a legally enshrined right and not a matter of discretion.

That is something everyone should support. It's a shame that Ms Furbert, as a journalist, does not.

Barred from happiness

February 2, 2008

Dear Sir,

We come to you to discuss an issue that needs to be addressed in completeness once and for all regarding discrimination by the Government of Bermuda; an issue of long standing judgment that effects our everyday life as good hearted whole people.

We are gay. We are happy and have freedom to express our views with a proper educational background with insight and clarity based solely on good intention.

It is time the Government of Bermuda finally address the inhumane treatment of same couples and acknowledge unions of life long partners that happen to be gay.

I met my Bermudian lifelong partner and husband five years ago. We were married in Canada and have legal documents no different from those generated for heterosexual marriages. I am happy to sit here with my husband in Canada where we are able to choose to be happy with one another.

The problem is this. I have lived and worked in Bermuda. I understand the Country and the people and what makes this wonderful island a part of my husband. It is his home and his heart. As a Bermudian he is sickened by the fact that he cannot call Bermuda home because the Government does not recognise who he is or who he has chosen to spend his life with. This poses more problems than you can fathom, both financially and emotionally. He owns a business in which realistically is ours. On paper this is difficult as the law of Bermuda currently stipulates that marriage among same-sex unions is null and void.

To own a home or a semblance of a home seems unattainable to us because you firstly as a Government do not recognise him and certainly do not recognise me as his spouse. This is grossly unfair and inhumane not to mention grossly discriminatory.

As a married couple we love our life in Bermuda but find it impossible to exist without protection under the Government of Bermuda. We urge Government to address this long overdue discriminatory issue and allow for common law or same sex unions to have the same rights as all people of the land.

Love is Love is Love. No harm intended, just peace. We love Bermuda and would love to call it our home and feel it is our right as a Bermudian & Canadian married couple.

Please sadly omit both names and address for fear of discrimination from the people of Bermuda until the Government protects us.

EXILED

Ontario, Canada

A big show of support

February 1, 2008

Dear Sir,

On behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda, I would like to thank Jessie Moniz, reporter for The Royal Gazette, for her timely story of January 24, 2008, the day celebrated as Thank Your Mentor Day, featuring our Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Year.

In addition to the Bigs and Little stories featured in this one page article, I wanted to take this opportunity to recognise and specially thank the corporate sponsors and businesses that helped make our Annual Christmas Party/Appreciation Luncheon a grand success. Firstly, to Platinum Underwriters Bermuda Ltd., who, with their total sponsorship, allowed us to accommodate more Bigs and Littles at this annual event, held at The Hamilton Princess Hotel.

Secondly, to Swiss Re, who, for the third year running, has allocated $50 per Little to purchase books as Christmas gifts for each Little. Also, as part of this venture, special thanks to the staff of The Bermuda Book Store who graciously helped select, wrap and label all of the books.

This year, we showed our appreciation to our Big Winners by providing additional gifts that allowed them to celebrate this occasion with their Littles.

There was no hesitation to my request from either of the following businesses: The Liberty Theatre who donated three sets of two admission tickets to our winners; The Lobster Pot who provided two $80 meal vouchers; MEF Enterprises Ltd. who provided a $100 meal voucher and The Carriage House who provided a Brunch for two voucher. Not only were the winners delighted, but the audience was also appreciative of the support from the business and corporate community. BBBS truly extends its heartfelt thanks to all of you.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express thanks to those of you, who having read the article in The Royal Gazette or the article in The Bermuda Sun, (by reporter/Big Sister), and then telephoned the BBBS office to request a Volunteer Application to become a Big Brother or a Big Sister. Our need for Big volunteers, especially male volunteers, has reached its apex; we currently have 64 unmatched Little Brothers with 17 Little Brothers waiting to be admitted into the programme. This waiting list grows every day!

The benefits of being a BIG are tremendous! Besides being an incredibly rewarding experience, there is great personal fulfilment . . . you will have the joy of encouraging and inspiring a child or a young person as you "Turn your lifetime of experience into the experience of a lifetime." Share what you know . . . become a Big Brother or Big Sister!

Please drop by our office for an Application Form or contact us via telephone or e-mail:

Cap-a-Laigne Charities House

25 Point Finger Road — 2nd Floor

Paget DV04

Tel: 232-2802; Fax: 236-5412;

E-mail: bbbs@logic.bm

On behalf of our Littles, we are anticipating a great response! Thank you in advance to just doing it!

ESME WILLIAMS

Executive Director

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Bermuda