Part of public heritage

March 13, 2007

Dear Sir,

Thank you for publishing my views on Southlands. There have been many views expressed on the planned use of this lovely amenity by both developer and critic.

Let us not lose track of the fact that this land, while privately owned, is still a part of the public heritage.

The Government has found it rather easy to find $18 million plus to assist sporting developments recently. Why not spend a little extra and reach a larger section of the public by leasing this area and creating a lovely public amenity. I will suggest a first class nine-hole golf course, together with visitor rental facilities and beach pavilion. This will give some return on the investment to the owners, the land will still be preserved for future generations, and an attraction for both local and visitors will be created.

The National Geographic recently published a rather comprehensive study on the very destructive effects that this same Jumeirah group have created in their own country, why encourage them to come here. Let me close by repeating that parks and open space are essential to human social and psychological well being. There is no need for an SDO .

WILLIAM (PETER) OUTERBRIDGE

St. George’s

Stand by principles

This was sent to Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield and copied to The Royal Gazette

March 14, 2007

Dear Madam Minister,

A great many concerned Bermudians have voiced their opinions as to the dreadful consequences of the Southlands project, ranging from loss of green space and precious habit for dwindling flora and fauna, to the necessity of employing hundreds of foreign workers further straining our infrastructure.

I have yet to hear from anyone why it is a good thing for Bermuda and Bermudians. All except Dr. Brown, that is, and the few who stand to gain from this.

I sincerely believe that you, Madam Minister, really do care about Bermuda and Bermudians. You have a track record to prove this. Please do not be intimidated by the Premier and his gang who want to go through with this regardless of the devastation it will cause to the land and seashore. You know as well as we all do that precious few Bermudians will be employed in the building or the running of this obscene project. You know too, that we already have hundreds of non-Bermudians running the hotels and restaurants! So where does the Premier think he is going to dig up Bermudians to benefit from this show?

I will reiterate what many have said already, it will mean more housing, more cars and bikes, more schools, electricity burned, Doctors needed, hospital space and the list goes on. It will further erode our quality of life here, as Bermuda is already bursting at the seams. Bermudians have nothing to gain! You are the Minister for the Environment, are you not? Protect Bermuda for Bermudians! Don’t be intimidated!

Think about it! Isn’t it ironic that the descendants of the very people who fought against slavery, fought to have a voice and a vote, to be part of the decision making process, are the ones who now advocate silencing that voice and vote through the SDOs! The democratic process was hard earned by many, and yet many seem happy to relinquish it.

I believe you do know what is best, Madam Minister, so do it. I implore you, as a woman of principle, to turn down the SDO for the Southlands development.

PEGGY COUPER

Pembroke

Do as you say?

March 7, 2007

Dear Sir,

Now that Paula Cox has openly disagreed with her employer in a public forum, will she be asked to resign, per the comments of Derrick Burgess earlier this month?

VOTER

Hamilton Parish

Bravo, Ms Cox!

March 8, 2007

Dear Sir,

I empathise with the plight of poor Paula Cox who will imminently be losing her private sector employment with Ace Group.

Upon reading yesterday’s article in The Royal Gazette entitled “Cox hits back at her boss”, I couldn’t help but think how brave it was of Ms Cox to publicly speak out against a position taken by the CEO of the firm where she is employed, knowing full well that she would be surely dismissed from employment as a result.

In a Bermuda where “common sense” dictates that “if you speak out against the policy of the company that you work for you’re going to be dismissed” as Deputy Premier Cox’s cabinet colleague, the Hon. Derick Burgess, recently reminded us (February 26), it certainly takes courage to stand up for your convictions. Bravo Ms Cox!

One can’t help but think that if only the government’s unemployment insurance scheme was operational then Ms Cox might have some financial protection to soften the blow of the loss of her job. If only Ms Cox had thought ahead before speaking out and encouraged the responsible party in her government to get the unemployment scheme up and running before she spoke out against her boss...

Wait a second! Isn’t it Ms Cox who is responsible for implementing the promise of unemployment insurance? Hmmm... I guess I feel a little less sorry for her now.

Too bad we live in a Bermuda where you only get dismissed when you speak out against your employer but get to keep your position when you’ve failed to get your job done.

JASON BENEVIDES

Paget

Value lives of others

March 12, 2007

Dear Sir,

On Friday we heard of the untimely death of yet another young man as a result of a road crash.

On Friday March 9, at 4.33 p.m. while driving home along Palmetto Road, near the Tynes Bay Waste Facility, a light or white coloured van suddenly came upon the bumper of my car. The driver tailgated me until I reached the Waterworks Plant on North Shore. At that moment, on a bend this vehicle overtook me, then had to suddenly cut in between my car and the vehicle in front of me. A large cement truck was coming in the opposite direction and he was in their lane. There was only a car length between the front vehicle and me, so I had to slam on my brakes to prevent an accident. I honked my horn but it did not matter to the van driver, who then overtook the car in front of me.

He proceeded to excessively speed along the North Shore Road. I eventually saw the vehicle near Store Hill. He had slowed because of the amount of traffic in front of him, however, this did not prevent him from making several attempts to swerve in and out of the traffic until he passed all the vehicles in line.

I wondered what the emergency was or was this person “high on something” putting my life and others in jeopardy. Was there anything that would cause a person to drive so dangerously? My question was short lived. As I passed the gas station he was second in line waiting to get gasoline. I guess he was getting his refill to speed down to the next gas station!

“Don’t take my life, even if you don’t value you own.”

MRS. TROTT

Hamilton Parish

Causeway solution

February 19, 2007

Dear Sir,

Again this morning there was talk on the news about a decision may be made to close the Causeway because a southwest gale is forecast. I write to you in the hope that those, whoever they are, that evaluate the need to close the Causeway will read my letter. For all who live in the East End and for air travellers this uncertainly every time a gale is forecast makes life difficult and costly.

No one wants to see people put in danger but we must realise what the danger is and what causes it. It is not the wind along from any direction but storm surge and waves combined from specific directions that crate a problem on the Causeway.

Hurricane Fabian generated 150 mph winds and very large waves from the southeast for five or more hours. Water was pushed through the large channels at Castle Roads much faster than it could escape through much smaller channels at the Causeway. The sea level increased in Castle Harbour until it overstepped the low section of Causeway and washed out the road. A similar situation happened in New Orleans.

Most of our winter gales blow from the southwest to northwest with much less than major hurricane force. There is no significant impact on the Causeway and in fact the wind blows water out of Castle Harbour.

Many sections of the exposed North Shore Road are more dangerous for bikes than the relatively sheltered Causeway.

It is hoped that any new design for the Causeway will allow more water to pass under the road during hurricanes which may produce southeast winds. This will also keep high water from flooding the air terminal.

My comments are based on my years of professional experiences and are given in the spirit of trying to help our community through better understanding. I would be pleased to meet and discuss the subject in greater detail with any one from government who would be interested.

MILES E. H. OUTERBRIDGE

St. David’s

An uneven equation

February 6, 2007

Dear Sir,

A sampling of how Bermudians are rating their own country:

1 for government - give Bank of Bermuda away to foreigners

0 for Bermudians - confusion and lousy service for locals

1 for government - give away protected land of Southland to more foreigners

0 for Bermudians - loss of last protected wilderness property for our children

1 for government - build larger hotel for non-tourists at protected Southland property

0 for Bermudians - leave Club Med as is — no proper housing for Bermudian poor

1 for government - take away Indigent Clinic for those in desperate need

0 for Bermudians - lets make it more difficult for the needy to get any kind of medical care

1 for government - give Dr. Brown twenty-four hour personal bodyguard

0 for Bermudians - rampant robberies and vicious beatings by thugs on our streets

1 for government - big pay raise for Government Big Wigs

0 for Bermudians - work two jobs to pay for rents/mortgages and groceries

1 for government - give millions (of my money) to football and cricket

0 for Bermudians - GASP!!! GASP AGAIN!!!

1 for government - Premiers version of ‘I listen to the foreigners...oops I mean Bermudians”

0 for Bermudians - Dictatorship

1 for government - push Independent yet again

0 for Bermudians - pay INCOME TAX when we get Independence!!!

1 for government - Dr. Brown - world leader

0 for Bermudians - Dr. Brown gave away Bermuda!

+10 for government

0000000000 for Bermudians

MS DISILLUSIONED

Pembroke

Feeling left out

March 2, 2007

Dear Sir,

As a mother I am surprised to hear the Youth Net program that is to start soon going into schools helping with reading it will not serve the special education school. Why?

They have a number of ex-teachers joining it. Many of them I am sure have some expertise of Special Ed children.

Why not give them the same treatment as those at the other schools? They are all God’s creatures.

May be some of the retired teachers have interest in that field.

AN INTERESTED MOTHER

Devonshire

Worried for Bermuda

March 14, 2007

Dear Sir,

I am a 78-year-old Bermuda who has lived through all the difficult days of the last 75 years and also the very many pleasant ones. I have always been an optimist about Bermuda’s future even in the difficult days of strikes, general strikes and murder of the Governor and his aide. However after nine years of PLP government and a possible election in the near future I feel that Bermuda is headed in the wrong direction and that the leadership of the PLP have their own interests at heart rather than the majority of Bermuda.

All Bermudians should read the two recent articles in our papers. The first one was in The Royal Gazette on March 7 by Roger Crombie, an expatriate. Read it and appreciate what he has said about the feelings of the expatriates who contribute so much to Bermuda.

The second excellent article was in today’s Bermuda Sun by Shawn Crockwell. This was not a political or biased article it just pointed out the true facts of where the PLP politicians are heading, i.e., “a dictatorial government”. We have all seen and read about and seen the results of their last 100 plus days and are justified in wondering where this government is taking us.

Personal rewards and recognition seem to be the leading concerns of their representatives. One can only hope that in an upcoming election Bermudians will be smart enough to see the likely results of another PLP government. There are enough nervous people already. Hopefully there will be more than enough to return a UBP government.

WARWICK RESIDENT

What’s in a name?

March 2, 2007

Dear Sir,

I am confused as to why it was felt that renaming St. Brendan’s the Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute would remove the stigma associated with the former name, yet according to Ewart Brown changing the name of the Indigent Clinic does not bestow the same benefit.

I understand that Dr. Brown has plans to build a private clinic on the South Shore which, of course, will coincide with the closure of the KEMH Clinic. Perhaps Dr. Brown can answer the question as to whether he plans to treat his indigent patients for free which, of course, would be the honourable thing to do, or if he is going to financially benefit directly from his decision to close the clinic at the hospital.

VOTER

Hamilton Parish

Value for money

March 2, 2007

Dear Sir,

How can $18,000 be spent on bringing two entertainers to the Island to entertain a small group of people when the cost of sending one person to collect a part to repair a vital machine that affects the life of the whole of Bermuda, is not considered?

MARY BALL

Pembroke