A very positive experience

January 2, 2008

Dear Sir,

I am grateful for the opportunity through your columns, to start the year off on a positive note by relating a recent rewarding experience. During the holiday week, I had occasion to be treated in the Emergency Department of the KEMH. The staff were most efficient and I wish to give particular thanks to the attending physician Dr. Syed whose kind attentive manner was most appreciated.

Over and above the call of duty he telephoned me at home the following evening to inquire as to my condition, and to reassure me that he was available to tend to my needs at any time. It was a very positive experience and a tribute to the dedication of the staff in our Hospital. My wish for all is for a Happy Healthy New Year and World Peace.

KATHLEEN MAYOR

Paget

How much is this costing?

January 10, 2008

Dear Sir,

"We were not aware of the amount of asbestos contained inside these buildings ¿ and so that has put us back. Certainly it was our wish and endeavour to have construction started. But you cannot start it under these conditions." ¿ Minister of Works & Engineering.

This was the official 'excuse' given by the Government yesterday, when trying to explain why the old Club Med is still standing, despite several promises by the Minister of Tourism (a.k.a. the Premier) over the last year that construction would be started in 2007. I, and most Bermudians, find this latest development unbelievable.

First, if asbestos is the real reason for the delay, why wasn't it explained in more detail by the former Minister of Works & Engineering during the press conference on December 7? Surely it doesn't take four weeks to figure out whether or not a building contains significant amounts of asbestos? The hotel has been laying derelict for 20 years, and we are just realising it contains asbestos? The Premier didn't contemplate this possibility when he made the public promises almost a year ago? Everyone knows that a building this old will have significant amounts of asbestos as it was the insulation of choice for so many years. How could this fact be overlooked/ignored by Government?

Second, why is Works & Engineering even at the site? Where else in the world do Government workers conduct asbestos abatement/demolition work on behalf of a private developer? Could you imagine Las Vegas city workers doing similar work when the Stardust was ripped down to make way for the Echelon in 2007? How much is this 'favour' costing taxpayers?

I also find it interesting that the last two press conferences were held by the Minister(s) of Works & Engineering and not the Premier. At least twice the Premier publicly promised construction would begin by the end of 2007. When this promise went unfulfilled other members of the Cabinet were sent to give the bad news. How many more promises are going to go unfulfilled?

KENT SMITH

St. George's

You will lose again

December 27, 2007

Dear Sir,

I have read with interest the commentary following the General Election. Its contents in both your newspapers (yes, I count the Mid Ocean as yours too, Chinese Wall notwithstanding), the popular blogs and among the members of the Opposition are nothing short of patronising and offensive.

Apparently, those of us who supported the return to power of the PLP are "ignorant", voted for "insanity", subscribe to the philosophy that "nasty works" and don't care about how "our money is spent".

Well, Mr. Editor, I can confirm that none of that is correct. We were smart enough to figure out that you were on a campaign when you told us that we must not ask Michael Dunkley anything else about the allegations against him because the matter had been fully investigated, Mr. Dunkley exonerated, people charged and convicted and the file closed but that same rationale could not apply to Dr. Brown. What I can confirm is that most of us simply didn't believe anything you and your fellow editors printed and further didn't believe that the UBP had changed. Is that simple fact so hard to accept?

The same arrogance that allows people like the Limey in Bermuda to brand our election result a vote of ignorance is why you and your Party will continue to lose time and time again. There is a major disconnect between you and the people and you are too vexed and transfixed by Dr. Brown to appreciate it. Until you view the results of the General Election as a total repudiation of your tactics and your views about Bermuda you will be condemned to make the same mistakes every time. Imagine, you're unlikely to even print this letter because of it. As Yoda would say, "that is why you fail". Solid as a Rock,

G.K. STOWE

Smiths

P.s. Note carefully that my race card remains in the deck.

More is coming under Brown

January 2, 2008

Dear Sir,

I am writing to say I am glad the election is over and I am only sorry we have the same government and opposition with 22 seats for the government and 14 seats for the Opposition. This means its new faces in the same old places. I must give congratulations to the PLP for winning the election, but I will be putting criticism next to that. I was not impressed with the election being called in December. Dr. Brown became Scrooge because he stole Christmas. The biggest surprise was Kenny Bascome losing to Jennifer Smith in St. George's. I was glad to see Mr. Foggo go as he was only a back bench warmer. Congratulations to Mr. Swan on winning his seat in St. George's and also for his first time in the House of Assembly. I am looking forward to hearing his maiden speech in the house. Mr. Swan is an example of a young politician whose persistence has paid off because of his goals set in life.

The election was long and nasty. The talk shows were mouthpieces for both parties. People talking a lot of garbage, bickering about nothing of any value such as issues that pertain to the lives of Bermudians. I am hoping that the discussion being brought forth in the House in 2008 has some real value to it, instead of words that are wasted on negative talk. I want the public to know that the Opposition has to be strong in the criticising of Government, that is their responsibility, they do not share ideas. Their ideas only become valuable when they become government.

Congrats to Mr. Rick Richardson and his panel. Special thanks to ZBM for the coverage of the election. I want to say to Julian he has to learn to shut his mouth at times and let others speak. Jerome Dill has valuable input if given opportunity to get it all out and as for the other guest I missed getting his name (Editor's note: Tom Vesey), he was almost like a puppet with his head going from side to side with little input. Also Julian made two statements — the first one is that he is stone PLP, I remember he was stone UBP sometime before, so I guess leopards can change their sports especially if he is named Julian Hall and his second statement was that he is an honourary union member for life — I believe that. Julian, when you were secretary for UBP you threw yourself a 40th birthday party at the 40 Thieves Club You showed up in a white long tail tuxedo suit and top hat. You announced that it was especially made for you in England. I wonder where it is now. I must admit you are a brilliant lawyer (sometimes you don't show it).

It amazes me that Colonel David Burch did not run in the election as a candidate. Is it because he is unelectable? I know that Premier Brown would like to have him in his Cabinet as a Minister in the House so he can speak and vote on policy. Birds of a feather flock together so the only thing left to do is try a by-election. I am suspicious it will be in the constituency of the Speaker of the House, Mr. Lowe. Col. Burch is a good friend, he accepts when criticised, but I don't listen to his talk show called "Bermuda Speaks", because Bermuda doesn't speak, just a certain segments of Bermuda call and speak. The voting public needs to realise how they should vote. Two ways to do that is:

1. Vote your conscience

2. Have knowledge about the platforms

The public is only important on the fifth year after an election and the last three weeks of the same period and then they become unimportant again until the next election. By the way this is my observation. One of the most worthless statements on the voting made in Devonshire between Patrice Minors and Michael Dunkley is that the PLP said a vote for the Dame is a vote for Patrice. I asked myself is that respectable? That doesn't say much about Patrice's ability to win the votes on her own merits. Dr. Brown in the next two to three years is going to drop some bombshells so be prepared.

Thanks to The Royal Gazette, I prefer to read the letters to the Editor than listen to the talk shows on radio. I get better substance of issues from your printing the public's view. I send my special thanks and blessing for the year 2008.

W.S. FOX

Smith's

No need for UBP rebrand

December 28, 2007

Dear Sir,

I regret that Susan Holshouser lost her seat in St. David's, but the good part is that it has taken Lovitta Foggo out of the education system and the classroom from further poisoning our children's minds with her hatred and envy. We see what she, and others like her, has done to our children in the public schools. There were teachers telling five and seven year olds to get a flag and to vote for the PLP. This election will go down in history as one that was won by the nastiest means possible. PLP supporters ignored all rules and were rewarded for doing so, anybody flying a UBP flag was refused service, people sitting in their cars in parking lots for the sole purpose of harassing and abusing others parked there whom they perceived not to be PLP supporters. Their so-called rallies were fraught with hatred arousing speeches which are still in the minds and hearts of people. The least they can do now is to remove the green flags and posters still littering the island.

After all of this unpleasantness the Premier is asking people to pretend that it never happened. He was the one to set the tone.

Yes, Pat, keep up the pressure. We need to know about the bullet sent through the mail; the note stolen from Michael Scott's office; the attempted break-in at Col. Burch's house; the files stolen from Police Headquarters and which cost us the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars (will we ever hear how much?) to be kept from seeing the light of day. Is the BIU still in operation? How quiet it is that Zane DeSilva and Jane Correira's construction companies' employees are not unionised. UBP, do not agonise about a name change or rebranding. 47 percent of the voters like you the way you are and believe in you. When the bough breaks, many of the remaining 53 percent will see the error of their ways and realise that one cannot live a lie for very long and will have somewhere to run.

KEEN OBSERVER

Devonshire