Something doesn’t add upJanuary 5, 2006

Dear Sir,I am responding to the letter in today’s Royal Gazette signed ‘Praying for you’ in regards to the Russian Bondarenko family. I don’t want to sound cruel or heartless, but give me a break! I feel that Bermuda has extended it’s hospitality long enough and that it’s time for the family to go. We talk often having to venture out into the open seas in treacherous weather, well there has been an invention — it’s called an airplane.

Why can’t these folks make arrangements to secure their boat, fly out to Canada, and then come back later to retrieve it? It was said that the wife is afraid of flying. Afraid of flying, yet not afraid to sail around the world, out on the potentially dangerous, wide-open sea with her young children where anything could happen? Frankly, I think that it is just an excuse and I am not buying it.

Has anyone checked into if these folks really do have permission to enter Canada? How do we know that they haven’t fallen in love with Bermuda and are looking for the chance to stay? They mentioned that they had a window of opportunity to leave, but did not take that opportunity. Unfortunately, that is the decision that they made and they now have to live with it. They wish to remain in Bermuda until May.

How do we know that they won’t give us another sad story at the time and want to stay longer? In May it could be ‘it’s too dangerous because it’s too close to hurricane season.’ When is the perfect time — there could always be a problem. Also, if they have jobs in Canada as they claim, I don’t understand why a potential employer is so willing to wait another four months for them to start work. Something here doesn’t add up.

It may not sound like it, but I do have sympathy for the couple as they have a young family. However, why do people think that Bermuda had to be different from other places as far as rules and regulations go? We as Bermudians couldn’t go to any other country and overstay the visitor period, they give some sob story to ignite public sympathy to allow us to stay even longer!

I disagree with ‘Praying’, I don’t think that Bermuda Immigration is being ‘heartless’ and no, the Bermuda Government would not be liable to be sued for ‘murder’ if the family decides to sail out of here when there is another viable option (by air). That would be the choice they made, just like they made the choice to sail here in the first place knowing that they would only be allowed to stay for a certain period of time. The bottom line is that the choice of how to leave is theirs to make, but it is time for them to move on.SMELLING A RAT

Hamilton ParishCut Road resident respondsDecember 28, 2005

Dear Sir,I have a pressing issue which needs addressing — it is the buzz about widening the (St. George’s Town) Cut to facilitate large ships. Bermuda is a 22 square mile flat island, it’s composition porous limestone which has taken millions of years to form; it is cavernous and delicate. Over the years it has been hewn to obtain building block and slate for construction, demolishing hillsides and mounds. The cut is protected naturally by a chain of islands running alongside it.

If the entrance to this channel is widened allowing massive volume of ocean into it, serious erosion will result naturally, and should a Category Three to Five hurricane hit, the might of the ocean will adversely affect every holding on the waters edge by causing severe damage and/or demolishing. The old Town will not be spared, there maybe nothing left of it to be called or deemed a World Heritage Town.

My question is simply this: Is no one concerned about the possible deliberate destruction of what took nature aeons to create? And are the residents along the cut insignificant to the Town and Country that our property is to be put in serious and certain jeopardy in order to facilitate larger ships whose passengers will patronise the handful of businesses in the Town?

As it is, in the summer months when ships are berth the town is inundated with people and the buses crowded Monday to Friday. Bermuda is a prosperous place and everyone who lives and operates business here should feel blessed and give thanks for being so fortunate — beware of Greed and killing the goose that lays the golden egg — leave the cut as is!CAROL STOVELLGet the dice rolling!January 7, 2005

Dear Sir,When I think of bingo I think of my grandmother who went to every game she could. She took me to a bingo tent once in Toronto during the Canadian National Exhibition. I thought it odd that granny wanted me to go the Ex with her, only to find out it was Grandparents Day and all seniors got in free if they brought a child with them. I still remember her ritual of laying out a lucky four leaf clover and the rabbit’s foot I had given her around the bingo sheets. She never went anywhere without an old worn tin that contained her bingo chips. She would play for hours, sometimes winning, sometimes losing but never enough that the family had to be concerned.

The bingo described in today’s paper sounds more like the progressive slots at Vegas. Where is the distinction between Bingo — a game of chance and Roulette — a game of chance? This is not a few old grannies playing for pocket change, this is organised, computerised gambling. No one can argue that this form of bingo is not gambling. When are the rest of us going to be able to play our games of choice, roulette, blackjack, craps or the various forms of poker?

I am sure the bar owners who lost the battle on the poker machines will be watching this Bingo development very closely. I can go to any number of clubs, have a drink and lose money on bingo, why can’t I go to the Beach on Front Street, have a drink and lose the same amount to a poker machine? Does anyone have a sensible explain as to the disparity regarding my freedom of choice?

A number of people have been advocating a casino in Bermuda for years, now is the time to act. Government should be lining up the big casino operators now to see who would give us the best deal in terms of building a hotel casino complex. These operators are stilling sorting out their insurance claims related to Katrina and Rita and contemplating if they go back to the Gulf Coast. I have no doubt they will go back but I am sure they would all be eager to operate in Bermuda. Let’s get the dice rolling on Front Street, not just at Cup Match.DAVID C.HOLMES

Smith’sDump Westminster systemJanuary 5, 2006

Dear Sir, I read with some considerable dismay the prediction in your editorial of January 5 that there may be as many as five parties contesting the next general election. This would, of course, highlight the absurdity of persisting with the Westminster style of government in a small community like Bermuda. The system is designed to use the disunity of a community in order to establish a dominant government which will then be held accountable through conflict with its opposition. The more parties, the more disunity, and the more likelihood of the necessity for any party to establish coalitions, often unstable and in compromise of its principals, in order to hope to achieve effectiveness.

The system also assumes that there is enough governing talent in the community for the various parties to be able to offer viability, an assumption which is often of doubtful validity even in large countries. Surely Bermuda, with its small population, needs to embrace a system which will utilise all of the best governing talent available. Surely Bermuda needs a system of government which will promote unity rather than one which needs and promotes the opposite. Surely we should be considering not an addition to the list of already partially discredited parties, but instead the replacement of a system which emphasises differences and produces mediocrity in government with one which encourages unity and ensures that we make the most of our governing talent.John Morbey

Smith’sHigh quality at The ReefsDecember 29, 2005

Dear Sir,My wife and I have just returned from a Christmas stay at The Reefs. We had a most enjoyable time and the service, accommodations, food and general ambience were of a very high standard. The service especially impressed us with a very friendly and helpful staff that went out of its way to make one feel welcome. The overseas visitors were high in their praise of Bermudians and Bermuda in general, and we did not hear one negative comment. They said Bermuda was a very special Island with its friendly, helpful and courteous people and all wanted to return. High praise indeed! We plan to return to The Reefs soon. It makes an ideal getaway without having to leave our Island!JOHN GILBERT

PagetThankful for opportunityJanuary 4, 2005

Dear Sir,I would like to offer my somewhat belated thanks to the Bermuda Arts Council for their awarding of a grant which allowed me to attend the US National Art Education Association’s convention last year in Boston. The five-day annual conference brings together art teachers from around the world to share effective teaching techniques and other classroom experiences. A wide variety of workshops are offered that encompass all levels of education. A morning can be spent learning about and discussing effective cross-curricular approaches before heading out to an afternoon tour of a magnet school or museum. Many topics are covered so the choice of offerings is immense.

I find the NAEA conferences to be energising. I always leave them full of new ideas and plans for my classroom. Unfortunately some of them can’t be implemented for various reasons (such as still waiting after three years for a kiln to be properly installed). Thankfully for art teachers, the BAC recognises that the arts help young people build their self-esteem, ignite creativity, develop life skills and reinforce academics. I will be attending the next NAEA conference later this year in Chicago. This time I will be a presenter and not just an attendee. I’m looking forward to this opportunity and hope to see other Bermudian art teachers in attendance.K. TUCKER

Dellwood Middle SchoolA note of thanksDecember 31, 2005

Dear Sir,The Bermuda Nurses’ Association wishes to thank all of Bermuda for its generous response to the Niger, West Africa Appeal held on December 14, 2005. We saw the images of the malnourished, ill and dying children. We told you what one penny and one dollar would provide to the children and families and you captured our passion. Bermuda, you have donated over $20,000 to the Niger Appeal and we thank you!

We had tremendous responses from schools, churches and businesses; all to be thanked individually. Their donations were immediate and overwhelming. We thank the Bermuda Red Cross for bringing the condition of Niger to our attention, for supporting us throughout the Appeal and all monies will be turned over to them, designated for Niger. Niger, West Africa has chronic poverty but this last year was particularly bad due to drought, loss of crops from locust infestation and loss of cattle. This all led to starvation, illness and death of the people of Niger.’

We learned that the children were hardest hit. Children will deteriorate faster than adults when faced with the shock of dehydration and lack of nutrition. Sometimes it is impossible to save them. We recognise that Niger has long term challenges and goals. Providing food, clean water and vaccines against diseases we no longer fall prey to — is for the now. The nurses of Bermuda will continue to provide health care in clinics, homes, hospitals and offices as well as hold health fairs, promote health education and assist other community efforts. The Bermuda Nurses’ Association again thanks you and wishes each of you a healthy and happy 2006. Sincerely,THE NIGER APPEAL COMMITTEE:

JoAnne Armstrong, R.N.

Veronica Coburn, R.N.

Russ Ford,R.N.

Ria Outerbridge, R.N.

Gaynell Hayward, R.N.<$>What about adultery?December 27, 2005

Dear Sir,The island, it would seem from a recent death announcement in your esteemed publication, is awash in bishops. Not one of them, nor yet one of their minions, has so far seen fit to take up my challenge issued in the Mid-Ocean News three weeks ago. Silence, as I predicted, has reigned precisely because there is no answer, logical or theological, to that challenge.

I demanded that one or other of these clergy should explain in unequivocal terms why Bermuda law should require a Christian property owner to rent accommodation to a remarried divorced person or why a Christian businessperson should be required to hire such a person by those same laws. Such people are adulterers. Adultery is forbidden by the Seventh Commandment. Adultery is the single sexual sin against which our Lord Jesus Christ spoke out. Adultery is obviously the greatest threat to marriage and the family there is.

The church spokesmen should also explain why the law should require a Christian landlord or businessperson to rent accommodation to or to hire an unmarried mother. She is clearly and often proudly a fornicator. This is yet another sexual sin that should be, but isn’t, loudly decried in our churches. These fatherless and almost motherless children often grow up to be the next generation of gang members, drug addicts and criminals. The social harm done by these irresponsible sexual liaisons is incalculable.

When or if they are successful at the foregoing explanations they must then turn their logic upside down and explain why it should suddenly be right and proper that gay people should be legally discriminated against in accommodation and hiring. If homosexual sex is a sexual sin and it is by no means clear that it is, other than in Roman Catholic doctrine, it is not a sin mentioned in the Ten Commandments nor is it a sin decried or even mentioned by our Lord Jesus Christ. More to the point homosexuality is not a sin with any clear or grave social consequences in the way that adultery and fornication so obviously are.

Only the persistent but wrong conviction that homosexuality is a choice allows these mean spirited churches to continue to hold on to their irrational and scientifically unfounded prejudice. Even in the relatively accepting world in which we now live it is idiotic to suggest that anyone would choose to be homosexual. He would thus willingly subject himself to vicious scapegoating and foul libels from the Pope among many others. The Pope is exempt from any ordinary remedial legal action because he is sovereign in his own nasty little principality. It isn’t at all clear, however, that offensive abuse from much lesser men such as Bishops Vernon Lambe or Goodwin Smith is so exempt.

Finally these church spokespersons, unless they are all too cowardly or too incapable, should clearly explain so we can all understand their position in terms of the Bermuda Constitution why they think their churches have a legal or constitutional right to impose by law their ill considered religious doctrine on others who clearly do not share it. The Constitution protects our freedom of religion and must thus protect us from the imposition by law of the misguided doctrine of others.

I am waiting with bated breath for the churchman courageous or foolhardy enough to undertake a public answer to this challenge. In the meantime there must be many an employer, including Government, willing to take the opportunity provided by this scandalous omission from our human rights laws to fire a difficult and recalcitrant union shop steward on the grounds of his or her sexual orientation, no matter what it may be. The dismissal would be on impeccable legal grounds and requires no proof whatever.PERSECUTED

City of Hamilton