We are going backwards

October 22, 2007

Dear Sir,

In 1950 under the South African apartheid regime, legislation was passed for the registration of the population. The Population Registration Act meant that all South Africans were to be classified in a so-called race register.

An "Office for Race Classification" was set up, which was charged with monitoring the process. Classification of groups was carried out using criteria such as outer appearance, general acceptance and social standing. Classification into one ethnic group or another had an impact on political rights, social relationships, education chances and economic status.

In 2007 under the PLP government, legislation (Workforce Equity Act 2007) will be passed for the classification of the working population in a so-called race register.

Classification of a group will be carried out by defining those persons who "are black Bermudians of African origin or descent who possess Bermudian status". In Bermuda, the "Office for Race Classification (CURE) may appoint designated persons or category of persons as employment equity compliance and review officers to monitor the process". Classification of persons into one ethnic group or another will have an impact on education chances and economic status.

If apartheid was abhorrent in South Africa in 1950, is it still not so in Bermuda in 2007? Why is Bermuda going backwards?

CRO

Paget

We must move forward

October 22, 2007

Dear Sir,

We have heard a lot of talk in the past 12 months: free buses, bringing the Telecommunications Act into the 21st Century, a new hospital, finishing the National Stadium and now a new airport (and I thought most of the airport was new anyway, especially the parts that have to be rebuilt every time there’s a strong wind).

A lot of “talk”, but little “do” – except for the Causeway; the gateway to Bermuda for business people and tourists arriving by air that looks more like a film set from ‘A Bridge Too Far’. A country should be like a shark: constantly moving forward in order to survive. Not like a singing trout: nailed to the wall and flapping its lips until the batteries run down. Yours piscatorially,

ANDREW R. DOBLE

Hamilton Parish

You killed a family member

October 22, 2007

Dear Sir,

On Saturday night someone ran over a member of my family and kept going. No, they didn't stop to make sure if she was dead or alive. I live on Sound View Road, Somerset which many use a race way. There are loads of kids who live on this street and happen to cross the street daily. We've asked for speed bumps to put in place but I guess someone has to be killed before this is looked at. To the person that obviously has no coincidence I want you to know that you killed my cat! Would you have kept driving if this was one of my children?

You killed a family member

October 22, 2007

Dear Sir,

On Saturday night someone ran over a member of my family and kept going. No, they didn’t stop to make sure if she was dead or alive. I live on Sound View Road, Somerset which many use a race way. There are loads of kids who live on this street and happen to cross the street daily. We’ve asked for speed bumps to put in place but I guess someone has to be killed before this is looked at. To the person that obviously has no coincidence I want you to know that you killed my cat! Would you have kept driving if this was one of my children?

IN MOURNING

Sandys

Doing the math

October 22, 2007

Dear Sir,

This is a letter to Education Minister Randy Horton which was copied to The Royal Gazette.

Dear Sir,

The following is an open letter which I have posted on my blog (www.21square.com) and copied to both The Royal Gazette and the Bermuda Sun.

I am writing to express my confusion at the latest release of graduation rate statistics. Unfortunately the quoted 22 percent jump is not clear to me as it is accompanied by a 31 percent drop in enrolment levels. This leads me to wonder how graduation rates are calculated and whether or not dropouts are included in the calculation.

Back in January, it was suggested in an article in The Royal Gazette that the way graduation rate statistics are calculated has been changed.

“In previous years, said Mr. Horton, students who were not enrolled in the BSC programme were included in published graduation rates, giving an inaccurate set of results. He said previous statistics were also less reliable because there were was no way of knowing whether students had left the school system before graduating privately in Bermuda or abroad; if they were institutionalized; or if they dropped out in the traditional sense of the word.”

Could you please clarify for me the definition of those who are enrolled in the BSC programme and how the graduation rate is calculated for each school? My understanding is that the new way of calculating measures students who enter Senior Four and leave with a BSC while discounting those who transferred to other schools or left the island.

However, this method would not yield accurate numbers for how many students entered Senior One, compared to how many left with a BSC four years later. Thus, the statistics for those who did not progress through Senior One through Four are lost which makes an accurate measure of the number of individuals who dropped out difficult to ascertain. Would you be so kind as to provide me a breakdown of how graduation rates are presently calculated along with dropout statistics and enrolment levels for Seniors One through Four?

DENIS PITCHER

Devonshire

Tough questions

October 21, 2007

Dear Sir,

According to the Conditions of Employment and Code of Conduct for the Government of Bermuda, all employees of the Civil Service are referred to as officers; however, consultants are not considered officers. Who then is the Consultant to the Premier answerable to? If the Head of the Civil Service answers directly to the Premier, does the consultant to the Premier answer directly to the Premier as well? The positions of Press Secretary and Consultant to the Premier were created after the Code of Conduct for officers of the Bermuda Government was drafted, so how or where do they fit in?

In a recent Royal Gazette article, Press Secretary to the Premier, Mr. Glenn Jones, stated that "…the Premier has little control over the way Government employees choose to use their personal e-mail accounts." Is this an admission that Consultant to the Premier, Mr. Rolfe Commissiong, is considered a Government employee?

Under normal circumstances, prior to engaging the services of a 'consultant', approval must be sought from the Head of the Civil Service, and prior to the Head of the Civil Service signing the contract, the Department of Personnel Services must be consulted regarding the terms and conditions of the contract. What process was followed in creating the position of Consultant to the Premier?

Since 'consultants' are not considered 'officers', does that mean that Mr. Commissiong is not expected to lead by example, even if the Government of Bermuda expects the Civil Service to conduct its business by reflecting the core values of impeccable service, accountability, efficiency, productivity and sound advice? I would have thought that the Consultant to the Premier would have set an even higher standard.

If employees of the Civil Service are expected to treat Ministers and other elected officials with respect for the office they hold, then shouldn't the Ministers and elected officials offer the same respect to members of the public?

Also, if Civil Servants are required to deal with the members of the public courteously, efficiently, promptly and without bias or maladministration; again, why isn't the same standard or an even higher standard expected of the Consultant to the Premier or the Premier himself?

The Code of Conduct mentions proper conduct being essential to the reputation of the Civil Service, and that every employee has a duty to the elected Government and the people of Bermuda to preserve the highest standards in all aspects of work and behaviour; and that malpractice, inefficiency or incompetence will not be ignored or tolerated. It even states that an employee is guilty of misconduct if the employee uses obscene, abusive, threatening or insulting language or behaviour to another employee or member of the public. Mr. Rolfe Commissiong should, therefore, consider himself fortunate that he, being a "consultant", is not considered an "officer" of the Civil Service'.

Mr. Commissiong will escape discipline because the Premier has little control over the way Government employees choose to use their personal e-mail accounts, yet former Bermuda College lecturer, Dr. Sean O'Connell wasn't as fortunate … he was dismissed from his job at the Bermuda College after 29 years of dedicated service for using the slang term 'grease monkey' in a private conversation. In closing, they say in Bermuda 'life's a beach'… maybe for some; on the other hand after reading this, Civil Servants may say … 'life's a b—-h'.

J. CAINES

Devonshire

A view from abroad

October 19, 2007

Dear Sir,

Your PGA Grand Slam at the Mid Ocean Club was a great success. The televised event portrait Bermuda at its best, the pictures of the Golf Course, the Island and the People, the positive commentary of the announcers about Bermuda created a very positive image. Go Bermuda! Aloha!

FRED HELLEKES

Hawaii