A public apologySeptember 12, 2006

Dear Sir, Please allow me this space to offer my sincere, humble, and public apology to Ms Lister Currin, the Committee for a National Policy on Disabilities, and all disabled members of the Bermuda community. I now realise that I deserve the responses from Ms Lisa Lister Currin, B R Tannock and A B Wilson which are in the daily paper today.

My letter, dated August 28, 2006, was written out of frustration for the “system” which necessitated six trips to the Department of Immigration, after being given contradictory information three times regarding passports. I, indeed, did not take the time to inspect Ms Lister Currin’s car, other than seeing the parking vouchers on display on the windscreen and side window as I drove and walked past the car. I allowed my frustration to cloud my judgment; I did “take pen to paper” in haste, without considering the implications of my “tirade.” I did not think before I “spoke,” something that I have tried to teach my own children to do. I should have done more investigation, as things are not always as they seem. None of this, however, is an excuse for my lack of good judgment and insensitive behaviour.

I am in complete agreement with Ms Lister Currin and B R Tannock that not enough is being done by our community to support the physically challenged. I have noted the lack of parking spaces for handicapped on the streets of Hamilton. I know of a few spaces in the car parks, but cannot think of any street where I have seen spaces designated for the physically challenged. One would find in any city in the United States, with a population comparable to Bermuda’s, numerous handicapped parking spaces in car parks, not just one or two, and every street would also provide designated spaces near banks, restaurants, supermarkets, and other businesses. Why not Bermuda?

I would hope that my letter (despite being insensitive and seemingly callous) and the ensuing replies might be the impetus for a major reform by Government, the Corporation of Hamilton and all of Bermuda in providing more accessibility for the physically challenged members of our community. Ms Lister Currin is a Government employee; surely an excellent way for Government to “lead by example” would be by providing Ms Lister Currin with a designated parking space near her workplace. In addition, the fine for illegally parking in these designated areas should be substantially higher than the normal parking ticket - perhaps $500, rather than the mere $50 for parking over one’s time limit or illegally in loading zones.

In closing, I would also hope that those who know me well would also know that I am not as insensitive and callous as I appeared in my letter to the editor. I continue to be frustrated by the “system,” but I would like to let Ms Lister Currin know that I will, in the future, try to channel this frustration in a more positive manner to help change the system for the betterment of all Bermudians.H. SMITH

PagetQuestion for BBCSeptember 7, 2006

Dear Sir,Would someone please ask the BBC why their weather report never shows North America or us?GAIL

Pembroke<$>Lovely way to treat peopleSeptember 8, 2006

Dear Sir,What arrogance! “Get over it”? That’s a lovely way to treat the people you are supposed to be serving Senator Burch. This dictatorial style of governance seems to be the order of the day for the PLP — no consultation, no transparency, ride roughshod over everybody, don’t let anyone know what what’s happening, do what they like! I hope people heard Sen. Burch on TV when he spat out the word “Paget” in such a disdainful, sneering way and that they remember it when it comes to the next election as this is just an example of what to expect in the future from others who are supposed to be serving us!KIM YOUNG

Smith’s ParishJoin the SD debateSeptember 7, 2006Dear Sir,If anyone is interested in having their voice heard for or against the plan to build the new hospital on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens can go to the Bermuda Government website (gov.bm.) and participate in the Sustainable Development blog. It is an easy way to say what you think! You might make a difference.LINDA HINES

DevonshireWas this a silly error?September 6, 2006

Dear Sir,I was amused to read the headlines in today’s Royal Gazette, “Alex Scott will tell architects to try and incorporate the Botanical Gardens’ fauna into design”. The Premier wants to tear up Botanical Gardens and have the displaced livestock running through the halls of the new hospital or is this just a silly error by the Gazette’s <$>staff? You don’t have to be a high school biology teacher to know that flora and fauna refers to plants and animals not plants and more plants. Perhaps it is not just the kids who need to go back to school this week.DAVID HOLMES

Smith’sEditor’s Note:<$> This error can’t be blamed on the Premier. It was entirely ours.Abolish Dept. of EducationSeptember 6, 2006

Dear Sir,Your editorial today on educational reform was too easy on the Department of Education and successive education ministers. Political interference in the process of education has been its downfall for many years. Just recall three moronic decisions:

1. The closure of the Bermuda Technical Institute 20 years ago, spelled out in detail on the same page as your editorial,

2. The dismissal of Dr. Sean O’Connell from the Bermuda College for being politically incorrect, and

3. The attempt to reduce the intake into St George’s Preparatory School in 2004 because it was too successful, and thereby showed up the incompetence of other schools.

No doubt, your readers could mention other examples such as the Berkley Institute fiasco. The fact is that any parent who can afford to educate their children privately would be derelict in their responsibilities if they sent their children to public schools. The Education Ministry has for years shortchanged the poor and those that lack influence — and that means predominantly the black population, whilst pretending to be in the vanguard of economic opportunity.

In public education, schools or teachers that are different or efficient (and, as you note, there are many dedicated teachers) are an affront to the bureaucrat because they conform to the wishes of the parents (and by extension to the child) not to the authority of the bureaucracy, or the wishes of the politicians. As such, they are a nuisance, and an irritant to those in power and must be got rid of. The single greatest educational reform would be to abolish the Department of Education and political interference with the educational process. Until that happens the public — if they can afford it — will wisely end their children to private schools and the other children, mainly the disadvantaged, will continue be shafted by those in power. Politics and bureaucrats will always trump education.ROBERT STEWART

Smith’s Parish<$>Cell phones are dangerousAugust 31, 2006

Dear Sir,I have been following your paper’s articles on the subject of using cellular phones while driving. There have been many studies on the problem. I have read quite a number of studies, the effects of legislation, and the problems with enforcement. I was involved in a head-on collision with a young mother who was drinking a coffee and I think talking on the phone with such interest that she could not tell the police officer attending what colour the traffic light was. I knew.WILLIAM (PETER) OUTERBRIDGE

St. George’sGospel condemns gay sexAugust 23, 2006

Dear Sir,The following is in response to you from Pat Brown (August 10, 2006) and Jennie Watlington (August 18, 2006) published in today’s Royal Gazette. The Gospels do in fact, condemn homosexuality. See Romans 1:26-27, I Corinthians 6:09, I Timothy 1:19-10 and Jude 7. These passages have their roots in God’s instructions in Leviticus 18:22 — “and a male who lies with a male as he lies with a woman: both of them have done an abomination, they shall certainly be put to death, their blood is upon them.” In Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, Almighty God — King of the Universe — is giving instructions to a redeemed people on how to walk out a redeemed lifestyle Genesis through Deuteronomy is replete with God’s teaching and instruction by was of object lessons - which we might not necessarily grasp right away but which we should obey just because He is God.

Jesus Christ did address sexual relationships. In Matthew 5:27-28 He referred to male and female and we can see that marriages are to be built on faithfulness. In Matthew 19:1-12 He told the religious leaders, “Did you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female and said ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh, so that they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate”. The parties to a sexual relationship? A male and a female. Options? Marriage or celibacy. Jesus referred back to the instructions given by God for walking out a lifestyle from God’s point of view.

Where in the Scriptures did God ever change His viewpoint on these matters? Note that Jesus did not teach from the King James version of the Bible or from the New Testament. He referred to God the Father’s instructions to people He had redeemed. (This also applies to anyone today who decides to submit to God’s leadership over our own, or the “modern” viewpoint). The “New Testament” was written some time after Jesus Christ physically walked the earth. The King James version of the Scriptures was translated into English in 1611 — two years after Bermuda was colonised. I understand that as much as 85 percent of the “New Testament” is a commentary on the original Scriptures.

Me. Editor the Scriptures do not condemn any temptation to disobey God. It condemns the act of disobedience. The Scriptures assure those who decide to submit to God’s leadership: “No trail has overtaken you except such as is common to man, and God is trustworthy, who shall not allow you to be tried beyond what you are able, but with the trail shall also make the way of escape, enabling you to bear it.” (I Corinthians 10:13) Mr. Editor, our part is to just do our very best to line up with God’s viewpoint.L.T. LAMBERT<$>Whither our Police Service?September 1, 2006

Dear Sir,I am writing in response to an article I read in the paper a few days ago regarding Commissioner Jackson in Barbados seeking men from that country to join our thin blue line. What is wrong with this country and it’s Government? Pretty soon the Bermuda Police Service is going to have all foreigner police officers. Does the Government realise what they are doing? In the past six years I am willing to bet that the Government of Bermuda has hired over 150 foreign police officers. Now I read from The Royal Gazette the other day that the starting salary for a foreign officer commencing duties in Bermuda is around $5400.00 a month. That means one police officer will make about $64,000.00 per year and 150 foreign police offices combined will make about $9,600,000.00 in one calendar year.

If one officer saved $2500.00 per month out of his monthly salary it would amount to about $30,000 per year. If 150 foreign police officers save the same all together it would amount to about $4,500,000.00. Where is this money going? I would tell you, it is going back to their countries where they will be better off and basically live like kings off of Bermudian taxpayer’s money. Don’t get me wrong; I am not blaming the foreigners, because if I were in their shoes, I would do the same thing.

I would challenge the Bermuda Government to conduct a study as to why Bermudians are not joining the thin blue line? Don’t let the Bermuda Police Service do the study let an outside organisation conduct the study. Let them speak with Bermudians who have applied or who have resigned from the service and ascertain what their issues were. I am more then sure it would not be limited to college issues. I am sure the problem runs deeper. It is a very easy solution to travel overseas to fill the thin blue line here in Bermuda, but what is going to happen in the long run? So the percentage one day will be 99 percent foreigner and one percent Bermudian. Do we really want Bermudians employed with the Bermuda police service?

Also, lets be realistic, can we really keep foreigners here for five years at a time and then send them back home? Government is deceiving us by way of the Bermuda Police Service senior staff on a regular basis. What sense would it make to keep recycling foreign police officers? It makes no sense sending the ones who get accustom to our way of life back home to recruit new foreign officers. Is Government going to put restrictions on these great men owning private motor cars on an island that is already over populated and already in a housing crisis? This Government needs to think before it acts and quite frankly they are acting before they think.CONFUSED BERMUDIAN

Hamilton ParishDon’t want cable upgradeSeptember 5, 2006

Dear Sir,I just received a phone call from Cablevision. I was informed that my current service is being upgraded to digital cable and when could they come out to put the new box in for a $40 charge. (They did not ask if I wanted to upgrade or if I could install a cable box myself). My response, I want the same channels for the same price, they can’t do that, so the cable service will be turned off at my house. How many households just went and accepted the higher cost for TV? This got me thinking— Do I need digital cable? No, not when the current service is providing everything I need. My $800 analog TV/single tuner/analog sound and locally purchased is not good enough. Since the phone calls are going out, that must mean most analog cable customers are upgrading and paying more or getting less whether they want to or not. Bermudians always feel that they have no real options, but to accept higher cost.

Well, I’m not going to be forced to upgrade. One person is not going to stop the forced upgrades, but if all of us analog customers say no, maybe Cablevision will leave the service on, maybe not. I hope all you digital cable customers know that as Cablevision loses customers that can’t or will not pay more, they will make you pay more. Don’t complain about it later on when the time to object is now. If, by some chance, I do get digital cable, I will write another letter. Don’t count on that happening, unless my wife forces my wallet open, and I just don’t see that happening.BDTC

(British Dependent Territories Citizen)

St. George’sA note of thanksSeptember 8, 2006

Dear Sir,Yesterday afternoon I headed off on my bike to deliver two cartons of merchandise to one of my clients on Parliament Street. I stopped across the street from my destination, hoping to jump off my bike for 30 seconds, grab the cartons and deliver them to my client. I looked up to find a meter maid writing tickets right in front of my client’s office!

I called across the street to her, asking whether it would be OK for me to leave the bike for a sec to deliver the two cartons. She looked up the street at the nearest bike parking, noting that it was fully occupied. She then crossed the street and said that she would deliver the cartons. I said that the boxes were heavy but she said, “no problem” and proceeded to hoist them in her arms, re-cross the street and deliver them to my client! I wish I had noted your name so that I could properly thank you publicly — but you know who you are. Thank you so much for your kindness.RICHARD SIMON

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