Drinking and driving

January 8, 2007

Dear Sir,

I write regarding today's front-page article on the ferry pilot who has admitted to operating his vessel while under the influence of alcohol.

Any level of blood alcohol causes impairment. Impairment in this context refers to a decrease in one's ability to perform complex mental and/or motor functions. At very low levels the degree of impairment is insufficient to be of concern. However, society has set an arbitrary level of 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood as causing sufficient impairment to be a safety hazard for operators of motor vehicles. Operating a motor vehicle with levels of alcohol greater than 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood is considered sufficiently dangerous that it has been made an offence.

The situation, if I understand it correctly, is that while drivers of private vehicles on our roads are considered impaired with alcohol levels greater than 80 mg/100 ml, pilots at the helm of public ferries are not considered impaired unless their blood alcohol level is greater than 100 mg/100 ml. This makes no sense at all. Ferry pilots are not only responsible for their multi-ton vessels (bought with tax-payer money, I might add) but more importantly also for the safety and welfare of all those aboard the craft. The pilot bears a much heavier burden of responsibility than the operator of a private vehicle. It stands to reason therefore that no degree of impairment should be tolerated for operators of public service transport on water or on land.

I would urge Government therefore to consider amending the appropriate laws to make it illegal for a driver of a public service transport to have any alcohol in their blood while performing his/her duties.

JOSEPH FRONCIONI, MDCM, FRCS(C)

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Use your veto, Mr. Mayor

January 7, 2007

Dear Sir,

I was shocked to hear that there is a chance that the Society of Arts at City Hall may have to leave their excellent premises to give way to offices, of all things. Offices can be anywhere, but that superb gallery, which gives artists of all types a chance to show their work, simply cannot be duplicated.

It would be criminal to close the gallery. City Hall is primarily a centre for the arts, and as such, attracts tourists and local people to enjoy its delightful atmosphere. City Hall is one of the most charming buildings in Hamilton, and should not be confined to offices. There is plenty of land at the back to build if necessary, and with Hamilton sinking under the weight of offices, surely alternative accommodation can be found.

We have already lost Triminghams. our flagship department store, and the elegant Smiths is now a cheap souvenir shop. Too may of our favorite land marks are disappearing; we are soon to lose Waterloo House (offices again) and Newstead has gone too. Please please Mr. Medeiros, use your veto and stop this unnecessary carnage. We need what bit of culture is left on our Island.

E.RABEN

Paget

Embrace social change

December 31, 2007

Dear Sir,

Bermuda is in the midst of a period of momentous social change the like of which we haven't seen since the early 1970s. This type of social change is usually precipitated by a crisis. This time Bermuda's situation is different and indeed unique, as it is commendable that the people of Bermuda are proactively participating in the process for social change.

Black Bermudians are facing their own truths and working within their own community to understand the issues that divide them and what it is they lost through one-way integration.

Many white Bermudians are experiencing identity crisis. They feel their voices are not heard and that they are being marginalised. And they are responding with denial, anger, confusion and fear.

Not many people like change; it creates uncertainty and panic. However, the reality is that the process is underway and it is critical that we as white people understand the importance of our response. For our actions do count, our opinions do matter and our input is needed. We must stay involved in the process and be an integral part of the social change or risk remaining out of touch with reality.

World history has shown that countries go through periods of great social change. And Bermuda is no different, social change is here, we are in its midst. How are white people going to handle this social change? Are we going to deny its existence, resist it or blame it on someone? Or are we going to understand that we are experiencing a natural societal evolution and that we need to be a part of the process?

So what do we have to do?

1) We have to be willing to open our minds and listen. Listen to what our fellow black Bermudians are saying and recognise this society is not the socially just and equitable one we blindly assumed it was.

2) We must be willing to participate in the dialogues about race, and step outside our comfort zone.

3) We need to participate in the process of social change, we can no longer stand back, point fingers, complain and blame.

4) We have to be willing to face painful truths about slavery, segregation and the legacy that continues to affect black Bermudians and ourselves.

5) We must validate and acknowledge the truths of the black experience and take ownership of the responsibility to work towards a more just and equitable society.

People fear that the process of dialogue amongst the races is about "white bashing" and blaming, but it is not. It is about communicating, learning about each other, finding out what is the same and what is different. Together we must see it as a discovery as to who we are as a people, what it is that unites us, and what it is that divides us, and in the end we need to celebrate our differences.

Bermudians are resilient and entrepreneurial people. Over our history we have responded to many challenges, always finding a way to continue to put bread on the table, make a living and look after ourselves.

There will be white people who will deny the current reality, and ostrich-like put their heads in the sand and hope the 'unpleasant' business would go away! There are far more who know something is wrong, want to understand, and work towards reconciliation.

We have a choice to embrace social change and recognise the hope it offers us. We have a chance to put things right and to make a lasting difference. We must have faith that we will once again find our way and create a better Bermuda, but this time for us all.

LYNNE WINFIELD

Member of Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda

www.curb.bm

curb@northrock.bm