Where was the Premier?

September 8, 2009

Dear Sir,

The Premier did not attend the unveiling of "The Theatre Boycott Statue", Cup Match, The 400 Year Celebration in St. George's and most recently the Labour Day March. It is interesting that the Premier can find time to play golf with his famous buddies, but fails to attend most important events at home.

STAR STRUCK

Warwick

Questioning praise of Hall

September 9, 2009

Dear Sir,

The actor Erroll Flynn once famously remarked "anyone who leaves more than $5,000 is a failure". By Flynn's standards, the late Julian Hall was a major success. I wonder if his creditors find comfort in the vacuous testimony of some members of the local Bar.

MICHAEL BOTT

City of Hamilton

Roads are a mess

Dear Sir,

A lot of Bermuda roads are really filthy, worse than New York streets now.

The road cleaners are taking short cuts, not pulling weeds from sidewalks. Corporation of Hamilton and Works and Engineer are not taking responsibility. Whoever is in charge, get out of your chairs, take a drive around to see these streets.

The road from King Street onto Happy Valley Road leading to Fort Hamilton is always a mess. Clean up.

HOPE

Pembroke

Play was timely

Dear Sir,

Emancipation: A Love Story

We should praise the writer, the cast and the production team of Emancipation: A Love Story. the performance this week at the full auditorium of Berkeley school was a powerful and courageous piece of community theatre giving voice to Black Bermudian experience. It was on time in 2009. It is 50 years since the theatre boycott that forced desegregation and 40 years since the Progressive Group found successors in the Berkeley "Class of 70" which organised the sports day boycott over the refusal to allow teaching of Black history. Soon after the school head was replaced with a new man who unbeknown to the authorities was a member of the Progressive Group. It was fitting to have the play repeated here in 2009.

All of this impacts mental health in many ways. It was not until 1979 that desegregation of the institutionalised section of the Bermuda's population gathered pace. Most Bermudians with moderate and severe learning disability are now living with support in ordinary dwellings; most with moderate and severe psychiatric disability are also living out of hospital. The Bermuda Child Development Programme was established in an attempt to improve the abilities and mental health of the population. This should also be celebrated as the attitudes of recovery and social inclusion should be universal.

Still there is everywhere evidence of internalised oppression and judging from your letters page there is widespread failure to understand the meaning of effects of "unearned privilege".

Bermuda is not another world. Elsewhere in 1959, the Prime Minister of UK was making his "Winds of Change" speech and in the US Roberta Flack first recorded "The Ballad of Sad Young Men". If the example of "Emancipation: A Love Story" were followed and more authentic are voices raised in 2009, Bermuda could lead the world.

MICHAEL RADFORD

Chief of Psychiatry

Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute

Killer must pay

September 5, 2009

Dear Sir,

Re: Ze Selassie

First of all I wish to thank "Chief Justice Richard Ground" for the very high Prison sentence of the above criminal. I hope many more judges will follow suit. Enough is enough. When you murder someone, you shouldn't get 25 years as a life sentence. That murderer should actually die in prison, and only be fed bread and water every day.

Secondly, to John Perry QC, please do not appeal anything on the above's behalf: He is a monster who killed two people. Therefore he isn't worthy of an appeal, let along parole.

Thirdly, to the family my deepest sympathy in your double loss. My heart goes out to all of you.

And finally to the monster, you aren't even worthy to be called "Mr." I would gladly pay for the rope to hang you. I am sorry if you think I sound cruel but what you did makes me sick to my stomach. "How could you kill a young girl and an unborn child?" Make sure you only eat bread and drink water for the next 35 years.

LAVITA WILLIAMS

Pembroke

Germans praise BELCO

September 3, 2009

Dear Sir,

We are German visitors living with our host in Pie Crust Place, Southampton. After the hurricane on Saturday morning, one of the big electrical poles broke and we had no electricity. We phoned the BELCO office and a few minutes later there were two, then four more cars arrived.

The electricians worked non-stop for about 10 hours to give us back our electricity. It was hard work in the still very stormy weather.

We would like to say "Thank You" to all those men who did their job professionally and efficiently.

NASSER & DORIS ALAMOUTI

Southampton

Great attitude, Nikia

September 3, 2009

This was sent to American Airline and copied to The Royal Gazette.

To the Management,

On Sunday, August 23rd I had the fortune of travelling to the airport after 5 a.m. to try and make a flight out to New York or Miami onto San Juan to connect with the cruise ship Carnival Victory which was setting sail at 10 p.m. on this day. It was a group of 46 members and friends of the Orchard Charity Club. We are celebrating 60 years of serving our community this year.

Thanks to "Hurricane Bill", the airport was rather crazy to put it mildly. With the tourist and locals alike trying to get out. But I can honestly say the staff of American Airlines was very efficient and professional. With all the irate people around them they kept their cool.

I don't like to single out people but in this case I really have to give credit where credit is due. Whenever a situation seemed to be getting heated, in stepped Ms Nikia Augustus and calmed things down. Some of us in our travels that day ran into all kinds of irate passengers where the staff had to call in the police to get things under control. I am so thankful that the staff in Bermuda handled things so beautifully on their own. Once again Ms Augustus I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your staff for making it possible for us to make our cruise. We will never forget you and your staff. May you all continue to shine for Bermuda.

It is not only important for the tourist to see the good and the professionalism in us when they arrive in Bermuda, but also when they are leaving. Thank you. thank you, thank you, for being great Ambassadors for us.

MS E. DEANNA KNIGHT

Member the Orchard Charity Club

Getting off in court

Dear Sir,

People are angry and upset about what they consider courtroom injustices in the recent past. People are fed up by the transparent inequities in the criminal justice system.

A judge in any criminal trial is there to rule on evidence differences or procedure, not to determine guilt or innocence.

The Prosecution Department need people who are experienced, not ones who are just out of school on these cases.

As someone stated recently, "Every major drug dealer on this island would crumble if it were not for the dirty cop, politician, customs officer, or businessman that turns the other cheek with an open palm."

Can anyone give an honest answer as to why someone from the top down who is a "Freemason" or connected to one can get off with anything?

HOPE WILLIAMS

Pembroke

Hurricane handled well

September 9, 2009

Dear Sir,

Bermuda has long been our favourite destination for summer vacation. Lots of sunshine, great beaches, beautiful places to stay and safe.

The last couple of years my family and I have stayed at Grotto Bay Beach Resort. The property offers everything we are looking for in a Bermudan vacation; comfortable rooms, delicious food, beautiful property and above all an incredible staff.

During our last visit we discovered that there is one important matter you tend to forget, but you really want the management of your resort or hotel in Bermuda to be able to handle; preparations for emergency situations! I was very impressed by the preparations for the August 22, 2009 hurricane by the management and staff of Grotto Bay Beach Resort. They provided the guests with timely and sufficient information about the weather and kept us well informed about how they were handling the situation. Their preparations ensured all the guests would be well taken care off, no matter what the hurricane might bring. Thanks to their professional management we felt safe and our vacation was again a great success.

DR. GERARD J. VLAK

New York City