Sad days for Bermuda

July 3, 2008

Dear Sir,

I would like to congratulate Michael Fahy for his excellent article in the weekend edition of The Sun. He has put into words what so many of us are thinking. We are rendered speechless by the outrageous spending of a Government that throws millions of tax payers dollars after football, cricket, golf courses, first class travel and fancy cars, and at the same time failing to take care of the most needy. The latest example of misguided spending is the multi-million dollar emissions testing facility at the TCD, looming over the sad remains of the buildings occupied by the homeless, and cared for by the Salvation Army.

This complex is Government owned, and should be a top priority of the Premier. Instead he has the gall to allow the purchase of a high priced luxury car, when that money could be much better spent in improving this facility. There is no excuse for the high handed manner in which this Government wastes our money. I agree that they need consultants being incapable of making decisions themselves, but there are plenty of good consultants right here in Bermuda, mostly in the UBP.

What do all these foreign consultants know about our very special way of life here in Bermuda? Nothing, but they are very happy to pocket the millions being lashed out in salaries. Do we ever hear the results of these foreign consultants, and what ideas they have come up with? Not to my knowledge. As for affordable housing, forget it. These are very sad days for Bermuda, with the number of homeless multiplying by the day, and the Government turning a blind eye. I suggest that The Royal Gazette reprints Mr. Fahy's excellent article, especially the parable of the Cherokee Indian. We could all take a lesson from that.

E. RABEN

Paget

Don't neuter Commissioner

July 1, 2008

Dear sir,

Your article of July 1 on the decision to appoint an Education Commissioner is noted. The argument that both a PS and CEO are not needed for the Department of Education was made in the 1970s. That was true at that time because the PS was designated as the head of the Department of Education based on Education Act 1954 as amended in 1971. This was clearly an anomaly. The new Commissioner should be head and have total control over all aspects of the Department of Education as does any other department head.

That does not mean that there should not be a PS for the Ministry of Education as that ministry may include other departments from time to time. The Ministry and Department have been viewed as a single entity too often. They are distinct and should be recognized as such. Your inference that there will not be a PS is hopefully mistaken. I hope that the powers of the new Board of Education as specified in your newspaper will not neuter the new Commissioner such that he or she will have little influence over those matters that will determine the success of the functions for which he is accountable.

J.T. CHRISTOPHER

Warwick

A lesson from the past

July 3, 2008

Dear Sir,

1990 – the turning point. If memory serves me it was Ann Cartwright DeCouto, in her role as the UBP's Minister for the Environment who declared fish-pots and associated concerns of Bermuda's marine surrounds, out of bounds. The Minister placed a ban on such activities. Objections were overruled in the interest of Bermuda as a whole. It didn't take all that long to reverse the destruction of our sea life and therefore our reefs, and I remember the day when the first shouts of exaltation were heard ...'our fish are coming back', and they have continued to come back ever since.

Reading Tuesday's paper I was delighted to see an unbiased and purely honest appraisal of the immediate sea around us by qualified international experts.

Our reefs live! Thanks to our fish and the protective custody afforded their habitat by our marine departments and the public at large. Thanks also to the foresight of an old administration who chose to look ahead and move to protect our environment despite all the haranguing and vitriol expressed by an opposing point of view i.e. fishermen who thought their livelihood was in jeopardy. Happily, no-one has suffered as a result of this decision and now even reefs elsewhere might have healthy, life-supporting specimens implanted in them ... a gift from a far-seeing Bermuda.

A GRATEFUL BERMUDIAN

Warwick