London cabs promote Island

May 24, 2010

Dear Sir,

I hope you will find the space to include these few words in your Letters to the Editor column. If anyone has ever had something that was too good to be kept to one's self and just had to share with anyone who would listen, the story below is just that. Seven members and myself went on a cruise to Portugal and after the cruise ended we stayed in London for three days. We took a bus tour to see some of the outstanding tourists attractions, we were enjoying the sights tremendously when all of a sudden me and my family all started to scream in unison, for we spotted a pink cab with 'Feel the Love' Bermuda written on the side. Well feel the love we did.

I think the other folks on the bus must have thought we had taken leave of our senses when they heard us making so much noise, but no one cared what they thought. Of course for the rest of the Tour we sat staring out of the window with cameras ready to start snapping whenever we spotted another pink cab, low and behold about three or four blocks later along comes another pink cab. Thank God our cameras were all ready. So I decided we should all start counting and when the tour ended we had spotted six cabs in a three hour tour.

So it gives me much pleasure to share our experience. To the Hon. Dr. Ewart Brown Premier of Bermuda, his Cabinet and all members of Parliament, I say thank you for all you are doing to promote our lovely island and to keep Bermuda in the forefront everywhere you can — kudos to you Premier Brown. When we had to take our final connecting flight in Atlanta to return home on May 23, 2010 I found myself looking for pink cab s — no luck — maybe some day soon. Again I say thank you Premier Brown — keep up the good work and may God continue to Bless you all.

LOIS L. WEEKS

Pembroke

Stamp out the gangs

Dear Sir,

I can only hope that everyone in Bermuda is watching the events in Jamaica. We have severe drug gang problems and we are watching drug gang terrorism of Kingston. We are not too far from that. We must make the stamping-out of drug gangs in Bermuda the top priority before we find Kingston has moved to Hamilton. We should all demand this of our fractured Government.

I HOPE

Paget

UBP going backwards

May 20, 2010

Dear Sir,

The UBP rolls out Erwin Adderley and Alan Marshall ... same old, same old ... nothing ever changes ... and the UBP continues to be unable to attract anyone under 50 to its ranks. Can John Swan, C.V. (Jim) Woolridge and Quinton Edness be far behind?

AND THAT'S WHY THE BDA

Southampton

Two wrongs don't make a right

May 27, 2010

Dear Sir,

In response to Ms Akinstall's letter (May 27) I must ask why she believes that in a democratic country, which is what Bermuda claims to be, that she feels it is justified for a Government appointed media council to be implemented. Ms. Akinstall, like most of the Media Suppression Act supporters, cites past injustices by the media and society as a whole to validate the same oppressive tactics being instituted today. How can any black person whose ancestors (alive and dead) fought against such dictatorial tactics actually justify the institution of the same policies now they are in power? How can any right thinking person believe that current and future generations should have their rights and freedoms, which are inalienable in any democratic society, trampled upon because of past infringements experienced by their forebears, who fought tirelessly against such undemocratic policies?

Freedom of the press, speech and expression are the cornerstones of any democracy including Bermuda's. I wonder if Ms Akinstall concurs with the notion of locking up and/or issuing sanctions against the daily as noted by the Col. Burch? If so, what makes this lot any better than the oppressive regime of yesteryears? Two wrongs don't make a right, no matter how aggrieved you may feel. Suppression of information will affect all people within this tiny piece of Rock that we all call home.

So I challenge Ms Akinstall or anyone to provide examples of "true" democratic societies where Government appointed members makes up the majority of a media council or where one is permitted to indefinitely suppress information based on a complaint. Even Zimbabwe, whose leader has been one of the most oppressive individuals towards the media, has just granted licences to several newspapers which had been previously banned by the Government information ministry due to these publications not toeing the Mugabe/Zanu-PF line. You know why this sudden change has happened? Because as a condition of the GPA (power sharing coalition), it was mandated that an independent (i.e. no Governmental interference) media council be implemented. And now the previously banned news outlets have magically been reinstated and allowed to print and distribute their publications without Government interference, providing the people with greater information and transparency.

Where were Ms Akinstall and the rest of the Media Suppression supporters, who claim to fight for a fair and balanced media, during the 2007 election when Hott 107.5 blatantly broke existing media/broadcasting laws and were even arrogant enough to state that they don't agree with the laws and thus do not have to follow them? I don't agree with paying taxes, but it is the law and therefore I must comply for the greater good of society. Why are you attacking the daily and not the media outlet which does not even respect the laws of the land? It couldn't be because one outlet toes the party line while the other challenges it? Because to me that would seem to be pretty much like the Mugabe situation highlighted above. Is that the type of jurisdiction that you want Bermuda to be?

Finally, the IPI has been in existence for 60 years and since its inception has fought for these inalienable freedoms to be upheld as a source of checks and balance for the Government as well as protection for the citizenry of a nation. It isn't another part of the mythical Combined Opposition; it is an independent organisation which fights for the rights of citizens for countries from around the world of all different nationalities, ethnicities, race, religion etc. For Ms Akinstall and the "anonymous" Government spokesperson who railed against their statements (ironic how the same Government who rants against the use of pseudonyms continually uses an anonymous spokesperson) to claim that they know more than these accredited journalists and activists shows the contempt that they have towards any form of opposition and the lack of conviction in their own arguments for supporting such an oppressive council.

NEED TO KNOW

Warwick

P.s. Ms. Akinstall, slavery was abolished in 1834 not 1884.

Thank goodness for the Net

May 28, 2010

Dear Sir,

The loud bump you heard this morning was the collective hearts of football fans dropping all over Bermuda when they read on your front page that the World Cup will be shown on Bermuda Broadcasting. Haven't these people messed up enough major international sporting events? So we can now look forward to the World's most popular tournament being shown on our TVs with an unwatchable picture and frequent technical problems due to circumstances beyond our control.

Well, I and my family will personally boycott each and every advertiser who is foolish enough to participate in this folly. Thank goodness I can watch it on the Internet!

ST. GEORGE'S

The kind of leader we need

May 28, 2010

Dear Sir,

Now that the Premier of Bermuda has publicly stated that he will, indeed, be retiring from his leadership position in the not too distant future, we can now focus our attention on the qualities required for his successor. First and foremost, whoever fills the position should not be there for name and fame, materialism or financial power. It is important that he or she has the right motive and is above reproach, for the motive of any leader must not be a love for money. It is stated in I Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

This particular verse should be etched in the minds of the potential leaders amongst the Members of Parliament because high up on their list of priorities were massive salary increases and bigger Government vehicles for themselves. Must we wonder why they are constantly embroiled in controversy? They must also remember the following words of their great leader: "If you think I've come here just to practice medicine you couldn't be more incorrect. I have scores to settle, accounts to pull even." A leader with this mindset is destined to fail.

It has been proven time and time again that affluence is normally accompanied by moral decadence. Leadership positions should not be viewed as an opportunity to make money in order to gain power either. Leaders seeking recognition, power, money, materialism or relationships will eventually seal their own fate. One must not look at the position of leader as something prestigious or constantly deserved of the spotlight; so whoever seeks to occupy the position of Premier of Bermuda should be prepared and willing to humbly serve the people.

JENNIFER CAINES

Devonshire

Absolutely disgusting

May 27, 2010

Dear Sir,

Don't complain If you can't offer a solution. I've been wanting to write a letter to you for a couple of months now but was hoping the situation would get better but unfortunately has not. I go walking a lot on the South Shore sand dunes and cannot believe the amount of "horse droppings" that one must "tip toe" through. I know the tourists enjoy the horse trail rides but the tourists also enjoy walking from beach to beach on the sand dune trails. It is absolutely disgusting the amount of horse dropping you have to weave through on the paths and really can't enjoy the beautiful scenery as you constantly looking where you are placing your feet. Solution: Have a staff member from the riding stables follow the trail ride with a "pooper scooper" or an alternative suggestion from the stables. The public has been well educated on picking up after dogs which most of the time works however there is always a few that spoil it for many. Please, please if you horse back ride on the South Shore sand dune trails please arrange to pick up the droppings.

DISGUSTED

Warwick

An inferior presentation

May 28, 2010

Dear Sir,

I read with concern in today's paper that the Bermuda Broadcasting Corporation had secured exclusive TV rights to broadcast the World Cup. My first question would be why that organisation is allowed to do this when the public pays Cablevision for the channels of its choice and should be able to choose whatever channel it prefers to watch a match, but I won't go there right now.

I viewed some the recent 20/20 cricket World Cup broadcasts relayed on ZFB, seemingly provided by an outfit called CMT (I hope I got that right – couldn't read the logo). I marvelled at the ability and determination of the participants to play and entertain the public in such appalling conditions; the light was awful throughout and what I presume were lightning flashes blacked out the picture every two minutes or so for about ten seconds each time. I was therefore amazed when I later saw extracts from the same matches broadcast on other channels and they showed with crystal clarity the players performing in brilliant sunshine! How could this be?

Surely it's not that the dreadful technical quality of the CMT/ZFB product that caused the action to be scarcely visible on the screen? One trusts that the Bermuda public is not going to be fobbed off, yet again, with a completely inferior presentation of a major sports event, as has happened so often in the past. I ask the advertisers, which are substantial local presences, to demand that the quality of productions they're paying for is in line with their own view of the image and reputation they would wish to display to their customers, and not that of the Bermuda Broadcasting Corporation.

JOHN GIAVARINI

Paget