A card of thanks

September 5, 2010

Dear Sir,

I am very pleased to report to you, and your readers that The Committee of 25 Fund-raising & Tag Day, a local registered charitable organisation #15, we held our 56th annual Tag Day, Friday August 20, 2010. We would like to ask The Royal Gazette through the Letters to the Editor to publish our sincere thanks for the overwhelming and generous support we received from the Bermuda community. As this event makes it possible for us to assist children in our local community.

Thanks to everyone from Somerset to St. George's, and everyone in between. Along with our deep appreciation for the every donation so generously given by our community we wold also like to thank the many people who contributed to this significant total our fabulous team of volunteers and canvassers — this tremendous response reflect the humanitarian spirit guiding the Bermudian public during these difficult economic times. It was made possible by the hours or services given so generously and freely by so many volunteers. Special thanks must be given to: Taggers including:

Members of Hamilton Lions, Hamilton Rotary Club, The Kiwanis Club, PRIDEBermuda, RenaissanceRE, HMS Customs as well as Friends from the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute.

Businesses, large and small, who permitted their staff members to collect on our behalf: BELCO, Bank of Butterfield, Butterfield & Vallis, Centre Solutions (Bermuda) Limited, Coldwell banker, Chevron International, Marsh IAS Management Services (Bermuda) Limited, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Gorham's Home Centre, Marshall, Diel & Myers, Mello, Jones & Martin, HMS Customs, Conyers Dill & Pearman, ValidusRe, The Spot Restaurant, Renaissance RE, XL Foundation Limited, and Zurich International and the outlying districts;

The Accounting firm for providing staff to assist with the official cash count: Deloitte: Harriet Saarri, Patricia Swan, Quincy Santucci, Ashleigh Davis, Alexa O'Shea, Anna Fabroa, Jhoseph Madio, Sir Barton, Jinky Irada and Kelly Ong. The retail businesses, pharmacies, grocery stores, and banking institutions who allowed the use of their shop fronts.

Those who, were unable to tag themselves, made individual donations instead; Corporate Sponsors; and Mr. Kavin Smith, Marathon Derby Winner, and supporter, Mia Page Shambray of Barritt's & Sons Limited, and staff members for providing liquid refreshments for our taggers during the warm weather. Mr. Nicola Russo of La Trattoria Restaurant & Pizzeria and staff members for providing food provisions for our taggers.

The Bermuda public who, year after year, assist us in helping children with special needs. We amassed a total of $17,165.60. We could not do it without you. Thank you! God bless you, each and everyone.

MRS. MELANIE WHALEY

Tag Day Coordinator

The evil of 1834

September 16, 2010

Dear Sir,

Recently, on a talk show, someone was expressing intense emotion as she discussed the brutality of slavery. But it was 1834 that was far more evil and our collective response to that evil that continues to impact us today. Mr. William Zuill, who always looks for those aspects of our history which will soften the harshness of black/white relations, recently took note of an author who reported on the responsibilities given to skilled black slaves and the consequent elements of "freedom" and opportunity which often resulted. Dr. Kenneth Robinson, who was not likely to minimise either slavery or other forms of black oppression, gives us similar glimpses in his book "Heritage".

It has been this realisation that has impressed upon me the extent of the evil of 1834. Many practices and policies towards slaves ceased in 1834. Giving certain responsibilities and opportunities to slaves did not change their social status or circumstances. But once Blacks were "free" these practices and policies changed. One example will illustrate the point. Heritage tells of a black man who was Warden of Pilots during slavery but after 1834 it was stated very clearly that a black man should not be given such responsibility or authority because he was black.

The walls of segregation were gradually but deliberately raised because before 1834 slaves and master had worked together and often slept together. New legislation was introduced to ensure that newly freed black slaves would have little representation and therefore no voice in policy. Economic exclusion and exploitation was ensured by the importation of white Portuguese. That had not been seen as necessary during slavery. Slavery lasted 400 years and it took another 125 years for Blacks to adequately respond to the oppressive measures introduced in 1834. When we did, under the collective leadership of the Progressive Group and CUAS, the walls of public segregation fell in two months, a political voice was acquired in several years.

Then we formed political parties with their individualistic leadership. As a result it took us 30 years to acquire adequate or appropriate representation when it should have been accomplished in a decade. Because now it had become all about The Leader and not the black community. Politicians may prefer the individualistic leadership because of the perks and privileges, earned and unearned, which accrue to the leader. Any benefit to the people is incidental. As a result the economic disparity which was imposed in 1834 has not even been addressed. The condition and needs of the black Community matters less than the economic and status benefits which accrues to the leadership.

It was for this reason that I have called for the collective leadership of the three candidates. The temptations and evils of individualistic leadership will be lessened and perhaps the concern for the people, the actual voters and their economic needs, may be increased. Obviously it has been all about the leader. We need it to be about the community. Do we do what is best for the people or do we do what is best for the individual?

EVA N. HODGSON

Hamilton Parish

Thank you, Belco

September 21, 2010

Dear Sir,

This is addressed to Belco. Thank you for all the hard work, long hours and diligence you have put forth after the storm. But please, for the love of God, can you get my power back up and running on St. John's Road in Pembrook, because if I have to eat another one of my husband's Bar-b-que specials, I may not make it to the weekend! But seriously, thank you all!

STARVIN'

Pembroke

Another wake-up call

September 20, 2010

Dear Sir,

Even though there was a fireworks show on one of the transformers (which never got looked into), trees down, power lines strewn all over the place in some areas etc... no one was seriously injured or worse. However, Igor did show something Fabian didn't: 550 miles across was the size of that monstrosity and although Fabian did do damage back in 2003, imagine if Igor had remained a Category 2 hurricane? John Smith's Bay version of earthquake back then would've looked ten times worse. This was another wake-up call and this time, people were paying attention (except for the ones who felt they needed to 'see the action' up close, brave yet foolish). Although we can't guarantee there won't be another one as intense as this one was we can guarantee, we won't take them for granted anymore (hopefully). Thanks to the regiment for the clean-up as well as other emergency crews (who actually assessed different areas of need). Good Job!

GLAD NO TRAGEDIES

Devonshire

Writer should get in politics

September 16, 2010

Dear Sir,

Please add my letter to the massive pile you must be receiving in praise of the anonymous construction boss, who, in your September 16 edition spoke in support of construction jobs for Bermudians. His words eloquently described what everyone feels, regardless of colour, ethnicity, gender, politics, or income levels. If you think a business is harming Bermuda by hiring cheap expat labour, just imagine how few customers he'd have if his company was the only one using more costly Bermudian labour. Immigration Minister Sen. David Burch was 150 percent correct in levelling the playing field with his work permit moratoriums for carpentry, masonry, landscaping, and plumbing. We'll all have to pay a tiny bit more for these construction services, but here's what we get out of it:

¦ Lower crime rates, as young people find themselves too busy and too well-paid to even bother slinging baggies of weed on the street "for peanuts."

¦ More equitable distribution of wealth across the island, across boundaries of colour, creed, and background.

¦ Better pride in our beautiful Bermuda, as we become more culturally united and less resentful of one another.

I wish that, come election day, people could write in "anonymous construction boss", so our mysterious pundit could be elected on his "put Bermuda first" platform. On the other hand, we have no idea who he is — maybe he should step forward so we can gauge whether his character is as good as the idea he espouses.

ALAN GORDON

St. David's