Troubled times ahead

September 6, 2008

Dear Sir,

I totally agree with Taxpayer, Warwick, about the looming disaster awaiting Bermuda if the powers that be do not wake up soon. With so many financial institutions collapsing in the US, and the threats coming from Mr. Obama about "closing down the tax havens" if he becomes President, don't you think this Government would start cutting back on their out of control spending.

I was dumbstruck therefore to learn that Dr. Brown has ordered a huge bronze statue to be made of Sally Bassett and for this statue to be put into the Senate. I am told the cost for this extravagance is in excess of $200,000. My God, couldn't he think of doing something better with this money? What about giving it to The Salvation Army, who assist people in need? What about helping out some seniors who can hardly pay their electricity bills now?

Taxpayer, Warwick used the perfect words when he said and I quote "Racist payback will destroy Bermuda". That is what all of this is about and the PLP Government will not rest until they have destroyed this beautiful and successful country because of their absolute hatred of whites and their total determination for revenge. I was so impressed with the views expressed by both Bob Richards and Grant Gibbons and think what a dreadful shame that these two brilliant men have no say in steering Bermuda through the terrible troubled times that lay ahead of us. If only the PLP would speak to them and try to work out what is best for this Island. Instead, we are all going down the Yellow Brick Road together.

CAMELOT

Smith's

Better co-ordination needed

October 6, 2008

Dear Sir,

This is ridiculous! It has been acknowledged that the dear lady has an IQ of a child. Would the "authorities" remove allegedly abusive parents from a household and leave the child or children home alone on their own? Where are all the officers of the many governmental services? When one department makes a decision — like removing the so-called caregivers, doesn't Family Services or whatever other relevant department get pulled in so as to make provision for the 75-year-old 'child'?

Is that legal? C'mon Ewart! You could "allegedly" find a million dollars to bring in Beyonce, plus more for others. Why can't you find money and better organisation for Family Services and the other interwoven agencies?

UN-COMMON SENSE

St. David's

Revise parenting laws

October 2, 2008

Dear Sir,

I feel very strongly about the responsibility of both parents to love and care for the children they bring into the world, and listening to the talk shows and reading some of the articles on the subject, it dawns on me that the struggle to rationalise the scope of the legislation around the Parental Responsibility Act may be due to the absence in our country of an underlying and unifying sense of the value that must be placed on the role of parenting. It is unacceptable that society alone must pay the price where parents have abandoned, neglected or abused a child for whatever reason.

I agree that it makes no sense believing that the commitment to one's child or children can be legislated; it makes good sense, however, to firmly establish in each person's mind that giving life to a helpless baby must never be viewed simply as a consequence of sexual activity.

Parents need to be required to put the needs of the family and/or the children first … even if they don't "feel" like it … and, no, this does not mean giving the child or children all of the latest clothes and technology, nor allowing them to do whatever, however, whenever or wherever they want. Parenting requires your time and attention and may even need you to get "jiggy" with your own issues, keeping you distracted by hedonistic pursuits at the child's expense. If you're not up to the demands and responsibility of parenting, that is perfectly OK … just don't have a child.

Instead of working to develop a 'vision' around this issue ('… which often includes highly idealistic phrasing and activities…'), I suggest we work on developing a comprehensive Values Statement to outline the core priorities for this community in terms of how we value our children, '… to align actual behaviour with preferred behaviour'.

For instance, I was shocked to discover recently that, where the biological parents of a child are not married to each other, it is the mother alone who has legal responsibility for that child. The father of the child born to unmarried parents is not considered legally responsible for this child unless and until he signs an agreement to assume that responsibility. A good place for us to start toward fleshing out a Parental Responsibility Act would be to correct this glaring inequity. A biological father married or not to the biological mother, needs to be equally responsible for that child in every way … full-stop.

KIM SMITH

Pembroke

What of Mary Prince?

October 6, 2008

Dear Sir,

On Saturday, June 6, 1730 an elderly mulatto slave Sally Basset was burned at the stake after being found guilty of poisoning her master and mistress. It has been reported hundreds of people lined up to witness this horrible spectacle that is thought to have taken place at Albouy's Point or Crow Lane in Paget. Two hundred and seventy-eight years later the Government of Bermuda has decided to erect a bronze statue of Sally Bassett in the Cabinet grounds on Front St.

Social, Rehabilitation and Culture Affairs Minister Dale Butler stated: "Every country highlights outstanding, significant large activities that have taken place in their domain. Some things you can applaud and there are others where you stand back and wish they weren't burned at the stake. You can't ignore it."

None of us can ignore history and we are saddened this inhumane barbaric act was performed. Shame on the regime and the executioners who surely were held accountable for their horrible deeds, in another place. Unfortunately we can't redeem, make amends or make good the cruelty they performed, nor can we correct the atrocities that have been committed through wars, and terrorism etc.

Our concern is the statue, that will be larger than life, might be a prominent reminder that could incite further ill feelings between the races. Will black people, especially the young ones, look upon it as a suggestive symbol that white supremacy still exists in today's society? Will white people still ask the question, why should we be held accountable for what other generations did? Are we creating a site for future generations to rekindle hostility between the races?

Perhaps an 18th and 19th century slave who should have been recognised, is Mary Prince who had her "History" published in London in 1831. She was born a slave in 1788, in Bermuda, where her first owner, Charles Myners, sold her to a Captain Williams. Under his ownership, she was hired out to Mrs. Pruden, whose daughter Fanny began teaching her to read – the happiest period in her life. Existence for Mary Prince then took a terrible downward turn!

This woman's immense courage is worth knowing and retelling a thousand times over, and perhaps offers a greater educational impact of courage and survival in the hateful world of bondage. Please note, this 'History' is available in Bermuda bookstores!

Perhaps one day the authorities might consider statues of people like Freddy Wade, Lois Brown Evans, Sir Henry Tucker and Sir John Swan. These are only a few who have carved a new, positive, direction for Bermuda.

TOPPY AND SAUNDRA COWEN

Southampton