Education solution

December 17, 2009

Dear Sir,

Nothing succeeds like success. We have all heard this old adage and some of us have proved it to be true. If the MoEd and the teachers could agree to construct a curriculum for all students that would include daily a subject that each child can feel a sense of successful achievement in, then kids would not go home feeling discouraged. "Hands on" kids need hands-on-skill instruction so that they feel successful at the end of the day, week, month, term etc. Once they feel more upbeat about their skills there is a better chance that they will start to succeed in other areas that had not looked so promising. Every kid is good at something, let's build on that.

Kids who are fast learners need to have the opportunity to move at their own pace, in smaller groups, to avoid the serious boredom and frustration of sitting through classes whose progress depends upon the pace of the slowest learner in the group. (I raised a son who read the text books when they were handed out, remembered the content and slept in class from sheer boredom, waiting for something new. Sadly he was so frustrated by the system that he absolutely refused any further education after he got his ten 'O' Levels. What a wasted opportunity!)

I realise this may seem like a difficult salad to create, but success is essential to learning. If a kid feels smart in anything at all he will have a better attitude to the rest of his life. Help this along with a Life Skills class each week, including moral structure, then we might get back to a Bermuda that some of us older folks can barely remember. Many of today's parents are the dropouts from the last one to 15 years, they need help to raise their own kids for a better life. The kids on the wall, the gangs and the dropouts are mostly angry and there because no one ever helped them to feel successful at something worthwhile. We have to start early and not let anyone drop out due to discouragement and frustration, everyone is good at something which could earn them a living, please help them find it! If Bermuda was properly organised, this tiny community could be an example to the world, but right now it does not look at all encouraging let's start now to make it better.

MARGARET DYER-FORSTER

Paget

Kudos to Harbour Radio

This was sent to Scott Simmons, of the Bermuda Marine Operations Centre and copied to The Royal Gazette

December 15, 2009

Dear Sir,

On Sunday, November 15, 2009, I arrived in St. George's Bay about 2.30 pm, local, aboard my ketch, Annah Foster, which I single hand. I had encountered a hydraulic leak in my steering system, causing complete failure, approximately 180 nm SW of Bermuda at 11 a.m. on November 13. After attempting repairs in high winds and tossing seas for 36 hours, I finally rigged my emergency tiller, and motored, steering from the stern of my centre cockpit boat for 24 hours, towards Bermuda. At the time of my approach, I had not had any rest for two and a half days. Unable to leave the stern, I could not use my primary VHF radios, nor see my Chartplotter, nor, for that matter, reach my engine throttle, and the seas and wind made it impossible to safely lash the tiller, and run forward.

I would like to commend to you the gentlemen at Bermuda Radio for their kindness, professionalism, and patience, in their dealing with me, an exhausted and confused single handier, that afternoon. Even the word tenderness comes to mind. My hand-held VHF did not have the power, when I first called in, for them to hear a word I was saying, but they patiently issued me instructions for the approach into St George's Bay. I am ashamed that my radio protocol disappeared from my mind, and I spoke to them as if on a cell phone, failing repeatedly to terminate my transmissions with the requisite "Over." I am amazed, and so grateful, looking back on that last hour of my trip, to have dealt with such wonderful, caring professionals.

I do not have the names of the gentlemen with whom I spoke, but I believe there was a shift change at that time, as I was smoothly passed from one man to another. I climbed the hill to Fort George one day while out for a walk, to try to meet them and personally thank each, to shake their hands, and express my deep admiration and appreciation, but again, there was a shift change at that time, and my visit was too intrusive and had to be cut short. I would like to commend these men to the people of Bermuda. They are probably too frequently un-recognised, as are the heroes who crew your rescue boats. And, I would like to gratefully acknowledge the warm welcome and hospitality the good folks of St. George gave me. I have made some wonderful new friends. I depart with regret, to continue my travels, and shall always look back on this time with a happy heart.

Dennis C. Doak

S/V Annah Foster

St. George's

Forced the shopping hand

December 15, 2009

Dear Sir,

I sit here at my office reading and observing the daily Royal Gazette as my normal morning practice today Tuesday, December 15, 2009. I'll get directly to the point as I'm baffled looking at Page 5. At the bottom of this page are three beautiful young ladies modelling clothing apparel for our local department store Gibbons Company. The ad has the logo of "Smart Shoppers Shop Bermuda".

Mr. Editor, may I point out that the total cost of the first outfit, including shoes, is $264, the second a whopping $515, and the third $206. I then question how do they, the department store buyer/owners, consider/term this as "Smart Shoppers Shop Bermuda"? Please note the clothing advertised is attracted to our young ladies i.e. my daughter's age group, 25 years of age or younger. On average many of our young adults work in these department stores earning not much more on a weekly basis the charge that we see advertised for the second outfit stated.

I am indeed a Bermudian, having resided here my whole 48 years of life. I too believe and look to support our "Smart Shoppers Shop Bermuda Campaign", however to see this is beyond depressing for both myself and I'm quite sure many of our other "Smart Shoppers that aim to shop Bermuda". Where is the price control committee? May God help those individuals that may have more than one kid or family member to purchase for during this festive season. Or on a regular basis.

A message to the Gibbons Company Group: I admire most of your stock offered in your entire store and if I needed to purchase I could. However, where is it that we "The Smart Shoppers of Bermuda" can survive and purchase items/clothing and feel confident that we've made smart choices with these sorts of pricing. Sorry you've forced my hand to look at other avenues as you leave me no choice Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

V.G. WEEKS

Pembroke

A peeling question

December 15, 2009

Dear Sir,

At least a banana republic has bananas to fall back on. Yours on a peel,

ANDREW R. DOBLE

Hamilton Parish

A clarification

December 15, 2009

Dear Sir,

I would like to clarify a statement which was attributed to me in your paper dated Saturday, December 12, 2009 under the Headline, "MPs call for harsher penalties for criminals".

You print that I stated in the House of Assembly on Friday, December 11, 2009 that the penalty for "murder" should be increased to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. What I actually said was that the penalty for "premeditated murder" should be increased to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Taking a life under any circumstance is a serious matter which requires a commensurate and harsh penalty, but there is a clear distinction between murder and premeditated murder.

The distinction I was making on Friday was that premeditated murder is in a category of its own as it requires advanced planning and deliberation. This makes it a more serious offence than murder and therefore, in my opinion, should attract a harsher penalty of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. We have recently seen a few instances of this type of well-planned premeditated murder and it should cause all of us to be extremely concerned. Although some may not appreciate the distinction, it is an important one and reporters must take care in ensuring the accuracy of those who they quote, especially politicians. I am grateful for the opportunity to clarify my position.

SHAWN G. CROCKWELL JP MP

City of Hamilton

People are

talking

December 15, 2009

Dear Sir,

I totally agree with the letter writer "Fed Up" about Bermuda Cablevision. They really have to get their act together, the picture problem has progressively gotten worse over the years and this with the promise of digital cable meaning a crystal clear picture. I cannot recall one whole day in the year where every channel was working as it should, there are always pixel problems and it's on popular programming which totally takes the enjoyment of watching a particular show away.

The message on the information channel of welcome to Cablevision's full digital line up has to be a joke, if anyone watches ZFB and ZBM on cable knows full well that picture is far, far away from being full digital. There are numerous other channels as well which are far from digital clarity. I thought the former Bermuda Broadcasting CEO mentioned that they offered a digital line to Cablevision and they have never hooked it up, on seeing those channels on WoW Cable I believe that Cablevision never has. If anyone has been watching channel 141 MSG, why does there have to be a big blue box that covers half of the screen come up with a warning message "Pay now" which has been popping up for over a month now, is someone asleep at the switch on the quality of these channels?

Why does WoW Cable's NFL Network show NFL games on Thursday and now Saturday Night and on Cablevision we cannot view the same? Now I am a Cablevision customer but it always seems reasons to consider going elsewhere with the service. I too had to get my cable fixed many times over, only in a short span of time to get it fixed again just like the letter writer "Fed Up", Cablevision has no problem taking one's money every month but I think we as the consumer are entitled to a better service, you wouldn't go to the grocery store and buy a dozen eggs and half of them are spoiled every time would you?

That's what it feels like when you're having some down time and want to catch a programme only to have the nuisance of a bad picture ruin it. Bermuda Cablevision improve your product, your service, the cost is not meeting the standards of your customer, not everyone is writing in to tell you about it, but I can tell you, many people think it and talk about among each other.

ALSO FED UP

Pembroke

Hamilton's way forward

December 15, 2009

Dear Sir,

I read with interest today's Letter to the Editor from Adam concerning the Corporation of Hamilton and whether or not it is the most incompetent body in Bermuda.

A series of discussion points were given to the reader: Internal and petty power struggles. Sorry Adam, that's a prior group of members. Private and undisclosed meetings. Again sorry, the Corporation held the first Town Hall meeting in October and is now holding its member (board) meetings in public, the first of which was in November and in fact the 2010 Budget was held last week. All meeting notices are being advertised in the Gazette's classified section. A "Buy Bermuda" campaign that asks nothing of the shop keepers and everything of the consumer. Oh dear, now we really are off base, a similarly titled campaign with different criteria is annually run by The Bermuda Chamber of Commerce a different organisation, though I am proud to have run both.

Following these discussion points, Adam sets out the "Nail in the Coffin" with a comment on the terrible state of the roads. Having just repaved Union St., Angle and currently North Street (You can now see where the North East boundary of the Corporation clearly lies.), as well as having passed a budget for repaving King and Reid Streets next year; sorry Adam, I think you are once more a little off the mark.

Given all that has been stated before, we are lead to believe that there is a section of newly laid pavement that has been dug up. Adam, it seems, is not asking for repairs but for us "to stop messing up what is messed up enough". I would have thought if Adam was moving into a newly constructed home and a fault was found under the masonry he would expect that fault to be corrected. Not knowing where this segment of pavement is, I am assuming that it was not set out to the standard the City of Hamilton is expecting, nor to the standard of its citizens.

The City of Hamilton is going through a process of change, one that most identify as being positive. We have an extremely active programme set out for next year which we hope will receive additional coverage in the paper. This includes, and is not limited to, such items as finishing the underground placement of utilities on Court Street and moving the program on to Ewing Street, improving lighting in our public car parks and certain city streets, restarting the City Rangers Programme, traffic light upgrades, a study on Woman's Safety in the City and possible installation of Panic Buttons, plus what has already received coverage; CCTV cameras, X-Ray machines on the Docks and the Corporation's new Works Depot.

In all of this we may have a pot hole that we have failed to fix or a pavement slab that we have to re-do. I am aware that the City has more on its plate than that. Each one of you can also play a role in effecting positive change; if you see something within our city which you feel needs fixing, you are not sure if we are aware of, concerns, comments or opportunities, our doors are open. Drop us a note, "Let's Fix It", City Hall, 17 Church Street, Hamilton HM 11 or infocityhall.bm. Your letters and e-mail will receive a prompt response

CHARLES R. GOSLING

Mayor of Hamilton

Courtroom

solution

November 29, 2009

Dear Sir,

I recently had the privilege, the honour, to attend the weekly, over crowded, over dramatic Traffic Court gathering. During my almost two hour stay I had the opportunity to witness how the Government helps meet its annual budget, I also made a few other observations. Most of the people awaiting their fate were not considered dangerous or careless drivers, but people who had just stepped over the limit and were spotted by that bird in the tree or behind the wall or even down the bottom of the hill.

The majority of these people after waiting for sometimes hours in this overcrowded room to contribute in many cases, a days pay or more, will have pleaded guilty paid the fine before they even got to court and by doing so, would have saved themselves and the courts much wasted time. Well, after sitting, no I mean standing for hours awaiting my outcome I decided to write and put forward a couple of suggestions which should somehow be considered.

#1 All persons that are booked for speeding 60k. and under should be allowed to pay a fixed fine. If the fine is not paid within a set recommended time (30 days, 60 days) whatever then that person should be arrested and taken to court, the fine now becomes double and the points system can be added to the traffic record accordingly.

#2 When the speeding ticket is issued that person should they wish to plead guilty, they shall sign the ticket and insure the fine is paid. Should they decide to plead not guilty, then they should not sign the ticket, at which time the officer shall assign a court date.

I truly understand the traffic problem in Bermuda is of great concern, and we need to find ways to reduce the number of serious speeding offences on our roads, I will not claim to have all the real answers for the careless or dangerous driving, but I do believe filling the courts with these low speeding offences will only continue to overcrowd courts and burden the system more causing delays dealing with the more serious traffic cases. (Drunk driving, no licence, no insurance).

I know you are thinking, "He agrees with speeding as long as its under 60k." That's not what I am saying, what I am saying is, no matter what the fine, people are somehow going to find themselves in this situation and in many cases are not considered to be dangerous or careless drivers but trapped by that person behind the wall or in the trees, so to avoid this somehow never ending situation, of spending hours in the court rooms, slow down and watch for that man in the trees, or sign the ticket and pay the fine. Because I am sure we can spend these $100 and wasted time on better things.

RICHARD KNIGHT

Sandys