Classic is too noisy

This was sent to John Kane, president of the World Rugby Classic and copied to The Royal Gazette.

November 10, 2010

Dear Mr Kane,

Every November I have the experience of dealing with the rugby classic. Year after year the people of Frog Lane, and I am sure other neighbouring areas of the North Field, have been more than lenient dealing with vehicles illegally parked in their yards, drunk and loud pedestrians and intoxicated motorists leaving your event in the early hours of the morning waking sleeping children. Then of course the unnecessarily loud music (it's not that loud in the clubs). Monday night was the last straw when my nine-year-old daughter came out of her room at 1.30 a.m. crying because she was tired and could not sleep comfortably.

During this time not once has anyone knocked on my door to ask if any one of these things is disrupting our nights. This year the music was moved from the south corner of the field (closer to the BFA field) to the corner that houses the practice cricket wickets (closer to Devonshire Rec's main gate). Are you all serious? This puts the music less than 100 yards from my living room.

When I spoke to you, you explained this was done to protect the music equipment from the rain. Again, are you all serious? What happened to taking the time to build temporary flooring, raising the equipment off the ground? If I am right, for goodness sake you have a whole year to plan for this event.

On most occasions, we could hear the music but as it was in the other corner, it was just a slight irritant, but now we are angry. We do not want to, or should not have to, call the Police every single night, flooding their systems with calls, when I'm sure they could be concentrating on more significant things our Island is dealing with. By all means, have the Rugby Classic. I'm sure in some way it has its merits, probably a tourism spin, I guess, but do your partying elsewhere! Maybe do one night in your backyard and then you can gauge if I am being a whiner or maybe your neighbours would let you know, most definitely it is not acceptable.

Here's a suggestion, how about taking your every night party to Barr's Park, #6 Shed or maybe multiple parties along Front Street, where there are nightclubs waiting eagerly for patrons to walk through their doors.

One thing I know for sure, what you have accomplished is uniting the more than 300 households in the area against the Classic being played here again next year. A petition will be circulated around the areas of Friswell's Hill, Dock Hill, Cedar Park, Roberts Avenue, Happy Valley and of course Frog Lane. These will be passed on to the Hon. Glenn Blakeney JP, MP, who is this constituency's elected representative.

I do not want to make this a race issue, but if this was held in the areas of Tucker's Town, Point Shares/Fairylands or any other predominantly white neighbourhood there would be no after-party. And we all know this.

JAY BEAN

Frog Lane, Devonshire

A thank you to supporters

November 10, 2010

Dear Sir,

After seven long and exhausting years, I'm thrilled to bits by the recent judgment of the arbitration tribunal that has exonerated me of any wrongdoing and fully restored my reputation to its rightful place. So many have assisted me in this quest over the years. It would never have been possible without them. First of all, let me thank my wife Celia who kept me sane and determined through some terrible times.

Next let me thank those who represented me, Mr. Ed Ball of the Bermuda Public Services Association from 2003 to 2005 and then Ms Elizabeth Christopher and Ms Narinder Dosanjh from 2006 to 2010. My immense gratitude also goes out to those hundreds of my supporters island-wide who wrote letters, pressured decision-makers on my behalf, and protested what had been done to me. Their encouragement gave me inspiration to continue when discouragement could have taken hold instead.

I am immensely gratified that the arbitration tribunal found not one shred of direct evidence that I was ever guilty of words or acts that betrayed racial prejudice. Such kinds of thoughts and actions are utterly abhorrent to me. All Bermuda knows the stuff of my character — its evidence shines through all I have done for the College and the community over three decades and makes a mockery of such nonsense.

My vindication is a victory for truth and, I hope, an inspiration to others who might also suffer from victimisation and who might find some encouragement in my story. Your integrity is your most precious possession. The false charges I faced cut to the bone of my being and filled me with a fiery determination set things right again.

I want to commend Board Chairman Walton Brown for agreeing to arbitration on behalf of the College after it had refused for years to allow my dismissal decision to be reviewed by an independent body. However, it is a pity that the Board is not now willing to accept in good faith the arbitration panel's findings on damages and costs made in my favour. This is a great shame and drags this matter on needlessly and endlessly.

DR. SEAN O'CONNELL

Hamilton Parish