He can't have his race...

July 10, 2008

Dear Sir,

The Premier's recent comments in the article "Premier hits back at critics" on July 10 seem to follow his usual style of commentary; shifting the blame, attacking others and denying accusations… what a great way to lead an island! What I found most interesting about the Premier's comments was his use once again of the race card, something he seems to pull out every time he is criticised. The fact that the Premier can say he is being called an elitist just because he is a successful black man is nothing but ridiculous.

The Honourable Dr. Brown won the last election because he is black, it was an election not to do with trust and changes being offered to the community but an election which proved Bermuda's inability to overlook race. Dr. Brown did not miss out on an opportunity to remind people of his ability to better represent the black community because he is black, and that made him a better leader because oh, did he forget to tell you… he is black.

It is hard to say that Dr. Brown's platform in the last election was substantially better than that of Mr. Dunkley's or that he is more of a people person (which is especially hard to vouch for when looking at recent polls). Dr. Brown very successfully riled up racial feelings in Bermudians, reaching out to the black community saying he would not let them down. It is how he won the election.

His race is why he won the election. And now, as soon as he is criticised, he says it is because he is black? It is hard to say that people criticising the Premier for his excessive use of private jets, limos, fancy cars, private events and numerous other unnecessary uses of taxpayers' dollars are wrong, as the bill which has accumulated on top of our tiny island is enormous. But what is even more impossible is to see where race plays into this:

* The Premier has spent excessive amounts of money.

* He is black. Does the third statement seem to have anything to do with the problem at hand? No. Why does the Premier continue to bring up the issue of race when he is in a difficult situation? Because it is his only connection to a majority of Bermudians, it is his only way to gain sympathy and to rally people behind him. The Premier even went on to say that no one would call someone like Grant Gibbons, a successful white man, an elitist or arrogant.

I find this statement particularly entertaining as during the entire period leading up to the election, these are the kind of names UBP members such as David Dodwell, Michael Dunkley and even Grant Gibbons were called endlessly, by the Premier himself!

The Premier also went on to attack the British MPs which recently visited the Island saying they only spoke to people affiliated with the UBP and that their report is clearly biased. I find it hard to believe that when officials are sent from the UK to evaluate the state of our island they would not get a chance to meet with government officials, and would spend all their time with opposition members.

Or maybe the Premier did not want to meet with them or was off the island… private jet perhaps? There is no denying his passion for Independence and dare I say, more power! The British MP's saw what they saw, talked to people who wanted to talk and they made suggestions for the better of our island; they have no underlying biased motives.

But, oh well, at least the Premier has better approval ratings than George Bush. So what! Bush's poor ratings are due to him being two term President, the devalued US dollar, the high cost of fuel and an agenda for change which some Americans are listening to. Dr. Brown's ratings seem to reflect his sporadic self-centered choices despite knowing what is best for the Island. There is a difference between not knowing and making a mistake and knowing the difference between right and wrong and making the self-centered choice. Maybe someone should let the Honourable Premier know that…

FIRST TIME VOTER

Paget

Enforce existing regs

July 16, 2008

Dear Sir,

Your correspondent "For a Cleaner Environment" (Letters to the Editor July 15) bemoans the proliferation of posters on utility poles, and suggests they should be banned. In fact there is already legislation in place which covers this issue. It is the Advertisements Regulation Act 1911.

This act prohibits garish neon signs, advertising hoardings, and other forms of roadside advertising, but is now honoured more in the breach. Even the Government is now allowing advertising in bus shelters and other public places. Soft drinks companies attempt to get around the regulations by "donating" banners to social groups which then advertise their pot-luck suppers and the soft drink product on the side of public roads.

A number of restaurants and stores, particularly in Somerset have placed sandwich boards on the sidewalk, which apart from infringing the advertising regulations pose a hazard to pedestrians who have to step into the roadway to get past the signs. An air-conditioning company has plastered its name on a rooftop unit on Reid Street and two video stores on the corner of Queen and Church Street have illuminated signs in their windows. These are just a few examples which need to be dealt with. If we want to maintain the unique beauty of these islands, the authorities should enforce the existing regulations.

FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT TOO

Sandys

Just what is going on?

July 16, 2008

Dear Sir,

We really don't get it! The Premier/Minister got rid of all the offices across North American except in New York. Then he appoints someone to the position who knows nothing about tourism. He then fires everybody. Amid all the nasty dismissals comes the appointment of a company which has never marketed a 'destination'.

Those involved in the master plan will be flown to the Island so that Bermudians can show them how to sell the Island? After all that, the Premier is having a summit to determine how he is going to attract more visitors to the island during economic hard times. What the hell is going on? He should have created a tourism authority long ago made up of people who know the business with no attachment to the Government.

With the imminent announcement of the closure of a major tourism facility for several years, in order to rebuild, will the Premier say we knew it was going to happen, but the product in the long-term will be much better? The line-up we expect is going to get longer for Bermudians seeking employment.

Tourism numbers for the Island are still declining, a world in economic topsy-turvy coupled with an unstoppable, unpredictable, Premier, hell-bent on doing things his way should be a growing concern within the ranks of the PLP.

One wonders if the Cabinet truly understand their responsibility to the country? Not to a leader, but to the citizens! These are not just 'dark days', it's a bloody nightmare watching disaster after disaster.

TOPPY AND SAUNDRA COWEN

Kelowna,

British Columbia

Best interests of the people

July 16, 2008

Dear Sir,

Please explain how the current government could rightly authorise the closure of government pre-school's and camps to ensure the safety of children during tropical storm Bertha, yet insist that it was to be business as usual for all Government Offices on the same day? Are their employees not as important as the children? Who was expected to look after the children at a moment's notice anyway? In response to the rumours about the imminent closing of the Causeway, the government issued a statement with the words "please be advised that the Causeway is not closed".

I think it is fair to say that most people and business were looking to government for clear information about what their plans were for later in the day with respect to the Causeway so that appropriate arrangements could take place and people could be advised in advance to make their way home. Instead what the citizens of Bermuda got from their Government was bad information given by ill-prepared and power happy ministers. For the sake of the community, please can this government learn the definitions of the words "organisation" and "transparency" and start to act appropriately with the best interest of the people in mind instead of their egos for once?

A CONCERNED BERMUDIAN

Devonshire

Hold him to his word

July 12, 2008

Dear Sir,

As a good newspaper should, I strongly suggest that you make a note of two stories/quotes that appeared in your paper this week. The smooth talking Doc may say that he phrased it carefully but I think the other term we are learning about is 'spin'! So for all you voters who were looking for 'the dream to continue' I give you the following:

"Premier Ewart Brown says he believes construction work on three or four highly-touted hotels will be taking place in 2009. The Premier and Tourism Minister gave updates on Park Hyatt (replacing Club Med), Ritz Carlton (City of Hamilton), Wyndham Resort (Southampton) and Jumeirah (Southlands in Warwick or Morgan's Point in Southampton) while speaking at a public meeting at Francis Patton Primary School on Wednesday night."

And, in regard to tossing all the Bermudian salespeople from the New York Tourism office, "compassionately disrupting the lives of a few, in a plan to better serve the masses, is what good political leadership is all about". I hope that someone remembers the first statement in early January 2010 and, as for the second, and I address this to all the PLP Dreamer Voters, why do you think the Doc tossed out the Bermudians in favour of some American sales group. Do you really believe (a) that a bunch of Americans can sell Bermuda better than a bunch of Bermudians and (b) after years of telling us what a great job he's doing on Tourism and how booming our tourism sector is, all of a sudden 'the Bermuda Tourism product is broke...' Anybody seen Zane and Dennis in New York?

AUNT POLLY SAWYER

Southampton