June 18, 2007

WHAT will it take to awaken Bermudians to the inescapable probability that their political leader is an individual who would likely have been charged with corruption offences in any sane jurisdiction and that the Queen’s representative, our Governor, is implicated as an accessory to this man’s actions by his own characteristic inaction? John Vereker takes great pains to preach about his supposed “integrity” at public events (most recently the Queen’s Birthday) but it seems he never demonstrated anything remotely resembling integrity throughout the entire course of the Bermuda Housing Corporation investigation.

At the weekend The Royal Gazette reported the possibility that Dr. Ewart Brown had been asked to resign by members of his Cabinet. In almost the same breath, this was quashed and a joint statement was issued by Dr. Brown and the Governor in which (such a surprise) they condemned the leakage of reports which cast them both in such a very unfavourable light.

What can we possibly gain from listening to the hogwash with which either of these men are trying to fool us? Absolutely nothing.

Apparently the only means available to us currently by which we may possibly learn the truth about these men and their cohorts is to endorse a petition for a Royal Commission.

But as this petition would be entrusted to — guess who? — our Governor, it isn’t surprising that signatures over the past week have been one-tenth of expectations.

The Bermudian capacity for self-deception is staggering. So long as affluence provides its anaesthetising padding, why should any of us be impacted by dishonest representatives, when an honest one has become so increasingly rare.

Why worry about integrity or morality? Have these become not just outdated meaningless words, but dispensable qualities? We live in a society with one of the world’s highest per capita incomes, but one of the lowest educational standards.

We accept the continuing rape of our land for its commercial rather than intrinsic value. We are reliant on an industry that wouldn’t have the slightest hesitation in relocating if its profitability were more advantageous elsewhere.

Isn’t it clearly time to clean up our mess? Shouldn’t we dispense with those who are besmirched by their greed and disgraceful intent? Shouldn’t we think about encouraging those who are honest, whose work is genuine and whose aim is to produce long-term benefits for this island and for every individual who lives here?

PLAIN SPEAKING

Southaon<$>Deeply disturbing . . .June 19007<$>

AFTER reading this morning’s news and seeing the photographs of our Auditor General’s arrest by the Bermuda Police, I feel a profound sadness for our Bermuda.Although I do not know the Auditor personally, I admire his courage over the past years, to discharge his professional duties to the residents of this island in the face of personal attacks, intimidation and harassment from politicians, who presumably take offence at his integrity, and committed responsibilities to the country.

Unable to corrupt him, they moved swiftly to their typical moduivendi,<$> involving repeated attempts to discredit him, trumped up bogus charges against him, and tawdry excuses for their urgent ‘need’ to replace him with one of their (political) appointees.

My open message to this Government, including all those who blindly support it, or those entrusted with safeguarding the principles of our constitution, who should speak out but stay silent, is as follows:

If you cannot be completely transparent, and need secrecy to protect your system of Government, then something is very, very, very wrong indeed. Rotten you might say. Caring Bermudians should be deeply disturbed with the way this Government has turned upon its own citizens during a prolonged exercise, which is simply one of putting themselves beyond the reach of the law. We must speak out, or lose the freedom to do so.

I hope Mr. Dennis and his family appreciate how many of us support them, especially now.

DR. A.M. WARE-CIETERS

City of Hamilton

. . . kick in the stomach

June 20, 2007

WHEN I learned of the arrest of Mr. Dennis, our Auditor General, I felt as though someone had kicked me in the stomach. Mr. Dennis has been the only voice of truth that we, the people, have been able to count on in recent years. I have been, and am, so grateful to have Mr. Dennis monitoring the financial aspects of our free-spending Government and he has done a superb job — obviously, or this witch-hunt would never have taken place.

As our island edges ever closer to Nazi-style “governing”, replete with the suppression of freedom of speech and SS/Gestapo tactics to ensure the silence of any and all dissidents, I am reminded of one of my father’s favourite sayings: “Murder will out.”

He was absolutely correct and I’m sure that those politicians involved in the BHC scandal will eventually get what’s coming to them. I just hope that it happens soon before our island sinks any further into the mire of corruption and deceit which is sucking the life’s blood out of it.

And to the Premier, Col. Burch, etc., I can only assume that they have something REALLY big to hide!

To Mr. Dennis, I send a huge thank-you for his diligent care of our public funds and, as a Bermudian, I apologise to him and his family for the despicable way in which he is being treated.

MARY LOU HOLMES

Pembroke

Smitten by virus

June 18, 2007

A COUPLE of weeks ago Alvin Williams mentioned me in his column. My response in a letter to you last week pointed, with examples, to the “selective memory, inaccuracy, petty projection and absurd argument” that attended his reference to me in his writing. Instead of responding to those points, Mr. Williams mentions me again in his next column and makes a coy reference to “someone we both know” who told him something about the Mid-Ocean News. He goes on to trumpet dramatically that he will never give in.

It does appear that Mr. Williams has been smitten by the virus that seems to be infecting so many in his political family: don’t address the issue, introduce red herrings, create drama and divert attention.

STUART J. HAYWARD

Pembroke