Triple jeopardy

Dear Sir,

I believe it’ll be Triple Jeopardy if that trial goes ahead. What charges will be brought up now against Mundy? He already pleaded guilty (back then) to sexual assault so,what now? As for Smith,the prosecutors back then said they don’t have anything so,what charges will you bring up regarding him? What about the judge who sentenced Mundy? What about the prosecutors who were involved in that trial? In any event, if the Rebecca Middleton case goes through then, other trials may have to re-open as well.

NO SUBJECT

Pembroke

Insulting our intelligence

April 1, 2007

Dear Sir,

The religious right in Bermuda continues to delude themselves into thinking that they are the experts at cherry picking scriptures contained in the Bible. God specifically mentions three sexual sins which according to his word ends in death: Homosexuality; adultery; fornication. God did not say that the other two sins are less severe than homosexuality... the wages for the three sins is death! Mr. Andre Curtis recently spoke on the TV news that the Bible says that the gay lifestyle is a sin and for that reason the United by Faith and the AME are opposed to the Rosie O’Donnell family gay cruise coming to Bermuda.

Well then, God must be thinking that these mortal Christians are not taking into consideration that most cruise ships that enter Bermudian waters are full of girl and boyfriend passengers who share the same cabins. So please, do not insult the readers’ intelligence when it comes to these people engaging in sexual intercourse. When the religious right lobby to the Government about their concerns on condoning heterosexual sex on these ships by unmarried couples, the we, the gay community (which is large) will be able to appreciate their concerns about gay family cruises to Bermuda. Until then, the Government of the day must not allow any church that opposes the Rosie O’Donnell cruise to influence it negatively when it comes down to fare play. The cruise ships must enter!

SOUTHAMPTON REALIST

Oppose gay cruise

April 1, 2007

Dear Sir,

I am a frequent visitor to Bermuda and don’t think one cruise ship of gays should try and hold the Isle hostage. The agenda of these folks is wrong and the reason the kids are crying is they don’t understand why there are two same sex parents. Let the churches and people express their opposition to this if they so choose. Tourism won’t be hurt if one ship of gays sail on past Bermy.

J. GOLD

Aurora, Colorado

Unmistakable

April 11, 2007

Dear Sir,

It has long been evident in Bermuda that our legislators honour the laws they make more in breach than in observance. Two sitting MPs are, for example, currently answering charges of assault in the courts. Yet if the standards to which we hold government backbenchers aren’t high enough, surely those expected of the Premier are higher still. This past week, sir, I had occasion one afternoon to be riding along south shore in to Hamilton. As I passed the entrance to the Botanical Gardens I saw the lights of an oncoming emergency vehicle in the near distance. As is custom, I drove my moped slightly further in to my own lane as I waited for the ambulance to pass.

To my utter surprise, however, it was not an ambulance at all. Instead, three police motorcycles came hurling in my direction with the officers waving frantically at motorists on both sides of the road to move aside. Behind them followed Dr. Brown’s speeding limo. When I returned home I immediately turned on the radio to learn what national emergency had required the Premier’s urgent attention. I heard nothing. Nor did I find anything in your paper the next day, sir, explaining which crisis had necessitated Dr. Brown’s immediate presence. I would be tempted to find this funny if it weren’t for the fact that the premier’s miniature motorcade came scarcely a metre from striking the gentleman driving in front of me.

Perhaps the Premier or a member of his staff could explain in these columns why three policemen are required to guard his limousine? Furthermore, why was it necessary for the Premier and his entourage to race at speeds clearly exceeding 70 km/h along south shore on a Thursday afternoon? Finally, could they explain to the community why Dr. Brown feels himself above the law he prescribes to the rest of us?

Apparently, in his unending bid to become the next American President, Dr. Brown has forgotten that he is no longer American. Might I remind him that the constituency over which he does preside is a little island with a size and population not exceeding those of a small town? In any case, the Premier seems under the delusion that leadership is in fact the possession of a motorcade and press secretary. I am concerned, Mr. Editor, that our Premier seems to take the perks of his position far more seriously than he does its many responsibilities. In bygone years, visitors to our shores found a quiet civility and tranquility here. Today, many are beginning to see the emerging, yet unmistakable trappings of Banana Republicanism in Bermuda. Having seen, and very nearly been struck by the Premier and his motorcade last Thursday, I am quite inclined to agree. God help our little island if ever she finds herself in need of a real leader.

CICERO (A CONCERNED MOTORIST)

Hamilton Parish

We need a school bus system

April 11, 2007

Dear Sir,

I lost all rights to my car when I got married, a situation that was finally cast in stone when the children arrived. However, my wife took the children away for the recent school break and, so, I got to drive into town in “her” car. I got there in record time; there being little traffic because schools were out. During the ride it occurred to me that we would benefit from an efficient school bus programme, the result of which being that we might have to worry less about taking away people’s rights.

JULIAN GRIFFITHS

Hamilton Parish

What will it take?

April 11, 2007

Dear Sir,

Here is a riddle: How many voters can you annoy and still get elected to run a small, educated, island community?

Counting down:

The PLP voters who were lied to in the last election, so that the current PLP leaders could get re-elected.

The Taxi drivers,

The Teachers who are still waiting for their pay raise

The Parents, Students and Teachers of Cedar Bridge Academy who are still waiting for decisive action to stop sickness in that building

The Pensioners, who stood in line behind the MPs’ huge pay rise, for a pittance of an increase in their pension.

The Poor, and the chronically sick and uninsured, who stand to lose an excellent free clinic which the Tax payers support without complaint.

The Salvation Army ( of all people, wouldn’t we the Tax Payers expect to support them for their efforts in our community?) Funding halved!

The XL Tennis Tournament — this is a sport we need to encourage for our youngsters and it assists Tourism. Funding halved!

The Sustainable Development supporters — and we are legion, from all walks of life,crying out for common sense to enter the picture.

The families who need cars and cannot afford new prices.

The Bermudian employees of Exempt companies who may lose their jobs when their Companies leave

The 15,000 people waiting for a Referendum on Independence.

Is there anyone left?

DISGUSTED VOTER

Pembroke

Security issues

April 21, 2007

Dear Sir

While I agree that the security of the leader’s person (e.g. Bermuda’s Premier) is of the utmost importance to any civilised country, I don’t believe that the personal property of the premier should be upgraded at taxpayers expense. This is especially true since they have recently spent several millions to update the official residence. The Premier has the responsibility to live in the in the home provided. That official home must have the latest and greatest security equipment to protect the resident. That is the responsibility of the Bermudian tax payers to ensure that their leader’s safety at home is not compromised.

As for his/her person when out in public, the cost of the personal security guard(s) is of no importance as long as the security detail is competent and able to keep the Premier safe. Those who may complain that too much money is spent to protect the Premier will be the same ones who would be shouting the loudest if, God forbid, the Premier were to suffer any personal injury. Their first question would be why did he not have a security detail? So, I say move the Premier to the official residence with its top shelf security system. While out in public equip him with a competent security detail. If the premier insists in living in his own home, fine let him install top of the line security — at his own expense!

WINSTON ISAAC

Richmond Hill, Ontario

Close the Clinic

April 19, 2007

Dear Sir,

The Premier was in Huntsville last week and I truly understood his view regarding the closing of the clinic at the hospital. If I had been attending the clinic I would have welcomed the opportunity to go to a private establishment and only pay $2 for services rendered. If I had attended the clinic I would always be wondering who is looking at me and ask myself why am I separated from the everyday health care industry? If I have missed this issue by a long shot then I stand to be corrected.

E. PATTERSON

Huntsville, Alabama

Poor use of public funds

April 18, 2007

Dear Sir,

The cost of a one page black and white advertisement in your newspaper is $2,484.72. Why did the government of Bermuda recently spend that much on a full page reproduction of a letter to you from Dr. McPhee several days earlier? This is exactly the same letter that appeared in your newspaper for nothing! Dr. McPhee’s letter has been one of the few in support of Dr. Brown’s stance on the clinic, yet the government (a.k.a. Dr. Brown), finds it necessary to use it to justify a decision which many people have written about and taken to the streets to protest, people who are opposed to the decision. This is a very poor use of our tax dollars.

JOHN BARNETT

City of Hamilton