Protect natural beauty

May 9, 2007

Dear Sir,

As an annual guest to your beautiful island, I hope you will work to ensure our annual return. Protecting places like Southlands will ensure that Bermuda remains a special place for all who visit. Cutting apart a piece of your limited shore is not the way to get visitors to come back. The natural beauty of Bermuda must be protected to ensure the livelihood of your citizens.

Long term decisions that favour protection as opposed to development is your only intelligent course of action. A conserved Bermuda will fill your hotel rooms far into the future not a rambling pack of condominiums.

JAMES TOLLEFSON

Newport, Rhode Island

Let the churches help

May 1, 2007

Dear Sir,

I am writing with reference to the recent talks concerning our children not having breakfast or lunch for school. We must recognise that there are some kids who don’t have the same privileges as others. It’s a sad day when a rich country such as Bermuda, sees our kids being hungry and not act upon it.

My solution to the problem is that it not be a Government social service to fix, as some (I did say some) of these homes may already be on Social Service assistance, but we allow the churches to assist here in this social problem. My church, The First Church of God, North Shore, under the direction of Bishop Lambe, has provided daily lunches for years, and I would like to see every church adopt a school.

Churches give back constantly, and this is one area I would like to see developed. May I suggest that the United by Faith Group of churches address this situation for our kids, as they are the next doctors, lawyers, preachers and teachers of our Bermuda tomorrow.

MS INGHAM

Pembroke

Don’t cheat employees

May 9, 2007

Dear Sir,

I write concerning the deplorable situation of Pension Arrears — Tax Dodgers recently highlighted by the Auditor General.

It is bad enough when a business cheats the Bermuda Government (that’s us!) for Payroll Tax and Land Tax but to cheat on Pension Tax also STEALS from those employees whose pensions will be reduced for not having those contributions counted in his/her pension payout. Also, this comes at a time in life when the employee most needs help — at retirement or being laid off for whatever reason, sometimes ill health.

What is the policy or protocol when a company (or individual) is delinquent to such a degree as listed in your newspaper today? Why are these businesses allowed to continue on and on without any disciplinary action taken by Government? It puts reputable and honest businesses to a very big disadvantage to compete financially. After all, the payroll “burden” is a large percentage of the cost of doing business. It may sound Draconian but perhaps Government should confiscate some of the assets of the delinquent businesses. Whilst that would hamper the business operations, it would surely drive them to seek a bank loan or other financial backing, which would, in turn, require some collateral commitment.

But it’s the old employees who have had a portion of their pension STOLEN from them that I feel most sorry for. Remember, the employee’s portion of the payroll deduction has already been taken out of their weekly pay cheque!

UN-COMMON SENSE

How do they manage it?

May 10, 2007

Dear Sir,

The companies on the list of the top companies who don't pay Payroll Tax seems to be repetitive. But how do they get commercial vehicles relicensed? I have to produce my Payroll Tax payment receipt before TCD will begin the process to relicense. I also have to get a letter from Social Insurance to verify the company has paid up to date.

DOUBLE STANDARD?

City of Hamilton

Blood donor ruling

May 9, 2007

Dear Sir ,

Thank you for highlighting our need for blood donors in your front page article on Wednesday 9 May. Expanding our donor list is vital if we are to care for people who need blood, whether through an accident, surgery or illness.

However, I would like to clarify the ruling introduced by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), as this ruling does not bar all expatriates from donating.

No matter what country you are from, you are eligible to give blood, as long as you did not live in the UK, Ireland or Europe for more than six months between 1980 and 1996. Both expatriates and Bermudians who resided for more than six months in these countries during those years are unable to donate.

We are very grateful to everyone who already donates regularly. They provide a life-saving service that benefits anyone in the community who is in need. None of us knows when we might need blood - road accident victims, surgical patients and people with certain conditions all rely on the donors who regularly give blood.

I hope that more people in Bermuda find the time to give this gift of life, wherever they are from. We urgently need to expand our regular donor list and you never know when you, or someone you love, may need blood.

Please, please become a giving member of the community and contact us at the Red Cross Blood Donor Centre at 236-5067 for an appointment to donate. Your donation will help save a life today.

Thank you for this opportunity to clarify the ruling.

DR. BETSIE LOMBARD

Medical Director of the Blood Transfusion Service and Consultant Haematologist

Bermuda Hospitals Board

Scholarship frustrations

May 8, 2007

Dear Sir,

I am writing because I am a bit frustrated about some of the scholarships that are offered to students for overseas studies. I have been accepted to a university in the United States and I am in the process of applying for various scholarships for Fall Semester 2007.

The problem I have is that while the deadlines for the scholarships are between March- June, the decision on which student is awarded the scholarship isn’t decided until July and sometimes not until August. As International students, there are several things we have to complete before we can just arrive for school in August. We have to apply for F1 visas, which can take some time to approve, and then for many schools, a deposit has to be made in order for the school to hold your admissions. If a decision is not made until July or August and universities commence at the end of August, then how is that enough time to complete all the requirements for a smooth transition into college.

I feel that by early June, students should not only know that they’ve been awarded the scholarship, but they should also have all the financial requirements taken care of so that by August, they will be prepared to leave for school. I hope that scholarship committees will take this issue into consideration and start making the decisions on the winning recipient sooner rather than later. That way, students do not have to rush getting documents completed and we can feel more organised for school when we’re ready to leave.

CS

St. David’s

Shroud of dark clouds

April 28, 2007

.Dear Sir,

Since my first visit to Bermuda in 1962, through the six years I was fortunate enough to be a resident, to the present, my heart has belonged to Bermuda. Even though I was ill during many of the years I lived on the island, I knew that among the “Onions” was the place were I was the happiest. Friends, neighbours, business acquaintances and all the other aspects that constituted my Bermuda life were treasures.

When I had to leave Bermuda, I was distraught but as my life evolved in the places I have lived since then, Bermuda has frequently been the backdrop in both my day and night dreams. Often my thoughts have included visions in which I am driving familiar roads: North Shore to Bailey’s Bay, Wilkinson Avenue around Harrington Sound to John Smith’s Beach and Spital Pond on South Shore Road or down St. David’s Road to Charles and Marva’s Black Horse Tavern for a rock fish sandwich and a St. Pauli Girl beer.

My friends around the US have probably been tired of my repeated references to the delights and perfection of Bermuda. Now, sadly they can breathe a sigh of relief because since learning of the planned picketing by “Christians” (who seem unable to follow the Biblical warning not to “judge lest ye be judged”), I’ve not been able to sing the praises of the island.

Many Bermudians have known the judgmental rejection by other residents who are not the same race as they. Now they are taking what they have learned from those bigoted people and using those tactics of hate against another group of God’s children. These men, women and children on a brief stop over on a family vacation will not impact Bermudians differently from any other ship load of visitors.

I am ashamed and embarrassed by the rejection by those Bermudians who believe that their life styles are perfection and that they are in a position to judge and reject other people. What a dark cloud shrouds Bermuda today!With Sadness

CHRISTINE (TUCKER) OAKBRAE

Dagsboro , Delaware

Have we sold our souls?

May 4, 2007

Dear Sir,

Bermuda was always known as a holy spirited, praying island. If we could create and change laws to obstruct globally recognised media magnate Oprah Winfrey from residing here and than modifying them after she detracts her willingness to reside on Billionaires Row, then surely we can amend laws to at least show an inkling of regard for human life.

Has Bermuda become so callous that it is now considered the norm to murder, rape and rob children of their innocence via molestation?

Instead of glorifying morality and human dignity we commend those that make a living out of spilling our streets, our nation with corrupted spirits. I understand that everyone deserves the right to be proven guilty but when our legal system is set up to fail us and proven, admitting criminals continue to be free to repeat their callous actions due to technicalities within our judicial system than it is a problem. Have we sold our souls?

On the one hand we have the church standing up against homosexuality but what about standing up for the sorrows of families that face injustice. Many have faced severe penalties for lesser offences, like stealing codfish, alcohol or not being able to travel due to carrying a marijuana cigarette. We have men serving life sentences for accidental deaths, two men accused of using one weapon to kill and the list goes on. Statistics show that within the past decade our crime level has been on the rise. Our judicial system has become looser and more open for loopholes. Therefore it’s not about DNA or other proven evidence it’s now the trend to research and expose those loopholes thereby getting individuals off on technicalities.

Since when do man made laws take precedence over every country’s basic principals of “Thou Shall Not Kill or Steal.” Kill obviously being murder and stealing referring to child molestation or rape. Have we become so materialistic that we’ve forgotten our principals? Have we embraced cannibalism of souls? It is our responsibility to take back our country from the stigma title that it was once known for, that being an “Isles of Devils.”

We cannot afford our children to evolve thinking that it is normal to commit crime because our legal system is so lax that they will get them off anyway. We need to start truly upholding those in our community that are worthy of honouring, those that make positive impacts in our society not hailing those that support negativity. If we continue this trend of low consciousness than that is what we will eventually be known for worldwide.

LA VIRGIL, MBA

Philadelphia

The word is oligarchy

May 9, 2007

Dear Sir,

Stuart Hayward, environmentalist and chairman of B.E.S.T. exhorted the public to write and e-mail the Premier and Environment Minister “to let them know directly that this is too big and complex a proposal to be rushed....” This would presume that those two persons who represent us in Parliament would even listen to logical or rational appeals.

If Minister of the Environment (!) Butterfield approves the special Development Order, she will have:

* Ignored the advice of the Advisory Architectural Panel, a body appointed by her!

* ignored the objection by the Government Department of Conservation Services;

* ignored the general call for an independent environmental impact assessment;

* ignored the traffic issues raised by Government engineers;

* ignored the fact that the Marine Resources Board cannot comment on the project proposal because they cannot “fully understand the complications of the drawings presented;

* ignored the indignation of the general public and BEST regarding the proposal of a tunnel for the general traffic whilst the developers, the foreign-owner company Jumeirah , enjoy open passage from the main complex to their “sprawling cliff side resort on Warwick, South Shore”. This particular facet of the development causes a visceral reaction with me. That we Bermudians should be required to use a tunnel, with all the related liabilities whilst a private development has priority to pass over our public land (the South Shore Road!) exasperates me.

Minister Butterfield has “omnipotent power” to grant a special development order (SDO ) “if the project in question is deemed of national importance”. I ask, “National” or special interest? Some basic questions:

* construction workers (more of them!) will have to be brought in since the local industry is already terribly overheated; where will they be housed?;

* staff will have to be brought in to run the place, again due to a shortage of local hospitality resources;

* the former “Club Med” remains un-used and decaying.

There is a word for this it is “oligarchy”.

I could go on and on but Stuart does it better and my blood pressure is climbing! The long term reality is that once it is done — it is done — and we are stuck with it. Are you/we going to say, “O, well, I can’t do anything about it”. That’s not true, we can! Lobby your friends, relations, business associates. Write, speak out, especially to the Parliamentary candidate who comes to your door, seeking your support. Remember you have the power of the ballot box and I pray you know how to use it! Nobody knows what you write behind that curtain.

UN-COMMON SENSE

St. David’s

Thank you everyone!

April 29, 2007

Dear Sir,

My husband was one of the accident victims on Wednesday. He was knocked unconscious and had lacerations to his ear plus bruising from head to toe. The response from the crowds and medical staff was delivered in a very professional manner.

Seeing one under the carriage and having it move back and forth over someone is very scary. The doctor attending to my husband was reassuring to me once he was evaluated and the ambulance staff very encouraging. The nurse, Vivian who drove myself to the hospital gave me an overview of the excellent staff at the hospital. Thank you, Vivian.

The hospital staff was very calm and professional in handling all of our questions.

Dr. Johnson was like a breath of fresh air as he handled the patients. Thank you, Dr. Johnson.

Also a thank you to the Police who took their reports from us, they were sensitive to our feelings when getting the information they required to do their investigation.

Thanks to your Mayor for his encouraging words to us at the hospital.

We will return to your beautiful island.

We wish you success in your summer of the Festivals on Wednesdays.

LOUISE AND DENNIS YARROW

Calgary, Alberta