Tired of being dumped on

May 7, 2007

Dear Sir,

My words have borne the truth. It is exactly what I said recently regarding the dire need for the hospital to be built as an extreme necessity on Southside. Yesterday we lost another one of our young men on the track at Southside on his motorbike. He was doing what he loved and it is with great regret and my deepest sympathy to his family, close friends and the motocross fraternity. So many eager and budding riders looked up to him for his never-ending encouragement, discipline, benevolence and undying love for he sport. He lost control of his cycle and crashed, but it has been said that there might have been a fighting chance if the hospital would have been functional.

Politicians....get of your high horses, your brand new GP cars and glut for the taxpayers' money ... our money ... and deliver what we want and need in the East End of Bermuda ... failing that, the many people who you rely on to keep you employed by providing the "X" in the box, will have no choice but to dismiss your services ... (or lack thereof).

We are tired of being dumped on.

EYES ARE STILL ON THE SPARROWS

St. David's

Shared embarrassment

May 10, 2007

Dear Sir,

In exasperation I feel that I must reply to the letter of Mr. Michael Grier of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, which appears in today's Royal Gazette.

The letter decries the failure of the Bermuda court system to arrive at a just conclusion in respect to the Rebecca Middleton case and asks, "What is the problem with your justice system?"

Where has Mr. Grier (and all Canadians who have voiced similar sentiments through every channel available to them) been for the last 15 years? Have you not heard of the Paul Bernardo/Karla Homolka case? They were a highly efficient and grisly serial killer and rapist team brought to trial in Ontario in the early 1990s. In exchange for her testimony against her ex-husband, Karla was able to plea bargain her way to a slap-on-the-wrist jail sentence. Subsequent discovery of a video tape graphically documenting the gory torture and murder of two of their victims, it was clear Karla was as guilty of the serial tortures and murders as her husband. Had the Crown been in possession of the tapes before the plea bargain was struck, the plea bargain would not have been necessary and Karla most likely would have been convicted of multiple murder along with her ex. Did Mr. Grier and all the other Canadians go on the air waves and call for a boycott of Ontario? Of Canada? Did they ask themselves what is the problem with the Canadian justice system?

The plea bargain with Mundy was a terrible mistake. The plea bargain with Karla Homolka was a terrible mistake. I believe Karla Homolka is already out of prison. The Bermuda justice system may still be a work-in-process in respect to Mundy.

But if the double jeopardy principle and the irrevocability of the plea bargain process in Bermuda's justice system is found, like Canada's, to be inviolate in the face of grievous mistakes and even miscarriages of justice, then for all the embarrassment and humiliation we may feel as Bermudians, Canadians must realise that Bermudians are in good company — theirs.

LARRY DENNIS

City of Hamilton

The world as I see it

May 15, 2007

Dear Sir,

A topical take on current topics:

On Ex-Pats:

Of course take away their cars! And while we are at it, why not also make them wear a bright arm band, so that they can be identified and put back at the end of every line, where they belong (except, of course, for when they pay the rent to us or support our charities). Bermuda is after all paradise, so of course expats will always want to be here. No worries!

On traffic congestion:

Easy! Monday to Friday, on even days of the month, only cars carrying plates with an even last digit can drive into Hamilton and on odd days, only cars carrying plates with an odd last digit can drive into Hamilton. Voila, traffic reduced by 50 percent. But the GP cars will need to be exempted as they are only on the road doing "the people's business", right? And let's not go after all those nice folks who have 2 assessment numbers and who will only rent out their apartments to expats subject to them not having a car, so that the nice folks can have two cars themselves. Surely that is not part of the problem.

On the closure of the Indigent Clinic:

Why listen to the People when the new privately owned clinic will soon be ready to take over the biz. But transportation is a problem. Perhaps GP cars can be used to ferry the patients to that clinic instead of being parked at the Parliament, Lindos and Mid Ocean (Dr. Brown's new club).

On Southlands:

Two years ago, the Tourism Minister stated that he went to Dubai on his own account in order to find out what a 7-star resort was all about in order to help Bermudian hoteliers improve the Bermuda product. And now he is fast tracking the new Dubai-operated hotel. A coincidence? I think not.

On the failed public education system:

Dr. Hopkins suggests "more outside help". Oh no, not more expats—.

On the lack of blood donors:

What, a 50 percent reduction in donations because thousands of expats can no longer give blood, resulting in an acute blood reserve crises? Maybe those expats aren't so useless after all. Let's go order more of those bright coloured arm bands.

RABBIT ISLAND

Hamilton Parish

Bermuda too expensive

May 12, 2007

Dear Sir,

Last week I called Marley Beach Cottages to make reservations for our annual Bermuda vacation. I was devastated to hear that they are no longer in business.

My wife and I have vacationed there during the last few summers. The one mile long deserted beach was the best place I have ever been to in Bermuda, and that includes a total of 34 trips. Last year I made three trips to my favourite place in the world; plus, the cost of Marley was very affordable. So I spent over one hour on the internet looking for a hotel on the ocean that was similarly priced. I found nothing that we liked at a comparable price. Bermuda is too expensive! International business has ruined tourism, at least for us.

I stayed at The Reefs for my first seven trips to Bermuda (and recommended it to hundreds of people), but Mr. Dodwell has beautified the property out of my price range; Great for the business but not for us. So I booked a trip to a great resort in the British Virgin Islands for $1,300 for seven nights p/p including airfare. I never expected it would come down to that. The money that I would have gladly spent in Bermuda will go somewhere else. I guess that's the price one pays for progress. Now if Mr. Christiansen could build affordable rooms that I could afford at Southlands, that would be incredible.

Fortunately, I have reservations at Salt Kettle House in November. We have stayed there for the last 18 years in the fall. Since I now know that the condo business in more lucrative than tourism, I will never take my Bermuda vacations for granted, not that I ever had!

RON LACEY

Massapequa, New York

My gambling suggestion

May 10, 2007

Dear Sir,

Using Las Vegas as an example of what gambling can do for tourism in Bermuda is a bit ridiculous, but if done correctly, the positives of gambling could outweigh the negatives. My suggestion would be to license one or two gambling boats. This would ensure that the target customers (mainly tourists) would be the ones gambling. The main concern about introducing a casino is that residents will gamble away money that they cannot afford, become addicted, and lose their families, jobs, etc. However by charging an admission ($25 or $50) to the boat, and taking it out for four or six-hour "cruises", the temptation is kept at a distance. A person will not be able to just walk off the street to gamble for a few minutes, and it's unlikely that someone will risk losing their last $100 if it costs $50 just to get onto the boat. Tourists will see the admission fee as part of their entertainment expense, and in exchange for the fee, the boat could offer a buffet meal and/or a couple of drinks.

Bermuda has so much going for it that nobody should want it to be known as a gambling destination, and widespread casino gambling could attract the "wrong" crowd. And gambling is so accessible today that most people aren't going to plan a vacation around gambling anyway. But with the proper controls, casino boats could provide Bermuda with a (much-needed!) additional entertainment option while also generating some revenue for government.

RECREATIONAL GAMBLER

Southampton

Great Carter House tour

May 11, 2007

Dear Sir,

I have to send this after going to Carter House, for what I thought would be a look around, only to leave an hour or so later.

The guide, was a Delores "Hammond", I believe her surname was.

A mine of information, and she turned my visit into an informed visit, friendly and unhurried. I could have spent the day there.

I would encourage any and all to go to see her, and pick up some great local information.

A RESIDENT VISITOR

Devonshire

Efforts much appreciated

May 14, 2007

Dear Sir,

May we use your columns to express our appreciation for those many persons who made our initiative 'Celebrating Mandela's Example', a success. These include the students from the Berkeley Institute, Bermuda High School for Girls and Saltus who performed under the direction of their teachers. Noted here should be John Woolridge who pulled a choir together from the various schools.

In addition there was the song-styling of the 'Dean of local entertainment', Mr. Gene Steede (a personal friend of the late Margaret Carter — an honouree) and the diverse performances of Toni Robinson and Ras Georgis. The presentation of the News Bulletin — Dock Strike by Wendy Davis-Johnson and Leo Mills was also well received.

The contribution of the Acting Premier, the Hon. Paula Cox and that of the Opposition Leader added to the occasion. As did the presence of the veterans whose stories we reflected on, Mr. Arnold Francis — former Mediator; Mr. Harrington 'Soups' Zuill and Mr. Kenneth 'Kenny' Paul.

Of course such events require some financial support and our main sponsor in this venture was Cellular One. Others partnering in the venture included BELCO, Bank of Butterfield, Stevedoring Services, Meyer-Franklin Travel and the Bank of Bermuda HSBC.

We have been assured by the family/friends of the late Margaret Carter, Canon Thomas Nisbett and Bishop Vernon Byrd those honoured on May 10 that they felt the love offered by those who made it happen and those attending.

GLENN FUBLER

Co-chair

Imagine Bermuda 2009