The shaming of Bermuda

May 22, 2007

Dear Sir,I have never, until recently been embarrassed to be a Bermudian. I have always been proud of our beautiful Island and its friendly people, however, now I guess I should write friendly in quotes as it is relative.

Last month, my husband and I had the opportunity to sign up for a trans-Atlantic crossing, which left Dockyard on April 24. I was on the Voyager of the Seas, a ship from the RCCL cruise line. I and many of the other Bermudians spent our time interacting with the crew members apologising to them for the attack on their fellow crew members which happened the night of April 23. A bunch of thugs attacked a group of their crew and the men in the group turn to fight so the ladies in their group could make it to the ship without harm, in turn the men were attacked from the back of moped bikes with broken bottles, knives, and bats.

This is unacceptable to me as a Bermudian and I must say I apologised to all the crew who I ran into and had to admit that I was from Bermuda. I spoke with one crew member, a woman who worked in the spa, who is a Jamaican national, who said to me that she will never ever get off in Bermuda again due to the fact that, and I quote, "it is too dangerous to do so" as the two of their crew members sustained serious injury and had to be rushed to the hospital with broken ribs, concussions, and split skulls from this attack. This lady also stated that the people who attacked them were lucky none of the crew members who hail from the Philippines were out with them that night as most on this ship were ex-special forces and would have damaged their attackers.

There are two types of visitor dollars that leave the cruise ships, one from the paying guests who shop and tour the Island and the crew members who are on shore leave and wish to dance, have a dinner in a restaurant, shop, or have a drink in one of our pubs.

Bad news travels fast and I would not be surprised if all crews from all RCCL ships are aware of what happened on our docks in Dockyard and if they know others crew members from other lines the story will be retold.

And sadly the story doesn't end here, my husband was in the spa right after another Bermudian left, who missed her appointment and was charged a half price fee who said: "You people from the spa think you're all that, well you all deserved what happened on the docks."

I can assure you Mr. Editor, that I have never been so mortified by being a Bermudian as I was while on my vacation.

ASHAMED TO BE BERMUDIAN

St. David's

Promises, promises

May 28, 2007

Dear Sir,

In responding to Phillip Butterfield's remark that the Board will come together in "a matter of days not weeks", how can we take this statement seriously when we're still waiting for the Report itself on the public education system, promised to the public weeks ago by Randolph Horton that it would be available in days, once additional copies were made. Where are they?

And, where is the Premier's long ago promised list of names of the doctors willing to receive those patients who currently prefer to attend the Clinic at KEMH.....in case there is no clinic to go to! We want to know ...

Government Department financial reports promised but never delivered! And that's just the tip of the iceberg! ...There's something unpalatably deceptive about all of this.

AN OFFENDED SENIOR VOTER

SouthamptonDon't defend indefensible May 22, 2007Dear Sir,I am really disgusted. I happened to read the letters to the Editor today, May 22, and I only have one question, is the person who wrote the article "Don't be so Biased," Is he really from Bermuda? I know you printed that he is from St. David's, but I really don't believe it.

Now, I suppose he is entitled to his opinion, however, does he really understand, that he is defending a person, who right after the last election said: "We lied to you because we had to?"

Oh for the days of seeing the Premiers walking down town, all by themselves, talking to people on the streets, going to the same functions as the rest of the Bermudians and intermingling with us common folks, oh for the days when no motorcade raced down South Shore Roads, oh for the days of making my salary stretch further then it does now.

Oh, what beautiful days those used to be. Wake up! Anyone who is quoted as saying "We lied to you because we had to" is NOT anyone who needs defending, disgusting.

AP

St. David's Road

P.s. I am a Bermudian so you won't have to worry Mr. Editor, that I can be thrown off this Island in retaliation to this letter.

Learn from history

May 25, 2007

Dear Sir,

When I said I had an Axe to Grind I really meant it. Does anyone on this Island read history? Perhaps the history of Hitler's rise to power, or Stalin's rise to dictatorship, or closer to home Fidel Castro's take over of Cuba? If you have studied these men and what happened in their countries just before they became dictators, more Bermudians should be writing you letters, protesting in the streets.

What happened? In a nutshell, they prohibited newspapers from printing articles they didn't want written (government sponsored TV/Government owned radios and newspapers), they either arrested, killed or threw people out of their countries whose opinions clashed with theirs (the doctor of the indigent clinic and the poor construction worker tossed out of the Island), they surrounded themselves with the Police so people who went "crazy" and tried to assassinate them could be stopped (sound familiar yet?), they fortified their personal homes, so the riff raff couldn't harm them while they slept, (Is anyone scared yet?), they surrounded themselves with "Cabinet Members" who would not gainsay them, (anyone awake yet?), And what is left in this slow slide to dictatorship?

Not too many more steps, after the "protesters" were quieted by either jailing them or killing them and in most cases torturing them before killing them or all three, they closed churches, closed down the freedom of the press, speech, and suddenly the people were prisoners of their own silence.

My fellow Bermudians we have someone leading us who has not been voted in, I think the person voted in was Dame Jennifer, yep, that's my recollection and his excuse of his underhanded tactics? "We lied to you because we had to."

If Ya Don't Protest, Ya Deserve What Ya Git. If you don't like what's going on and you are a Bermudian, protest.

AP

St. David's

P.s. I am a Bermudian, Mr. Editor, I should be safe until they start arresting us protesters

Not much horse sense

May 23, 2007

Dear Sir,I would like to add to Mr Barnett's response to "Vroom Vroom", and I would like to challenge the government, in their obvious one sidedness as far as sports funding is concerned.

There are three sports that we consistently compete in, and consistently do well in major overseas events, i.e. The World Games, Pan Am Games, and The Olympics. Sailing, Swimming and Equestrians. I have never heard of these organisations getting funding, in fact, the equestrians pay rent to use the Vesey Street facilities. Has anyone seen the paper lately?

Three equestrians are going to the Pan Am Games, no help offered by the government. In fact the horsey community is holding a fundraiser this Sunday to raise some funding for them. Go check out the juniors. These kids bust their butts to do what they do, and their parents fork out tons of money so that these kids can shine.

Adults and Juniors here consistently represent Bda in the Caribbean Equestrian Association Jr Jumping Competitions, and the FEI Jumping and FEI Dressage Competitions, all international competitions, they may get their name mentioned in the paper.Not much horse sense in that—.>

Smith's ParishA great role model Monday May 21, 2007Dear Sir,Permit me a small space in your paper to give a loud and public thanks to Mr. Jermaine Thompson of Middle Rd in South Hampton.

I lost my wallet on Friday morning, May 18th while driving home on Harbour Road. Seems the zipper on my bag broke. Unlucky for me! Mr. Thompson saw it fall though, and then tried to track me down on the road, to no avail.

Later on that evening, tired from retracing my steps and calling around, I was sure the wallet and its contents were all lost. I then got a call from Leisure Time video— Mr. Thompson and his family tracked me down through my membership card. What are the odds?! I was thrilled.

Mr. Thompson is a very special person. Call him a Good Samaritan or someone living by the Golden Rule ("Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.") but not many people would have taken the time and energy to return a stranger's wallet.

Mr. Thompson is a fine example of honesty and diligence. He is a great role model to his 3 young children.

My heartfelt thanks and appreciation.

LYSA DUMOULIN

Devonshire

Hustle Truck concerns

May 17, 2007

Dear Sir,I applaud the Government's efforts to attempt to get "guys off the wall and working" and when the Hustle Truck initiative was first announced I held my tongue.

Not wanting to be one of the many naysayers constantly criticising the Government of the day, I thought perhaps they have a way of making it work that hasn't been communicated. Perhaps my experiences with a very similar scheme through a different Government department would be proved wrong. Then more details came out regarding rates of pay, hours of work, etc. My concerns seemed to be valid.

Yesterday I happened to pass the Hustle Truck crew working at the Sonesta Beach property and my concerns were compounded. On that site I witnessed a number of health and safety violations, in addition to a general appearance of disorganisation and poor management. There were people using lawn movers and machetes in an unsafe and potentially dangerous manner, with no safety equipment and within a few feet of each other and there were no signs or cones on the public or access roads. While most appeared to be working steadily, a number were leaning on rakes, arguing about football or just generally spectating. It would appear that there was no initial instruction given in basic operations, techniques or methods and there was certainly little supervision.

My understanding is that the Hustle Truck picks up people at a pre-ordained place and time in the morning of any day they wish to work (1 day, 2 days, 3 days or 5 days a week; however many they feel inclined to work) they go to site and work in the manner described above, then it drops them back off in the afternoon. And for this they get the benefit of $18 per hour take home, presumably with no deductions for payroll tax, social insurance, health insurance, etc. because the paper work would be impossible.

In trying to "get guys off the wall" the Government is attempting to do exactly what our and many other, small contracting businesses have been trying to do for years. We advertise at least three times per year in the local press for a variety of posts with little to no response. We offer a competitive wage, comprehensive health package, on site and formal structured training, paid public holidays, vacation and sick leave and varied and enjoyable work. Our Government taxes, pensions etc. are kept up to date; we have extensive public and employers liability insurance as required by most purchasing customers. In short we are trying to be as good a corporate citizen as we can. In addition to this, our starting wage for "guys off the wall" is $18 per hour. Unfortunately, we require people get themselves to work and to work a 40 hour week, 5 days a week, not as and when you wish. We also do not offer them the perception of attaining a "Government job".

The Hustle truck is pulling from the same pool of candidates and putting us and many others at a disadvantage. Why would you work for someone like us when you can go and work when you want for the same pay, no deductions and no real expectations? If I could work a three day week I would. Through this misguided and very short sighted scheme, the Government has put us all at a disadvantage by further narrowing the pool from which we can find staff. Our alternative is to employ from overseas, and justify to The Department of Immigration why we have to do so, which is increasingly difficult.

What worries me most about this scheme however is how little we've heard from anyone about it. Apparently Sen. Burch was interviewed yesterday and stated that it was one of this Government's great recent successes. I'm sure it is in terms of politically expedient, short term schemes just before an election. It is not a success for small business operators like us. And it certainly isn't in terms of addressing the real problem of having mainly young Bermudians accept their responsibilities to themselves and families and find long term steady work.

Was my initial reluctance (I dare say apathy) typical of how many others are feeling about the politics of Bermuda at present? The Government has introduced a scheme that flies in the face of many of its own Acts of Parliament; The Employment Act; Pensions Act; Safety and Health at Work Act etc., etc. and disadvantages not only small business but the very people it claims it is trying to help. And the response has been deafening in its silence. Where is the Bermuda Industrial Union and their response to this blatant disregard to workers rights? "A hand up, not a hand out"; I think not.

MARTIN BROWN

St. George's

Intellectual cowards

May 23, 2007

Dear Sir,

When a participant in the Race Relations Forum can get away with a front page reference to golf being historically associated with "whiteness", I realise that the whole forum is a fraud, and the Tuckers Town tour was a calculated part of that fraud.

What happened in Tuckers Town was obviously outrageous, but was the result of the people in power and the culture of the day. To try to label everyone who has pale skin as part of this is as farcical as claiming that the outrageous political corruption we see in Bermuda and throughout all of Africa is a result of "blackness".

I find it difficult to live with the intellectual cowardice that I face daily from people who think that skin colour tells you anything at all about any person. I find it difficult to live with the moral bankruptcy of those who try to link skin colour with historical actions that were caused by greedy individuals and the culture that prevailed at the time the actions were taken. I find it difficult to live with people who distort the true issues with the goal of politically dividing a people based on an artificially created sense of race.

This racial forum seems cynically designed to, in fact, cause greater divisions in Bermuda. It has missed the entire essence of racism, which is deeply ingrained in the hierarchy of the current government, as much as it was in the government of the time that the Tuckers Town abuse occurred.

There is no whiteness and there is no blackness, there is only the perception of such by intellectual cowards.

DIOGENES II

Devonshire

Keeping up standards

May 21, 2007

Dear Sir,These days we seem to be waking up to "Change this", "Stop that" or "No need for that", in other words there seems to be a perpetual desire to lower ones standards. It was therefore most encouraging to see the stamp issue last Thursday commemorating the "Spirit of Bermuda".

As a keen philatelist and a past member of the Stamp Design Advisory Committee, I would like to congratulate the Post Office and the present members of the Committee for issuing a collector's item. Bermuda has over the years issued wonderful stamps, so much so that we continue to be highly rated in world of serious collectors. I sincerely urge all those involved in selecting future stamp issues to continue the good work and maintain a high standard.

Taking this a little further I would ask all Bermudians to stop and think where we are going. We most certainly must be facing what will be the most important General election we have ever faced. Please think about the "Spirit of Bermuda and Bermudians" and those who have worked so hard to make this country such a wonderful place, the envy of other countries near and far.

Just maybe it is time to look at the person wishing to be in Parliament, forget political parties. Is he or she the right person for the job? Will he or she keep or raise the standard, or will he and she lower the standards.

JOHN SWIFT

Devonshire