While needy moms fight over toys, tourism folk get $2,000 per meeting

Scrooge lives. I am at a loss for words about two incidents this past week. 

The first us that the OBA will be taking $160,000 of your tax dollars to rewards eight individuals who volunteered to sit on the Tourism Authority board. 

Each board member will be paid up to $20,000 per year for sitting in 10 meetings. Break it down — that’s $2,000 per meeting.

Not bad for a few hours of chit chat. Not as if they are actually going out and cleaning rooms or checking guests in. 

Put that against the backdrop of hundreds of Bermudians lining up for food and toys at the annual Salvation Army’s Distribution Day in the Botanical Gardens on Friday. Seniors were being pushed out of the way by younger people, in order to get to the toys.  Totally disgusting actions of some very self-centered individuals. 

But I am simply at a loss to explain how the OBA can justify paying out $160,000 to folks who clearly ‘have’, whilst Bermudians ‘have nots’ are lining up to fight each other for food.

Seems very Scrooge-like to most.

Please Bermudians, we do not need to be turning on each other.

This is the time for us to be turning to each other. 

Mixed nuts

At Captain’s Lounge last week, some individuals that I have been conversing with on Facebook over the last two years had a gathering.

 There I got a glimpse of what we have the potential to create in Bermuda.  

A true reflection of the diversity of our community; Bermudian and non-Bermudian, PLP supporters, OBA supporters and non-partisans, male and female, young and not so young, black and white.  

Each of us expressing diverse views and life experience on issues such as; Human rights, sustainability, education, role of the media, gaming, legalization of cannabis, economics and politics. 

We initially came together to share some Captain’s Lounge food and a few rounds of drinks.  

We ended up sharing not only ideas, opinions, possible solutions and plenty of laughter, but most importantly, a deep mutual respect for each other.  

Witnessing this group converse gave me hope.  

With hope, we have the potential to do much on a grand scale as a country.  

With respect, we learn to embrace our diversity and through it, find solutions to many challenges.  

I encourage each of us to reach out beyond our individual circles. Expand our perspectives by listening to diverse opinions, whilst sharing your own viewpoint.  

We don’t have to agree, but we need to learn to work with each other and uplift fellow Bermudians.
 

Bah Humbug

I must confess I really do not personally get caught up in the Christmas mindset of spending money on gifts and the like.

Why do people wait until Christmas to act in a manner that we should all act in on a daily basis?

Thank you to each and every one of my readers who faithfully read my columns. Thank you to the complete strangers who take time to e-mail me or stop me in the street. I write for you, as you are my weekly gifts. 

PS. I do like Cadbury Chocolates. Hint hint.

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