Bermuda is behind the times; we need to catch up

As you probably know, I can get pretty passionate about issues and causes and doing what I believe is right for Bermuda. 

Of course, what Tony Brannon thinks may not dovetail with what others believe in. 

What I try to do, however, is think about what is best for Bermuda. 

For instance, I was never a fan of Dr Ewart F. Brown and at times felt or heard his (and others’) full on wrath when I dared to speak out. 

But we (Ewart and Tony) created a bridge for one issue we both believed in and that was resort gaming for the hotels of Bermuda. 

My belief is that resort gaming an option that Bermuda needs to offer the tourism market. 

The government has allowed the cruise lines gaming in port and this is so unfair to our hotels. 

How can on-island tourism compete with the cruise lines when the hotels have one hand tied behind their backs?

Alas, politics and religion have created many roadblocks to resort gaming over the years and, indeed, many other initiatives have stumbled in the face of politics and religion.

Bermuda has sold out to the cruise ships and “governments” have given them all the marbles. 

In port onboard entertainment at night and now casino gaming in port will kill the chances of nightlife thriving in Bermuda, especially in Dockyard. 

We have a Dockyard that doesn’t even have fast ferries past 9pm in the evening, yet WEDCO puts on and supports entertainment there. 

This is a mistake, to not have a fast ferry service that will take people from Dockyard to Hamilton and vice-versa later in the evening.

The sewer pipe issue on Seabright Avenue has finally put the focus on what Bermuda is doing (or not). This has been going on for years. 

We live on a planet that seems to think the ocean is a toilet bowl. Bermuda can make lemonade out of lemons on waste, if we do the right thing. 

A bond issue could finance a full-from treatment plant.

New taxes from resort gaming (when finally legalized) and other tax revenue would surely help this and other capital projects. 

If marijuana was legalized in Bermuda that would be a huge tax-earner for the country. 

Same sex couples tourism and gay marriage licenses would also generate a boon to tourism.  This is being done in many countries now, and President Obama deserves credit for his leadership on this most basic of human rights. 

Bermuda needs to join the 21st century on these issues and give itself additional tax revenue whilst creating new jobs.

The issue of pesticides has caused a silent health issue. 

Cancer rates in Bermuda are through the roof. 

A close friend said that the Lahey Clinic commented to him, “What is going on in Bermuda? You have way too many people with cancer from that small island.”

Local Insurance companies must surely be seeing the health crisis of Bermudians with cancer and the health care costs associated with trying to save lives?

As a result, we are all directly and indirectly paying more for health care by not addressing the pesticides issue.

I am of the opinion that the farmers of Bermuda, via their use of toxic pesticides used on their crop fields, plus the run-off of  other toxins from the roads when it rains, ultimately results in the silent poisoning of people living on the island.

Any Google search on the dangers of pesticides is there for all to see.

If I were the leader of Bermuda, I would immediately ban these lethal pesticides that contribute to causing cancer in humans. Besides humans, bee colony collapse is significant and tree frogs, toads, amphibians are all way down in numbers. 

I understand a study is about to come out any day on this frightening state of affairs.

Bermuda must do something about this. The OBA/PLP must act.

Education

I became quite passionate about this issue fairly recently.

What is clear, is that this behemoth called the Department of Education has got to be completely restructured. 

The visionary approach to public education in the USA by the likes of Sir Ken Robinson and Geoffrey Canada, just to name a couple, needs to be examined closely. 

If a country like Finland could bite the bullet 30/40 years ago, Bermuda must do the same.

We are years late to the changes that we should have made long ago. 

To continue tinkering with an old structure is failing our kids and their teachers.To understand all the changes going on elsewhere in education follow this blog: http://ridethewavefoundation.blogspot.ca/ 

Folks involved in Bermuda Education would do well to enlighten themselves, as it seems too many do not want to break the mode of an obsolete last-century education system !

It is my hope that people really engage in the discussion about the future of education in Bermuda as I believe education is the most important issue facing Bermuda. 

To fail in restructuring Bermuda’s public education is to fail our kids and ultimately Bermuda’s future.