Vexed Bermoothes

Blustery Opinions From Bermuda

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Entries from April 2008

What’s the Frequency, Ewart?

April 19th, 2008 · Comments Off

Dr. Brown has responded to IAPA’s criticism with a letter that oozes with false sincerity and contorted logic.
There is a further point that I would like to make personally because I am a former newspaperman. I know that newspapers around the world have seen a decline in readership and advertising. If that global trend is [...]

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Tags: Media

Press Freedom

April 18th, 2008 · Comments Off

Reporters Without Borders, a global activist and rapporteur for press freedom, has also picked up on the Bermuda Government’s social engineering of the local media.
“Don’t wait to be deprived of news to stand up and fight for it”
RSF are well known and highly respected for their work to protect journalists and to fight against censorship [...]

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Tags: Media

Funded by Viewers Like You

April 17th, 2008 · Comments Off

Government is paying a public TV station in Pittsburgh $200,000 to be CITV’s mentor for a year. It seems an extraordinary sum given that Government is so determined to trim its media budgets elsewhere. The news release says:
CITV is operated under the Premier’s office and Dr. Brown is committed to creating a firewall [...]

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Tags: Media

More Attention on Bermuda Free Press

April 17th, 2008 · Comments Off

The Bermuda Government’s aggression towards the Royal Gazette has also been picked up by IFEX, the International Freedom of Expression eXchange which covers efforts to intimidate or restrict free speech and the free press.
Can you spell “P-R-N-I-G-H-T-M-A-R-E” for Bermuda?

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Tags: Media

Bermuda Criticised for Restricting the Free Press

April 17th, 2008 · Comments Off

In Bermuda, the PLP tactics to “punish” the Royal Gazette are being met with an exasperated shrug. Elsewhere, the move to use Government resources to impede a free press is attracting shocked attention.
The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) has sent a letter of complaint to Dr. Ewart Brown on the matter.
Honorable Dr. Brown,
On [...]

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Tags: Bermuda Politics · Media

Rumour Mill

April 16th, 2008 · Comments Off

The Royal Gazette reported a few days ago that rumours were circulating that Dr. Brown’s mysterious media mavens were named “el-Hyatt.”
A reader suggested this might in fact be Al-Hayat which is based in Lebanon, but has Saudi ownership.
How incredibly bizarre. Bermuda for Bermudians. Except when it’s for non-Bermudians.

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Tags: Media

Carnage

April 15th, 2008 · Comments Off

I am appalled by the multiple deaths on Bermuda’s roads in the past week - so many from single vehicle accidents.
The Police are correct in stating that people need to take more responsibility for their actions, but I have problems with the claim that “the Police are doing all they can.”
The news reported today “in [...]

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Tags: Transport

Speaking Up

April 15th, 2008 · Comments Off

I am glad that Sen. Walton Brown spoke up about Derrick Burgess’ overwrought comments that appeared to threaten local reporters with whom he disagrees. It’s a pity that it took a month for someone in authority to act like an adult in this ridiculous situation.
In the process, the Gazette reveals that Dr.Brown’s newspaper partner [...]

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Tags: Media

Perspective

April 14th, 2008 · Comments Off

The Royal Gazette reported last year that the Bermuda Department of Tourism spent $62.97 per visitor to attract non-cruise visitors to the island.
That means that Dr. Brown’s Bermuda $500,000 sponsorship at Shea Stadium needs to attract more than 8,000 new visitors to be considered a success.

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Tags: Tourism

Alexandrina Hall

April 11th, 2008 · Comments Off

Alexandrina Hall on Court Street is in danger of falling to the wrecking ball.
It must be preserved. We may not wish to extend the practise of “listing” historic buildings to Hamilton, but we have to put our foot down sometimes.
Not only is this building a unique part of Hamilton’s architectural heritage, it has played [...]

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Tags: Development