Letter to the editor:

LETTER TO THE EDITOR July 3, 2012

This is a letter concerning investment of the Ontario Power Generation monies.

Over the years I have watched Mohawk Council of Akwesasne try to develop economic programs to invest our monies into. One major fiasco was the Stanley Island Log Cabins. As they were being sold off, did they ever consider moving the cabins to Hamilton Island and creating a year round tourism destination that could have been driven to? The concept was a good idea but it could only safely be done seasonally.

Add to that the high cost of yearly maintenance, rising costs of fuel and everything else. I had personal experience with these cabins and a plan has to be developed that would include analyzing all of the pros and cons for development. We all have experience in different areas so why don’t people get together to share these ideas.

I speak with many different people during my daily travels and hear opinions on numerous issues. One of the latest issues from a friend in Cornwall is that MCA is changing its auditors. They even gave me the name of the new firm. My question is: if this statement is true, what was wrong with the former auditor?

We don’t need another coffee business with our economic development team flying to different resorts to drum up business. The restaurant business on Kawehnoke doesn’t seem to make it. Why don’t they stay, too much overhead? Too much invested in obtaining a client base and not enough support from within the community?

Why don’t our community leaders spend money supporting our local businesses? We don’t always need to eat breakfast on Brookdale Avenue or having appetizers on Vincent Massey.

The ferry issue has me completely perplexed. Why would we even think that the outside policing agencies wouldn’t get involved and scrutinize our people even more if we ran a ferry service, whether or not it was from within the territory. Once cars are disembarked from the ferry, who is to say that there won’t be a border patrol checkpoint as soon as you hit US soil? These are all issues that we as a community must be prepared to face. What are the consequences going to be, if the decision is to have a ferry service? You are making the decision for the future generations and not just to convenience a few. What would the daily cost of the ferry be and who pays for it?

The border issue is one that concerns me and other community members. Sometimes I believe that if you think that you are going to have a problem then you will have one. The self-fulfilling prophecy is: if you think it, then it will be.

I believe that if you portray a positive and respectful attitude then you shouldn’t have any problems. They are just human beings trying to do a job. We should not be irritated by their questions; they are only fulfilling their job descriptions and mandate.

These have been my musings for this week, have a great holiday week and think about the future of our children and grandchildren, I do think about mine everyday and what can I do except make people think about their decision making processes.

Beverly Pyke