Ambulance service

May 13, 2008

Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to the May 6 article about Bermuda's ambulance service. I would like to relate my own unsatisfactory experience with the service.

On the evening of January 15 the ambulance was called by my mother's doctor in response to my father's distressed state and extreme difficulty in breathing. When the ambulance finally arrived, almost half an hour later, there was a marked casual attitude amongst the paramedics (if that is what indeed they were). It took another 15 minutes to get him awkwardly into the ambulance and they invited me to accompany him to the hospital but I had to sit in the front seat.

To my extreme shock, during the ride I was subjected to extremely loud reggae music blasting from the speakers and a flirtatious driver who was ignoring the distress I was under at the thought of my father suffering in the back of the vehicle. I could not even comfort my father because the music was so loud. In addition, the siren was not turned on and we travelled to the hospital at a rather leisurely pace. This was the beginning of a horrific night for my family and in the end my father did not make it through.

While I am not sure whether his life could have been saved by better ambulance service, I know that the abominable attitude and extreme negligence on the part of the many medical practitioners that night has made me question whether I want to be on this Island should I ever get seriously sick. Our experience at the hospital was equally as frightening.

For an hour and a half the nurses in the emergency room passed around needles trying to get an IV into my father's arm. The emergency room doctor refused to try herself while my father was carelessly treated as a pin cushion. It should also be mentioned that at no time did the cardiologist bother to come to the hospital when my father was suffering from congestive heart failure.

In fact, we were told that the cardiologist would not be able to come until 9 a.m. the following morning. My father's own personal physician was also never called even though the hospital had his name and contact information. In addition, there was no doctor on duty in the ICU from 1 a.m. to 5.30 a.m. and the hospital lab was also closed all night.

All of this leads me to the scary conclusion that if you should get sick at night here you might as well stay at home. My father died at 5 a.m. on January 16 and the only consolation we have is that he was brave throughout that terrible night and showed little fear despite the horrific circumstances he was dealing with.

DAUGHTER

Warwick

Opposed to bike curfew

May 13, 2008

Dear Sir,

By now, your readers will know of the proposal to impose an 11 p.m. curfew for motorbikes on people between 16 and 18. Like many young Bermudians, I would be strongly opposed to this measure. As youngsters in Bermuda, I think we are owed an explanation as to why we are being targeted as incompetent or dangerous drivers. Naturally, we have less experience on the road – yet this does not mean we will be more susceptible to drinking and driving, or speeding. Granted, some young drivers have dangerous habits on the road – driving with a cell phone lodged in their helmets, for example – but even still I think a sweeping curfew is quite ridiculous and unnecessary.

In an article first published on this matter, Mrs. Roxanne Christopher-Petgrave is quoted as saying, "Currently, students take part in a 12-hour course, Project Ride, the new programme will be a 25-hour cycle training programme, which will include on-road testing where the students will be put in real life situations." But I wonder will they be putting these kids into "real life situations" after 11pm? I would also like to know where the seemingly arbitrary time of 11 o'clock came from? I certainly hope this is not at what time they think we should be at home and asleep.

Mrs. Christopher-Petgrave has also proposed a ban on towing for two years.

On this point, I completely agree with her. However, we as youngsters would like to know why we are being penalised for being bad drivers. Indeed, I have seen no statistical evidence on teen drivers which would warrant this label.

I believe the Government and Road Safety Council should come up with a compromise. Monitor the numbers of teens committing road offences at night, and compare them with the offences committed during the day. Should the numbers be higher at night, implement a time period of which fines are doubled, and eventually work the point system the same way. Once a person reaches a certain amount of points, revoke their licence. I know that the point system has been implemented, but I am unaware how they are used towards youths. I think it is a draconian measure to take kids off the road after 11 p.m. all-together.

We often hear of the need to nurture the younger generation, as one day we will be running this Island. I think, however, banning us from the roads at night will only exasperate an already discontented youth. Though I agree with the aims of the Road Safety Council and applaud their recent efforts, I think this particular measure would be counter-productive. On behalf of all young drivers in Bermuda, I urge the Council to reconsider their proposal.

D.B. DOYLE

Hamilton Parish

No recognition

This was sent to Kevin Monkman, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of the Environment and copied to The Royal Gazette

May 13, 2008

Dear Mr. Monkman,

Although a significant amount of time has passed since the Annual Exhibition ("Ag Show"), I have remained so disturbed by events that transpired there, that I feel compelled to now express my concerns.

The events that were so disturbing to me involve the conduct of a competition at the Ag Show in which young children were encouraged to display their creations made of vegetables or other agricultural materials. The children's creations were judged, and the winners were announced.

However, no meaningful recognition was given to the majority of the young entrants, who had clearly worked hard on their creations, but were not declared "winners".

While the fact that not everyone can be a winner may be an important life lesson, I strongly believe that more sensitivity should have been shown to these very young entrants. Moreover, the absence of any recognition to these young artists – while rewarding each young sports participant with a medal, trophy or other tangible means of recognition at the end of the sport's season – sends the wrong message. It suggests that our community values sports participation much more than participation in the arts.

I can certainly understand the benefit of acknowledging the participation of young children in sports; it encourages their further participation in sports. However, unless the community gives similar recognition to young children participating in the arts, it may well leave little question in the minds of those children that the arts are relegated to the subordinate status to sports, and not deserving of the participation and interest of the children.

I am a mother of a six-year-old son. I very much want to encourage my son to both participate in and enjoy the arts, which I believe to be essential to the development of a well-rounded individual. In order that I and other parents can succeed in instilling in our young children the value of the arts, we need the support of our community leaders.

REBECCA DUPRE

Pembroke

Street vendors

May 13, 2008

Dear Sir,

Government's recent announcement encouraging entrepreneurs to utilise the Warwick rubber tree vending area on Middle Road for selling merchandise raises several questions.

1) Do the vendors require a licence and what does it cost?

2) Are the vendors subject to social insurance, payroll tax and pension contributions?

3) Who monitors the financial obligations of the vendors?

Street vendors, whether they're operating in Warwick, at Barnes Corner or on Kindley Field Road, should be subject to the same rules as any other small business. If they are required to pay these fees and do not, they should be summonsed or relief should be given to competing businesses who do pay.

WHO'S KIDDING WHO?

Warwick

Early exam times

May 7, 2008

Dear Sir,

I cannot believe the whining of these parents over the early exam times. Of course it has to be done this way. There's no choice. Have they given any thought to the Asian students having to sit the exams at 2 a.m. if the times are moved to suit the Bermudians?

Youngsters are tough. Stop pampering them. If there's a problem, let then sleep over at a friend's house.

MARGOT COX

Devonshire

P.s. Why did you make this your headline story? The Cahow story was much more interesting and relevant.

Editor's Note: It's not easy to decide what to make our top story on a given day when we have more than one important story to choose from, but we felt that the exams story had a greater immediate impact on more people.