Praise for sponsors

May 5, 2003

Dear Sir,

On behalf of the Bermuda Council of Teachers of Mathematics (BCTM) organising committee, I would like to express our sincerest thanks and appreciation to our sponsors ACE Group, The Argus Group, Bermuda College, Bermuda Union of Teachers, BELCO, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bermuda, Ministry of Education and Development, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers for their timely and generous support of the Middle School Mathematics Challenge 2003.

Events like these allow the public to see first hand the talent and skill of our public school students in an environment of healthy competition. As in previous years, high standards were maintained, and we are encouraged by the performance of our participants.

It was always our intention to use the Mathematics Challenge as one avenue for students to display their computational, analytical and problem solving skills. However, our best intentions would not have borne fruit were it not for corporate donations, the additional preparatory work that teachers put in, and strong parental support and attention.

Thank you again for your patronage. The results were as follows:

1st place Clearwater Middle School

2nd place Whitney Institute Middle School

3rd place Spice Valley Middle School

4th place Dellwood Middle School

5th place Sandys Secondary Middle School

More research is needed

April 30, 2003

Dear Sir,

In response to the article in yesterday's , my Letter to the Editor of was the product of in-depth research of the facts pertinent to vaccination and the result of hysteria or irresponsibility. The personal attack serves only to avoid discussion of the facts. Other paediatricians considerate of my concerns have intelligently discussed the situation with me. The problem with most people is that they blindly accept medical doctrine as gospel, without investigating, researching for themselves, and forming their own opinions.

The goal of my letter was achieved in that it hopefully alerted people to the fact that vaccinations can be dangerous (there is no evidence to prove otherwise) and to also encourage parents to ask questions of their paediatricians regarding childhood immunisations. In response to Dr. Perinchief's comments, that vaccinations are for the greater good, and it is only the tiny percentage that will have problems..if you knew that your child was in that tiny percentage, would you be willing to make that sacrifice for the greater good? I certainly would not. Further, conceding that there is a tiny percentage of children who are damaged from vaccines only strengthens the point I am making which is that vaccines can and do harm some children. Did you know that:

1) The Hepatitis B vaccine really does not have to be administered until age ten years. Hepatitis B is transmitted via intravenous drug use and sexual activity. If you question your paediatrician, they should inform you of this choice.

2) The MMR can be administered as three separate vaccines. Again - if you don't ask, you won't know this, (my paediatrician advised me because of my concerns). The main concern with the MMR vaccine is the multi-dose vial itself. The question is - how many parents, now knowing this, will pursue this option to have the vaccine administered separately?

3) The combined MMR vaccine was banned in Japan in 1993 after a record number of children there developed non-viral meningitis and other adverse reactions after receiving the vaccine.

4) The symptoms of mercury poisoning (ie thimerosal which was in all childhood vaccines up until about 3 years ago) are almost identical to the symptoms of autism.

5) In the US, the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act created the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to compensate individuals whose injuries may have been caused by vaccines.

6) In the US, vaccine injuries can be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Effects Reporting System. For 2002, children under 1 year of age alone, there are over 1600 incidents listed! This information is available to the public and can be downloaded by anyone.

I would also like to point out that I am not "anti-vaccine." I believe that vaccinations can be very beneficial, but parents should be actively involved in the process and make informed decisions. I am not a doctor, I am not an expert in the field of vaccines, I am just a mother who has read countless articles on this subject - enough to know that concern is warranted. For people who think that this is radical thinking, please log on to www.mercola.com . Do a search on the topic "vaccinations" - over 200 articles will be listed, all with links to other articles. Read even ten of these articles and see if you still believe that these are radical comments.

In closing, Mr. Editor, I would like to challenge one of your journalists to pursue this issue, and to investigate the incidence of autism in Bermuda - the number of children diagnosed with autism today versus in the early 1980s. Does Bermuda have a similar reporting system as in the US for parents who feel that their children may have been damaged in some way by a vaccine? Also - when were the last reported cases of measles, mumps or rubella in Bermuda?

Stop bashing expats

May 1, 2003

Dear Sir,

In the May 1, 2003 Letters to the Editor, expats were bashed on three separate occasions. I just can't imagine that people have nothing better to do than bash other people all the time! Now it's funny that expats are told to go back to where they came from because rents are so expensive and that people from Canada are going to bring in SARS to Bermuda and that there is no work for locals. I would have to say that majority of the home owners in Bermuda are locals as purchase prices are too high for the majority of expats to think about purchasing a home. So, who are the greedy ones? It's not the expats renting out their homes at ridiculous rents, is it?And please tell me why locals who do have rents at reasonable rents look for expats to live in their accommodations?

Oh, and do Bermudians not travel to Canada? I believe that University students are coming home and I am definitely sure that Bermudians shop in Canada to take advantage of the great prices. Don't just say that Canadians are travelling and they might be the ones to bring the SARS problem to Bermuda. Stop making assumptions (you know the saying). I am also rather upset that there is so much conversation about "qualified" locals not working and that expats are taking their jobs. There are so many jobs in the paper every day that I can't find any reason that people can't find work. If people are making an honest effort to get a job and make the honest effort to do the best at their job then I am sure that most companies will treat you as you treat them.

A show worth seeing

April 15, 2003

Dear Sir,

I am writing to encourage you to attend a concert on May 16, 2003 at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts featuring Miss Vivian Deyone Douglas. This concert is a part of the CedarBridge Academy Arts in Education Initiative. The Arts in Education Initiative is designed to expose our students and the community at large to a high calibre of artistic talent and provide opportunities for interaction and education. Our distinguished patron for the evening is Mrs. Eloise Furbert, JP.

Miss Douglas is a native Bermudian who is steadily making her mark in the international arena. Presently residing in the US she received "Special Mention" from the Opera Company of Philadelphia at the Luciano Pavarotti Fourth International Voice competition in Philadelphia and was a featured artist at the XXII International Federation Business and Professional Women's Association in Nagoya, Japan. In February of this year she was presented to the Atlanta Community in Recital where she received rave reviews for her performance.

In addition to the public performance, Miss Douglas will conduct a Master Class for outstanding vocal students who are presently in High School or Middle School. These students will be selected by an audition process, which will be held prior to her arrival on Wednesday, May 7 at 5.30 p.m. at the Anglican Cathedral Hall. Successful students will attend a Master Class on Wednesday, May 14 followed by dinner with Miss Douglas and her accompanist, Ms Janice Gresham. The master class participants will be invited to attend the public performance as special guests of Miss Douglas and be presented to the Bermuda community.

Please come out and support Miss Douglas as she makes her ascent in the field of performing arts. This is a historical performance that you will not want to miss! The concert will begin promptly at 8.00 p.m. and will be followed by a Gala Reception in Broadway Hall. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at Caesar's Pharmacy, The People's Pharmacy, The Christian Bookstore and Gift Centre and the CedarBridge Academy. For groups of ten or more a discount is available. For further information please call 296-5ART. We look foward to seeing you here.

A plea from a senior

April 27, 2003

Dear Sir,

This is perhaps the most unusual Letter to the Editor I've ever written. It is on behalf of someone whose identity I do not know. Himself a senior, he expressed is concerns about the general plight of seniors in Bermuda in a letter to me he signed `A SENIOR'. He requests me to write on his behalf. I can do this best by quoting parts of his letter, as follows:

"What's wrong with this picture?", A SENIOR asks. "Last year my medical insurance went up in May by a fraction under ten percent. The government raised my social insurance pension payments by a measly three percent in September. Now there is talk of medical insurance being raised by ten percent again, while my income as a senior remains the same. My medical insurance payments are a third of my pension income. I really don't know how we seniors on a fixed income are going to survive".

Then, he goes on to describe how a recent change in ownership of the pharmacy with whom he deals has increased the cost of prescriptions alarmingly. "Nor will it (health insurance)", he continues, "pay for any portion of the doctor's fees like it did when I worked until I was 70, but had to retire because of illness.... I haven't been to the doctor in two years because the doctor's fee is more than a week's groceries, so I just hope what's ailing me isn't terminal. Every time Jennifer Smith and her entourage go on trips, I die a little thinking of all that money they are wasting".

On the subject of a Government survey, A SENIOR has this to say: "About this survey that's going on now. How much is it costing the taxpayer. The test each person has to take takes ages and, because of the increased taxes since the PLP came to power, in most families both husband and wife have to work, which means this stupid test has to be done after work, as if people aren't tired enough as it is. My daughter is a college graduate and it took her two-and-a-half hours to answer all the questions on the forms. She refuses to answer the questions about her annual income. How dare the government ask".

I should like to remind A SENIOR, and all others of our age in Bermuda, that they should enver forget that it was our generation that rid the world of Hitler, Mussolini and their brutal Japanese counterparts. Without our efforts, a different flag would be flying over Bermuda today. Even though the Smith government has generated an aura of mistrust, there is no need for any of us to cringe before the likes of Jennifer Smith. They couldn't possible occupy these high positions without a great deal of help from their parents and grandparents. My fellow seniors, speak up and write up on our behalf. Don't be afraid to sign your name to what you believe is right. Don't worry, they know they can't contradict you. Besides, there are 7,000 of us and only one or two of them.

As A SENIOR emphasises, millions of dollars are being squandered by the Smith government's hierarchy, while we are being asked to exist on handouts none of the hierarchy would accept as petty cash. Let me emphasise also that when I write on behalf of seniors, I mean every single one of us in Bermuda, regardless of creed and race not just people who look like me!

Put children first

April 24, 2003

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to respond to the letter, in the Royal Gazette, April 23, 2003 signed "My children come first". Hence, the following questions and concerns come to mind. Why, has the biological Father not had a relationship with his children? Also, why do the children not want to spend time with their biological father? Many would agree that, from birth, children love both parents. Evidently, a one-year-old child, now six, cannot devise, comprehend, or decipher, one who loves or who wants to spend time with them, also, the preference of one parent over the other. Unless, they have been lied to, mislead, and/or denied access to that parent. Possibly, this is the reason the children are showing some resentment, or not wanting to see their father. It sound like parental alienation to me!

Now, that the court has intervened with good sense knowing that the children have rights to their biological father. A God given right! Now apparently, you're bringing hysteria due to the Court's intervention, which conversely goes against your newly formed family, and the assent mentality of many mothers of knowing best and the children's substitute daddy, are all they need, post-divorce. But, send your pay cheque, father. Further, the father may be struggling with the stressful situation that his children, not want to see him and ow he is to reverse and mend the poison that was instilled in them, through the years. If only parents knew the damage done by poisoning their children against the other parent, they would not do it! Lady, I suggest, encourage the children to build a relationship with their father. You may have another man, but those children need their father! Don't put your needs first! There is no substitute for the children! Put your differences aside, for the children's sake, if not something may come back to haunt you later!

You mentioned, the change in the new law should benefit all parties involved especially the children; they (children) needed to be asked, how they feel. Yes, I agree, and my children agree also! As my children have been alienated, lied, mistreated, and mislead by their mother and substitute daddy. My children come first too! And they cannot wait for the Amendments to the Children's Act 2002 to come into effect! My children ask me why, does it take so long to make laws effective. I told them that I did not know, maybe, the document may be just sitting on someone's desk, collecting dust, and whilst, giving us the impression that Government has done something. The children were confused, and could not understand why.