November 12, 2003

Dear Sir,

As the Bermuda Police Service continues to come to terms with the unprecedented loss of three members of our staff, it is appropriate that I take the time to express my gratitude for all of those who have supported the service in our time of need.

The support and genuine expressions of sympathy that we have received from members of our community has been heart-warming. We have all been touched by the many expressions of sorrow received from a very broad cross-section of the community. The support for the work of our service runs deep from one end of the Island to the other. Thank you for thinking of us during this difficult period.

Special mention needs to be made of The Bermuda Fire Service, St. George's Volunteer Fire Brigade, Bermuda Harbour Radio staff and Island Construction. Your respective staff members know exactly what they did to aid those in distress and assisted with everything we had to do post-hurricane. Thanks to you all.

There are many other professionals who have helped the service and will continue to help the service come to terms with the loss of our colleagues. We say thank you to you all.

Tributes have poured into my office from around the world. The Drug Enforcement Administration sent flowers and condolences. The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation sent personal condolences and professional colleagues in the Caribbean, USA, Canada, Europe and the UK all took the time to express their sympathy by phone, fax, e-mail or cards.

I regard this as a sign of the esteem in which Constable Stephen Symons, Constable Nicole O'Connor and Station Duty Officer Gladys Saunders and the service were considered. The respective families can take some comfort that others in law enforcement care deeply when any member of law enforcement loses their life in the line of duty.

As September 5, 2003 gets relegated to the history books, it has been important for all of us in the service to come to terms with the loss of our colleagues. They are gone ? but they will not be forgotten.

This has been an immensely difficult time for the Bermuda Police service but tremendous courage has been shown by all of our staff as they continued with their policing responsibilities despite this loss. Bermuda, you have helped us through this challenging time; thank you for caring and supporting your law enforcement officers.

Your words of support, your actions and deeds in support of our staff have been deeply appreciated. Thank you.

November 12, 2003

Dear Sir,

I see that the Police Commissioner is going to ask Government for permission to increase the Police establishment. About time too, say I.

People don't seem to realise that, just because there are 'x' number of Policemen (and women) on the strength, that doesn't mean that there are that same number available to work on any one day. People go sick; people go on leave; people go on training courses; people do fatal accident enquiries. All these things cut back on the number of constables available on any one day at any one time.

Another thing I should point out is that policing here is not like it is in a bigger country, where the Police in any particular town can ask the Police in the next town for help in any particular situation. We don't have a next town. We don't even have a next country. We have a next continent, and they don't even play by our rules!

Seriously, though, a drastic increase in Police personnel is long overdue, and they should come from overseas as well as being recruited locally. We have no option. There are now so many jobs available to Bermudians that there simply aren't enough Bermudians to fill them.

November 13, 2003

Dear Sir:

At 10 this morning, Thursday, November 13, 2003, I tried to park in front of Marks & Spencer's in the clearly marked space for persons holding handicap badges. There was a young man sitting on a bike in the space. I tooted, he ignored me. I showed my handicap badge, he ignored me. I remained where I was, in front of a row of parked bikes hoping a traffic warden would appear, but none did.

After seven minutes, another young man got on the back of this bike in question, and the rider rode off. It was only then that I managed to get the number of the bike. It was a rectangular shaped plate with green lettering on a white background: AR 989.

I am over 80. I hope this young man has more respect for his grandmother.

November 8, 2003

Dear Sir,

Here we go again, another Bermudian who has a grudge against expat workers.

I'm referring to the letter sent by "Paget East Voter". When are Bermudians going to take responsibility for the fact the Bermudian government is still allowing expats to work here, is it something to do with the majority of Bermudians being lazy and unreliable in the workplace or is it that the employer here just wants the best person for the job, whether he/she is Bermudian or a foreigner?

Until there is a radical change in attitude and work ethic by local workers, then expats are here to stay. Where do you work "Paget East Voter"? Are there expats working within your place of work?

I'll wager they take less sick time off work than the average working local. I work for a company who employs many expat as well as Bermudian workers, I lose count of the amount of times certain members of staff roll into work late ? or not at all ? and think this is normal!

And surprise, surprise, it's not the expats. So "Paget East Voter", look a little closer to home for someone to blame and get over it!

And as for the paragraph referring to foreigners "having gatherings with their own kind" ... I won't even dignify that with a response.

November 17, 2003

Dear Sir,

I am writing this while I am holding for a customer care associate. It has been 30 minutes since I made the call. Do I hold or do I leave a message?

Actually there is only one option as the two mailboxes are full, so I cannot leave a message. Why can't CableVision employ more staff so that I do not have to wait this long? Maybe they should get their business sorted out so that I do not have to make this call in the first place.

I think a call to the minister of telecommunication is in order. My cable service for no apparent reason died on Friday and I have not been able to find out why. As a result I missed the two live rugby matches over the weekend which I would have sacrificed sleep for. These events come along once every four years and thanks to CableVision's incompetence, I missed it.

I live in Southampton and according to the pre-recorded voice message my area was worked on last week. I have paid my monthly fee, albeit a reduced fee since my movie channels have not been working properly for more than a month before this latest fiasco.

My time on hold is now 40 minutes. What about the cable boxes that should have made life easier. Maybe Fabian should have blown "CableVision" away.

I am going to hang up now as no sane customer would putup with this rubbish.

CableVision... you will find your way into my prayers tonight but not for the right reasons. Satellite service here I come. I call on all Bermuda residents to participate in a one-month CableVision fee boycott. Strength in numbers.

November 14, 2003

Dear Sir,

It is wonderful that the Government is putting systems in place to allow payment of taxes and licences on-line, but when will the Post Office install simple point-of sale terminals to allow the use of bank cards at the GPO and sub-post offices?