June 20, 2005

Dear Sir,

There can be little doubt that the Bermuda Police Service is suffering from a lack of public confidence. Whilst the reasons for this are many, it may be in part a consequence of the Service trying to satisfy the demands of our rapidly changing society. That said, the article in dated 20/6/05 that articulates the role of the 'Community Beat Officers', does little to bolster that waning confidence.

The Commissioner is a gifted man who has a vision of where the Service should be and of the role it must play; his Policing Strategy for the Community is testament to his vision. The underpinning of his strategy is the introduction of Community Policing in the form of what he has termed the 'Community Beat Officers'. In the absence of the now defunct 'Parish Constables', this sizeable unit is designed to address community issues at their inception before they become matters requiring intervention by the more familiar reactive patrol response. The theory being that grass level interactive police attention will drastically reduce the subsequent (and presently overwhelming) demand upon the reactive policing units.

Though sound in theory, the reality is that the experiment has been an overwhelming failure. After three years, the successes of the unit, (when accurately reported), can be counted on the fingers of a single hand. Arguments will be made that the unit is not yet at full established strength and its membership has occasionally been used for other purposes, but, to a man, the operational personnel who must still respond to the increasing demands for service will state that the CBO unit has not made the slightest difference to their workload.

It is galling therefore, to read the self congratulatory and exaggerated remarks of Chief Insp.r Michael DeSilva, who manages the CBOs. The article cleverly interweaves the complaints of a local businessman, with the proud (and unsubstantiated) boasts of Mr. DeSilva. Failing in its propagandist intent, nothing in the article will be of comfort to that or any other businessman, or resident who is suffering for the lack of adequate Police response to their complaints of increasing community lawlessness. In-fact the article states that worse is yet to come. The CBO unit is to be manned to its fully established strength by July of this year; and where will these extra officers come from? Yes you've guessed it, from the already over-stretched resources of those remaining patrol personnel.

Even the Commissioner's own executive level colleagues have challenged his adherence to his vision. The Assistant Commissioner was recently rebuked publicly after suggesting that the Commissioner should review the role of the CBOs. Defiantly, the Commissioner instructed that, as an initiative approved by Cabinet, he and all his managers must support it. Such blind doctrine confirms the suggestion often touted in Police circles, that the CBOs are the Commissioners baby, and are untouchable.

The CBOs come at the expense of other equally compelling operational policing options. Increasingly, progressive Police Services are utilising five watch, multi-shift patrol systems that can be tailor made to offer greater presence at peak times, shift overlaps and the flexibility to deploy personnel to specific operational and non operational tasks. Unfortunately, and contrary to his previous promises, the Commissioner has retained an antiquated shift system comprising four watches and three shifts, a practice that restricts the effectiveness of operational patrols and their ability to deliver service.

The number of personnel attached to the CBOs would easily provide the additional personnel needed to establish a fifth watch. Whilst the five-watch system may not be able to cater to all of the future intentions of the CBOs, it would easily have achieved all that the CBOs have to date, and without significantly reducing the ability of patrol officers to service the demands of its public.

Surely, the Commissioner and his eloquent messenger Mr. Desilva must realise that failed initiatives and lip service will only further erode what little confidence remains for their Service.

DIRTY HARRY

Devonshire

June 21, 2005

Dear Sir,

As a retired Police Officer with well over 30 years service, I was extremely concerned to read in the front page article of the dated 20th June 2005, states Chief Inspector Michael Desilva.

Surely part of being a good community Police Officer is meeting members of your community and shaking hands.

About 3 weeks ago, one of the School Liaison / Community Beat Officers was featured celebrating his 50th birthday with pre-schoolers, and weeks earlier, the same officer was erecting Bluebird boxes with them. All very commendable, but within only a mile, people are openly selling drugs and drinking alongside the roadsides, with obviously no concern about action being taken against them.

Many years ago when the original system of Parish Constables was in place, the Parish Constable (once settled and found to be suitable) would remain and work in the same parish for years, As a result he would know all the store owners, headmasters, bar owners, criminals, vulnerable persons, trouble spots, etc, etc, and as a result of this knowledge, everyone benefited. If the Parish Constable had a problem starting to develop in his/her area, every effort would be made to stop the problem at an early stage.

Over the last few years it appears that the problems of Drinking in a Public Place, Loitering, Offensive Words and Behavior are now a part of Bermuda's daily life.

Surely the Minister of Tourism must be concerned when tourists are advised to avoid a certain area in Sandys Parish because of open drug selling and other anti-social behaviour, all in open daylight.

Store owner Frank Arnold and all other business owners in Sandys are entitled to place "No Loitering" signs on their property. Customers should not be exposed to groups of youths loitering around and using profanity.

Chief Inspector Desilva remarks "That a lot of these long standing problems are long standing because everyone tolerates them - not just the Police". Well what is everyone to do? Set up their own vigilante groups?

I'm sorry, but unless the authorities start to enforce the law and take action, the problems are only going to escalate.

By the way Chief Inspector, you stated "You can't be arrested for standing on a street corner." I suggest that you check Section 11 (f) of the Summary Offences Act 1926.

POLICE PENSIONER

Somerset

June 20, 2005

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to express my sincere thanks to Lindo's Devonshire, especially Ms Douglas, for allowing the Whitney Institute Middle School's Foreign Language Department to hold a grocery packing fundraiser on June 4th. The Department will be taking students to Spain in March 2006 to experience a total immersion in the Spanish culture. The students will be staying with host families while attending the Malaca Instituto campus at La Brisa where they will participate in morning classes and afternoon cultural activities. We are fundraising to reduce the student costs. I would also like to thank the generous Lindo's customers who gave a little extra when they found out the purpose of our fundraiser.

The Whitney Counselling Department also enjoyed the support of Bermuda's community-at- large when it held its annual workshadowing day on May 26, 2005. Many local businesses hosted Whitney M3 students and provided them with an opportunity to experience a day in the life of someone in a career of interest to our students. Thank you again to those persons who spent many hours assisting the Whitney counsellors with this day.

The public school system gets much criticism; however, there are so many great programmes in place which aim to enhance the learning of our students that cannot continue to be overlooked.

LEEANN SIMMONS, M.S. Ed., NCC, NCSC

School Counsellor

Whitney Middle School

June 20, 2005

Dear Sir,

Any claim that this Island once had to be a haven of politeness and civility was finally washed up last night on the sands of Elbow Beach. About 30 people were there, enjoying the end of a beautiful day. Suddenly, literally hundreds of young men and women invaded the beach and started to put up volleyball nets, with total disregard to the spaces occupied by other people. One hundred yards away, the beach was empty.

A family next to me suffered the indignity of finding themselves, literally, in the middle of a volleyball court. They complained to a somewhat bossy woman in voluminous red shorts, who appeared to be in charge; they received no word of apology or explanation but were met with a curt , "It's a public beach, isn't it!" It is indeed a public beach and I suggest the public gather in equally large numbers, armed with chairs, and sit themselves down in the middle of these courts whenever they are next erected. Everybody has a right on a public beach; even the public.

SWIMMER

Paget

June 22, 2005

Dear Sir,

The current debate over the expansion of the Bermuda Hospital at the cost of losing a significant part of Bermuda's natural resources (the Botanical Gardens and the Arboretum) highlights the underlying problem of how society treats health.

Bermudians suffer one of the highest rates of diabetes (13 percent of the population) and nearly one-third of the residents are medically obese which leads to cardiovascular decline. These conditions are partly responsible for the $422 million in health care costs Island-wide expected this year. Poor diet and inadequate exercise are leading causes of these conditions. If more Bermudians were to take advantage of the gorgeous, healthy space afforded by places like the Gardens, we would need fewer hospital resources.

To sacrifice a possible preventative treatment in order to treat disease will only lead to more disease.