Editorial was right

March 14, 2005

Dear Sir,

With regard to your editorial on HSBC/Bank of Bermuda being a "Bermudian" company you gave a clear and well presented case for why this should not have gone through based on recent changes in Bermuda's laws and I would agree with you.

Could you tell me whether the new type of "fractional" real estate sales are legal according to the new laws? I feel this must also be in violation.

Why merger took place

March 12, 2005

Dear Sir,

I would like space to respond to a March 10 letter from your correspondent M. Cox who says the Triminghams closure was caused by 'greed'. To dispel that misconception for those interested, the background of the merger with Smith's should be set out.

Five years ago we had what might be called Bermuda's flagship stores attempting to sell a limited selection of quality merchandise, in expensive surroundings, at US prices, while paying some 15 percent-plus more for it than our US competition. This apparently impossible pricing policy was essential, because unlike commodities such as food, liquor, pharmaceuticals or gasoline, where customers have no option but to buy locally, in our case there was travel abroad and the Internet. In essence, we were not competing with each other, but similar to the hospitality industry, with the US and other destinations. For us, as with the hotels, it was to cut expenses, but not quality and ambience and volumes, or close down.

The resulting merger was intended to achieve four sound objectives:

The elimination of one entire management expense structure;

The combining of two similar department structures into single, much larger entities with twice the merchandise selection in each;

A geographic layout where customers would find a full, US scale, selection all under one roof;

Buying power and influence with suppliers to achieve better vendor prices ? and lower retails and enhanced volumes as a result.

The execution of all this required careful planning and above all keeping to a completion timetable. As it turned out, one interminable delay after another, all of them beyond our control, set this timetable further and further back, wasting money and building debt to the point where it became obvious that the plan as a whole could not succeed.

M. Cox suggests that it would have been better to pare down. It is important to understand that we were looking at a considerable amount of space and many employees. The space could not be subdivided except at enormous expense to conform to today's regulations. The employees had a better chance, by far, of real promotion opportunities in the combined entity. M. Cox's fond memories of childhood (they are ours, too) were in the time when we could and did sell all the classifications mentioned way below US prices ? and Bermuda was a tourist Mecca. This was before the UK, Canada and the US slashed their duty structures and converted to sales taxes and VAT to lower their costs of living. We in Bermuda failed to follow this example and long term it has cost us our tourist business and ? incidentally ? Triminghams.

Finally I take the liberty of quoting a 1997 letter I received, and I'm sure he won't mind me quoting him, from John Tugwell CBE who was then president and CEO if the Bank of Butterfield: "I read your observations on the retail business with great interest. It is a conundrum for the retail trade that only Government can solve. Sadly, the authorities do not seem particularly aware of the problem and/or are disinclined to do something about it. In these circumstances there can only be one result ? sooner or later."

ELDON H. TRIMINGHAM

St. George's

False claims, accusations

January 28, 2005

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to respond to an article printed in yesterday's daily titled "Shoddy treatment". The writer, "Well I never", was very vague with her details which leaves the minds of the readers open to questions and speculations of inappropriate care of her "dear friend". There are many scenarios which could affect the way that people perceive the way that care has been given to their loved ones and I for one am tired of this. As a registered nurse, I know first hand what goes on and the reasons for them. I would not expect to go the bank, doctor's office, dentist or any other business and pretend to know first hand the reasons for their decisions and practices because I am not a specialist in that field. This is why I get irritated when people in the community such as "well I never" make false claims and accusations when she may not know the facts or reasons for certain decisions.

Let me give her some food for thought as to possible reasons why her dear friend may have thought that she did not receive the care that thought she should have. It is not our intention for people to be in pain constantly or many of us would not have gone into the profession of caring and helping. There are many reasons why pain medications are often withheld. One simple fact is that we do not want to mask the source of the pain until it is identified so that the correct pain medication/treatment can be given. Contrary to popular beliefs, there are different medications/treatments for different problems also different dosages of medication. Medications sometimes have to be adjusted so as to not over or under medicate a patient. In some instances this can take time and I am sorry that your friend continued to be uncomfortable while this could have been the case (I, too, do not know the facts but offer only possible reasons since I have seen this done often).

Another disturbing comment that you made was her breakfast was left outside of her room until 9:30 a.m. The reason that you speculated for this was because she was in isolation and there is a stigma that anyone on isolation is presumed to have AIDS floating in the air. You are right "what a crock and uneducated statement". Let me again inform you of the facts. The dietary staff does not go into isolation rooms to deliver meals period. Regardless of the reason for the isolation. (Believe me there are many reasons for isolation not necessarily AIDS patients. Sometimes it is to protect you, me and in some cases the patients from our germs) The staff therefore takes the meals into these rooms. Now let me again and give you some food for thought as to why her meal may not have been given to her earlier. As stated by you, she was due to have a CAT scan. Often food/drinks must be withheld for this procedure. Did it ever occur to you that the nurses could have been checking on a time for this before giving her food which could have possibly delayed her having this test performed? Did it occur to you that maybe there was a cardiac arrest in progress or some other life saving procedure for another patient and staff was trying to save the life of another during this time? Or, maybe the staff overlooked the fact that she had not received her meal. (There could have been many reasons). Did you ask? I think not, you assumed, we all know what that does.

As to the young doctor stating that he has been practicing for two years. Your friend told him that he is an intern. Again, another false statement. The medical officers employed by KEMH are doctors. Most of them are none Bermudians since most Bermudians have private practices and cannot be on site at the hospital but instead are in their offices giving care. Our wonderful institution (KEMH) felt that it would meet the needs of our patients to have qualified medical officers on site (24 hours) for this purpose. To undermine his skills and knowledge is an insult. (Shame on you).

My last point to your letter is this. The CAT scan department schedules all appointments for both in and out patients. When they give staff the appointment time, we get the patient ready to be collected by the attendant. If your friend felt that this was not timely and called the department herself, they were probably being accommodating (our motto is: "the patient is the reason we are here") and gave her a time. It was probably not because of staff was ignoring her, they may not have been given a time yet. As to them waiting for the nurse to collect the liquids for her to drink prior to her test, the nurses do not routinely collect them, they are delivered to the wards. We sometimes have to leave the wards as the exception not the rule. (Can you imagine what would happen if the nursing staff ere constantly leaving the units to collect items from different departments. No, madam, we already have a system in place that works quite well to avoid this.

I hope that the next time you feel compelled to write negative comments about our wonderful medical institution you might want to gather the facts first. We are not a perfect hospital but our vision is "To be a centre of excellence" and that is what most of us strive for. Check out the statistics of other institutions, we compare quite well. I for one hope that you remain healthy but should you require medical attention, since you said that you would rather go to your dog's veterinarian, I hope that you are happy with that. If not, come to the hospital and we will provide you with the best care available to human beings.

FED UP RN

Paget

We are awake!

March 14, 2005

Dear Sir,

I refer to the letter to the Editor on March 7 titled "Everyone dropped the ball" signed by Dusty Road. The anonymous writer criticised several groups for failing to act against the residential development on St. Anne's Road called the Hamptons. The last group on the writer's hit list was the Bermuda National Trust, accompanied by the statement "sorry, did I wake you up?" I can let the writer know that the Trust fought this development through a very lengthy objection process under the Development and Planning Act. The door at the Trust is always open, so that anyone can check the facts before making public statements. The Trust's position on the Hamptons is on our website at www.bnt.bm. The continuing loss of any of Bermuda's finite open space should be a concern to all and it emphasises the importance of support for the proactive initiative of the Buy Back Bermuda Campaign, to acquire a tract of open land at Somerset Long Bay.

Dusty Road should feel free to call me ? we are awake.