Defending restaurants

September 28, 2010

Dear Sir,

This is in response to "Fed up with service" and "Disappointed with service".

I actually didn't want to write a letter to the Editor but after two letters about my industry I decided it was time.

Although the four locations that were written about in the articles were not about my restaurant I still wanted to write on behalf of my restaurant brethren.

First of all running and owning restaurants is one of the most stressful and difficult jobs to do as this has been documented time and time again. Trying to make a five percent profit can in some cases be life and death, see Bernard Loiseau, and having to work long days in a hot, sweaty and dangerous kitchen as well as trying to please every single customer can turn anyone bitter for a few moments.

But let's look at the bigger picture shall we! Does anyone ever demand their tax dollars back when the roads aren't kept up to par or you see that W&E worker napping on the side of the road? Do you ever take that milk/cheese/sour cream/yogurt back if the best before date is wrong? I understand these days people are more conscious about spending and expect good food and service for their hard earned dollars but what about all those people that have way more hard earned dollars? Bermuda is 700 plus miles from anywhere and to get food to the Island costs money. To get people to up and leave the comforts of their home country is equally as difficult. No Bermudian wants to work nights, weekends and holidays …"No way Bye!" So we import everything, food and workers. We all knew Bermuda was going to be expensive, (thanks to a little thing called the Internet), but we could make more, wait, way more money than we would back home.

We all know these frequent diners/executives are making way way more money than they ever would due to working and living in Bermuda so complaining on pricing when a five percent profit is all we are asking for is just plain ignorant.

I agree standards have to be and should be met but its also your choice to walk into a place knowing its subpar and then complain after all is said and done. Restaurants are not created equal and never will be, but we are doing the best we can with what we do and don't have. Everyone seems to be a critic so the next time I see the appropriate person walking down the street I will shout: "I don't like the way you do your debits and credits!", "This pineapple is too expensive!", "This shirt costs too much" or "It's too hot!"

LOCAL CHEF

City of Hamilton

Imposing heroes

September 28, 2010

Dear Sir,

I agree with MP Dale Butler about how we select National Heroes.

The people the committee selects to be Bermuda heroes are not necessarily my heroes.

I don't believe the way the selection process is configured that there will be people selected as heroes who bring people together but it will be even more divisive.

If the PLP leadership continues with the present selection process, the governments in the future will reject and reverse the heroes who are being imposed upon Bermudians.

CHARLES SPANSWICK

City of Hamilton

Needs of the young

September 29, 2010

Dear Sir,

I am really concerned about the violence amongst youth in Bermuda. As one who has worked in Bermuda as a social worker and school counsellor I am aware of many of the issues our young people face. I believe it is time for the government to reassess the needs of this population. Young people need opportunities to develop their skills and abilities, while at the same time being allowed to display their natural talents in a way which will generate praise and encouragement. Youth thrive on praise and love and show respect for adults who demonstrate genuine concern for their well-being.

It is important to work with young people very early (during the elementary school years) before they get to the point where they are self-destructive. Professional mentors with degrees in human services need to be assigned during those years, especially to youth who are from single parent homes or those youth who display behavioural concerns. Mentors can work with young people to ensure that their gifts and talents are channeled in the right direction, as everyone has some type of gift they are naturally born with. The Bermuda Government needs to invest more money in young people by providing funding for programmes which will allow the youth to develop their skills and abilities. Whether their interest is, art, music, sports, mechanics, computer technology, culinary arts, science, medicine, education or law (to name a few) there needs to be support from parents, educators and the Bermuda Government to ensure that young people can be successful. It is not enough to build a college and tell them it is available to them. They need someone to believe in them and motivate them so that they will take advantage of the opportunities presented.

Some youngsters come from family backgrounds where they are neglected and/or abused. If parents are not doing their jobs then the responsibility falls on the government to nurture and parent young people otherwise the whole of society will become victims of their retaliation, which is what is currently taking place. In some instances parents are innocent and just lack the parenting skills and resources to channel their youth in the right direction. Whatever the reason, government needs to intervene quite early in order to salvage young people so that they become productive citizens. Youth thrive on praise and encouragement and need someone to take an interest in them. It is time to show them that they are special by allocating funds and human resources where it is needed the most. The overall point I am trying to make is that if the emotional and physical needs of young people are addressed early, then there will be less concern for how they develop socially and intellectually.

Thank you for the opportunity to voice my concern!

MADELYN HARVEY

City of Hamilton