A plea to save the GardensSeptember 20, 2006This letter was sent to Philip Butterfield, chairman of the Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Trust and copied to The Royal Gazette.Dear Sir,I thank you very much indeed for your very informative letter of August 31st 2006, advising me and the rest of our colleagues, as to the proposed location for the new Acute Care Hospital for Bermuda. I have several reasons for objecting strongly to this Proposal. My first objection is to he obliteration of Bermuda’s finest collection of horticulture located in the Garden for the Blind, sensory Garden, the Hibiscus border, the Butterfly Garden, the North Garden, the Cactus House, the Exotic House, the Palm Collection, the J.J. Outerbridge Building Collection and Show Building and finally, the collection of trees and shrubs in their variety and abundance for all to see and get ideas for their own homes.

This assault on this fine collection, in fact, is so serious, I have to believe that the Agricultural Dept. itself, Tom Sleeter and his good people, cannot have possibly agreed with this site, because it is in their hands that Bermuda’s horticultural future rests. Their predecessors, who built the Agricultural Dept. to what it is today, always realised that our tourism, and now international business industries, greatly depend on the many, many years of research carried out by the Dept. of Agriculture to ensure the beauty of Bermuda’s roadsides, parks, open spaces and finally, most important of all, our Bermuda gardens.

These gardens carefully worked on by us residents of Bermuda, the majority of us garden lovers, and whose hobby is fed from ideas gained from this display described above, that is about to be destroyed. The claim that the current hospital site can be used for replacing green space lost is just that — a patch of grass and nothing else. Destroyed will be over a hundred years to work and research by dedicated Bermudians, and friends from overseas, who have contributed so much to make sure Bermuda remains lush and green. This destruction of years of work will take over a hundred years to replace.

My second objection is in connection with the building itself, not being fully though out in these days when land space is so important. The new hospital could be designed still in an area of choice anywhere in the central parishes (but not where another contribution to Bermuda’s future is to be destroyed) and build multi-storey, up to between five and seven stories, thus saving land for green space around the new structures. Hospital patients in a ward system that is multi-storey, with water views on all sides, is in itself a contribution to good patient care and therefore good health.

A young man recently produced his idea of a new hospital structure to be relocated on Dundonald Street that is very worthwhile looking at. He used highrise and while the newspaper story and photography could not tell all, there appeared to be green space and parkland around this new hospital concept. The public need to know how many sites were examined, where are the conceptual drawings and plans for each site, and finally, what was the overall objection to sites considered. I agree with the public view that the Arboretum and the Bermuda Botanical Gardens should remain sacred and available for the people of Bermuda.

My third objection is that the entire Botanical Gardens will become a total “hospital site” instead of a dedicated Botanical Gardens with the full freedom of public use. There is nowhere else in Bermuda where the calm of the Botanical Gardens as they are, can be recreated, and the argument that the old hospital site is a replacement contribution, is total nonsense. The present Botanical Gardens acreage as created over the many years, is extremely user friendly as a very large recreational area for all Bermudians, where they feel welcome, and they take advantage of that welcome with their picnics, games and general relaxation. The most important feature of all, is that this has become the centre for all agricultural, horticultural and artistic displays that brings great joy to the thousands of Bermudians that attend and express their pleasure and delight in what they see during those particulars days. These shows inspire thousands of children into hobbies, knowing they have somewhere to show their hobbies off.

My fourth objection has been that of the lack of communication with the public in general, before making the decision. This confirms to the public that this Government does not care at all about public opinion and general Bermuda welfare, when Senators and Ministers support the answer to the public outcry with “get used to it!” To assault a major Bermudian public amenity that has served Bermuda well for so long, is a dictatorial approach to solving a site problem in the laziest possible way, coupled with a “cannot be bothered attitude” to take the time to discuss publicly all the sites.

Now the leaders of this project are faced with a public outcry that could have been avoided if full public consultation naming all the sites, had taken place prior to the decision making process. This brings us to the current state of affairs of the Premier now announcing that the Government may revisit the site choice because of the public outcry — a delaying tactic to give the Government Ministers time to further justify their original decision.

Finally a visit to the entire property owned by the Bermuda Hospitals Board, beginning with the car parks and water catchment on the hill in the north, along Berry Hill Road and then own to Point Finger Road and from the west through the “Springfield” property (this may necessitate the purchase of some of this property back) all the way to the hospital eastern boundary bordering the Botanical Gardens, shows that there is already a huge site available for construction of the new hospital, in separate phases.

I urge all the directors and members of the Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Trust who have not visited the current properties in the possession of the Hospitals Board, described above, to do so, because they will find it easier to make their own conclusions. I urge you Sir, to make sure that all the directors and members in the Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Trust, really do support the destruction of the Botanical Gardens. We need this information before asking us to go out to raise funds for building a hospital on the wrong site.J. CHRISTOPHER ASTWOOD OBE, JPSandys<$>Understanding both sidesSeptember 30, 2006

Dear Sir,Our financial institutions and international companies are noted for their generosity to local causes. I am often impressed with the sponsors of BIFF and I doubt that the Bermuda Festival could function without their support. I was, therefore, struck by their total lack of support when approached by the Host Committee of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail. Let me say up front that the Tourism Minister’s opening comments had my approval one thousand percent, particularly since he had not made any comments concerning our racial disparity since becoming Tourism Minister. I did say to him the following day that the Leader of the Opposition, in responding to it, had a point when he said that the PLP Government had the authority to pass legislation, regardless of white attitudes.

I was also, quite frankly, rather pleased with the tone of your editorial, September 30, “Curiouser and Curiouser”. You have more than once acknowledged the racial economic disparity and the need to address the problem. I, as a black person concerned about the disparity, always appreciate your comments, as a white person, in this regard. However, you do not have many in the white community willing to support your position in any practical manner. Consider the hostility and resistance to merely being surveyed!

Now let me tell you why I can both approve of Dr. Brown’s comments and appreciate your editorial. Dr. Brown as Deputy to the Premier and a member of Cabinet cannot say as Ms Renee Webb or I would say: This Government has been to afraid to undertake a frank and open policy of affirmative action, black empowerment — call it what you like — but a policy to address this economic disparity. And what was done to ProActive to appease their white critics was — incredible. I’ll refrain from using a stronger term. The one thing which this Government has done, directly related to race relations was to put money aside for CURB and I must acknowledge that . Although it is still an open question as to how effective it can be if the Government continues to operate in fear. But Dr. Brown is no fool. He knows that this Government has no policy to address the disparity. The Chairman of the Hospital Board was too afraid to even hear a comment which touched on race amid a sea of white faces. The financial institutions withheld their financial support from the ADHT Conference. But it happened anyway.

This Premier needs to accept that there will be a price to pay but he must be prepared to pay it in the interest of justice. He will not have to spend 27 years in prison as did Nelson Mandela. I do not believe that his appeasement of white concern is single minded in his self interest as was that of the former PLP premier (of whom many whites approved). In 1998, the entire population could have been inspired, or challenged, to do almost anything, or make any sacrifice, to create a “new Bermuda”. But all of that goodwill will dissipated in the single minded selfish pursuit of personal enhancement. And all of those in the inner circle who should have known better were so seduced and deluded by the trappings of suddenly acquired personal power and status that they refused to call “halt”.

It is against a background of psychological and economic fear of white reaction that Dr. Brown’s comments have validity. If the Premier and the Cabinet did not know that many in the white community do believe it “evil” to economically empower blacks they might have the courage to pass appropriate legislation. The economically powerful white community have no compunction about withholding funds. Black people have always had to pay for every step they took towards self actualisation. But we cannot remain in such a state of dependency and accommodation that we are dishonest ourselves or force the most courageous among us to be dishonest. The white community will resist as they have always done but Dr. Brown should not be forced to speak as if the Government had a policy to address our economic disparity, despite white resistance, when it does not. He has made some efforts in his Ministry so can speak from that experience but he should be able to speak on behalf of the entire Government.

Perhaps the PLP Government and its leadership will always be bedevilled by selfishness and “status” in a way that would not happen, considering its origins, its promises and its supporters. Without that, perhaps even Dr. Brown, certainly the Government, could do something or much more, economically, for black Bermudians as a community. Even so, I am not going to ignore the climate in which they operate and if anyone has the fortitude to remind us in a coherent and intelligent fashion (obviously they are very few) I will support them. Dr. Brown’s comments were coherent, intelligent and valid and I support them one thousand percent even while I appreciate your editorial.EVA N. HODGSON

CrawlKudos to hospital staffSeptember 26, 2006

Dear Sir,The doctors, nurses and others that work at the hospital sometimes gets a bad review, but this time I would like to publicly thank them for their professional treatment towards me recently. To the admitting office, the nurses that prepared me for surgery the doctor and nurses in the theatre, in recovery and also the nurse that took me downstairs in the wheelchair for pick-up. They all did an excellent job. Keep up the good work.PATIENT

DevonshireThesaurus thumpingSeptember 21, 2006

Dear Sir,Regarding Mr. Burch’s reference to comments on yet another screw up at the Berkeley money pit as “scurrilous; I’m glad to see the good Maj. Gen. Cornal Captain has used his underserved pay increase to buy a decent thesaurus by which to impress the masses with his eloquent disdain. Maybe he can look up some additional synonyms to better describe his party’s farcical attempts at so called governance. Terms like obtuse and dictatorial quickly come to mind.FLATTS LIBERATION PARTYCableVision complaintDear Sir,I am writing to complain about CableVision customers having to pay for the channels they want and then they change the programs without telling you and putting on what they feel like. I pay to watch Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and the Today Show in New York, and they give you everything else that you do not wish to watch. There are certain times every day when channels eight and seven and nine are bringing the same thing — BBC News and I am not lying. What can be done? CableVision are you there?NOT SATISFIED

DevonshireHospital alternativesSeptember 26, 2006This was sent to the Bermuda Hospitals Board and copied to The Royal Gazette.Dear Sir,I submit the following for your consideration:

1) Properties owned by the Bermuda Hospitals Board which can provide the space required for building a new facility: The site could extend from Gladyn, through the old King Edward VII building, Springfield, Berry Hill Road, Queen Elizabeth II Nurses Residence and present parking lot as required. I suggest that comments about building on the existing site are misleading as this area is remote from the existing operational hospital.

2) The advantages of this location with a relatively long but narrow footprint are:

a) views from patient rooms westwards up Hamilton Harbour.

b) convenience to main arterial roads (East Broadway, Berry Hill road, Point finger Road and Trimingham Road to South Road and Harbour Road).

c) convenience to existing and established helping services on Point Finger Road. (Doctor’s offices, PALS Dialysis Unit, Bermuda TB Cancer and Health Association, St. John’s Ambulance, Charity House), and nearby on Berry Hill the Bermuda Red Cross and further doctor’s offices.

d) potential for vehicle access including bus.

e) underground parking for staff, visitors and ambulatory patients from different levels.

f) existing newer building for eventual conversion to Government offices e.g. Works and Engineering, Accountant General, Department of Planning all of which do not need to be in the city centre, or as an eventual land bank for a future hospital.

g) eliminate the justified public outcry about despoiling the Botanical Gardens to the loss of the Agricultural Exhibition, valuable and irreplaceable flora, the Blind Garden, etc.

h) BELCO are currently reinforcing their service to the hospital complex and the main sewer line runs along Point Finger Road to which connections should be practical.

i) consideration to providing nurses residence and facilities on site.

3) Any use of in the Botanical Gardens would require access roads remote from the existing arteries noted in 2b above which would further despoil their use and enjoyment as well as unnecessary costs. I trust that these comments will assist you in developing a satisfactory resolution to your important decision.C.H.B. CRISSON P.ENG.

City of HamiltonDon’t forget Worker’s CompOctober 2, 2006

Dear Sir,I found it almost amusing that Dr. Brown during his “Diaspora Heritage Trail Conference speech, should try to insinuate that the Progressive Labour Party has done all it can for the “working class” in Bermuda. In 2004, when they amended the Workers Compensation Act, they must have forgotten the workers, as the weekly compensation payment for time lost on the job is still very weak, at $170 per week and has not been changed since 1988. Who, having been injured on the job, could make do with less than 25 percent of what they would normally take home? Just fix it, please, it’s a simple process.NEWTON B. ADCOCK

City of Hamilton