Road visitor speaks

April 28, 2008

Dear Sir,

Having just returned from Bermuda and having been here numerous times I just have to comment on the road death situation.

The issue of speeding and aggressive driving are in your hands. I saw exactly no attempt to control either of these issues either this trip or the ones before.

If you would really like to address this issue you must make illegal any passing of another vehicle. While this will slow your roads, it will certainly help your death situation.

Of course, the Police will then have to go on a year-long campaign of stringent enforcement so all will know this is the new rule of law.

You have a small nation that is certainly able to pull this off, you only need the will and "follow through" to do it.

JAMES TOLLEFSON

Richmond, Virginia

Time for road action

April 28, 2008

Dear Sir,

Much as an annual safety week helps focus attention on driving hazards, it seems that low-cost permanent measures are needed to deter drivers from Bermuda's most dangerous road locations.

Speed bumps, flashing lights, painting "Slow" on roadways approaching hazardous locations, and beefing up moped training can all help in the multi-pronged effort to instill greater responsibility among drivers.

High cost measures, including hiring more police and levying stiffer penalties, especially for drunk driving, might be needed as well, but low cost measures can be adopted quickly and be directly assessed for effectiveness over time.

With each death, time has sadly run out for each victim. For the sake of all residents and visitors who love Bermuda, now is a time for concerted action.

WILLIAM E. COOPER

President Emeritus

University of Richmond

Virginia

Pack racer regrets

April 28, 2008

Dear Sir,

I would like to apologise to all households in which I've caused a negative effect on their children from the way I came up riding like the road was all mine.

It was a dying trend (pack racing) that controlled my mind while the gas twist was in my hand. I didn't care about other people's safety as long as I didn't hit a taxi or a Mercedes, and to hear a Police siren was a major turn on.

What I was afraid of was my mother seeing me ride like that, because she told me that she would run me into a pole (old school mom). That didn't discourage my stuntman riding abilities.

I've been through the back windshield of a car, and landed on the gear stick (from looking at a girl walking on the sidewalk). I've seen people half kill themselves, skid across Palmetto Road on their face, and even die from trying to follow me (that didn't change the speed demon within).

I would like to share the pain of the love ones that received the phone call at 3.45 a.m. from a police officer delivering the bad news of their son being killed from a road collision.

My popularity came from the way I rode, and the stories that still circulate about me are very troubling. The youth have a bad habit of looking up to the wrong people for the wrong reasons.

The Road Safety department has many years of destruction to manipulate (the race is not for the swift, but for those who can endure it). Change will happen if we all put in the hard work (I must be getting old, because I would have never said these words). We must start saving souls in order for the flesh to follow, and that's the bottom line.

DESAI M. JONES

Sandys

Defribrillator duty

April 24, 2008

Dear Sir,

In early April, I had the very great pleasure of visiting your wonderful Island once again to run a seminar, in partnership with the Bermuda Red Cross, concerning increasing the number of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) across the island in order to save lives in respect of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

I would like to thank the 40 plus people that attended the seminar, held at the superb facilities of XL in Hamilton, and the Bermuda Red Cross for the excellent organisation of a very successful meeting.

The people that attended from a wide selection of agencies and organisations across the Island were very enthusiastic and supportive, however, it was very disappointing to see that both the Government and the Opposition were conspicuous by their absence, despite being personally invited, with the only representative attending being the Chief Medical Officer. The fact is that 50 Bermudians every year die from SCA and it is in all of our interests to do everything we can to save as many of these lives as possible. While one cannot expect the Government to do everything given the pressure on health and social care budgets, one would at least expect there to be some interest from the politicians after their efforts in the past couple of years to pass laws to allow the placement of AEDs in public places – ladies and gentlemen you need to follow through the laws you pass with appropriate action.

The Department of Health should be applauded for removing the import duty from AEDs to make it easier for customers to buy them, however what your readers may not realise is that the batteries and defibrillation pads, which are vital components of an AED, are still subject to this very high duty. Giving the same exemption to these important components will help increase both the will to buy and placement of AEDs.

I am pleased to say, however, that both the Bermuda Red Cross and other individuals have taken the initiative to move forward in placing AEDs in various locations, both public and private, across the Island, and there are now over 100 AEDs (by various manufacturers) spread around protecting the public and those employees where their employers have had the foresight to place these life saving devices. The number of AEDs placed in Bermuda, relative to the population, means that the island is well on the way to making itself the first national 'Heartsafe' community in the world and with a little more effort and determination this could be achieved with the consequence of more lives being saved.

With the support of Cardiac Science Corporation, the Bermuda Red Cross is leading the way in placing AEDs and training the populace in both their use and the important skills of CPR so I would urge your readers to put pressure on their local MP to move this important issue forward so that their partner, son, daughter, parent, friend or colleague does not make up one of the next 50 Bermudians to die from sudden cardiac arrest.

STEVE JELFS

International Clinical Director

Cardiac Science Corporation

Alva, United Kingdom

Airport woes

April 29, 2008

Dear Sir,

I went through Mr. Wade's airport yesterday and I am embarrassed to say that it won't be winning any "Favourite No. 1 Airport in the World' this year!

I went to park my car in the long term area. All of the parking ticket machines were wrapped in garbage bags and according to the Police, the baggage handlers and the airline people, that's the way it had been for some time. Do you think some swifty in the Airport Managers office might just put up a sign saying "Machines all broke – Park for Free" – just to clarify the situation and ease everyone's mind?

Then we get to the waiting areas and, guess what, I feel the need to visit the rest room. Now the rest rooms down outside the BA security entry and the ones down the hall from the airline offices are always filthy but most tourists don't see them. Upstairs are two sets of rest rooms. One was closed off, the other was so disgusting I thought I ought to put up a sign apologising to the hundreds of visitors. Heck, when I got to JFK, the bathrooms looked better then ours...and they have about 1,000 times the traffic.

Maybe the Minister of Transport should take a look at the airport that the rest of us use instead of just his private facilities.

HUCK FINN

Southampton

Parenting speech praise

April 28, 2008

Dear Sir,

I am writing to congratulate the Hon. Dale Butler on a powerful and moving public speech about protecting the mental and emotional welfare of Bermudian children that he gave Friday lunchtime at City Hall in official recognition of the third annual Parental Alienation Awareness Day, an event that takes place on April 25, worldwide. (www.parental-alienation-awareness.com/)

The Minister spoke eloquently with a dramatic fervour and intensity which demonstrated that he takes this insidious form of child abuse seriously. His speech centered on the importance of a child being permitted adequate access to both Mum … and Dad and that a child should be at liberty to be shown and receive love and support by Mum ... and Dad. He also spoke of the benefits of mediation in attempting to resolve family conflict and the importance of ensuring the level of information the child is exposed to, for example, reasons behind the parental split, is appropriate. Mr Butler praised Childwatch, the Bermuda charity dedicated to championing the rights of a child to have access to both parents, for its ongoing efforts in highlighting and attempting to reduce the incidence of parental alienation in Bermuda.

Of particular personal interest was when Mr. Butler made note of the pain suffered when a parent is purposely left in the cold and not updated by the other as to the whereabouts and welfare of the children, a bitter situation made unbearable when that parent has the children full-time in another country.

I was in a relationship for several years where my partner, a Bermudian man keen to be an active, caring father, remained, despite constant efforts, uninformed as to where in the States his children were, any details as to their welfare, education, postal address, home telephone number or any other details.

Yet, if he reneged on child support payments as a form of protest, he was threatened with jail (and this happened on several occasions) whilst he had no idea, for years, if his children were even alive. This father's particular case may be an extreme example but countless individuals on this island (mainly men, children and grandparents) are struggling daily and suffering as a result of parental alienation.

The sooner the problem is acknowledged, the sooner it can be effectively tackled. My thanks to Mr. Butler for giving us hope that he is a man we can rely on to continue pushing this distressing issue forward with conviction and determination towards a successful conclusion for the sake of Bermuda's children.

If you are a parent who is being alienated from your child, I would urge you to contact Edward Tavares, of Childwatch at 292-3529, who will be able to advise you further.

MISS W

Hamilton Parish

Historical landmark

April 29, 2008

Dear Sir,

It saddens me to hear about yet another historical landmarks being considered by a few "unimportant", when in fact, its history has played an extremely important role in the history of all Bermudians in one way or another and shouldn't be ever forgotten…

As Larry Burchall said in his column this week I quote: "Is our black Government going to sit back while this cultural landmark, built on the sweat and tears of emancipated slaves, falls victim to the wrecking ball? Well its been said that "truth can be stranger than fiction…"

RAYMOND RAY

St. George's