Where's the Beijing office?

September 17, 2009

Dear Sir,

The impending opening of an office in Washington, DC should remind Bermudians of another piece of unfinished business. In November, 2007 the Premier announced plans to open an office in Beijing. Nearly two years later this has not materialised; has the Uighur issue impacted this, or did we never intend on courting Chinese tourists? Most will remember that the timing of the Beijing visit was a little coincidental.

KENT SMITH

St. George's

A right to know

September 15, 2009

Dear Sir,

Frankly if Lt. Col. Gonsalves doesn't think I "need to know" about sexual abuse up at Warwick Camp then he and his fellow officers, future or present, do not need my children in their organisation. I will fight the Regiment with every available legal means at my disposal to prevent my sons from having to attend until this issue is brought into "the light" and resolved. In fact, I forbid both of them to go. So, when the RPs or Police come for anyone they better come for me, not my son(s).

I NEED TO KNOW

Pembroke

Kudos to a good cabbie

September 18, 2009

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter on behalf of Mrs. Ingham, Mrs. Jeffers and Mrs. Burt. It was September 11 that my mom and her two friends hired a taxi to travel to The Dockyard to attend the Seniors Cruise put on by the Bermuda Government. The taxi driver picked up the three individuals on time and was truly a blessing to them.

The driver was asked to stop so that one individual could obtain a snack, which he did, but the individual forgot an item and he was asked to make an additional stop. He held a conversation that seemed to be a learning experience to him and also a delight to the seniors. This driver (name being withheld) refused to take the fare and told the seniors to leave his car and enjoy their cruise.

Now, I am not suggesting that all taxi drivers should adopt this pattern, but I wanted to highlight the driver and let him know I have copied in the Hon. Premier Dr. E. Brown, The Minister of Transport, for his act of kindness. When my Mom told me what transpired I thought he deserved to be recognised. Thanks for taking good care of these women, and may God bless you and yours.

ON BEHALF OF THE GOLDEN LADIES

Warwick

Feeling let down

September 15, 2009

Dear Sir,

To Whom It May Concern.

Do you have a job for us?

We are 80 years old and in very good health! When one gets older one sets more holistic to lengthen one's years, of course cancer can happen to anyone and does, children included, so while we are prudent we like to have health insurance. Just in case! Which is what insurance is anyway. We have worked until now and had private insurance, but now being retired, must pay $2,000 per month out of our own pocket. Just in Case! Are we being prejudiced against? Why can't we pay HIP (whatever) if we are healthy? Perhaps at a higher rated premium? Even in this transition.

From its inception until April, 2010 we will have paid over a quarter-million dollars out of our own pocket to private insurance and maybe ineligible in 2010. For future care! We feel let down by the people that say we matter. By the way we want no pay for the job. Just insurance coverage whatever the amount.

CONCERNED COUPLE

St. George's

Bermudian answers

September 10, 2009

Dear Sir,

I write in response to and support of the courageous mother who wrote the opinion piece on September 10.

As an unequal country, Bermuda is showcasing the effects of an unhealthy society. People are not the problem ... public policy, power imbalances, economic success at any price and inequality are the problem.

An unequal country (examples are the USA/UK/Canada) leads to the following outcomes (source: UK researchers Wilkison & Pickett 2009):

1. More poor people (look at the Front Street Mile on your way to work in the morning!)

2. Rates of mental illness are five times higher than equal countries (examples Scandinavian countries)

3. Rates of imprisonment are four times higher than equal countries

4. Six times likely to be clinically obese than people from equal countries

5. Murder rates many times higher than equal countries

Why should we concern ourselves? The 2009 research tells us that the effects of inequality are not confined to the poor they affect the vast majority of population. Have you noticed?

I would plead with Bermuda to recognise that demographics slant our perspective. As the black population in Bermuda is over 60 percent, they are not alone – all families are suffering. In my work, I see these challenges crossing race, local/foreign residents and parishes on the island.

Let's not rely on the experts from unequal countries to guide us ... let's look for our own people to focus their studying, research on Bermuda and the flourishing of the social imagineers to solve our problems with Bermuda solutions supported by the experts in equal countries where the results are demonstrably proven!

As the Honourable Minister Paula Cox said in her Labour Day speech: Let's acknowledge problems the whole community faces and which only the whole community can solve.

MICHELLE ST. JANE

Southampton

Looking for a work permit

September 15, 2009

Dear Sir,

Have our four Guantánamo Bay brethren been granted work permits yet? Considering we've been told and shown them eating ice cream, swimming at the beach, playing football, etc I figure we'd have heard formal word on their work rights by now, no?

Also, whatever happened to the policy that local companies must advertise three times before a foreigner is eligible? That wasn't another law conveniently sidestepped now, was it? The five Filipinos at Port Royal all happened to exit their contracts three months early, and the Gitmo 4 slid right in. Coincidence? Hmm ...

If they have work permits, are these specific to Port Royal, or are these general permits allowing them to work anywhere? Is training at an Afghanistan Taliban camp considered transferable skills for tendering golf courses? I cut my grass every week, doesn't that count for anything?

For the record, I returned from school in the UK two months ago, having received computer IT training. I have yet to find a job. Nice to see the Gitmos are working though and eating ice cream. Can anyone loan me a few dollars until I find a job, I want to sit off with some Bailey's Ice cream myself. Bermudians first right, Progressive Labour Party?( Wink Wink)

Oh snap, I almost forgot. How's that security assessment on the Gitmo four coming, Mr. Police Commissioner? Last we heard from you, they were considered high risk because not enough information was available. Please forgive me if I missed the article reporting that their security risk was minimal. They are confirmed members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which is on a UN list of terrorist groups by the way. Since I'm not working and all, I have enough time on my hands to research this stuff. Need anything else, don't hesitate to drop me a line ...

RGP

Warwick

Disparity in sentencing

September 16, 2009

Dear Sir,

I do sincerely hope/pray that my suspicion re: young Mr. Diel's recent "gift" of probation for breaking the law via drunk driving/riding and the ensuing racial slur, is just that; a suspicion.

Until/unless the penal code(s), via legislation is applied equally (to law breakers), we'll continue to reap the "rewards" of an already polarised segment of this community which has time & again seen a huge disparity in the sentencing of criminals! Namaste!

DISILLUSIONED IN DEVONSHIRE