Why the official silence?

July 23, 2008

Dear Sir,

I have been following the Palmer family's constant plea for someone with information as to the who, why and where are Mr. Palmer's body parts? After months since news of his horrific circumstances, I have yet to read in your paper, any response from those in authority as to the concerns of the family... what have we become?

I do read in your paper concerning our Health Minister on trial in Magistrates' Court in relation to theft. It baffles me that the alleged misappropriation of funds has greater significance than the theft of one's body parts!

Surely the alleged harvesting of one's body parts should be of more concern and a priority to the above said Health Minister, the Police Commissioner, the hospital board, the Governor's office (as a U K citizen), the pathologist's department, the Coroner's Office, the funeral director and the general public at large.

I read of the unions asking the public to rally behind their members in support of Bermudian families and the loss of their jobs, but where are the union and its members in support of the Palmer family in the loss of their loved one and his body parts?

Where is the is the follow up investigation the hospital publicly stated will be forthcoming with regard to the ambulance allegedly taking 20 minutes to do a five-minute journey? (Three months have passed since and nothing ).

Where is his general practioner who was in charge of the care of Mr. Palmer and why aren't they in support of the family?

Where are the people in the pathologist, coroner's office and hospital? Shouldn't they be concerned as to the whereabouts of his body parts? After all they have gone missing in their care. So why aren't they chasing to find the whereabouts of his body parts?

Where is the public in support of the family whom are pursuing this nightmare which they have found themselves in through no fault of their own? This should be alarming to everyone who has lost a loved one, whilst they are suffering from shock and bereavement is someone harvesting your loved one's body parts. How long has this been going on?

I do not understand how this matter is complicated, as the questions asked are quite simple. Who gave authority to remove them? Why did they remove them? And where are they? After these concerns have been identified, then those in question should be held accountable under the law.

Perhaps they are hoping that the family of Mr. Palmer will give up, forget about it, go away or drag these proceeding on to the extent that they would be financially burdened. Wrong!

Anyone who knows the Palmer family would know that come hell or high water that they will not rest until those responsible are brought to answer.

There are many of us both here as well as in the UK and USA who support the Palmer family and have great concerns as to exactly is going on in our Paradise Island.

STEVEN BROWN

Sandys

Don't be fooled

July 17, 2008

Dear Sir,

People, don't be taken in by announcements made by tourism officials on how they plan to absorb employees (who were made redundant in the New York Office) into the civil service. The overall situation is much worse.

Lest we forget, a lot more people were sent packing when the Premier/Minister closed the other offices in North America and dedicated employees were given fat cheques with a gag order. The point, many more are out kicking stones due to the brilliant strategy by Dr. Brown that was supposed to bring more people to our shores and above all, save money. Did it work? Of course not, and neither did the promise of the late David Allen, a respected Bermudian, to turn our visitor industry around in 100 days!

Remember the criticism by the PLP directed at former Minister for Tourism, Jim Woolridge, for his efforts in tourism. He was brilliant when compared to what we are seeing today and the man stands on his record! His performance will go down in the history books as the successful years for tourism – no promises – he performed, unlike the sloppy, unproductive political jargon that we hear today. 'Go tell it on the mountain'. Most of us are tired and fed-up with experts that are paid big bucks and then we end up with less than nothing.

SAUNDRA AND TOPPY COWEN

Kelowna, British Columbia