Time to go home

January 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

I'm working on behalf of those foreign prisoners past their half times, waiting on Bermuda Government to review the transfers to send them home to complete their sentences. It's my understanding from one said transferee that Minister Horton has yet to okay the paperwork that can send some of these people home. Apparently this particular inmate (a Canadian) has been waiting a whole year for her to be sent home. It's no expense to our Government so that is not a viable excuse. All we have to do is sign her papers and send her on her way. From a reliable source she was told that Minister Horton has sent the papers on to the Attorney General. If so, what we'd like to know is who has the authority to get the ball rolling here. My friend is disgusted so much now that she's thinking of just finishing her time off and knocking this in the head. My thought is that's what Government wanted all along! I hope she milks this system for all she can get! False teeth, foot doctor, etc. They want to keep you so they can pay, pay, pay. Who's really getting over here? Think about it.

WELL I NEVER

Devonshire

Take the British route

January 20, 2005

Dear Sir,

I read with interest your plans for a brand new tourism industry, and the push for 400,000 air visitors, but I can't help but wonder why you are ignoring a most obvious source of tourism, visitors from the UK.

There has never been a better time to promote business from the UK with the dollar at an all-time low, and the daily flights from Gatwick at winter rates. I recently met a couple from the north of England, and they could not understand why Bermuda was never advertised in the travel section of any newspaper in their country. The weekend travel section of the Times and Telegraph are read religiously by anyone planning to travel, and there has not been a single word in either of them about Bermuda. This couple found their way here through their travel agent, when they went to book their usual trip to Florida. They were delighted to be here, and could not understand why they had not been told about Bermuda before. The climate is better, it can freeze in Florida, and, as you have said yourself, everyone loves Bermuda.

This couple is now thoroughly converted to Bermuda, and has promised to spread the word.

With the millions being spent on promoting Bermuda on the east coast of the US surely a few hundred could be found to promote Bermuda in the Sunday Times. It would surely pay dividends, especially if some of our hotels were willing to offer inclusive rates for a weekly package. As we know, tourists coming from so far away always stay longer, and isn't that what we are trying to promote?

I am sending a copy of this letter to Dr. Brown.

ELIZABETH RABEN

Paget

Verdict was disturbing

January 24, 2005

Dear Sir,

I am both shocked and disturbed by the verdict of "misadventure" in the case of the elderly lady dying of an heart attack, having been left unattended in a bath with her feet dangling in scalding hot water for two hours while the nurse went for a break. The torturous pain and suffering is unimaginable, especially as she was still alive when found and only then, because a relative visited and asked where she was.

'Misadventure', as I understand it is the legal verdict when the wording, and I quote "Without intention to hurt", is evident but we must not forget to move on the word 'neglect'.

If I am driving my car without due care and attention and have my licence and have passed all my tests, I must take responsibility. Yet I kill a pedestrian, am I not responsible? Of course I am, although remember, "I had no intention to hurt." Assuredly I would get a very different verdict than 'misadventure' and rightly so, because I had not given my responsibility the right amount of attention. These people are trained caregivers who have obtained qualifications and licences. They have ignored the stringent strict guide lines of "patient care", whereby you never leave an elderly helpless patient in the bathroom alone, regardless of the running water, just as you would never leave a helpless baby alone in a bathroom, this comes under, neglect and must be addressed. Responsibility is the key.

There are many wonderful nurses and care givers at the hospital who do a great job, I know, because I am a nurse myself and have worked with them. They take their responsibility seriously. So we must be aware of the quality of our nursing care and when we come across infringements and neglect we should deal with it immediately with the utmost concern and attention, otherwise the price of admission will be fraught with apprehension, fear and mistrust for our loved ones and ourselves. No hospital can afford that reputation.

Above all, the care givers should be made aware that any neglect will not be tolerated and dealt with swiftly, so that the public can be assured that their loved ones will be treated with compassion and expertise.

SRN

Pembroke

Voting in UK election

January 26, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am writing today to inform your readers of the process required for eligible voters to register to vote in elections for the UK and European parliaments. It is widely anticipated that there will be a General Election in the UK in May, 2005.

There are estimated to be in excess of five million eligible voters living overseas although at the last General Election, less than 50,000 overseas votes were cast. The process for registering to vote and casting a postal ballot has improved significantly over the past few years and it is our intent to inform as many eligible voters as possible of the process to optimise the number of votes cast.

To receive information on the necessary process for registering, please contact the undersigned by e-mail at nhitchcockswiftbermuda.com.

NEIL R. HITCHCOCK

British Conservatives Abroad in Bermuda

Hospital stay made easy

January 26, 2005

Dear Sir,

Recently over the Christmas period I was hospitalised due to acute renal failure and I feel it would be remiss if I didn't thank those people who went out of their way to make my stay in hospital and my "life changing transformation" easier during a very hard time.

Dr. Samantha Price as well as Dr. Wendy Outerbridge and Dr. Lynette Thomas, thank you for diagnosing and "catching" my kidney disease when you did, and for making my "introduction to kidney failure" as painless as possible and being for being as caring as you were.

The doctors and staff at KEMH's Emergency Department and those in ICU especially Rick, Karl and Dr. Hammond thank you very much for your help when I was initially admitted.

The nurses and staff of Curtis Ward that became my "home away from home" for almost a month, I can't say enough to compliment you on your professionalism, special thanks to Bronya and Cheryl.

The directors, management and staff at Gosling's Limited especially Malcolm Gosling, Jr.,Tracy and Stephen Copeland your kindness to Shannon and I will never be forgotten (allowing me time for recuperation over and above what was required ) and the management and staff at Montessori Preparatory School for allowing Shannon the extra time off to look after and care for me.

The nurses and staff at the dialysis unit, I don't know where to begin to thank you. You calmed my fears regarding dialysis, you talked me through every step, assuring me and getting me on the road to recovery, establishing my new diet and new life as a dialysis patient. Special thanks to Marianne, Maggie, Jill, Mitsy Jessica and everyone else.

I have to thank my family without whom I couldn't have done this; my wife Shannon who was by my side every step of the way, assisting me with everything, and being the voice of reason during those crazy few weeks. My mom, dad and sister Maria whose daily visits, love and prayers pulled me through this traumatic experience.

And finally to all my friends both here in Bermuda and overseas who inundated me with prayers, cards, gifts and well wishes (my hospital room looked like a Hallmark ad ? thanks to P&C and Karen W!) I couldn't have recovered this quick without your prayers. I would especially like to thank Rick, Gillian, Jody and Heather and the staff at The Beach and Salt Rock Grill who helped me immensely during this time.

Thanks again for everything

PAUL SOFIANOS

City of Hamilton

Ps. To everyone in Bermuda ? if you haven't already, make your New Year's Resolution to become an Organ Donor in 2005. The Bermuda Organ and Tissue Donor Association can be contacted on 239-2055, ext. 1513.

Bad drivers at any age

January 24, 2005

Dear Sir,

Will wonders never cease, last weekend there were ten or 11 so-called accidents on our roads. A far cry from the 47 we had one weekend in the summer. Quite frankly, from what goes on every day I have to wonder how many of our riders and drivers have had any formal training, or actually passed a proper licensing test.

Let me tell you a story. Recently, due to the march of time, I had to re-take my Bermuda driving licence. Not to be caught out, the previous Sunday I went to the Examination Centre to check the procedures with some of the folks usually found there. My information suggested that the whole thing was quite simple. Drive through the zig-zag frontward, then reverse and back up to the start line. My wife got out of the car to observe and I went through several practice runs before we were both satisfied.

The next Friday I was ready. Turning up at the Examination Centre at 8 a.m., I found there were 35 of us, all the same age, with plenty of anxiety to go around. Our forms turned in, we waited until 8:30 when the Examiner came out, told us to get in our cars and follow him in a single file. I will never forget it. I was number six in line. The first two went through, a little shaky, but were handed their pre-signed pass slips. That was when I realised that we had all passed the test in advance and the drive-through was a mere formality.

Turning to number four, the driver went through frontward just fine. Stopping at the far end, went into reverse and came back at 30mph, scattering cones, sticks, the examiner and several spectators, ending up just short of number five's bumper. The examiner then found himself on the horns of a dilemma; how to get this idiot through the test. I will give him his due, calmly explaining the procedure in words of one syllable, then off again went number 4. Frontward just fine, however, before reverse came the examiner moved all cones, sticks, etc. at least eight feet outward, each. I could have driven a Sherman tank through that gap ? a pass. Number five went through just fine as did I at number six. This was when I realised that "people who are maniacs at 16 are still maniacs in their 60s", and I am not just talking about drivers.

DOUGLAS C. ROBERTS

Sandys