Mixing up the dates

August 31, 2009

Dear Sir,

I do feel that the rather ambiguous preferences of our local populace when it comes to number-dating should ideally be standardised into a uniform procedure. In years past there was no question as to the "correct" method to be used, which simply emulated the British system of day/month/year. No one dreamt of changing the order of things as to do so would undoubtedly have caused much confusion (if not chaos!).

I believe it was Trimingham's and Smith's who first decided to adopt the American system of month/day/year (with many others following suit), which has had the effect of often creating inaccurate interpretations of past records. Locals frequently find themselves stymied by such dates as 1/10/08 ... was this in fact January 10 or 1st October in the year of 2008? Such variations could conceivably cause meaningful and/or legal ramifications. There can be as much as 10½ months difference in one's reading of a date such as 1/12/05 .... was it 1st December or January 12th?

May I suggest that a system which would cause absolutely no misinterpretation would be as follows: 11OCT02, 9FEB98, 2AUG75, etc., a method already in use in some documents. (There is actually one less space than double-digit numbering with slashes). Surely others have experienced the indecisiveness (and, yes, frustration) which is inherent in the existing anomalous situation? Basically it leaves one with no recourse but to call the business or individual involved to inquire as to their particular dating system, or considerable time-wasting research. Can we not ensure a single, unambiguous method which will preclude such indecision?

Yours for clarity,

CORAL HANKEY

Pembroke

Committee of 25 thanks

Dear Editor,

I am very pleased to report to you, and your readers that The Committee of 25 Fundraising & Tag Day, a local registered charitable organisation #15, we held our 55th annual Tag Day on Friday, August 14. We would like to express our sincere thanks for the overwhelming and generous support we received from the Bermuda community as this event makes it possible for us to assist children in our local community.

Thanks to everyone from Somerset to St. George's, and everyone in between. Along with our deep appreciation for the every donation so generously given by our community we would also like to thank the many people who contributed to this significant total our fabulous team of volunteers and canvassers – this tremendous response reflect the humanitarian spirit guiding the Bermudian public during these difficult economic times. It was made possible by the hours or services given so generously and freely by so many volunteers. Special thanks must be given to:

Taggers including members of Hamilton Lions, Hamilton Rotary Club, Mr. Gary Dowling of the Kiwanis Club, PRIDEBermuda, RenaissanceRe, HM Customs as well as Friends from The Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute, Marine & Ports and the Diabetes Association.

Businesses, large and small, who permitted their staff members to collect on our behalf: Belco, Bank of Butterfield, Butterfield & Vallis, Centre Solutions (Bermuda) Limited, Coldwell Banker, Chevron International, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Marshall, Diel & Myers, Mello, Jones & Martin, HM Customs, Conyers Dill & Pearman, Pembroke Paint Company Limited, ValidusRE, Eden Hair Beauty & Health Spa, The Spot Restaurant, Auto Express, Wee Care Pediatrics, Renaissance Re, Validus Re, Zurich International and the outlying districts;

The accounting firms for providing staff to assist with the official cash count: Deloitte: Maria Bento, Anna Fabroa, Joseph Madio, Tiara Carter, Quincy Santucci, Andrea Dowe Patricia Swan, Ashley Davis, and Charlene Simons.

The retail businesses, pharmacies, grocery stores, and banking institutions who allowed the use of their shop fronts;

Those who, were unable to tag themselves, made individual donations instead;

Corporate sponsors; and

Mr. Kavin Smith, Marathon Derby Winner, and supporter,

Mr. Kennedy Nannette, Barritt's & Sons Limited, and staff members for providing liquid refreshments for our taggers during the warm weather.

Mr. Jeff DeSilva of La Trattoria Restaurant & Pizzeria and staff members for providing food provisions for our taggers.

The Bermuda public who, year after year, assist us in helping children with special needs. We amassed a total of $19,857.33.

>We could not do it without you.

Thank you! God bless you, each and everyone.

MELANIE WHALEY

Tag Day Coordinator

Be more caring

August 27, 2009

Dear Sir,

I am addressing this letter to the person who struck our beloved family cat on the evening of August 12 or the morning of August 13 near the Dinghy Club in Paget.

I realise that sometimes these things can't be avoided and accidents happen, but what I don't understand is how anyone can leave a badly injured cat lying in the street suffering for any length of time before finally succumbing to its injuries. We didn't discover he had been killed until nearly a week later! A kind soul who found him on the morning of Thursday, August 13 in the Dinghy Club driveway took him to one of the vets, but unfortunately they had difficulty reading the tattoo on his ear because of the injury sustained to his head.

You have no idea how much pain and anguish you have caused our family. I hope and pray that you never lose a pet in that way.

In future, anyone driving through Pomander Road, I implore you to please be cautious and drive slowly! It is a residential area where many beloved family pets live (as are many areas on the Island).

HEARTBROKEN

Paget

Lockerbie release irony

August 28, 2009

Dear Sir,

How ironic that two months after the furore that erupted over the decision to allow four Guantanamo detainees to settle here, we have seen the Scottish legislature (which holds a seat in the British Parliament) release a convicted terrorist and murderer, supposedly under the guise of “compassionate” release. The four Uighurs had committed no crime and yet we saw days of protests, a failed attempt at the removal of Premier Brown in the House of Assembly, calls for the UK to step in and/or discipline Dr. Brown, and a comment from Governor Sir Richard Gozney, that the Bermuda Government “should consider carefully their next steps”!

I find it quite appalling that Megrahi, convicted of murdering 270 people, can be released at all, especially after spending only eight years in prison! To all those persons that looked to the UK as a moral beacon during the furore here in Bermuda, explain the “quid pro quo” that must have preceded this decision, and more importantly who do we now ask to conduct a Royal Commission, when dare I say that the UK Government is even less forthcoming than our own?

DAVID WILLIAMS

Sandys