LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Some answers please
April 26, 2007
Dear Sir,
Dr. The Hon. Ewart Brown MP, JP, etc., etc. was recently patting himself on the back for the 22 percent increase in tourist arrivals.
Hmmmm! Raises a few questions, doesn’t it?
1. How many of the ‘tourist arrivals’ were in fact business travellers?
2. How many were consultants posing as tourists to avoid temporary work permits? This one’s a little more difficult to identify as it’s outside the economy.
ENQUIRING MINDS
Warwick
I believe in God’s family
April 25, 2007
Dear Sir,
I don’t think one “Religion can tell” Bermuda Government what we should do or not do about ‘Rosie O’Donnell’s Cruise’. She does a lot of good for Children. I was brought up to believe “all people and children are God’s family” regardless.
“Wake up Bermuda”.
SENIOR IN MY 80S
Pembroke
Ignore the whining
April 27, 2007
Dear Sir,
Banning the horse and carriage trade in the City of Hamilton and Town of St. George’s year round is long overdue. The whining of those in the business should fall upon deaf ears. The welfare of the public and the horses should be paramount. If those in the business are so concerned about their livelihood maybe they should hitch their carriage to a bicycle or, better yet, hitch the carriage to their backside and give their tours.
MARIA M WHITTLE
St. George’s
Enough already
April 25, 2007
Dear Sir,I don’t understand the media's fixation with Jamahl Simmons. It seems every week they trot him out to launch another diatribe against the UBP as though they have a partisan agenda to support the PLP by trying to degrade the UBP whenever the opportunity arises.
Monday’s story entitled “Beyond the Political Bluster” was very well written about the UBP and PLP but why did it feature a five-paragraph invective against the UBP by none other than “commentator” Jamahl Simmons? Anyone who reads your paper knows Jamahl says virtually the same thing each time you give him the space to rant (which is far too often)!
This leads to the question: Why do you continue to use him so regularly as an authoritative source on the UBP? Once again, he is a turncoat.
> NUFF SAID
Warwick
Strongly refute statement
April 12, 2007
Dear Sir,
Dr. G.B. McPhee in his letter (RG 11th April 2007) said “ill-conceived plans by a group of white doctors was a way of keeping poor coloured patients out of their private offices”. We strongly refute this statement.
The formation of a Medical Clinic was discussed by the Active Medical Staff of KEMH, both white and black doctors, because they felt some impecunious patients were not receiving medical care and because the Emergency Department was being inundated by patients with medical problems which were not emergency situation. These patients were turning up in the Emergency Department because they had no insurance cover — probably no jobs were lacking in funds.
The Bermuda Hospitals Board approved the formation of the Medical Clinic and the doctors on the medical staff were required to donate their services in a rota basis. The only doctor who refused to attend these patients was Dr. McPhee. Medical Staff are given privileges by the BHB and are required to fulfil their obligations and abide by Medical Staff rules set down by BHB . Dr. McPhee was not disciplined for failing to provide the service to the Medical Clinic as all other medical staff members were required to do. So the Medical Clinic was initiated by the Active Medical Staff and approved by the BHB. Certainly the medical care at the Clinic could be criticised for lack of continuity by the rotation of physicians, but it was better than could be provided by turning up at the Emergency Department at any time and being seen by a different medical resident officer. In time the BHB accepted responsibility and paid a member of staff (initially Dr. Morley Nash and later Dr. Ronald Lightbourne) on a per session basis and thus provided continuity of care. On Dr. Lightbourne’s retirement other doctors including Dr. Basil Wilson, Dr. Stanley James and Dr. Wakeley were appointed. Dr. McPhee says that nine yeas after the Clinic’s inception there was a review but “no one had the guts to close it down”. We don’t think there ever was any thought of closing it down, in essence clinic care continued to improve with the provisions of transport, a full-time nurse and “pink ladies”.
To join the clinic a patient has to be referred to Mr. Lashley, Credit Manager, for assessment and the referring doctor would write a letter giving a medical history, medications etc.
We have no concern about the occasional patient attending who has no insurance cover and possibly could go to a private physician. We don’t think the clinic patient feels any loss of dignity in their attendance and the views they have expressed in the media they have very real concerns about the proposed arrangements by Government.
It has been suggested that the clinic costs $500,000 per annum. We would question what it is all going to cost if the proposed scheme goes into operation — civil servants time to assess the patients, remuneration paid by the Government to the doctors participating, medications, lab. test, X-rays etc. The logistics of transporting some patients going to and from 20 different doctors offices to the hospital for medication and investigations would amount to many more journeys than attending the clinic at the hospital with X-ray, Lab, Pharmacy and ED all next door.
We would think that Government would be well advised to allow the clinic to continue for the next two years, while they examine the situation and get all the statistics — i.e. number of patients registered, number of attendees, total cost of the service, are the patients satisfied and getting good and sympathetic care and what would the cost be under a scheme such as the Government is proposing.
Dr. G. Black, Dr. E. Harvey, Dr. J.H.
lf Saluting an unsung hero
April 24, 2007
Dear Sir,
It gives us great pleasure to submit this congratulatory letter to your newspaper, which gives recognition to the achievements of Tyrone Crockwell of Bermuda.
Mr. Crockwell was recently promoted to the position of Director of Engineering at the Waikiki Beach Marriot Resort & Spar, effective from February 24, 2007. This hotel has over 1,000 rooms and generates over $130 million annually. It is also the largest hotel in the International Marriott profile.
It is our understanding that this is the only Bermudian to reach this international level of hotel engineering, and for this we applaud him generously. Tyrone began his career at the Bermuda Marriott in 1988 and was the Chief Engineer. He later went on to hold various positions at properties in the United States. In 2002, he arrived in Hawaii to take over the position of Director of Engineering at the Maui Marriott, and 14 months later he moved on to oversee the JW Marriott Resort and Spa in Oahu. In 2006, he was selected to join the Area team and is currently the Area Director of Engineering, which oversees the engineering discipline for the Marriott properties in Hawaii and Pacific Islands. Mr. Crockwell’s future goal is to hold a VP position in China.
It is the policy of the Black Alliance to support the achievements of all locals, especially the unsung heroes, who otherwise might not get any press coverage at all. Therefore, we find it fitting to direct Bermuda to the achievements of one o f its ‘Sons of the Soil’, in the hope that it may inspire or encourage someone else to seek their own goals more diligently.
On behalf of the Black Alliance, we salute Mr. Tyrone Crockwell and present him as an unsung hero, who heretofore has not received public support or notice.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Black Alliance,
CHARLES LEON O’BRIE CHA
Well done Bermuda!
April 25, 2007
Dear Sir,
would like to congratulate the public of Bermuda for taking an active role in current issues that face our beautiful island home. The march and presentation of the signatures opposed to the closure of the Medical Outpatient Care Clinic was a true act of democracy whether you agree or disagree with the position. Part of the goal of the organisers of the petition was to spread awareness on this issue and to begin an open dialogue on the abrupt decision to close the Clinic. I am elated with how well that goal was accomplished.
Now we must take our active role in democracy to the next step. It is time for the debates that are being held in the editorials of the newspaper and on the talk show radios to make it to the House. As Bermudians concerned about democracy we must encourage our MPs to have the very discussions and debates we are having before any final decision is made regarding the Clinic. Write and talk to your MPs, tell them your stance on this issue and what you would like done about it.
The first issue that must be acknowledged on this topic is that the doors to the Clinic were about to be closed without the proper consultation of medical professionals, patients and clinic staff. The protests and petition have brought to light that issue and now as Bermudians we must demand that the Government hold off on announcing if they will close the doors to the Clinic so as a proper dialogue on this issue can be held by the people who are running our country. The same way the citizens are researching and presenting information for and gainst the idea of closing the Clinic the Government needs to be doing the same on the Hill. Our leaders should be looking at both sides of the issue articulately, then consulting all the people involved and affected (including the petition as promised), taking the time to formulate an effective plan (covering all aspects), and finally announcing to the public their final decision.
Well done Bermuda! We have succeeded in waking up our democratic society, now let’s take the next step and hold our leaders accountable by listening to our views, after all this is supposed to be the people’s government!
PROUD TO BE BERMUDIAN
Jennifer Brookes
Smith’s Parish
Bothered by smell test
May 1, 2007
Dear Sir,I do not know whether the proposed development at Southlands is in the national interest or not. There is no doubt that tourism could use some investment and part of the site is zoned for that purpose. I also believe in progress, capitalism and that a new hotel of the right design in the right place would be a good thing. On the other hand the large amount of glass and concrete in the design, selling off yet more partial ownership units to outsiders, changing the use of open space and fast tracking of the project hardly seem consistent with substainable development or the openness that was promised at the PLP’s initial election.
What I do know is that the way it is being dealt with, in my opinion, doesn’t pass much of a smell test. It is that which bothers me most. The whole idea seems pretty much of a slam dunk. The clearing of the land started last year before any public announcements and at the time I was told it was “tourism related”. Moreover, the developers hired staff months ago to start setting up the partial ownership sales. The Premier and Tourism Minister has made much of the project and in some ways staked his public reputation on this. This is especially the case given that he invited the development company to Bermuda personally. Does anybody seriously believe that the Environment Minister is going to go against the man she is beholden to for her job — irrespective of the findings of any investigation by technical staffs? Why was the property partially cleaned out and staff hired to start selling off more to Bermuda if the developers didn’t get a “nod and a wink” from Government? (Before the developers bother to respond please don’t tell me the land clearing was
This is the background against which the spokesman for the developers makes his, to my ears anyway, dismissive and arrogant remarks. His choice of dismissing the public commentary on the top as nothing more than concerns for a few Mexican Peppers is crass in the extreme and clearly shows he misses the point completely. How he can reconcile such comments with the company’s public statements about wanting to be environmentally sensitive and doing the right thing for Bermuda is beyond me and insulting to the public’s intelligence. His most recent comments suggesting that Bermuda’s most prominent environmentalist is a political opportunist is an obscenity. Whether you agree with Stuart Hayward or not, (and I don’t always) to suggest that he is anything but a man of integrity who has consistently stood up and been counted on environmental issues (often in my view to his own cost) is ludicrous. Perhaps it is time for Mr. Christensen to be pulled from the stage and let his local partners — who have been strangely silent and totally non public — take up the mantle of representing the developers’ cause. They could hardly do worse!
Perception is everything in these types of situations and the public are warranted in speculation about what the quid-pro-quo has been to arrive where we are today — especially with the arrogance and lack of respect shown by the developers’ local spokesperson. One cannot help but have the sense that this has all been a deal done in a smoky room. Either way the current situation demands that the brightest light possible is shined on the issue. Perhaps such concerns are unwarranted but they are in no way alleviated by the pronouncements of Mr. Christensen and the SDO approach to the process.
Finally does anybody else find it ironic that the same government that banned Bermudians selling their houses (that meet the ARV requirements) to non-Bermudians, despite having the legal recourse to address any minimal abuse, freely allows developers the ability to sell off any number of whole and partial ownership units to outsiders?
UNCLE BILL
Southampton
Cycle tests required
April 28, 2007
Dear Sir,
My car was struck recently by a visitor, on a rented cycle, who came at speed out of a side road without showing any sign of stopping. My car was damaged extensively and has already been in the garage for over two weeks with at least another week to go.
I have long maintained that Government should devise and enforce a test that is compulsory for visitors to take before they can rent cycles. The liveries are primarily interested in renting cycles and they need to be supervised in this area.
Buses and ferries provide excellent transportation and could keep some poor riders off ouoads.
ROGER SNAPE
Pembroke
I agree with car proposal
April 12, 2007
Dear Sir,
I certainly agree with the Premier on cutting down on cars to guest workers. Something has go to be done.
There are hundreds of condos being built just for companies to rent because they are the only ones than can afford them, so they all have cars and homes as well.
I do not agree that it will frighten off companies coming here. It’s the best place to go. It’s right off the US and Canada. Why would they go to any other place? They love Bermuda. A little thing like how to get to work can be worked out by their companies.
It is time to think about the roads we have now. We are very much overpopulated in the first place and it is not by Bermudians. We need places for our own people and the people building all those condos will have cars and it has to be controlled. There’s too much money going to the wrong people.
BERMUDIAN
Devonshire
Gay cruise row will pass
April 25, 2007
Dear Sir,After reading the many comments about the cancellation of the gay cruise, and the negative effect it supposedly will have on tourism in Bermuda, let me just say that, if the serious Rebecca Middleton situation has not stopped Canadians from visiting or even coming here to work, there have been tourists who have seriously been victims of theft, beaten on our streets, and robbed at knife-point, and there have been tourists who have seriously lost their lives on Bermuda's roads, and we still have a rise in tourism, then the gay cruise situation seriously will not stop the world from visiting here.
Get a real problem. It's not that serious. This too shall pass. REALIST
City of Hamilton
