A real Bermudian hero

Dear Sir,

I have been thinking of this letter for three weeks, but have not been able to complete it before now. I am writing it because it should be written. It concerns the death of my father. Your readers may ask themselves what this has to do with them, but I believe it has to do with all of us who enjoy the benefits of living in this well-connected island jewel, placed so remotely in the middle of the Atlantic.

Wing Commander (Moe) Ware, B.Sc., M.R.Aes ., C.Eng., D.F.C., O.B.E was the very first Director of Civil Aviation. He remained in that post for some 30 years, building it from a post-war nothing (literally) into what it is today minus the $29,000,00. QEd-extension, which as far as I can tell is an on going nightmare with inadequate toilet facilities and roof sealant.

His death on March 29, 2003 marks the passing away of one of Bermuda's staunchest champions. He was obsessed with building up the Civil Air Terminal into a comfortable destination for tourists and residents alike. He fought tooth and nail sometimes against some of the heaviest weights in the business, to get Bermuda connected via multiple air carriers and to try and prevent monopoly agreements. He was as comfortable having lunch with the porters as he was pressing Royal flesh on the tarmac. He negotiated relentlessly and literally spent most of his waking moments at the Airport. I know, because I lived in our family. My long-suffering mother raised three children frankly single-handedly, because when he was not actively doing the business of Civil Aviation, he was flying his little Luscombe , a sea plane which he kept at a slip he built himself behind the now defunct helicopter building.

I am sure there must be several photographers still with us, who were some of his regular patrons. All of the earliest aerial shots of Bermuda were taken from his little plane. The door on the passenger side was taken off, and the photographer - lashed into his seat - was able to lean out and take the first aerial photographs of this marketable destination. A brief look at the Tourism files can confirm this. All the sadder that his death could come and burial go, without so much as a chirp from this New Bermudian Government.

I believe that a gentle reminder is in order. There are many who may not meet the New Bermudian definition of "Hero" but this man's reputation was well deserved, as was the OBE, which he received at the end of his service. He died at his home Palmetto House, which is where he wanted to be, and his grave was lined with palmetto leaves.

It remains important to thank the many who turned out for his funeral, particularly those with whom I know he had many a heated battle. Thank you each and every one. Thank you also to everyone who sent cards, all of which were so sincere, and many of which came from the most gentle and humble people. Bermuda is indeed a special place.

There are however four people to whom I wish to extend public and personal thanks. Mr. Alfred Madeiros, for being a true friend and the most quietly compassionate human being to the end. Mrs. Shirley Higgs RN of PALS who gave so much and more than any of us was permitted to give. The Rev. Canon James Francis, whose service and eulogy was sensitive, professional and healing - a very special Man of the Cloth. The Organist Mr.. Lloyd Matthew for his own professional touch.

DR. A.M. WARE-CIETERS

Get your child vaccinated

Dear Sir,

We are writing in response to the letter from B. Thorne in your issue of April 22, titled "Vaccinations may be risky".

As the parents of three autistic children, we have more motivation than most to discover the cause of this condition. Over the past few years, we have seen many theories about this come and go, but the vaccination theory just will not go away. However, the scientific evidence is very clear: numerous studies have been done using data from millions upon millions of children, and every one of these studies has failed to demonstrate any evidence of a link between autism and children who were patients of Dr. Andrew Wakefield at the Royal Free Hospital in London, who theorised the link after seeing about a dozen children with autism and irritable bowl syndrome. Any indication of a link from this small sample does not constitute evidence, especially in the face of the large scale studies since done. These studies are well documented and available on the internet; a good place to start is the American Medical Association at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/article/1824-2080.html.

Childhood vaccinations are a vital element of general efforts to prevent disease. This is a difficult discussion, as it requires us to trust our medical advisers and act in the interest of society as a whole. Thus, many parents who become alarmed at stories of a link between vaccinations and autism think they are being responsible parents by refusing vaccinations, and think they are entitled to act in what they think are their children's best interests. They are not. The child most at risk is the six-month-old baby next door, who is too young to be vaccinated, and who is most likely to die from a general outbreak of measles. There are parts of the UK where the vaccination rate has fallen below 80 percent, and a measles epidemic with the consequent deaths of dozens of young children is highly likely. Let's not have this happen to Bermuda.

While it is true that the FDA has instructed drug companies to phase out thimerasol (a vaccine preservative which contains mercury) we would characterise this more as a prudent safety measure than a response to a crisis. Other preservatives are now available, and by phasing out thimerasol , the FDA is hoping that more people will vaccinate their children. It is also strange that the focus of concern is now that children receive too many vaccines, whereas yesterday's news about the MMR vaccine and its supposed link to autism caused worried parents to demand separate vaccines for the three conditions: more vaccines, not less. The scaremongers need to make up their minds.

We have more reason than anyone to find a cause, and someone to blame, for our children's conditions. Vaccines are not the answer. We strongly encourage everyone to make sure their children get vaccinated.

MICHAEL AND TRICIA CROW

Angels deserve thanks

April 21, 2003

Dear Sir,

Would you please allow me a little space in your editorial section, to express my gratitude.

Please excerpt this letter to express my gratitude and appreciation for the following nurses who gave me excellent service, whilst I was a patient in King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. Ms Marisa, Colleen, Keisha, Male Nurse Michael. I was on Gordon Ward. It is not often that individuals go out of their way to help others. Their great service, which in my opinion was top notch.

MRS. BURCHALL

Southampton

Priced out of home

April 23, 2003

Dear Sir,

My husband and I are an ordinary upper middle class family. We are both professionals who hold good jobs and bring home good salaries that support our modest way of life. We have been blessed with three great children; one attends college one is in home school and one in private school. We are an ordinary Bermudian family that is soon to be homeless.

For two years now we have been looking for a place to either buy or rent. We have placed numerous wanted to rent ads, we have offered a reward of $1,000 to anyone who helps us find an affordable place to live, we have even been pre-approved for a home loan all to no avail. As the blame game rages on in the media over who is at fault for the current housing problem in Bermuda, people, ordinary people like you and me are suffering. Our Island is facing a housing disaster of epic proportions and no one is doing anything about it. There is a lot of talk, or I should say pious grandstanding, on the issue. There is a lot of finger pointing and excuses but no quantifiable action, no affordable homes to rent or buy.

I am and you should be greatly ashamed of everyone that has had a hand in making our Island home a place too pricey for ordinary people like my family and I to live free from fear of eviction and homelessness. We as a country have allowed the foreign dollar to destroy our precious Bermudian way of life. We have sold the soul of the Island to the highest bidder at the expense of the Bermudian people. I am ashamed of the foreign companies for paying rents that locals could never dream of competing with. The classified section of the new paper should list all the available apartments these days under the heading of "Foreigners Only - locals need not apply." I don't know very many locals that can afford $5,000 and up a month to rent a two bedroom apartment that only a short three years ago would have rented for $1,500.

If these foreign companies can afford to spend $5,000 and up for many of their employees can you image how much they are saving in US taxes - it has to be in the billions. It is very obvious these companies are not concerned with the high price of accommodations in Bermuda. The rents keep going up and they still keep coming, take a look at the job listings, more and more foreigners are coming everyday. Why shouldn't they? Their rents are paid for them they get to save money and build great bank accounts all while enjoying life on our beautiful Island while ordinary people like you and me suffer.

I am ashamed of the real estate companies that have inflated the housing market, it seems like they keep raising the prices to see how much the market will bear before it breaks. It is to their benefit to keep pushing the limits, the larger the sales the more money they make, the more overall profits. I am ashamed of the agents that make fun of ordinary people like me; I have been consistently laughed at or pitied by agents that I have told I have $400,000 to invest in a home. They generally make snide dismissive comments like "Good luck" or lady you are looking for a needle in a hay stack. Do you know what it feels like to have $400,000 and being looked upon as if you were dirt poor? If you want to buy a house in Bermuda today you need to have at least $750,000 to be taken seriously.

I am ashamed of all the politicians and the people that look like them that have watched their own homes grow in size and have increased their personal comfort level while the people they were elected to serve can't find a place to live. Drastic times call for drastic measures, how about;

Placing a moratorium on elective evictions.

Place a cap on what a company can spend for their employees accommodations make it on par with a local pre-approve standard.

Make the foreign companies take the money they will save from the housing cap to build an international apartment complex at Club Med or the base lands.

Elected officials need to take action now and stop playing the blame game - this is an election year.

But most of all I am ashamed of all Bermudians for not letting their voices be heard - including myself. We have sat quietly by while our affordable housing has been taken away from us and given to people that have their rents paid for them. I want all Bermudians to think about this, if there is no place to live today what will the future hold for the children of tomorrow?

ORDINARY PEOPLE

Hamilton Parish