Dear Sir,

People, please be careful of words uttered because they can tarnish the innocent. I say this because of an incident that was witnessed on July 18 at a gas station on North Shore between an Indian lady in her green car and a gas station attendant.

She was rude, loud and accusatory. She called him names and kept saying: “You are a bad man. You do bad things.”

She proclaimed loudly that this man was a taxi driver. Again, she was rude, loud and clearly not listening to what he was saying or others around her. She was just out to badmouth this man who she thought was her “bad taxi driver”.

This man has never owned or driven a taxi, making him the wrong person. He calmly told her this and it was confirmed by others working there.

He gave her his full name and told her she had permission to look it up at TCD or the police. He welcomed her to bring someone else to identify him. He even apologised for whatever was done bad to her, but that it was not him.

This poor man could not get rid of her, as she continued to bash him as her “bad taxi driver”. When others tried to tell her, she did not listen.

I guess she was determined to make this man her “bad taxi driver”, even if he was not. People, get your facts straight before you open your mouths and point fingers.

You cannot come to a man’s place of employment and make a scene. You can tarnish someone’s reputation, among other things. That is how rumours start.

I know this man personally and can honestly say that he is one who should have been in the papers as “a good Samaritan”.

He has done things such as:

• Come to the rescue when one has forgotten their funds and are truly in a bind

• Given his own bike to a stranger, whose motorcycle broke down at the gas station on their way to work. (He loaned his bike so they could make time and get home after leaving him to call on his fiancée to come get him to pick up his bike later that evening, long after his regular knock-off time.)

• Not long ago a car needed a jump, he assisted using his own car

• He is one you can count on to greet you with a smile and kind words, and most often a joke when you pull up for gas

• He is wonderful with children and would have them laughing or telling him about their day on your short fill-up. If you’re there long enough, you could even hear the shout of a child, “Hi, Larry” as a parent’s car drives by

• He is the one who would be ready and willing to help you in any way he can, all doing it while making you feel at ease

• He is always pleasant, found with a smile, willing to help if he can or find you help when he can’t

• He was recognised for good attendance and given the highest recognition from undercover shoppers

This gentleman, Larry Richardson, is innately who we are as Bermudians, where we can proclaim without hesitation that we are proud to be Bermudian. I just hope that when this lady finds out her error, and she will go and apologise as loudly and publicly as she came to accuse.

As for the actual taxi driver who did this “bad thing”, he needs to remember what you dish out will come back to you. People, please before you open your mouths, make sure of what you are saying because once words are out, they cannot be taken back.

Others hearing this can run with your rumour and they can potentially do damage to the innocent. What you don’t want done to you, don’t do to others.

JUDITH VIRGIL

Pembroke