“For whom the bell tolls

Time marches on

For whom the bell tolls”

— Metallica

By Chris Famous

There is a bell in Devonshire that has been tolling for multiple generations. Anyone living in Devonshire North knows that bell very intricately. It has tolled for every weekly church service. It has tolled for every funeral. It tolls, it tolls.

This week it tolled once again.

Devonshire Church has become the pivotal point of respect, respite and recourse for many seniors who flock to hear the words of the shepherd, Canon James Francis, a man who mixes scripture with laughter on a consistent basis. One would be hard-pressed to wonder if you were in a service or at a night of comedy.

Needless to say, his magnetic words keep Devonshire Church packed with multiple generations every week.

This week we had a chance to spend some time speaking with many of the seniors who attend the weekly after-service tea and goodies session. Diallo Rabain was greeted warmly by many who wanted to express their concerns facing seniors.

Chief among their concerns was the constant rise in healthcare cost.

Many have expressed that they honestly cannot afford the additional $50 that has now been taxed on to their monthly insurance fees.

One lady spoke of having to cut back on groceries to balance her budget. Another spoke of having to go out and start packing groceries just to make ends meet.

The second most common concern was that they were told that there would be no increase in their pensions. They believe that they have done their part for decades to build the Bermuda that many now enjoy and feel angered when they are told “money does not grow on trees”.

One gentleman asked how it was possible to find $77 million for America’s Cup activities while seniors were suffering. His exact words: “Does money grow on trees for only certain folks?”

The recent attempt to change legislation surrounding mammograms had served to anger many of the ladies who had either lost a relative to breast cancer or were breast-cancer survivors themselves.

One lady pointed towards the graveyard and stated that had it not been for early detection, she would be laying down in a grave.

Yet another concern was that many seniors will now potentially face a land-tax bill under proposed changes. For them, living on fixed income means that they have no margin of error for increase of any sort, inclusive of land tax.

It quickly becomes abundantly clear that there are two services every Sunday at Devonshire Church.

The first service is the official service that is conducted by Canon Francis in his “cathedral of comedy”. The second service is the church hall, which is conducted and controlled by those who have dedicated their lives to building a Bermuda that works for Bermudians.

Throughout it all, the bell will continue to toll.