Vet gets it wrong

June 25, 2003

Dear Sir,

What in the world is Dr. Madeiros, Chairman of the SPCA, and vet, talking about ('Summer heat can be deadly for your pets, SPCA warns', Wednesday June 25).

He suggests that dogs who succumb to what is a very painful death - heat exhaustion - are not necessarily neglected or from unloving homes.

Good grief, Dr. Madeiros! That is in fact where they do come from! To imply that these deaths are as a result of "ignorance" is simply stupid, stupid, stupid! Leaving a dog tied outside to a tree is not only cruel but also leaves the dog defenseless against anyone who wants to harm it.

Apparently Dr. Madeiros has forgotten that dogs are social animals who need interaction with their human caretakers, quality exercise and proper shelter. All one has to do is look into the eyes of a tied up dog and they'd see a hollow, empty shell of "man's best friend".

Dr. Madeiros and the SPCA should be looking into why dogs are being tied up. If people can afford a dog, they can certainly afford to take their dog to obedience classes, or build a fence for their dog's safety.

MARIA ZAYATZ

St. George's

Advice to taxi drivers

June 27, 2003

Dear Sir,

To Taxi Drivers

Why let the PLP win? Change your 3,000 votes and vote UBP.

DEVONSHIRE

What is the NDC doing?

June 25, 2003

Dear Sir,

At the risk of beating a dead or dying horse, (the National Drug Commission), I am writing to invite the "Bishop" of Bermuda's Alcohol and Drug Abuse System - the Rev. Andrew Doughty, (chairman of the National Drug Commission) to update us on the plans, progress and accomplishments of the National Drug Commission.

It has been six months since his official appointment as chairman (he served as deputy chairman under Malcolm Butterfield) and I am still searching for tangible evidence of hope and opportunity for those suffering from alcohol and drug addiction in our community.

I understand that Fair Haven is in final stage of self-termination and the board of this registered charity has not been properly constituted for at least six months. The membership is surrendering and stepping away one by one in frustration and despair.

The Minister of Health and Social Services and the National Drug Commission have full knowledge of this. Yet, they both steadfastly maintain that the publicly voiced concerns of our addicted residents seeking treatment and their family members are merely background noise to a healthy and vibrant treatment system where addicted women are valued and healed.

What are your views, Rev. Doughty? How are you managing our $5,000,000 from the public purse budgeted for the National Drug Commission this year?

RECOVERY ON THE ROCKS

Paget

Consult the public

June 26, 2003

Dear Sir,

I will be very grateful if you would be kind enough to publish this letter.

In yesterday's Royal Gazette on Page Three, there was what appeared to be a small, almost inconsequential, story titled 'Corporation floats dock plan'. The story read 'The Corporation of Hamilton has pleased local cruise operators with its plans to construct a floating dock at Albouy's Point'.

According to Corporation Secretary Roger Sherratt, primarily commercial cruise boats in the congested Albouy's Point area will use the new dock, which will be approximately 280 feet in length.

This means the Corporation of Hamilton will build a floating dock at Albouy's Point without consultation with the people of Bermuda and henceforth that area will be commercialized and made more congested to the extent it no longer will be the public park it has been for generations.

Many generations of Bermudians have enjoyed the beauty of that waterfront property for picnicking, boating, and just plain relaxing, and it should be preserved for future generations. The Corporation should not be allowed to impose additional usages on that land simply by floating a plan. There should be a proper environmental impact study done with consultation with the public the number one priority.

If ever there was a case that demonstrates The Corporation meetings should be public, this is it. It also points to major revisions that must take place in our planning laws to better protect open space and the public interest.

Albouy's Point is one of our important public parks. It should be made inalienable so that no authority, Corporation, Government, or otherwise will ever again be able to threaten it's use by the people.

By the way Mr. Editor, I intend to submit a copy of this letter to the Planning Department as my objection to this dock development in the Albouy's Point area. I hope there will also be other objectors as well.

Thanking you for your assistance.

QUINTON L. EDNESS

What's gone wrong?

June 29, 2003

Dear Sir,

On a sweltering California day, I was sitting on my front porch with a bag of Royal Gazette newspapers my mother had given me the night before, when I browsed through a few and felt shock and dismay at the escalating violence, scooter theft, break-ins, sex abuse and some idiot sexual predator on the lam. Gee, I wonder how far he thought he was going to get. What happened to you folks over there?

I remember a time when we were proud to be from Bermuda and it was the place to be. There are many reminders of Bermuda in my small home, from pictures to letter holders to magnets and coral. Always something there to remind me of a home that no longer exists and a place forever lost in the confines of time. My heart aches that our young will never know the Bermuda of the 50s and 60s.

Every summer as a child, I would come back and immediately be drawn to the ocean searching for sea shells or catching the ever elusive Sergeant-Major fish. And who can forget precious memories of getting stung by Hornets as I reached high in the cherry tree for the fattest, reddest one I could find ?

Anyway, sounds to me like you have a lot of dusty pews and plenty of rusty behinds that should be sitting there warming them up.

In response to the March 19, 2003 issue front page when the lady Premier claimed that Bermuda was prepared for any emergency, regarding terrorists attacks, well hello, look around you, the Iraqis are the least of your problems. And by the way, I can get you a case of furniture polish real cheap.

ROBERTA CRUZ

Sacramento, California