Just a thought

June 8, 2005

Dear Sir,

Yes, I know that it's basically the end of two stores that lasted a long time in Bermuda: Trimingham's & Smith's yet, I often wonder if they could've got saved if they sold the following:

1. Bedhead Pyjamas (you would have to see the website to know what they are) for both male & female even in children's sizes.

2.Kept selling the old cashmere sweaters instead of the newer ones and at a smaller price:$80.

3.Someone suggested Air Force 1s. Just a thought.

4. Sold private school uniforms since English Sports Shop sells mostly public schoolwear (except for Saltus/Bermuda Institute/Warwick Academy kids).

5. Sold Charles Kirk sweaters up to size 48" as well as other name brands.

What will become of the two stores afterwards?

IDEAS

Pembroke

Stop the smokescreen

June 8, 2005

Dear Sir,

So 'BIC's Lamb comes to Govt. liaison Perinchief's defence' (headlines, front page, today's Royal Gazette).

If Mr. Perinchief introduced himself to the student body as BIC's Government liaison ? then his audience will take his words as coming from under the umbrella of the BIC ? unless Mr. Perinchief told the same audience that he was speaking only as a private Bermudian citizen. Did he tell the audience that? If not, then the audience, quite rightly, must have thought he was speaking while wearing his BIC hat. This is not rocket science.

Certainly to say that the 'time had come for us to stand up tall and do for ourselves rather than non-Bermudians 4,000 miles away' is not the balanced and factual arguments Alex Scott promised BIC would deliver, but really, does anyone out there really believe our esteemed leader didn't stack the BIC with 'undercover agents' of the pro-independence type?

Mr. Perinchief showed his bias at the school meeting, so stop blowing smokescreens.

ME

City of Hamilton

Change needed at top

June 3, 2005

Dear Sir,

We are seeing a disturbing increase in the number of incidents involving firearms in the New Bermuda. In an article published April 23, 2003, a police representative spoke of the use of illegal firearms in the community being on the rise. This article was preceded by an article published April 21, 2003 whereby teenagers claimed how easy it was to smuggle guns into Bermuda via the Bermuda International Airport.

If this happened, was it because of the multi tasks Customs Officers have to perform (i.e. collecting revenue, interdicting drugs and other contraband in addition to Bermuda Immigration, Agriculture and Fisheries and Bermuda Monetary functions, just to name a few)?

What we should be seeing at our borders are the more experienced Customs Officers, instead of the new faces we see at the airport (i.e. trainees and students), especially when the threat of terrorist attacks around the world is on the increase.

The Collector of Customs, Mrs. Winniefred Fostine-DeSilva, thought the problem would be solved by overlooking qualified, experienced Bermudian Customs Officers thus bringing a Canadian, namely Miss Joan Crown, with limited experience in this area to Bermuda to head that section of Customs. Has there been a decrease in drugs and illegal firearms entering our island via the airport since Miss Crown's arrival?

The Collector of Customs has stated that "we search passengers based on principles of probability and risk. Extensive training has enabled our officers to identify potential smugglers and to detect items such as guns and drugs concealed in luggage. We have had considerable success with the methods we use even though gun smuggling is not common in Bermuda."

If that's the case, how did the guns get here? It was also mentioned that training is provided by the Bermuda Regiment who familiarize Customs Officers with guns and their component parts in a full day's training for trainee officers and half-day refresher courses.

With the increase in firearm charges going before the Courts the Collector of Customs, since making the above mentioned statement, should have received extensive training herself so that she would be in tune with the crime statistics involving firearms in Bermuda and act accordingly. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Perhaps she needs to rethink the search criteria based on the principles of probability and risk and face the facts.

In reference to making a comparison with the Customs Officers and Police Officers' duties, the problem I see is that more emphasis is being put on curing as opposed to preventing the problem. The Police Service has been given additional staff to combat the increasing incidents involving the use of drugs and firearms in Bermuda, and have formed a special team of trained officers to attempt to combat the problem.

Certainly the Union that represents Customs Officers must take some responsibility for failing to fully comprehend and deal with the issues of the staff. It appears that the Bermuda Police Service has no problem convincing the Government that they need resources in whatever area. The Police Association is a much stronger union in enforcing the demands of the officers they represent.

If the Collector of Customs is serious about combating this problem, priority should be given to important issues such as providing the appropriate resources to prevent the problem of drugs and guns entering Bermuda, rather than focusing on the Customs Automated Processing System (CAPS) which Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons labelled as a "very sad story" in March 2003. He also stated that "It's not just taxpayers money wasted here, it's also business time and business effort ? It's been a disaster from square one." It's been two years since that statement was made and a few million more of the taxpayers' dollars spent. Perhaps it's time for the Collector of Customs to admit defeat in the failed CAPS project and allow the monies allocated in the Customs budget to be better utilised in the areas needed (i.e. specialised overseas training for staff, putting Customs Officers back on the gangways of cruise ships. etc.).

Before all of this can take place, however, the Collector of Customs has to ensure that the issues which have plagued the Customs Department (i.e. no promotions since 2001 etc.) receive her immediate attention. It makes no sense training disgruntled staff ? they need to be motivated and feel appreciated by their employer. Obviously, she has failed in this area ? and perhaps that is why there has been an exodus of staff and numerous threats of strike action in recent years. The Customs Department is losing an unnecessary number of experienced officers who are being replaced by Trainee Customs Officers. The Minister responsible for the Customs Department should recognise that change is undoubtedly needed at the top.

TIME FOR A CHANGE

Hamilton Parish