Hints on improving buses

October 29, 2004

Dear Sir,

I would like to respond to two letters in October 29 edition of ?Smith?s?? call to take tourists off scooters and ?Frustrated and Concerned?s? observations about travelling by bus. It seems to me that if we are to discourage tourists from travelling by motorbike, we have to provide them with a viable alternative.

I have recently given up my bike to travel daily on the Ten or Eleven bus to and from work and have noticed a problem in the period between 3.15 p.m. and 4.15 p.m., during which time school children are trying to get home, and cruise ship passengers and St. George?s Club residents are trying to get back to St. George?s.

When the bus at the City Hall Terminal opens its door, there is a scramble to get seats, no proper first-come, first-served queue. Elderly passengers engage in an undignified tussle with small children to find a place to sit, as it is no longer a given that young people will cede their seats to the elderly.

Yesterday elderly tourists, understandably reluctant to stand all the way to St. George?s, declined to get on the bus while several small children took up seats when they were only travelling a short way, and surely could have stood up for the five-minute journey to their stops on Palmetto Road.

The issue of respect for elders aside, the argument that children have the same right to seats as older passengers does not stand, as tourists pay the full bus fare, while students during term time travel at cheaper rates, and thus are not paying the same amount. I would like ? respectfully ? to suggest that all bus drivers follow the example of one driver who allows the adults to get on the bus first before allowing the school children on.

This would solve the problem of elderly passengers, whose safety is the responsibility of the bus drivers, not finding a seat.

An alternative would be to put in queue lines as we have at airport check-in counters so that there is an orderly embarking and a guarantee that those who chose not to stand on a full bus can wait at the front of the line for the next bus, on which they will have first choice of a seat.

I think too, that during the periods when the cruise ship season overlaps term-time, on the East-bound routes at least, buses should run every ten minutes rather than every 15 as they do now. I appreciate that as they are constantly dealing with the public, bus drivers need to have a great deal of patience, but I think that putting the above recommendations in place would go a long way to making their job easier and our journey more pleasant.

Headline was ?unprofessional?

October 29, 2004

Dear Sir,

I was very sad to see the recent front page headline on the allegation that a senior police officer lied in the recent child death trial. The headline was large and was obviously made that way to sell your product. It now appears that the jury did not believe the alleged ? learned counsel ? and convicted the felon.

I was glad to see that this conviction was ?headlined?. However, Bermuda needs all the police help and public support that it can find. Headlining unfounded allegations about police officers will not help. I know you have a newspaper to sell but it was unprofessional and lowered my opinion of an otherwise good newspaper.

No fishing off Flatts Bridge

October 25, 2004

Dear Sir,

I see that Government, in its collective wisdom, has provided a receptacle at Flatts Bridge for old tangled fishing line. Very nice: it blends in quite well with the ?No Fishing? signs clearly displayed on both sides of the bridge. Talk about mixed signals!

A scenario

November 2, 2004

Dear Sir,

The article in today?s paper concerning the proposed rent hikes to the seniors in BHT property, has really confused me. Here you have the Minister backing the rental increase, and on the other hand saying that if the tenants have a problem with these increases, then they have the option to apply for financial assistance.

I can just envision this scenario. Tenant A has an increase form $350 to $700 per month. So tenant A goes to Financial Assistance and gets assistance to the tune of $350 per month. Therefore tenant A has not really had any increase as government is paying for it through Financial Assistance.

In order to save a lot of paper work, I would suggest that the portion of the monies supplied by Financial Assistance be sent straight to the coffers of the BHT.

Great day for seniors

October 24, 2004

Dear Sir,

The Seniors Conference held by the United Bermuda Party at the Hamilton Princess on Saturday, October 23 was, without a doubt, a resounding success. The speeches, although in some cases a little long, were well thought out and delivered extremely well with some humour involved.

As a senior, I would like to say that the UBP definitely has a grip on some worrisome issues and has our interests at heart. I would, therefore, like to congratulate you on bringing all points relating to seniors to the forefront with possible solutions.

The buffet luncheon put on by the Princess was excellent and all in all a great day was had by our seniors. Many thanks to Louise Jackson and Hilary Soares for organising such an event as the subjects outlined are so important in our society today and it was very reassuring for our seniors. Well done UBP ? you deserve a lot of credit and I am sure that the seniors feel that they have not been swept under the carpet and forgotten.

A note of thanks

October 25, 2004

Dear Sir,

On behalf of Friends of Hospice and Agape House, I would like to extend appreciation to the staff of General International Limited (GIL), who kindly donated an afternoon of their time to paint the porch and reception area here at Agape House. Managing director Mr. John Vargo decided his company would give back to the community by assisting a worthy charity with a special project. How fortunate for us that his staff chose our facility.

November is Palliative Care Month and staff and volunteers here at Agape House are busy preparing for several events, including our fundraising ?Walk to Remember? on November 7 and an Open House on November 18. We were interested in sprucing the place up a bit, when GIL phoned to say they were willing to spend an afternoon undertaking any project that needed doing. We were delighted to use the opportunity for making our reception area more inviting and attractive. Not only did GIL kindly give of their time, they were gracious enough to pay for painting supplies.

In addition to Mr. Vargo, five other staff members, Phil Heaney, senior vice president; Brian Quinn, vice president; Judy Ingemann, administrator; Jessie Richardson, claims supervisor and Joann Caines, assistant accountant, were here on Friday, October 22, to brighten up our porch and reception area. They did a great job and the place really looks cheerful and pleasant.

Our dedicated staff and volunteers always appreciate it when community members support the important work we do. We are grateful that GIL made a decision to partner with Agape House, bringing a bit of spirit and sparkle to our facility.

We do not need a telethon

October 27, 2004

Dear Sir,

Several people called the Shirley Dill radio talk show today about last night?s telethon to aid hurricane victims in the Caribbean, and some of them suggested holding one for the needy in Bermuda. Bermuda does not need a telethon. Bermuda needs the government to act responsibly and to stop wasting the tax payers? money.

Just think of all the affordable housing that could have been built with the millions wasted on the Berkeley disaster. Think of the millions wasted on five fast ferries which could have waited until the needs of the homeless and the seniors had been met. Incidentally, the first two fast ferries, only four years old, are now idle!

The Premier has stated he will form the Bermuda Independence Commission and hold open meetings to discuss independence. The last time the PLP held a meeting on Independence, which was televised, people who didn?t agree with the views of the PLP were treated with rudeness and disrespect by the PLP panel.

Please, people of Bermuda, if you cannot write letters to the papers, than call the radio talk shows and voice your concerns. The newspapers and the talk show hosts don?t need to take an aspirin to listen to you!

Thanks to Louise Jackson

October 26, 2004

Dear Sir,

I think the Premier was very very insulting to Mr. (Albert) Jackson when he said ?He? has to take an aspirin to listen to Mrs. (Louise) Jackson. Who does he think he is? I have to turn him off as I would have to take an aspirin. I am tired of listening to lies. I thank Mrs. Jackson for standing up for Seniors because no one else seems to care (BHC wishes to put seniors homes up 100 percent. What does that tell you.

Say no to dictatorship

October 26, 2004

Dear Sir,

I note that the Government of Nova Scotia trusts and respects its citizens sufficiently to allow them to make the decision via referendum regarding Sunday shopping. That?s democracy.

Yet, here in Bermuda, a sophisticated, educated and cosmopolitan nation, the Government does not respect and trust its citizens to decide via referendum the vital issue of Independence ! That?s not democracy, that?s dictatorship! Wake up citizens. Do you want to live under a dictator? Think about it!

UBP are far too late

October 28, 2004

Dear Sir,

After donkey?s decades of being called the United Bermuda Party, they finally decided race was an important issue. After years of people screaming up and down that yes it really is important, the Opposition wisely informs us that, yes, it really is important. After years of both sides using the race issue as a crowbar to pry votes away from the other party, somebody decided to actually address the issue as an issue.

Miracles happen in Bermuda politics but they never ever surprise. They are like catching a bus to work that is so late you get there after five and everyone else has gone home. You think you might be glad it finally came, but then you wonder if it makes any difference this late. And maybe all that waiting was a tragic waste of time.