Privatise the hospital

April 14, 2008

Dear Sir,

Clearly no one is doing anything about the state of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. The place is falling apart, has serious facility and equipment issues and all of that is sure to have an effect on morale of the staff and recruiting decent staff. Plus the horror stories, fair or not, flow freely from the operating room. On top of that, this is a major cost centre for Government ... the money is pouring out the door.

And despite countless studies, there's no mention of a new facility in the Budget for this year.

So privatise the hospital. Sell it or get a professional in to run the place under a management contract or some sort of revenue sharing, non-political interference deal.

There will be a need to protect the community as it's the only hospital we have but that can be done through legislation. And no doubt it will cost more (I would think) for services but think of the millions that will be saved by Government and that can be transferred to better insurance programs and better health care programs.

Mr. Editor, I wake up with all sorts of ideas but this one makes more sense then many of my other dream inspired thoughts. Why don't you do some research on this? There are many private facilities in the US, some are the only ones in town, and most are run without political interference by professional hospital administration companies. Is this a good idea? I'd really like to know.

HUCK FINN

Southampton

Thanks to lady on bus

April 1, 2008

Dear Sir,

I would like to give a public thank you to the lady who saved my wife and I from a potentially awkward situation last Friday.

We had activated our three day transportation passes on Wednesday and on Friday used them to visit the Botanical Gardens. On our return at about 1pm the bus driver noticed that they were out of date ( the driver who had punched them had done it starting on Tuesday) and insisted that we pay.

We had no coins to use and of course no access to a sales outlet for coupons. We faced a long walk back to town from the hospital. Another passenger on the bus came to our rescue and gave us two coupons to get back to the bus station. She refused to accept payment for them saying simply that you receive what you give. This was a spontaneous gesture, maybe small in money value but of enormous assistance, which was a pleaure to experience in an increasingly selfish world. It restores ones faith in the goodness of human nature and I truly hope she gets it back some way or other soon.

This was the icing on the cake of a wonderful holiday.

MJ DUNN

London, United Kingdom

Reason for pen names

March 26, 2008

Dear Sir,

This is a reply to Eva Hodgson's letter dated March 14, 2008. Today I was surprised to read the comment from her on "Well Informeds" letter about Sir Henry Tucker, March 4, 2008.

I would have expected thanks, for such a positive letter about such a distinguished person, instead of rather hollow criticism.

Why the information in that excellent letter was in any way diminished by using a pen name escapes me.

There are various reasons why people decide not to use their name and these may run from internalised modesty to apprehension, but cowardice is pretty strong though, and given today's climate of fear in our increasingly lawless society probably well-informed.

If one has children in school or a spouse in the workplace or on a work permit, there may well be very justified reasons that have little connection to cowardice.

We who have the requisite intelligence to comprehend the effect of speaking publicly, will note the attack on sports reporter Adrian Robson to use one current example. Now "that" really was cowardly. Better if one has points to take issue with, to deal with those and utilise the very generous space the Editor allows both you and to speak our mind in the best spirit of democracy, while we can still do so.

SOCRATES

Paget

Dreading Customs

April 11, 2008

Dear Sir,

I have lived in this island for 40 years and have enjoyed it very much.

However, every time I arrive back from a holiday abroad I have to face the smug and arrogant Customs.

I read a lot of books that I bring back and was asked if I read them myself. That was the start of my welcome back to Bermuda.

Because I had a lot of meds in my bag, the dog smelt it and I was told to wait in the line-up. I was asked repeatedly if I had been around narcotics and the woman kept looking up at my reaction.

So all my items, and I mean all, were taken out including my wallet and pockets pulled out, plus my jacket was removed and I was interrogated about my meds although I had a letter from the doctor.

Friendly? Far from it, although I showed her a death certificate as I had been to my mum's funeral. Of course I should have been away much longer as seven days to the UK was not enough for her.

No airport has been a dread to me except Bermuda and as the tourists dwindle away to nothing I wonder why ... I of course realise that Customs are necessary in this day and age but to walk away as if you have been treated as a criminal is too much.

WILLOW MOON PEARCE

Devonshire

These are changing times

Dear Sir,

When Europeans first ventured out from their own land space, and invaded the land space of other peoples of whom they had no idea existed, were these adventures by Europeans out into the new world, Europeans perception of entitlement to the taking of other people lands?

When these same Europeans then turned around and enslaved those same people whom they had invaded, did that give them the right to further their entitlement?

Well, so much for Europeans and their perceived divine right of entitlement to the lands of other people, for whom had never troubled them.

So, where does Bermuda fit into the above, Bermuda fits into the above because it was European Bermudians, who totally enjoyed benefitting from their dominating control over Bermuda from 1609 right up to today, and are still benefitting economically even as they complain about not being in charge of the government; well, if that's not a form of entitlement, then what is? Europeans of Bermudian decent, benefitted to the fullest throughout slavery, segregation, glass ceilings and have built themselves a strong economic footing, for which they have been using to keep the rest of us other so-called Bermudians locked out in the economic cold, and only accepting those who bought into their philosophy and were prepared to hurt their own people for a price; could I be wrong, but does that seem like entitlement to you Mr. Editor.

It would seem to me that being born a citizen of Bermuda does give me some degree of entitlement to the country for which I call home, doesn't it Mr. Editor?

For those who may not know, there was once a book that was printed called Beautiful Bermuda, and was considered the standard official directory for Bermuda, if one was to read this book you would have almost gotten the impression that there were no black people living in Bermuda, that's if it was not for a small section written in there about the Berkeley Institute, which stated, "a secondary school for coloured children".

And to think that these same people could make such statements as Bermuda being the brightest jewels in the crown of King George VI, and as if to say that the king was in full support of the Government of Bermuda, making an all-out effort to make Bermuda one of the most progressive Anglo-Saxon Communities in the world; WOW! If that's not entitlement, then what is?

Where it concerns me, I only accept people just how I find them, and I don't care who they are or what's their race, yet I do believe that there is a large segment of the Bermudas population, still finds themselves stuck to that old philosophy mentioned above because of their historical and cultural connection to that past, thus here they are in todays world trying to dupe us by presenting that same old tired philosophy of the above in a new package, "sorry boys" nobody is buying entitlement for a few.

So, excuse us if it seems to some people that some of us are getting a bit ahead of ourselves, well, these are changing times, but the facts are that most of us Bermudians who were born here, have brought homes, pay bills, are expected to obey the laws, pay taxes, and elected the government whomever they may be, after all, shouldn't we feel a bit entitled, Bermuda does belong to us all.

E. M. STOVELL

Pembroke East

Fruit trees security

April 11, 2008

Dear Sir,

Nothing against the Ministry wanting to put fruit trees around but where you're planning to put them now is open season on whoever sees them especially when the plant nursery in Spanish Point you plan on putting them doesn't have a fence.If you put the trees in an isolated area instead,they will be less likely to be raided.

CHOOSE DIFFERENT LOCATION

Pembroke

P.s. Mr. Editor, I would like the following letter to go to the Minister of the Enviroment and/or the Premier if possible.