Jim Butterfield should sue

January 7, 2010

Dear Sir,

I agree entirely with your correspondent Camelot of Smith's. His comments about the treatment of Jim Butterfield by Government Ministers and Dennis Correia should not only have them all hanging their collective heads in shame but I would love to see the day that Jim sues these people. He is entitled to massive damages and I'm sure that he would win and teach these people how civilised businessmen work. The difference between Jim Butterfield and Dennis Correia and all those Government henchmen is one word class. Even if he did take them to court and win major damages, Jim Butterfield would do what he's been doing all his life in this community ... he'd use his winnings to help other people!

POLLY

Southampton

A disturbing trend

January 5, 2010

Dear Sir,

As a Bermudian recently returned to the island from the UK, and seeking employment, I have discovered a most disturbing trend. The last time I was out of the work force was circa 2000. Back then, employers would acknowledge receipt of your resume, normally via a posted letter. Fast forward to 2010. I have submitted resumes for openly advertised positions to no less than six local establishments in the past month. Much to my dismay, I have not received one, and I emphasise one, acknowledgement that my resume was received, that it is being considered, that it will be placed on file, that the position has been filled. Not a single word. This, despite further correspondence on my part to ascertain the status of my application and the job for which I am applying.

Has anyone else experienced this? Why have professional standards of behaviour dropped so in the past decade? How is it, that places of employment hold job applicants to such high standards of professionalism, integrity, and competence, without holding themselves to that same standard? Is it really too much effort to show some basic courtesy and respect to job applicants, by offering a simple 'Thank you for your application' response? This is absolutely deplorable behaviour. Employers, those of you guilty of this, take some classes in Professionalism. You're hopelessly lacking.

DISGUSTED JOB APPLICANT

Warwick

Use monetary rewards

January 5, 2010

Dear Sir,

I'm writing this as a Concerned Bermudian. I too have become apprehensive about entering certain areas due to the serious crimes that have recently come to the forefront. I further believe that it is well overdue, a need for proper policing/court punishments. Why is it that all of a sudden this appears to be going on, when in reality it has been happening directly in front of people who are (for numerous reasons) too afraid of "getting involved". As opposed to becoming part of the solution, they've chosen to remain silent and indirectly have actually become a major part of the problem. I personally feel until there be substantial rewards offered, (thousands of dollars) to those that can "assist from the inside", for the arrest and conviction of those creating this latest form of "havoc" that is making international news, and is projecting a negative view of our Island home Bermuda. Believe me, there are many active users of illegal drugs that would not hesitate "rolling over" on people who play a major role in this latest form of "cancer" that's infecting Bermuda Lure them with dollars ... that which they steal/rob embezzle or whatever means possible to them to get money for their habits!

PAY TO PLAY

St. George's

Dispose fishing line properly

January 7, 2010

Dear Sir,

Yesterday afternoon, January 6, my husband, Jan Cieters was able to rescue a Great Blue Heron not far from our home on the Old St. David's Road close to the right turn leading to Clearwater School. This magnificent animal was in a desperate state, struggling to fly away from the road, but unable to take off, because of tied and therefore disabled legs. Both legs were tightly bound up in fishing line, much of the line cutting into and deeply embedded in the tissues of the legs. A large rusty hooks, and heavy, lead, bell-shaped weight, tied to the fishing nylon formed a nasty addition to the snare.

I am submitting this letter in the hope of reaching some of those fishing enthusiasts, some of whom like to leave their weighted lines out occasionally unattended during the day and also over night. Please think ahead, and think of the slow and painfully distressing death your cut, lost or forgotten line and tackle can cause. Birds of all sizes, turtles and also domestic animals can become the unintended victims of your negligence. Please, if your line gets stuck in the rocks, do everything you can to carefully recover it, before cutting it, or abandoning it. Anyone walking along the beaches, bays and shores, coming across nylon in underbrush or anywhere else, who takes the time to recover all of this material taking it home for safe disposal, will certainly do our living environment a service of kindness.

MAUREEN WARE-CIETERS M.R.C.V.S.

St. David's

Truth: Thai Tiger Temple

January 5, 2010

Dear Sir,

It was fair of your Lifestyle journalist to make note of the Care for the Wild (CWI) website in today's article (December 29, 2009) about Tigers in the Temple in Thailand. As a long time and regular visitor to Thailand, I would like to point out that both the well respected National Geographic and Care for the Wild International, are among many organisations to expose this tiger temple. Despite its isolated location along the Thai-Burmese border, it attracts hundreds of visitors a day for a small entry fee plus approximately $50 extra to pose for photographs, with a tiger's head in your lap, for the Buddhists monks earning an estimated US $20,000 a week. The CWI report, based on information collected over a period of three years, states that the temple has been engaged in illegal tiger trafficking and breeding, systematic physical abuse of the tigers, inadequate shelter and veterinary care for the animals who are kept in tiny caged enclosures and paraded in chains, and high risk interactions between tigers and tourists. It is well known, even in Thailand, that these animals are heavily sedated with drugs and that (even according to the reputable Straits Times article June 21, 2008) the Thai Tiger Temple is a "con job".

LOVER OF TIGERS IN THE WILD

Southampton

Teach by example

January 6, 2010

Dear Sir,

After careful consideration, I write to you as a concerned citizen of Bermuda and not just about my neighbourhood, but our Island on a whole. There are so many incidents that occur on a daily basis, however, I would like to voice my opinion on this recent problem of parking, via your newspaper. There have been some road works, being done on Roberts Avenue, on the Border of Devonshire parish, located at the back entrance of the National Stadium, also in conjunction Bermuda Electric Light Company, has shifted electric light poles further to the left side of the road.

For the past three weekends, there has been a long line of parked cars starting from the (lower gate), of the National Stadium, (double and single park), leading up the left side of Roberts Avenue going nearly all the way South. I can see that this sudden practice is a serious accident waiting to happen, since driving up from the junction of Palmetto Road on to Roberts Avenue, going north, a person has to wait for the head on traffic travelling north down the hill, since these cars are double parked, nearly all the way through Roberts Avenue on the yellow line, with very little regard to anyone. "As parents, we must pay close attention, remembering to set the example, it is vital that we teach and encourage our kids to do the right things, as most children follow by example"

At times a parent or parents underestimate the importance of the example that we set for our children and think it does not matter much, but there is good evidence that it does. We as parents have the greatest impact on your children's life. Children learn by watching others, especially parents. A good percentage of families do not study the Bible, nor implement any inspirational or spiritual study in the home. No wonder there is Pornography, unwanted pregnancy, gang involvement and suicide are but a few of the challenges faced by this generation of teenagers. Today's teens live in a world which challenges their self-esteem. Media bombards them with ideas of a proper body type and weight, social expectations and manner of dress. Peers challenge them with invitations to participate in unhealthy activities such as risky sex, drugs, alcohol and crime.

Parents often lack the tact, skill or interest to effectively help their teens during this tumultuous period in their lives. This raises questions as to what resources may be most useful to help prepare teenagers to face these challenges. Various approaches are possible, including the use of diverse role models to help prepare teenagers for the future. Another prominent thought is that parents fulfil this role most effectively. Other possibilities include the employment of professionally trained mental health workers. As this is an open-ended problem with no single solution, various ideas merit consideration. No single method or approach is all-encompassing or sufficiently superior to justify the disregard of other approaches and ideas.

Parents are not a panacea for teenage woes, however. Teens stereotypically rebel during this period in their lives from authority, especially that of their own parents. If a family is dysfunctional, many problems arise that actually contribute to the dysfunction of the teenager. Of all teens arrested for violent crimes, a good minority come from broken homes. The rate of social, emotional or psychological dysfunction in children doubles when the parents are divorced. These are all weaknesses inherent in the otherwise valuable resource. Other limitations include the fact that many parents simply do not know how to communicate effectively with their teenagers. Also, many teens view parents who have made similar poor choices as tyrannical hypocrites. Our Bermuda has become a sick island over the years; some standards are zero, and there is no regard for anyone, I say to all those who are breaking the law each day and at times, remember to think, when your children do the similar thing, who is to blame?

CONCERNED AND PERPLEXED!

Devonshire