Thanks for caring

September 27, 2010

Dear Sir,

Through your newspaper we wish to publicly thank the caring professionals of the Community Health Nursing Section who showed compassion and superior experience during the final stages of my mother's illness. The quality of their care was exceptional.

Thanks to Susan Reeves, Valerie Arorash, Diane Gornall, Barbara Stubbs and Andrew Cooper of the Rehab Section, we were able to cope.

They are all true angels.

With gratitude,

ANDREA SINCLAIR

Pembroke

Belco were prompt

September 27, 2010

Dear Sir,

I would like to commend Belco for the prompt service they provided to us tonight when they answered a call my husband made to them about a minor problem of flickering lights.

When we lost our power during Hurricane Igor, it was restored within the 24-hour period, however, we noticed that the lights kept flickering as though we were about to lose power. Upon checking the neighbours, we learned we were not the only household experiencing this problem.

When my husband reported this minor problem to the Belco agent at approximately 9 p.m. today, he hardly expected to have the problem rectified within the hour. There was no urgency when he placed the call, but Belco proved to us that their employees are quite capable of providing prompt service. A big thank you to Mr. Kevin Swan and the gentleman who accompanied him, for instantaneously identifying and rectifying the problem by repairing the faulty line connection to the transformer outside our house.

JENNIFER CAINES

Devonshire

Those little holes

September 28, 2010

Dear Sir,

There is an awful lot of emphasis being placed on the criminal element in our society, but who is accepting responsibility for the decline this Island is facing?

Individuals who choose to act upon bad ideas must realise that only he/she is responsible for his/her own actions. He/she should be as prepared to deal with any consequences for making bad choices. This should apply to any individual from toddlers to leaders and not just limited to thugs.

In my view, the leaders of this Island have not been very logical in their thinking, especially considering that logic is about reality and truth. As it relates to the escalation of violence and gun crime and the availability of illegal drugs in Bermuda, it is fact that it has never rained drugs or guns on this Island. So how did they get here so easily? It is also fact that not every law enforcement officer in Bermuda is law abiding. In addition to this, not every individual who engages in corrupt practices is pursued, caught or ultimately punished.

If these little facts have been ignored, then please be reminded that little things should not be ignored, for it is the little things that lead to big things.

When one becomes aware that one's car tyre has a small hole, immediate action is taken to correct the problem. Little holes in the system should have been patched up just as expeditiously. The fact that they haven't been simply indicates that the source of Bermuda's ills originates at the top, yet we constantly see the focus placed on those at the bottom.

If you are aware of wrong that is being or has been done and choose to remain silent, then you are equally responsible for contributing to Bermuda's social ills.

JENNIFER CAINES

Devonshire

Cut off on radio

August 26, 2010

This was sent to Rick Richardson Managing Director of Bermuda Broadcasting Co. Ltd. and copied to The Royal Gazette.

Dear Rick,

Today I was listening to the Everest DeCosta's show when a caller to his show started to speak on the issue of corruption and because Everest did not want to hear about corruption today, he unceremoniously cut the caller off the air, saying that he did not have any proof that Government was corrupt, and if he could show proof, to bring it to the station and show him. Consequently, the caller could not voice his opinion.

Last week, Mr. Walter Brangman called in to his show and he entertained him for 30 to 45 minutes. Mr. Brangman spoke volumes regarding Government in which he talked about corruption and kickbacks, etc and Everest, because it was Mr. Brangman, did not cut him off. When Mr. Brangman finished his talk on Government and the way things should not be run, Everest couldn't say enough about how Mr. Brangman was a wealth of knowledge and wisdom, and how Bermuda needed more like him or something to that effect. I called in behind Mr. Brangman and voiced my opinion of what Mr. Brangman had to say and Everest agreed.

Today was a different story. Everest did not want to hear anything about corruption in Government and after he had cut some caller/s off, I called in to remind him of what Mr. Brangman had to say last week on his show about corruption and kickbacks, and I was also rudely cut off. He would not give me the chance to repeat what Mr. Brangman had to say. He talked over me and then hung up on me while I was still on the line. His attitude was deplorable, rude and disrespectful, but rest assured, he will never get the chance to do that to me in the future.

Mr. DeCosta is a talk show host, and he is supposed to let people voice their opinions as long as it isn't libelous, or personal, or completely out of order – but if it is not to his liking, he will cut people off and return to the air justifying why he cut someone off. He has done this many times to many people. I realise that at times some people go completely off track and say things that warrant being cut off, but there are times as with the caller/s and myself today, it was not warranted. His actions were unfair and completely out of order. This attitude of his appeals to certain mentalities that get a kick out of this type of behaviour – and since no one stops him – he continues.

At times Mr DeCosta is downright unreasonable, and is completely biased in his approach to certain callers. Yet, he will let certain callers go on and on and not cut them off.

Recently, I heard one caller to his show say something to the effect that the people committing these shootings are directing their anger in the wrong direction and that they should be directing their anger at the perpetrators, (correct me if I am wrong) meaning the white race – and some time ago, another caller said that she wouldn't be surprised if she woke up one morning to find that all of the white people had been slaughtered in their sleep. To the last caller, he only said something like, "Well, that's a pretty strong statement to make!" To which she replied, "Well Mr. DeCosta, I wouldn't!" He did not cut any of these women off as he should have – in fact, these women should have been banned from the airways, so what does that tell you? What these women said was incitement and he knows it, yet he let it stand. What kind of thinking is that? He did not draw any line, yet, when it suits him, he will cut someone off at will.

What if some doped-up crack-head or some unbalanced person heard either of these women and took it to heart and followed through with what they said? Do we need that? No we don't need any more than we need what is being played out in our streets today. As a talk show host he has a responsibility and he is not living up to it. The People's Show is a public talk show for the people's voices to be heard within reason! This is not his living room!

The way he conducts his show at times is less than professional and democratic. It is obvious that he is prejudiced towards certain callers and topics which outline the unethical behaviour and incompetence in some areas of Government.

Mr. DeCosta is a talk show host and just that! He is not there to cuddle up to the PLP, the UBP or the ABC! He is there to promote dialogue – to keep it going, and not to show favour, but unfortunately, that is not the case as it is quite obvious who he cuddles up to. More and more ZBM seems to be a Government station; you have The People's Show which too often shows favouritism to PLP supporters – you have Sherry J. who is the wife of PLP Jamahl Simmons, the Press Secretary for the Premier.

I welcome the day when people can be fair, but that day seems a long way off with the way things are being run at ZBM and "The People's Show". And by the way, for what it's worth, I am a shareholder of The Bermuda Broadcasting Co. Ltd.

PAT FERGUSON

Warwick

A highlight for us

September 22, 2010

Dear Sir,

I have recently been visiting family in Bermuda and today my sister in law took me to the town of St. George.

We had the good fortune of meeting E. Michael Jones, and having him take us on a wonderful walking tour – showing us many sites, trees and plants. He was most hospitable, kind, professional and welcoming. It was one of the highlights of my trip.

I hope many other visitors get the same opportunity to learn about the town of St. George the way I did.

Thank you Bermuda!

SANDRA HEA

Canada