A big pill to swallow

May 17th, 2008

Dear Sir,

"Fifteen percent is added for your convenience". An automatic gratuity added to food and beverage consumed in most restaurants and hotels in Bermuda. Forty some years ago when hotels incorporated the scheme many people thought it was an outrageous idea and that tipping should be left to the customer's discretion. Obviously many only left crumbs on the table instead of monetary rewards. Remember the cry: 'We are pricing ourselves out of the market and visitors will go elsewhere."

A few years ago another line was added to restaurant bills. "Extra Tip" And again some people thought the idea was a little over the top. However, in this case, the customer decides on this suggested little extra.

A new era unfolds and hotels that recently signed the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Bermuda Industrial Union now add 17 percent to all food and beverage bills. I dare say, with climbing costs and employees not receiving wages equal to others in the community, the negotiators really didn't have other options to keep abreast of inflation. Undoubtedly restaurants will soon follow the piper. A biggy to swallow, but so are many other price increases on our island.

The island has changed dramatically in the last thirty years or so. I remember when I was involved in a wonderful cottage colony that changed with the times to survive. For instance, in the seventies and eighties, we didn't accept credit cards. Children under 12 years of age were not permitted in the dining room. Five-night minimum stays were compulsory and deposits non-refundable. A jacket and tie was a necessity in the evenings and if you didn't have the proper attire we had an ample supply on hand for all occasions. We offered only one plan (MAP), breakfast and dinner included in the rate. Those that decided to dine out for the evening were never compensated as it was all inclusive. Remember when ladies had to have bathing caps for the pool? How did we get away with those draconian measurers? When the tourism numbers declined, it was easy to blame the BIU, but in reality perhaps we were also part of the problem!

In closing we share this amusing story that happened in the 50s when Harold Gibbons was managing a notable cottage colony. Movie actor Gary Cooper came to dine. Horrors upon horrors, he didn't have a tie and he was late. Mr. Gibbons refused to let him in his dining room. After much persuasion he was permitted but only after the innkeeper said, "All you Coopers from downtown are alike, you can't make time!"

TOPPY AND SAUNDRA COWEN

Southampton

Speaking up for others

May 15, 2008

Dear Sir,

I was pleased to have the opportunity to attend the public meeting on educational reform that took place in St. George's on Tuesday evening. Firstly, let me commend Minister Horton, Dr. Henry Johnson, Mr. Philip Butterfield and the rest of the educational reform team for giving everybody present the opportunity to hear first hand what the Bermuda Government is seeking to do to address the issues raised in the Hopkins Report.

I chose not to speak at the meeting as I was very keen to hear what the Education Minister and his team had to say about the proposed reforms and the views of the members of the public present before coming to my own view as to what the proposals might mean. I have now had an opportunity to consider what was said and would like to share my thoughts with you. For your information, I am a guest worker whose child attends St. George's Preparatory School. No doubt, the immediate reaction of some of your readers will be that my family and I do not have a long-term interest in the reform of the Bermuda educational system.

It is true that we may not be on this wonderful island long enough to be affected by the proposed changes. However, we have many friends whose children attend the school and we hope that their children (and grandchildren) will continue to be educated and enriched by what the Prep has to offer. Overall, I was impressed with most of the proposals outlined by the reform team. I have little doubt that the team has taken on board the criticisms and many of the suggestions made in the Hopkins Report and is genuinely seeking to improve the education system in Bermuda for all children.

The large part of the proposals will, I expect, have a very positive effect. However, I feel strongly that a key element of the reform that proposes to remove the autonomy of the aided schools is misguided and will result in undoing some of the most successful elements of the current school system.

It was acknowledged by everybody present at the meeting that the Prep is an outstanding school and that its success is a strongly linked to its aided status. Currently, the board of trustees of the school are able to give the principal freedom to run the school in a way that she considers best and so that she is directly accountable for its overall performance.

The Hopkins Report itself identified the aided school model as being an example for other schools to follow in order to improve education. However, rather than taking this on board, the reform team appears to want to disband boards for individual schools and create a board for each "cluster" of schools, thereby reducing the autonomy given to the principal.

From what I have seen over the last few years, the Prep is a very special school. It was clear from the meeting that the parents, trustees, teachers and the community are passionate about the Prep and want the local children to continue to benefit from the structure that is in place. They also want to help other schools to copy this approach and the success that it breeds so that children across the island receive the same wonderful schooling that is currently provided at the Prep.

All parents in Bermuda are entitled to know that their child will receive the best education possible. Minister Horton and the reform team should embrace the approach taken at the Prep and roll out a model that all pupils, parents, trustees and communities can be proud of and which will benefit all the young people of Bermuda, now and in the future.

A. PARENT

St. George's

How to make folks wake up

May 15, 2008

Dear Sir,

My first letter to the paper and I am furious, sad, shocked and awed at our continuing stupidity and incompetence in moving our vehicles around the island. It never ceases to amaze me that the word "accident" is always used to describe road collisions – if you look the word "accident" up in a dictionary it is defined as follows "an unpredictable unpreventable event". Every collision we have endured so far this year and last and the year before and on and on for years in the past and I am sure years in the future was predictable and preventable.

People speeding, drunk, on their phones or impaired in other ways, or all at once do nothing to prevent these collisions – so lets stop calling them accidents and call them what they really are – acts of human stupidity and inattention, which goes along with the general "I don't care attitude" and "It only happens to others, not me" that seems to be becoming universal.

Listen up folks – you are going nowhere fast in a vehicle on the island – it's a closed circuit course – only way off is by plane or boat, so slow down, pay attention, don't phone and drive, don't text and drive, don't drink and drive. Maybe a year or so off the road if you are caught on your communication device while driving would also get some of the more dangerous inconsiderate of you to pay attention to something besides yourselves – or will it take one of your own in the ICU or an undertakers to make you pay attention.

Perhaps the way to cure all this is to make the insurance of the offenders if they cause a collision null and void – due to human stupidity – let them pay for the damage and no new vehicle to replace the damaged one, bet that would wake folks up.

I RIDE THE BUS FOR –MY OWN PROTECTION

Devonshire

Don't put my life in danger

May 15, 2008

Dear Sir,

If 50 people were to die on our roads between now and the end of the year the message would still land on deaf ears. During the past ten or so days while travelling short distances between Devonshire and Warwick West we have noticed that the abuse on the roads is just as bad as it has ever been, and during that time we have had three near misses. On top of bad driving habits we are now faced with downright bad manners.

During the recent heavy rains anyone travelling on a bike on the flooded roads must have been mentally deficient. As it was you saw them riding on the sidewalks, on the left side of the road, on the middle of the road and on the right side of the road. At one point a van was heading toward a rider who was travelling on the wrong side, but managed to stop in time, and as the rider passed he yells at the driver, " Are you trying to kill me?"

Frankly I don't care if these clowns kill themselves, but I strongly object when they put our lives in danger. As I have said before the only way to stop these "crazies" is to take them off the road and take away their vehicles. This whole situation is completely out of control.

SEEING IT AS IT IS

Pembroke

If it ain't broke...

May 19. 2008

Dear Sir,

It is mind-boggling that the Minister of Education and his Team would deem it necessary to remove a system that is working, and has proven itself time and time again, to replace it with an unknown. I'm referring to the decision to do away with the board of governors in the current aided schools. Since such a system has worked for them and commended in the Hopkins Report, why not put governing bodies in all public schools. This idea was in the pipeline several years ago. What happened to it? There is absolutely no proof that this about-to-be-mandatory cluster system will work here.

Additionally, the idea of having technical education available in the schools is not a novel one. Before the general secondary schools were removed, they all offered mechanics, woodwork, typing and shorthand, home economics, which included needlework and cooking, and Bermuda Hotel College courses. Then, the powers-that-be deemed it a lowering of a child's self-esteem to have to take those subjects, so removed them from the timetables. And finally, is it worth a bet that the current CEO's at the Department of Education, the ones the Hopkins Report suggested should be removed immediately (and almost one year later they are still there), will be the ones to be designated the Directors of this new system that is being heralded on Prism?

SHAKING MY HEAD

Hamilton Parish

How to succeed in business

May 15, 2008

Dear Sir,

Kristi Grayston of the Chamber of Commerce says that the decline in spending locally is 'a colossal problem...' and she goes on to rhetorically ask the question '... what happens when people earn their money in one community and spend their money in another community. '?

While I sympathise with her position, no one forced any retailer to go into the retail business and sometimes I wonder if any of them ever think about changing to meet market conditions.

In this day and age, do we benefit as a community to such an extent that we have to prop up the retail sector. Unemployment here is nonexistent and the average person not only wants to save a dollar but they want to have a selection when they shop. It is so easy now to do both with little or no problem, I am amazed at how all these retailers hang around — and mostly selling high priced clothing or other luxury items. Colossal problem? You bet, for the retailers... not for me.

I don't know how Somers Cooper has done it but his stores seem to defy the trend (maybe his Dad trained him well!). There are a few other exceptions but with on-line purchases easily delivered either directly to Bermuda or to that address overseas; with prices astronomical in Bermuda; and with the selection of products understandably limited, my thinking is that you'd be a nut to stay in retail, much less go into it, without a fair amount of research.

If products aren't selling for whatever reason, and you want to stick around – adapt to the business climate, don't ask the rest of us to support you when there is very little benefit. Sell products or services that your customers want and will buy — not just the ones you want to sell.

Sad Shopper

Southampton

Support The Gazette

May 15, 2008

Dear Sir,

I write with regard to the recent advisory of the Bermuda Government to withdraw subscriptions to The Royal Gazette. Cost cutting? Smells like a rotten fish to me! there are other ways to effectively save the tax payer hard earned money. One suggestion is to cut back on overseas travel. Some members of the House spend more time overseas (supposedly on Government business) then they do here. What country are you running anyway?

Mr. Editor, I and no doubt thousands of others, appreciate and look forward to the daily paper. How else can you receive world-wide news at your front door, kitchen table, living room, car, restaurant (morning coffee), office desk and many others not discounting the hundreds and thousands of our overseas guests at our many hotels and guest houses. How about the many subscribers who faithfully read The Royal Gazette abroad every day via the internet and others? Where else can you travel around the world (news wise) for ninety cents? I believe that many or most of us would agree that The Royal Gazette is a real bargain.

Sir, personally I would not have any objection to a reasonable increase in the cost of The Royal Gazette. Will the Government withdrawal of advertisements result in job losses at The Royal Gazette? No one wants to see job losses particularly in these difficult times but if Government can cut spending then so can you. One man did express his concerns, to me, the he could possibly lose his job delivering the daily to Government offices due to the cancellation.

I would rather pay a bit more, have the paper every day (Mon-Sat) than to possibly have less publications of a smaller paper. I am not suggesting that The Royal Gazette is about to do any of the above but certainly you must be looking at ways to be more cost effective. I do hope that others who subscribe in any way to The Royal Gazette will give their support because of all of us here and around the world have the desire and the right to know and what better way than to have world news "at your finger tips". Thank you for valuable space

EDDIE MONIZ

A note of thanks

May 7, 2008

Dear Sir,

On Wednesday, April 30, 2008 a very dear friend of ours became seriously ill while on the ferry as it pulled into the dock at Dockyard. Fortunately, there were two nurses on board who immediately assisted and 911 was called. The Fire Service was on the scene within a few minutes and they stabilised her until the ambulance with two EMTs arrived. The ride to KEMH was fast, even though at one point the ambulance had to pull over because our friend suffered another seizure en route.

She was brought to the Emergency Department where Dr. Peter B. and Nurse Sue took over. After suffering yet another seizure in Emergency, a CT scan was ordered. Early that evening our friend was admitted to Curtis Ward and put under the care of Dr. Stanley James. At that point, efforts were started to have her taken by air ambulance back to her home in Ottawa, Ontario where she could be under the care of her own physicians. She left KEMH very early Saturday morning, May 3.

We would like to tell everyone how impressed we were with her treatment and how much their help was appreciated. We were scared and felt helpless and throughout the three days everyone treated us and our friend with compassion and kindness, not to mention delivering excellent clinical care to her. EVERYONE was wonderful — from the firemen and EMTs to the doctors and RNs to the Ward clerks and the Pink Ladies — no one dismissed any of our concerns and if someone said they were going to do something for her it was done immediately.

We've heard the criticism of our hospital in Bermuda, and both of us would like to tell of a different experience — one that was positive from start to finish. While our friend is still seriously ill, we will be forever thankful that she was in Bermuda and not somewhere else, where the system wouldn't have been able to react the way that Bermuda's health care system did.

RAE CHRISTIE &–JACQUELYN MACDONALD