Can he sink lower?

October 22, 2009

Dear Sir,

So the Premier made mention of the demise of the Mid Ocean newspaper at the opening session of the PLP Conference. Amazing.

I hope that those Bermudian (now) ex-employees of the MON will be pleased that the Premier is obviously delighted that they are unemployed. Sad that the Premier didn't have the personal or political maturity to not mention it. Maybe he needed the applause he obviously received from his like-minded audience.

One wonders if one can sink any lower than getting applause out of human misery.

SMITH'S

Premier shows no empathy

October 22, 2009

Dear Sir,

It's a sign of an absence of empathy when the Premier crows over the demise of a Bermudian business and the resulting unemployment of Bermudians.

Apparently, the problems of the regular person don't appear to matter any more. He has even inferred that he will be just as elated if another particular Bermudian business with Bermudian employees fails! Where is his conscience?

One would have thought that the leader of Bermuda would encourage and assist Bermudian businesses to survive – not make sarcastic remarks when they fail!

KIM YOUNG

Smith's

Add this to our law

October 27, 2009

Dear Sir,

I absolutely agree that sexual orientation needs to be added to our human rights laws.

CLAIRE A. SMITH

Warwick

What about gender identity?

October 20, 2009

Dear Sir,

As sexual orientation and gender identity are individually separate and distinct entities that need to be regarded and legislated as such. Would the Human Rights Commission, Bermuda Bar Council and Amnesty International Bermuda, please explain why they have not included gender identity in their joint call for MPs to consider a change to the present gay and gender-variant omissive Human Rights Act as soon as the House of Assembly resumes next month?

BRENDA LANE SMITH R af D

England

Premier and the Police

October 20, 2009

Dear Sir,

Should Dr. Brown gain operational control of the Bermuda Police Service, whom may I ask would investigate allegations of wrong doing or corruptions within Government?

JUST WONDERING

Pembroke

No need for bus pass

October 22, 2009

Dear Sir,

I heard on the radio the other day that bus drivers would not allow children on board who did not have a bus pass. Why has the department gone to the expense of producing a bus pass anyway?

As far as I know all children have to go to school by law, therefore they are all entitled to ride free. What rogue children are they worrying about getting on the bus for free? Last time I checked we were not inundated with tourist children! Also, do we have a date when everyone can ride free as promised in the election?

I am sure many people would use public transportation once it was free and leave their cars and bikes at home. Surely this would be a green example to show to the rest of the world? Once it is free there would be no need to print tickets, issue passes and have people issuing and collecting them. Are we serious about being green or is it just talk?

LAURENCE FOX

St. David's

Wisdom of flag change

October 27, 2009

Dear Sir,

Mayor of Hamilton Charles Gosling has shown wisdom and foresight in the decision to replace the Union Jack with the Bermuda flag on the Flagpole on Front Street; more wisdom and foresight than can be appreciated at this time by possibly some people. Traditions at times die hard.

The Bermuda flag in all her glory proudly continues to display the Union Jack on her colours. I am sure that this too will come to an end in time.

MICHAEL E. PITTS

Florida

Delivering the mail

October 22, 2009

Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to the letter to the editor in today's paper captioned "Postal Code Proposition".

The writer asks why we need postal codes in Bermuda. I would like to take this opportunity to explain how mail is processed in Bermuda and why postal codes are necessary. The Bermuda Post Office manually processes approximately 14 million pieces of mail annually, which averages in the region of 60,000 pieces per day. Prior to the mail going to the sub-post offices for delivery by the post persons, the mail is manually sorted at the Bermuda Mail Processing Centre (BMPC). Centralised sorting in a mail processing facility is standard best practice for many postal administrations for security reasons.

I would like to illustrate the mail sorting and delivery process using the following fictitious address: Apt. # 1, 123 South Road, Paget, PG02.

The first sort that the mail undergoes is the 'primary sort'. This requires the mail sorters to sift through the 60,000 pieces of mail received (which are all mixed up as they have arrived from all destinations locally and worldwide) and to separate them first by postal code which will indicate what post office the mail should be sent to. In this case all the PG postal codes are put together on a sorting rack labelled PG for the Paget Post Office. This is also done for all the other respective postal codes e.g. GE, DD, CR, HS, FL, DV, WK, SN, SB and MA.

The second manual sort is called the "secondary sort" which takes all the mail pieces in the PG sorting rack and then sorts them in PG01, PG02, PG03 and PG04 etc. This allows the mail to be correctly delivered to the relevant post person at the PG (Paget) Post Office responsible for delivering to the respective routes PG01, PG02 ... etc. This is also done for each of the other sub post offices. Accordingly, if we do not have a postal code, it is difficult to first determine the post office and then the post person that the mail should go to for delivery.

Let us assume in this case that the mail has the correct post code and the right post person gets it. The third sort is done at the sub post office by the post person to his or her street routes. In order for the post person to deliver to a street address he or she will need the house number (again especially significant). Once the post person locates the house he will need an apt. number if the residence has multiple dwelling units.

The above example exemplifies that all the components of an address are in fact, critically necessary for an efficient delivery. If any of the foregoing addressing information is missing or is incorrect, it will increase the chances of the mail being delayed, not being delivered or delivered incorrectly (e.g. to the wrong parish or person with an identical name) and it increases the delivery time. The use of postal codes is standard best practice in many postal administrations around the world and ensures secure and reliable mail delivery. If we engage the new postal regulations and use our correct addresses (especially postal codes), the post office staff can sort and deliver your mail faster and more accurately. Finally, when mail is properly addressed, it allows a shorter learning curve for training delivery persons on alternative routes which will help provide additional coverage for mail deliveries when staff is on vacations and out sick.

On behalf of the Bermuda Post Office management and staff I thank you for your support and compliance with the new postal regulations.

GEORGE G. OUTERBRIDGE CPA, MBA

Postmaster General

Dealing with gangs

October 21, 2009

Dear Sir,

I believe this information to be of help to our community, especially in the position that it presently finds itself. I truly believe there are more good people than bad people on my beautiful island home and let's not forget that good always conquers evil and fear and intimidation will not prevail!

What can you do about gangs in your community?

Participate: Gangs attempt to instill fear by intimidating rival gangs and citizens alike. Their power grows through fear and intimidation. Direct confrontation with violent gang members is best left to police and other law enforcement agencies. However, everyone has the responsibility to work toward a solution. Here are a few ways you can participate.

Attend Police Community Relations and Neighbourhood Meetings: These meetings provide information about neighborhood activities and offer ways to get involved to help improve your neighbourhood. As the BPS and other agencies develop solutions to gang issues, it is even more important to continue the communication and education process for the public. Contact your police or neighborhood organisation for details.

Discuss gangs with your children: Many parents are unaware that their children are involved in gang activity. It is your role to help them understand the consequences of having a criminal record. They need to know the finality of death, which so often is the result of gang violence.

Parents should encourage children to identify and report others who are pressuring them to use or deal drugs or participate in gang activity. Intimidation and fear can preoccupy and destroy a child's ability to concentrate on schooling and to pursue a meaningful life.

Look for warning signs in your child: Parents should look for changes in their child's behaviour. Truancy, declining grades, changes of friends, late hours, isolation from family activities, use of a new nickname, graffiti or tattoos, sagging pants or other new clothing styles are all indicators of possible gang association. If you observe any of these signs, do not ignore them.

Develop a Neighbourhood Watch Programme: Neighbourhoods that show no resistance to gang presence become targets for advanced criminal activity. The Neighborhood Watch programme provides guidance to citizens desiring a more secure neighbourhood. You will probably find others who share your concerns and are willing to address these issues with you.

Encourage Immediate Graffiti Removal: Because graffiti is the most visible sign of gang presence, it's imperative that it be removed immediately. If you see gang graffiti on private property, encourage the owners to remove it immediately. Many neighbourhoods will provide paint to cover graffiti.

NICHOLAS SCAIFE

Southampton