Crime rises, tourism falls

September 8, 2009

Dear Sir,

There never seems to be a day that goes by without some serious crime occurring in Bermuda and the Police appealing for witnesses. The muggings and shootings are enough to make many potential tourists reconsider their plans about travelling to Bermuda. When I read the information in The Royal Gazette and the lack of information being released by police, Keystone Cops come to mind. It seems the criminals are getting the upper hand and the Police just do not know how to handle it.

Here in Belleville, residents still remember the Becky Middleton murder and how the Police handled that case and see little change in what is happening now. Bermuda, it is time to get some professional help from Police services here in Canada or the United States who deal on a day-to-day basis with these types of criminals. If the crimes continue to rise, your total tourism figures will continue to fall.

JOHN FERGUSON

Retired Broadcast Journalist/Consultant

Belleville, Ontario

Stop talking the talk

September 7, 2009

Dear Sir,

What will it take for the Governor to realise that we have a serious crime problem? Maybe his 24-hour-a-day Police protection should be terminated; we could certainly use any extra help we can get in the community! How many of us need to be held at gunpoint in our homes? How many of us need to be shot and terrorised? When will the people in charge of protecting us stop talking about getting tough and just do it?

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Southampton

Can taxis refuse a fare?

September 3, 2009

This was sent to the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (CADA) amd copied to The Royal Gazette

Dear Sir,

Good day Cada!,

I am writing this as I am a bit frustrated by what happened to my son the other night.

Last Friday evening my son and a couple of his friends decided to go out and into Hamilton for the evening. Obviously they went to a variety of bars and when it came time to go home (2 a..m.) they decided that riding their bikes would not be clever and they thought they would get a ride home in a cab.

Two of them wanted to get a ride to Warwick and one to Somerset.

They approached three different taxis on Front Street and were told by the driver of each one that "Somerset was too far at this time of night" and that they should either walk or find another cab!

None of the three guys were in a bad way – i.e. they weren't going to misbehave or, God forbid, throw-up in the cab or even acting silly – they just thought it would be sensible to leave their bikes in town and 'taxi' home. None of the taxis used this as an excuse – they just said it was too far… Eventually they managed to get a taxi ride from a driver who was prepared to go "all de way to Somerset'!

What are the guys' rights in this circumstance? What other options do people, who don't want to drive if they feel they are over the limit and can't get a cab, have?

Are taxis obliged to take fares where they want to go? What should they have done?

Answers to these questions would be useful for all of us as I know this is not an isolated incident.

MICHAEL CRANFIELD

Warwick

Warrant changes help

September 3, 2009

Dear Sir,

The law on the changes to search warrants will be recognised as a measure to ensure the safety of the Bermuda public and all the visiting guests of Bermuda.

I will not get into the particulars of the searches, but will state that the time lost by Officers in Bermuda and the loss of evidence and suspects will be overcome by the passing of this law.

This will also be effective in your drug cases and bring those who have violated the Bermuda laws to justice for the benefit off all Bermuda.

I wish you all the best and it takes a stout heart to take a position of enforcement in any society.

Keep up the great work in Bermuda

FRANK F. BURNS Retd.

Deputy Inspector General

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Ministry's new year

September 3, 2009

Dear Sir,

Is the Ministry of Education changing the number of weeks in the year? In the report in today's newspaper, I quote "Let's say we split it up into four nine week terms – so nine weeks on and two weeks off."

So maths 101, 4 x 9=36 plus 4x2=8 is a total of 44 weeks. Last time I looked at a calendar there were 52 weeks in a year.

So, there will be a spare eight weeks, which is about the same period as the summer vacations.

I don't see the logic.

ANTONY SIESE

City of Hamilton

Mystified by post rules

September 4, 2009

Dear Sir,

I had the option of calling the Bermuda Post Office on the direct number they provided in the August 28, 2009 Bermuda Sun advertisement, however, I decided that quicker responses come via your column. On that note, I would like to state that I have lived in Devonshire since mid-2002 and not once have I seen a postman or lady visit our residence to deliver mail. We have no animals and there has been a mailbox outside of my door for some time.

We rent a post box at the Hamilton Post Office and past practice has seen them forward all of our mail to our post box (yes, even when it had our residential address on the envelope). If there is a provision to include the name of the house, unit number and house number, why can't there be a provision to include the Post Box number especially when certain businesses require a residential address and forward correspondence to the residential address even though you have provided them with a mailing address?

My suggestion would be for those individuals with post boxes to be allowed to have mail addressed to them as follows:

Mr. & Mrs. Householder

PO Box HM 1234

9 Leafy Lane

Smith's FL 07

Is it too difficult a task for mail handlers and delivery personnel to figure out which Post Office to disperse the mail to? This process may call for more keen processors; however, it would mean less mail for the delivery persons to carry.

JENNIFER CAINES

Devonshire

Whose human rights?

September 8, 2009

Dear Sir,

"Lack of a sex offender register is 'scandalous'."

An excerpt from The Royal Gazette, September 2 article, although Attorney General Sen. Kim Wilson said the onus was on members of the public to request it, she admitted details on dangerous offenders were not made public automatically due to human rights concerns. Really! Whose human rights?

UNCOMMON SENSE

St. George's