You can?t win at Customs

December 23, 2004

Dear Sir,

With H.M. Customs and duty regulations currently enjoying high media profile, I am reminded of a particularly unpleasant and lengthy search: Last year, along with detailed goods for which I had receipts and paid up, I made the mistake of declaring Miscellaneous $50 ? incidentals purchased at a city street fair. This was obviously a red flag as I was grilled, searched and asked irrelevant personal questions. Like everyone else, I have been randomly searched ? but this was ridiculous.

Getting upset while showing my honest declaration with receipts didn?t faze. The woman Customs officer pounced on roughing me up further, ending with the ?de rigueur? smirky ?Welcome Home? salutation. With searches soon surely commonplace, my advice is to be prepared to deal in turn with this robotic behaviour: act unfriendly ? hard for us locals, grit your teeth and say as little as possible. And how?s this?

Upon returning from abroad to live some years ago, Customs attempted to charge me for my Bermuda cedar items saying that they were dutiable as they were out of the island for a certain number of years. Also, Customs would not accept the attached sale price of my factory-sealed TV . Customs said the law was that duty was based on local resale value. Even honest people can?t win with Customs ? so be warned. sign me please:

Clarification from NTB

December 22, 2004

The following is a letter from Nalton Brangman, chairman of the National Training Board to Minister of Education, Terry Lister in response to letters critical of the NTB sent to the Editor recently. It was copied to .

Dear Minister

The responses to questions are as follows:

1. The vehicles in place to facilitate the legislation are the Occupation Advisory committees for 22 areas of practitioner skills categories. These committees have already been actively involved in the preparation of the National Standards for the specific areas that they are assigned (including Motor Vehicle Technician and Heavy Motor vehicle technician program). These committees have been in place since 2002 when the first standards were promulgated, by public notice in June 2002. Additional committees are being developed and will be added as they are properly designated by the Board.

Now that the legislation has been passed these committees will have additional skill specific requirements for the administration and implementation of the National Occupation Certification Program. This information can only now be given to them since the enabling legislation is now passed as it would have been inappropriate to provide information subject to change if the bill was either amended or refused by the legislature. The Board will, in the New Year, start the implementation framework and advise the Minister of a timeline for implementation.

2. All courses offered by the NTB here and overseas directly assist in the process as they were borne out of the promulgation of the individual standards as of June 2002. There are over 200 students and apprentices involved in these studies to date and we already have graduates returned home with the certifications in advance of the act being passed.

BTEC is not a Bermuda Technical Standard as it has not been promulgated by public notice from the NTB. The NTB still uses and recognises some City and Guilds programs today and will continue in the future provided they meet the requirements of the Occupational Advisory Committees.

3. As answered in question 1, the vehicle responsible for the process, including standardisation of the Certification program is The Occupational Advisory Committees of the NTB. The committees are comprised of individuals possessing relevant certification to administer the program and the standard. The representation for these committees comes directly from Industry.

4. All courses being applied to the National Standard, promulgated by Public Notice [beginning in June 2002, are those indicated by the Industry as best to serve their needs. This means that courses not in alignment with the National Standard are removed from the list as it would be inappropriate to suggest that apprentices engage in courses that would not qualify them under the standard.

I am indeed saddened by this personal attack on both you and Mr. Stowe by someone who could have had these questions answered by calling the NTB or myself as Chairman. As I am the person responsible for this development and legislation acting on your behalf, I request permission to send this information to the to the attention of the Editor.

Answers on uniforms

December 22, 2004

Dear Sir,

It is obviously apparent that ignorance is bliss. To comment on Skink and Lobster Party?s letter in the December 21 paper about police officers putting shirts over their uniforms whilst shopping. Let me explain using very small syllables to you?ll be sure to understand.

A police officer is required (oops, sorry too big of a word) must ? wear their uniforms during their shift. Normally police officers do not get a lunch break during this time of year as there are idiots out there ? some that are even capable of writing letters ? that prevent this from happening. Like most employees, they are entitled to a one hour break for every eight hours worked.

The officers must put a shirt or jacket over their uniform to signal to others that yes, they are on break, but when needed, they are first and foremost police officers. In fact, Standing Instructions in the Police procedures and policies state they are not permitted to wear their uniforms when out on personal business. It is an offence against policy of which they can be internally charged and reprimanded.

Your comment about PSU flight suits doesn?t even make sense. It is a uniform ? most fire retardant, bullet proof uniforms are not the most fashionable. Would you want a police officer to wear a $700 uniform? Are you going to foot the bill for that? Their uniform requires a vest to be worn, so yes even at 11 a.m., they must wear (as you call it) the slimming version when on the streets. Those vests are designed to keep the officers safe. They also allow them to carry their truncheons, and other required equipment around with them which allows them to keep their hands free. Perhaps in 2005, people will focus their energy on some other group in Bermuda and allow the Police to do their job.

The humour here is the online definition of a skink. According to several internet sources, a skink is ? an agile lizard with reduced limbs and an elongated body covered with shiny scales. The definition further states ? ?it was believed by the Ancients to be a specific for various diseases?. Hmm?

To whomever killed Timmy

December 16th, 2004

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to address the coward who killed Timmy. On Thursday, December 16th my sister-in-law let her cat Timmy out for his usual short ?fresh air? break. Timmy usually never left the yard, however this time he ran across the road at the top of Spanish Point Hill beside Storm-Along Lane. A coward of a person hit him and left him on the side of the road. When we got to him he was still warm and looked like he was sleeping. You didn?t even bother to stop and knock on a door or two, to see if anyone knew where Timmy lived. You probably didn?t even stop to see if he was OK.

There are two houses, one on either side of where you killed Timmy. One of those houses was where Timmy lived, the other close family friends. You could have apologised and even if you could not have avoided hitting him we would have understood and thanked you for stopping and letting us know. Timmy gave my sister-in-law ten years of happiness. He was a good cat and a loving cat that brought joy to the family. I hope you have visions of Timmy every time you close your eyes. You gave us sadness for Christmas. We buried Timmy tonight between the Lily Bulbs.

A note of thanks

December 22, 2004

Dear Sir,

I would like to write this letter to say a special thank you to all the people who have been a great support to me and my family this year. This has been a difficult year for us and we could not have got through without you. The people I am talking about, I?m sure you know who you are. They are the kind of people who have put others before themselves and reached out from their hearts. They certainly made my Christmas Special. I would like to wish each and everyone of them and their families a very Happy Christmas and safe and peaceful and Happy New Year.

A question for Government

December 22, 2004

Dear Sir,

I would like to know the real reason why the B.H.C., B.H.T. and the Rent Control are so adamant in raising those poor seniors rent double and plus. Mr. Dunkley are you there?