Attitude rearrangement

December 10, 2008

Dear Sir,

Great letter, well said, in today's paper written by Antoine Bean. But Mr. Bean, yours is only the latest directed at the Premier, pleading with him to change his racial rhetoric. Not gonna happen. Mandela, man of the century 20th Century didn't do it. Obama, man of the 21st Century, hasn't done it. Only a spiritual awakening will change his tiresome militant thinking. It took Malcolm X, the most militant of all black leaders, a pilgrimage to Mecca to change his attitude towards whites.

I urge the Premier to consider such a trip. For those unfamiliar with Malcolm's Letter from Mecca, it is printed in full on the Internet. Much of what he said is provocative and quotable. But ultimately he writes: "You may be shocked by these words coming from me, but on this pilgrimage, what I have seen and experienced, has forced me to rearrange (written by him in italics) much of my thought-patterns previously held". Better yet, I suggest they read Alex Haley's Autobiography of Malcolm X. It is considered one of the best biographies ever written.

PAMELA H. WILLCOCKS

Smith's parish

Kudos to Consumer Affairs

December 10, 2008

Dear Sir,

I recently moved to the Island in August and sadly had my first run-in with a consumer issue in September. In my struggle to rectify the situation, I opened the phone book and found Consumer Affairs, a governmental organisation that acts as an adviser to consumers on how to enter into contracts, mediate disputes and advise on what to do if you have a bad situation such as my own. From the first moment I called, I was greeted on the phone pleasantly and professionally by Heather Marshall and was assigned a case worker almost immediately.

My case worker, Marc Drew, was a gem and kept in close contact, called when he said he would call and worked tirelessly to find a solution that was not only fair to me, but also to the business I was in dispute with. Within several weeks, the matter was peacefully resolved without having to go to small claims court. Everyone in Bermuda should know about the fine job Consumer Affairs is doing on the Island and I hope their organisation will become a model for all consumer advocacy groups in North America if not around the world.

I would strongly urge anyone who is unfamiliar with Bermudian consumer law to consult Consumer Affairs before entering into any written or verbal contract. If in doubt, I know they would be more than willing to advise. I would like to say thank you to Consumer Affairs and also to Mr. Ben Adamson, at Free Legal Advice, another fine service Bermuda provides. I know I was only one small facet of what you handle on a day-to-day basis and I hope you receive recognition for your outstanding work, which you all so richly deserve.

PARCE AINSWORTH

Smith's

An astronomical markup

December 8, 2008

Dear Sir,

We all know that Miles Market is a high-end grocery and delicacy store, but I couldn't believe my eyes today at the price of their hanging baskets of poinsettias. Regular red poinsettias, none decorated with fancy ribbon or anything. The price? Just shy of 110 smackeroos. On Saturday, I noticed the farmer's market stand opposite Ariel Sands was selling the same thing for $50. Better plastic baskets too, and a wider range of varieties. All glorious and in perfect condition. Where is Miles getting its floral display from, and what suckers are buying them at such an astronomical markup? Shame on you Miles.

FLOWER CHILD

Smith's parish

End the discrimination

November 27, 2008

Dear Sir,

Alcoholism, Diabetes, Hypertension (high blood pressure) and Arthritis are some of the diseases that insurance companies will pay for treatment. Obesity is also considered a disease that many on this island are suffering from. My question is: Why do the insurance companies not cover for an effective means of treatment for this disease now available locally? I'm referring to the Gastric Bypass surgery that is now available to Bermudians on the island. That surgery is the Lap-Band system.

The safest Gastric Bypass surgery there is. The insurance companies will not cover this type of surgery because they consider it cosmetic or not important to weight loss. Studies have shown that obese people on diets, exercise programs can lose about 10 percent of their body weight but tend to regain two thirds within a year and in five years they have gained it all back and then some. I'm not talking about losing 10-20 pounds. Those of us who are older and who have tried the diets and exercises and all the other weight loss products need this alternative.

My BMI (body mass index) is over 50 and I'm over 40 years old I would love to have this surgery but cannot afford it. People have said, "Isn't that surgery dangerous?" Well it is more dangerous continuing going on at this weight. Open heart surgery, hip replacement and even tonsillectomies carry a risk when under going these procedure's, but the benefit far out weighs the risks. Now I know most of your reading this will say, "Stop putting food in your mouth and exercise!"

Not all of us are sitting around shovelling food into our mouths. I have been overweight all my life and would like the help now being offered by this Lap-Band surgery but am too poor to afford it. Thank you for the space in your paper to bring attention to a disease that is OK to discriminate against and make fun of.

BIG DEBRA

Warwick

Adopt new technology

December 4, 2008

Dear Sir,

I enclose with this letter a cutting from yesterday's edition of The New York Times. Perhaps you have already seen it, but I recommend that you reprint it in The Royal Gazette would be very worthwhile. The article is headed "Hawaii Backs Plan for a Network of Electric Cars". It states that Hawaii and their electric company plan to build an alternative transportation system based on electric vehicles with swapable batteries.

I have often wondered why we in Bermuda have not grabbed the chance to be a leader in alternative transport. When you consider just how small we are, it would be relatively easy to introduce a similar system here. For example Hawaii has about 1.2 million cars and replaces 70,000 to 120,000 vehicles annually. Compare those figures to ours?

The article also states that they have the ability for charged batteries to give vehicles a range of 100 miles. It also says that the average driver in Hawaii rarely makes trips of more than 100 miles, which will lessen the number of recharging stations. In Bermuda, I am sure we could pick up a new battery at the existing gas stations, not to mention have the ability to charge them at home overnight.

Hopefully by reprinting the article and perhaps having one of your reporters examine this subject further, you will start a crescendo of public opinion, which will prompt our Government into action. They have just spent millions more of our money building the new Transport Control Centre. Whilst efforts to cut down vehicle emissions are commendable, it would have been much better had our Minister for Transport taken the opportunity to be a World Leader. Had he spent the same money starting a programme of alternative transport, would have been much better.

I can just picture the peaceful tranquil life here in Bermuda if we adopted the new technology that is fast becoming available. There must also be huge savings and benefits in not having to import all the oil and gas. To further encourage people to switch on to the idea. Government could offer incentives like free duty on the vehicles for the first year, or something similar.

After all they are keen to give money away these days. In closing, I look forward to the day when I have the ability to buy a nice quiet car. This will in turn make the quality of life better for all. It will certainly help to make Bermuda a better place for my grandchildren.

FOR A BETTER BERMUDA

Devonshire

Don't steal my idea

December 12, 2008

Dear Sir,

Here's a nifty idea for the law-abiding citizen who has everything. With modern cellphones able to take photos, send e-mails and pinpoint their exact location, why not add a radar speed detector? If you suspect a vehicle of speeding, you take a photo of it, digitally stamped with speed, time and place, and e-mail it straight to the police. And I have already patented "The i-rad" so don't try to steal my idea! Yours taking the high road,

ANDREW R. DOBLE

Hamilton Parish

Alternative use

December 12, 2008

Dear Sir,

Do we really need to build a new police station in Hamilton, and a new hospital? Surely the soon-to-be-empty XL building could be adapted? Yours on the recycling front,

ANDREW R. DOBLE

Hamilton Parish