Health care an essential

September 8, 2009

Dear Sir,

On CNN today, (channel 17) there was a report that in Afghanistan the vast majority of the population (85 percent) is covered with some form of "Medical Care". This is a so called "Third World Country" with all sorts of conflicts. Yet it can see that its citizens have some form of medical coverage … which alleviates the pressure some people encounter when having to choose between, health care and their other needs. If this be true, then why is it here in a wealthy place like Bermuda we seem to have to choose between health care and a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs?

Yes, there are numerous charities that will help people in dire need of some form of assistance, all available here, but many don't know the "who, what nor where" to find this help and subsequently, they go without as oppose to them seeking this help from Social Services Department provided by Bermuda Government.

I feel Government should distribute pamphlets, (be it mailed out or handed out) to people informing them of their options when faced with a dilemma as many face daily here on this wealthy Island … There seems to be monies available for soooo many other "necessities" that really aren't "necessities" at all.

Health insurance in Bermuda is one of the most expensive obligations people have to meet and often find themselves between "a rock and a hard spot" daily … weekly and monthly in having to pay for their health insurances that (for many) will take an absorbent amount of their income.

RAYMOND RAY

St. George's

Misled over silos?

September 9, 2009

Dear Sir,

After visiting Dockyard this weekend I couldn't help but notice that the two concrete silos have not moved since the Bermuda Cement Company's lease was not renewed nearly two years ago. The public was told moving the silos were the main criteria for a new lease …were we misled, or do the new operators enjoy a different set of rules?

KENT SMITH

St. George's

Down Memory Lane

September 7, 2009

Dear Sir,

I would like to address this to your correspondent Memory Lane, as printed on September 2.

Dear "Memory Lane" – how refreshing it was to read your letter about what is happening to our beautiful Island. I regularly say to my friends "do you remember when …" and yet 52 percent of the population still haven't noticed the deterioration in the standards now prevalent. I would like to add some of my own memories:

Do you remember when the Government Leader (Sir Jack Sharpe) rode around on his Mobylette with his brief case sitting in the basket?

Do you remember when all of the UBP Leaders walked around Hamilton, ready to speak to anyone if approached? (none of these chauffeur driven cars)

Do you remember when you felt safe to visit the General Post Office late at night? (this is no longer possible)

Do you remember when our expatriate workers were not harassed and regularly abused?

Do you remember when International Businesses were treated with respect and not told to "mind their own business"?

Do you remember when there was courtesy shown on our roads?

Do you remember when visitors on rented bikes were given lots of room to navigate our roads?

Do you remember when people who said "good morning" really meant it?

Do you remember when the Government actually listened to the people?

Do you remember when there were excess funds in our Bermuda bank account? (I believe it was in 1998)

Do you remember when Bermuda was viewed as a classy destination?

The hatred from our Leader is trickling slowly but surely down to the population of this country. Unless this trend stops soon, we could have years of unemployment and hardship like this country has never known.

CAMELOT

Smith's

The answer is in the Law

September 1, 2009

Dear Sir,

In deference to Dr Eva Hodgson's letter to the Editor (published August 25) it is time that we turn our collective attention to addressing the issue of affirmative action in Bermuda. And, it is not about addressing the issue at the very highest levels of society, but at the very basic level – the very poor.

Bermudians are very alarmed at the crime wave in Bermuda, and yet, we recognise and understand that there is a direct and immediate correlation between poverty and crime. We clearly see the answer to poverty is work, but we are very dismissive and in complete denial that those with criminal records; no matter how distant in the past that record may be or how insignificant the infraction may have been, are kept shackled by laws that govern this country (ironically laws made in the two houses of Parliament) that remain to prevent these men and women from restoring their lives.

Since the PLP has come to power there is no transparency on how many laws that upheld institutional racism, directly and indirectly or, in tandem with other laws and regulations, have been repealed. And, I am reasonably certain that not many PLP MPs can point to one single repealed law of institutional racism, yet, I am reasonably certain that Saul Froomkin, former Attorney General under the UBP government, could educate us on this matter.

My point? We are not looking clearly to the strength of what gave whites dominance over blacks, it was/is the law! Laws that should be repealed, laws that should be amended, laws or rather Bills, that need to be thoroughly scrutinised before they ever become laws, such as legislation adopted from other jurisdictions (under a copy and paste format) that bring into legal force some of the most cohesive and corrupt political force, most notably the misuse of laws and political power in Bermuda that has arrested an individual under the "grounds of national security".

Dr. Eva Hodgson advocates for affirmative action where it is needed most – at the poorest levels of society and, I advocate for the eradication of institutional racism as entwined into the legal framework of Bermuda. So by working on both, Bermuda can dismantle the most protracted evil in our history and, the power to make this happen rests, ironically, with Parliament. If we are serious about eradicating racism, in all its forms, we must dismantle institutional racism in all its forms and in the ways in which it continues to be delivered to us via legislative undersight.

In fighting centuries of inherited privilege in Bermuda, affirmative action is a justifiable start.

VALIRIE MARCIA AKINSTALL

London, UK

Utter incompetence

August 31, 2009

Dear Sir,

If it wasn't enough that all else was falling to pieces during the reign of Ewart the Man, it's clear that the so called Bermuda Police Service is the next issue that most sane voters should be wondering about. It's always been my opinion that as long as they can't figure out when they are being hurt by the utter incompetence of Ewart and the Clowns of Alaska Hall, they'll vote for the ones that look like them.

Might be time to take note of what's happening around them. Tourism has been a joke for years. Public School Education has been a joke forever (and in the face of incredible successes in the Private Schools!). Our National Library has been closed for a year and a half. Our roads look like something out of Haiti. International Business is leaving and we don't even know it ... and there's very little coming in. And to give you an example of the free wheeling spending and incompetence in Works and Engineering, HASCo has virtually completed more than 20 new condos just past Whites in Warwick ... in the same time that W&E has spent building the Great Wall of Warwick (but to be fair, W&E really only have a major crew on weekends when the pay is double time)!

But back to the Police. Where are these guys other than running around smashing their cars into people and things? They are completely invisible except when they do those lovely traffic checks on East Broadway and Kindley Field Road after Cup Match when it's designed to cause the biggest traffic chaos. You never see a police car and or bike on Bermudas roads. You never see Police Patrols in the City of Hamilton (or anywhere else). As far as I can see the Police Service hasn't caught virtually anyone for any of these shootings, home invasions, and beatings... unless the criminals literally gave themselves up.

All in all, for 11 years, a story of utter incompetence and failure. But that's what you get when your sole criteria is people who look like you. Turks and Caicos here we come.

JOHN FAIELLA

Southampton