Heartfelt appreciation

December 9, 2005

Dear Jonathan,

Recognising that the KEMH appears to get more than its fair share of bad press, I thought it might be appropriate to drop you a short note to help in a small way to redress the balance.

Until last Tuesday, I had never been in a hospital for treatment of any description ? in fact, my last exposure was some 15 years ago when I visited by father who was having routine surgery in Lewisham General Hospital in south London. The experience led me to the conclusion that dying might be an attractive alternative!

Needless to say, therefore, while recognising that my scheduled colonoscopy was hardly brain surgery, you can perhaps appreciate that I approached the procedure with more than the usual apprehensive of your seasoned patient.

I am happy to report that the reality was far removed from my fears; the check-ins created confidence by being efficient and professional, the staff in the Out-Patient Surgery Department could not have been kinder or more sensitive when preparing me for the procedure and, if anything, were even more caring on my return.

The surgical department seemed equally well organised, albeit most of the time I was in residence I was not in a position to take an active interest!

I am sure the hospital is not without its problems but morale in the Out-Patient Surgery Department did not seem to be one of them. If you are in a position to convey my appreciation, I would be grateful if you would do so.

Kindest regards,

Setting record straight

December 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

Having read the recent article on page 21 of the Business section, December 14 re: Universal Electrics, I?m afraid that I must once again step into the breach and put the record straight regarding technical training, etc., in Bermuda.

At the same time, I was somewhat surprised that the retiring M.D. of Universal didn?t enlighten the new C.D. on some of the aspects of training in the past.

I was appointed head of department at the then I.T.I. on Frizwell?s Hill in the late 60s.

The Institute was based on the Secondary Technical High Schools, which then existed in England. It was a secondary school for boys, which followed a normal syllabus, aiming, I think, at the UK GCE. However, on top of this, the senior boys were encouraged to study craft subjects, e.g. motor vehicle work, electrical, carpentry, engineering and technical drawing subjects.

I inherited a large workshop containing very little electrical equipment which had been used by a North American to teach the rudimentaries of electrical installation.

The main well-regarded courses for all trades in the UK were those of the City & Guilds of London. Alternative courses were, for example, the Union of Lancs and Cheshire Institutes, with which I was also familiar. Our senior, electrical boys took the ULCI exam.

At this time, things were booming in Bermuda and there was great demand for tradesmen of all description. Firms were taking on trainee and I persuaded the then Principal to let me try to recruit the apprentices from the firms, on ?Day Release? to come to the BTI (i.e. they were released for one full day). This involved a great deal of legwork, but apprentices were recruited from firms such as Universal, Masters, Canber and others.

As time went on and our reputation grew our entire adult intake was trainee-oriented and on the electrical side by judicious selection of courses we were able to accept students from Cable & Wireless, the Telephone Company and Belco, etc. too.

We even later launched an air-conditioning course, which was sorely needed.

I must therefore disagree completely with Mr. Beauline ?s contention that there were no proper apprenticeship training courses with internationally accepted qualifications. In the then world, especially the Commonwealth qualifications were certainly recognised and probably, still are.

In the meantime things had moved on. There was a completely new electrical wing and a commercial section, mainly for girls studying commerce.

Finally, the 6th Form Centre, the BTI and the Hotel and Catering College were amalgamated to form the Bermuda College, which eventually transferred to the new Campus in Paget.

I myself was consigned to Outer Mongolia, despite all my efforts on behalf of technical education, and the rest, as they say, is history. This is what really happened to the technical education other members of staff and I had so diligently built up.

Quite upsetting! Perhaps this will help Mr. Beauline to understand that once comprehensive technical education did exist in Bermuda.

Mistaken identity

December 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

Regarding the letter written by DMB dated December 15, 2005 and published in today?s edition of , I am writing to inform your correspondent and the Bermuda public at large that I am not, nor ever have been a ?business partner? of either Tony Brannon, or his late father Terry. Clearly a case of mistaken identity on the part of your writer.

To my knowledge, other than perhaps as a customer of his former establishment (in another life) neither my brother, Graham, nor father, Bert have ever been in business with Mr. Brannon either.

Having corrected DMB?s mistake as it relates to me, I do, however, appreciate the compliment paid.

I take this opportunity to wish you, your staff and your readers a very festive Christmas.

?Utter contempt?

December 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

The lead story in the Mid-Ocean News of December 9 had to do with Miss Claire Smith, who called in to Col. Burch?s radio programme and, after speaking briefly to the host, was asked ?Are you a white person?? Miss Smith replied in the affirmative. The Colonel said, ?I thought so.? And then cut her off the air.

This is the second such incident in about as many weeks ? the first being when he responded to another caller by telling him he was a ?house nigger?.

Then, of course, there was the incident in the Senate some time ago when this man verbally abused Maxwell Burgess saying ?You don?t get it, do you! We don?t care what you think!? On this occasion he was governed by Parliamentary rules and was, one presumes, subject to censure, while the other comments referred to above were made on his radio show and broadcast to the general public.

Taken together these remarks illustrate his utter contempt for whites, blacks who support the UBP and the entire UBP membership. They are clearly racist on the one hand, and political on the other.

This belligerent, in-you-face attitude is deplorable. Not only should the Broadcast Commission take appropriate action, but the Human Rights Commission must move against radio station Hott 107.5 FM, and Col. Burch for flagrant violations of the Human Rights Act.

Over recent years there has been an obvious and depressingly steady decline in the moral climate of our community. Sadly, this decline seems now to be accelerated at a truly alarming and dangerous rate. Obviously Col. Burch epitomises the philosophy of the Government he serves. The Premier has taken no disciplinary action against him, nor has he seen fit to distance himself from these outrageous remarks broadcast publicly over Hott 107.5 FM.

If there is anyone on this Island who is still undecided on the issue of Independence, any doubts should be eradicated by now. The seven-year record of Government is abysmal, and what we are seeing is only a mild foretaste of what is to come if the man who would be Prime Minister and his cronies are successful in their bid for sovereignty.

Leading by example

Dear Sir,

Seventeen members of the Department of Immigration received either Immigration legal programme certificates or awards from the UK Institute of Legal Executives last night at Bermuda College. I wanted to share this with your readers because this is a great example of proactive support of Bermudians who are hard working, committed to increasingly their knowledge and skills ? these students are the future.

Well done to Minister Horton, Ms Azhar and the Bermuda College team and most of all congratulations to the students for their willingness to lead by example and demonstrable dedication to higher learning. Keep up the good work everyone!

Action needed, not words

November 16, 2005

Dear Sir,

A person?s true beliefs are found in his actions and not in his words.

Listen to the callers to the talk shows and you?ll hear them repeatedly telling the Government what to do in order to solve the housing crisis.

?We have a right to speak,? they often say. We say, speak as much as you wish, however don?t forget that you have a duty to do what you can to help.

This is not what you want to hear, is it? You want to be able to charge as much rent as the market will allow. We say, you who do that are as morally bankrupt as the slave masters. They treated the slaves inhumanly and legally remained guiltless.

We say, our community lacks commitment. Most of you want to be left alone to do whatever you want with your housing resources and at the same time you want the Government to solve the problems in housing. You loud mouthed uncommitted people are like dark clouds without rain, loud barking dogs without teeth writing lots of cheques when you know full well that you have insufficient funds.

Do something, (our Mr. W. Phillips did) if you are serious. Your inactivity proves how disingenuous you are. Let it be known, ?without people, we can?t achieve our goal of affordable housing (HWP). Sufficient housing units already exist in our Bermuda to accommodate every single Bermudian who needs a place to live.

What then is the problem? One problem is the very high cost to rent. Far too many tenants rent their places at the highest rates that the market will allow.

When this occurs it is conceivable that a one-bedroom apartment in St. David?s could rent for $2,600 per month ($31,200 per year). Yes, we need to cry aloud. This is criminal and if it isn?t, it should be. This is burdensome to many. A yoke is what it is. Compassion is what is needed. If talking makes you feel better then fine, but unless you get off your butt and do something constructive very little will change.

You Christian people always claim to love the bible? Listen to Isaiah 58:6-7: ?Undo the heavy burdens, break every yoke, deal the bread to the hungry, and bring the poor that are cast out to thy house.? This scripture speaks of personal responsibility. This is not what you want to hear, is it? Nevertheless this is what is needed. All hands on deck! You vocal do nothing people who want only to foam at the mouth are in a Barnum and Bailey World, just as phoney as you could be.

If you don?t need the Government?s help to solve your housing needs then the Government needs your help to cure the country?s housing needs.

Are you willing to help? Then do so!