The world is changing

February 21, 2005

Dear Sir,

I noticed that Spain has begun the process of ratifying the new European constitution by having a referendum, something that we in Bermuda were not allowed to have for the changes made to our Constitution.

It is interesting that established independent countries around the world are more and more moving to change from independence to interdependence while our Bermuda Government appears to be intent on going in the opposite direction.

Ireland, as an example, where wars and civil wars were fought for the right to Independence did become independent and then some years later opted for interdependence within Europe, and has become more prosperous than at any time in its history since this decision was taken. Bermuda already has a sweetheart deal with interdependence, with the possibility of having the right to live and work anywhere within the European Union. Independence will mean that this right will disappear.

Let us learn from what the world is now doing.

Sinking his career?

February 24, 2005

Dear Sir,

Dr. Ewart Brown?s normal good sense seems to have deserted him, as he jumped in over his head in his e-mails of support for the possible second dolphin disaster tale on the South Shore. Dr. Brown apparently wrote that he supports the proposal of a new group of dolphin exploiters at Sinky Bay ?totally! They are opposed by the old Bermuda people who believe that once they?ve been let in the door, that the door should be closed!?

Just who are these ?old Bermuda people?? Perhaps Dr. Brown means old people, like in geriatrics, in which case he may be guilty of age racism. Or perhaps he means old white oligarchy Bermudians, in which case he might be guilt of colour racism. In this case, however, it should be easy to identify the oldies, but all one sees in this instance are a group of younger environmentalists who are rightly objecting to a potential disaster. Dr. Brown would appear to be the oldest oldie that has yet surfaced in this murky affair of the sea.

What is really odd is that Dr. Brown seems to support an open door policy, which is contrary to the views of many in his party. Having only recently arrived, some of them are determined to slam the door in the face of any other humans that want to become part of Bermuda. Now we cannot even sell our houses to foreigners, according to the discriminatory, and possibly racist, policy against Bermudians just announced.

If Dr. Brown wants to put ?pop and sizzle? back in tourism, it will probably fizzle out in Southampton if this dolphin proposal is given the go ahead over all the rightful objections that have been raised against it. Dr. Brown may find, in his haste to swim with poor imprisoned dolphins, or their owners, that his tourism career may be swallowed up in the quicksand that is the ocean floor of Sinky, or is it Stinky, Bay.

More changes needed

February 16, 2005

Dear Sir,

Let me extend my congratulations to Mr. Armell Thomas in securing the presidential position of the Bermuda Public Services Union, to Carla Burgess/first vice president, to Maxine Hubert-Watson/second vice-president, and to Kevin Grant and Lynn Wade in securing their respective positions. These victories bring a refreshing change to the membership.

As Mr. Thomas stated, after ousting Mr. Nigel Pemberton: ?Communication within the organisation needs to be improved in order to keep the membership fully informed about what is going on while there has to be some changes to our infrastructure, which has not changed since 1962.?

Mr. Pemberton should have appeared more sensitive when dealing with issues involving his own colleagues, instead he was quoted in a December 3, 2002 article stating: ?It?s probably an aggrieved group down there who just can?t wait for the process but we are having ongoing meetings.? This comment surely did not assist him in retaining his position as President.

On a positive note, with the new team in place and, according to the newly elected president, the lines of communication will be improved to ensure information is fully communicated to the membership, we should, therefore, see some positive changes and perhaps less cause for industrial action.

In a September 25, 2002 article Mr. Eddie Saints, President of the Bermuda Employers Council, was quoted as saying: ?Not giving employees the ?full picture? can lead to distrust in the work place.?

He also stated: ?Staff need to know what?s going on so together they can work together.? Mr. Saints went on to say that ?Businesses have to be up front with employees.? He praised the Bermuda Public Services Unions? efforts for working with employers.

The main obstacle the membership face is the level of support general secretary, Mr. Edward Ball Jr. gives to the employers/management in contrast to the support given to the average member. If he was performing his role effectively, there wouldn?t be so many outstanding issues still awaiting action.

It?s unfortunate that the position of General Secretary is considered a life-long position. If change is needed at the top, the membership has to wait until the post-holder retires from the position unless, of course, the members take a vote of ?no confidence?.

Sometimes change is necessary in order for an organisation to see its way forward, as was the case within the Prison Service ? the persons at the top had to be replaced.

Perhaps the new team will consider changes to the constitution where the position of General Secretary becomes an elected post also.

Seniors need help

February 21, 2005

Dear Sir,

I wish to appeal on behalf of the seniors of Bermuda for a financial consideration in the medical field throughout the island.

There should be a 50 percent discount on all related services i.e. prescriptions, dental, psychiatric, physical therapy specialist visits, optical and podiatry.

It has been suggested that seniors should have saved for their later years to meet these contingencies, but being a senior myself, I can assure you my savings of yesteryear would not meet my financial needs (not even close) at today?s prices.

A further consideration which bodes well for the situation that seniors find themselves in, is the fact that the doctors here do not have to pay exorbitant insurance premiums for their protection from malpractice claims, unlike the Americans and doctors abroad. Their fees to us are sheer profit, plus the extra that they get from the patient?s insurance company.

It is therefore clear that the claims the medical services mentioned in this letter could be met. That is not to deny the expense of training and the time spent awaiting qualifications that these caregivers have had to meet, but not surely at the expense of seniors who cannot help needing more attention as they get older, who in reality in many cases are living below the poverty level.

One only has to investigate and explore other countries as to how they treat their senior citizens to realise Bermuda is way behind, and that Government has to now deal with the hardships that a great many seniors face.

An identity card could be issued as proof of entitlement.

On another tack but related to seniors ? a crime of violence against a senior should incur a double judgment as punishment.

Finally the Human Rights Act should be amended to include the word ?Age? as it reads ?Persons shall not be discriminated against for race, colour, gender, sexual preference, physical disability etc.? Age should be included. You only have to be old to know why!

Fordham University did a fine research report in 2004 on ?Ageing in Bermuda ? Meeting the needs of Seniors?. A Charter of Rights for the Aged is well overdue.

I write this letter on behalf of the seniors of Bermuda and hope that The Minister involved will give these matters serious consideration.

Give discounts to seniors

February 22, 2005

Dear Sir,

The fixed income that most seniors rely on is rapidly losing value in face of the ever escalating prices we are surrounded by each time we go out to shop, and things will get steadily worse unless some of the larger companies and stores think about offering seniors some sort of discount on the things they buy and the bills they pay.

At the moment Belco is slapping a whopping 25 percent fuel adjustment charge on their bills, and this is a ?killer?. I?m sure BTC could increase the amount of local calls without an extra charge, and the prices in most of the restaurants is outrageous.

The Stationery Store on the corner of Reid and Burnaby is one place that offers a discount for seniors on anything they buy, and all the staff go out of their way to ask if you are a senior before they ring up the bill.

On another note, we are told there is a shortage of doctors, and in the same breath we hear that Dr. Spangenberger has been refused a re-entry permit, and it appears that this has been instigated by other members of the Medical Profession and not the Immigration Department. As usual the ones who suffer are the patients who received excellent care from this doctor, and had complete confidence in his ability.

When it comes to specialists there should be enough around so that if one wants a ?second opinion? they should be able to get it without going abroad.

Finally, Skymiles ? those points that take forever to accumulate in order to get a free ticket, are apparently worthless. If you go to Delta and give them several dates you would like to travel using Skymiles points, even months in advance, you get the same response as the Capital One commercial on TV, ?No, No, No, Nein, Nyet!? I thought when a company offers you something and then does not deliver it?s called ?Misrepresentation?.