January 8, 2003

The following was sent to The Hon. Terry Lister, Minister of Home Affairs and copied to The Royal Gazette.

Dear Mr. Lister:

Re: Dr. Jonathan Murray

We refer to the recent situation concerning Dr. Jonathan Murray and wish to place on record that we too, added to the list of many other people on this Island who have a family member that is a cancer patient of Dr. Murray's implore you to reconsider the position you have taken in not granting him a work permit renewal.

One year ago my 82-year-old mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and was sent to Lahey Clinic for treatment. Upon her return to Bermuda some three months later, she returned with a trake in her throat and a tube in her stomach for feeding and she was placed in the care of Dr. Murray.

After a very long , hard battle and the amazing care and consideration of this doctor, she has improved and progressed beyond our family's wildest dreams. When she first returned, she had lost her voice thus having to have a trake put in, could not eat and so had to have tube feeding and was generally very sick. Now, some 12 months later, she has improved and progressed, thanks to the amazing care and attention provided by Dr. Murray.

We are aware that there are other ENT's on the Island but we are certain that Dr. Murray's experience with cancer patients makes him stand out in his field and for this reason alone, we feel very strongly that this man should be allowed to remain in Bermuda to continue the fine work he is providing the people of this country.

It is common knowledge, and statistics confirm that the incidence of cancer in Bermuda is high! Here we have a doctor who, without question, is filling a vital role especially with cancer patients. It should be noted that the news about Dr. Murray is so upsetting to my mother that we fear this will result in a decline in her condition should he have to leave Bermuda.

Again, your reconsideration of this situation can only benefit the people of Bermuda so we implore you to give serious thought to this matter.

CAROLE A. MAYO

STEPHEN V. REGO

HOWARD J. REGO

Warwick

January 8, 2003

Dear Sir,

The Minister of Works & Engineering Mr. Alex Scott stated that the problem concerning the widening of the Pender Road was due to the cost and I'm an ordinary working person who is asking 'why not'?

The prisoners received such benefits while incarcerated such as dental and new glasses, eye care and the like. Let's say that their services are used to help with the widening of the Pender Road.

They would have job fulfilment, ie; - years to come they could show off to their grandchildren with pride the knowledge that they helped to do the work. They would have a day's pay that would cost the Government much less than what would be paid to some expert foreigner used for these types of roadwork instead of the born here worker, they would leave H.M. Prison with earned dollars. They would sleep better and the days would go faster for them. They would have job experience and probable references with skills to try to provide for themselves a place to live. It is time for them to give back to society.

It is time the Government keep good on their word that Bermuda is for Bermudians and save on the cost for widening the Pender Road.

WHY NOT!!

Devonshire

January 8, 2003

Dear Sir,

It was with disbelief, outrage, revulsion and disgust that I read in last Saturday's Royal Gazette that Immigration Minister Terry Lister had commanded Dr. Jonathan Murray immediately to close down his specialist practice (ear, nose and throat), and cease attending his patients as of five o'clock the previous afternoon.

I could never have imagined that a Bermuda Government could have descended to such depths of inhumanity.

Dr. Murray came to Bermuda eight years ago because Bermuda needed him. Now some Government politicians, devoid of appreciation and common sense, can blindly decide he must go.

No consideration is given to the damaging effect Dr. Murray's departure will have on the health of hundreds of Bermudians who, like my wife, depend on Dr. Murray to make life in their older years much more livable than otherwise it could be.

Shouldn't the patients have a major voice in a situation like this? Why should their health be put in jeopardy at some bureaucrat's whim?

Doctors, particularly specialists, invited to Bermuda should be subject to different working permit rules than those applying to unskilled and semi-skilled workers who come here in droves. The only criterion for doctors and specialists is that they should be the best we can persuade to come here. Where they are born is totally immaterial.

As chartered accountants, Mr. Lister, you and I know getting qualified by examination is just the start. It takes years of experience to attain the stature Dr. Murray enjoys in his profession.

Am I to understand that in future only doctors born in Bermuda will be allowed to practice here? Will all the present non-Bermudian doctors continue to have to live in fear, knowing a prejudiced Government can kick them out every two years?

This is not in any way to belittle Bermudian doctors. In my lifetime I have seen a patient of many excellent Bermudian doctors, some of whom I went to school with. No more highly respected group of Bermudians exists.

It was a relief to read that the Minister had relented to the extent of permitting Dr. Murray to restart treating his patients until he can wind down his practice in some more orderly fashion.

If an eleventh hour reprieve fails, I sincerely hope Dr. Murray takes better memories with him than those provided by a myopic petty 'we'll-show-em-who's-boss' Bermuda Government.

Dr. Murray's like may not be seen in Bermuda gain in the life of many of us.

T.C. AITCHISON

Pembroke

January 9, 2003

Dear Sir,

Rolfe Commissiong's opinion piece in this newspaper ignores one salient fact: Being against quotas on the grounds that they demean the recipients and increase tokenism does not make one a racist. Mrs. Young is trying to solve the same problem - they just differ on the approach.

Mrs. Young's letter explains why she feels de facto quota systems create new problems of diminished self-esteem and resentment on the part of both black and white workers and that Equal Opportunity is a better solution to the problem.

Equal Opportunity is supported by blacks as well as whites as a method of advancing blacks in the work place by levelling the playing field, including advancing educational opportunities for blacks, ensuring blacks are given economic aspirations and the opportunities to realise those aspirations, and improving support within the Bermudian community.

Rectifying past wrongs is an admirable, noble thing to do - no serious thinker would disagree and certainly Mrs. Young doesn't ever imply otherwise in the letter. She advocates a different approach towards the same goal.

Incidentally, I also don't understand how our race discussions are so blinkered as to conveniently ignore other racial injustices. Racist policies consistently deprive Portuguese Bermudians of the same advantages but because they are a minority, we ignore it. After all, they don't look like Renee Webb.

Bermudians (including the PLP) also praise international (predominantly white) companies whose billions of tax dollars are kept from their rightful place in other countries' education, healthcare and welfare systems, depriving minorities (including blacks) of adequate services - all so Bermuda can enjoy its unparalleled affluence. Moreover, the equation of Mrs. Young's letter with Trent Lott's racist jokes is a rhetorical, false comparison which undermines the rest of his otherwise thoughtful argument. There is no comparison. It is a shame such an obviously bright man cannot debate the issue without attacking the person.

RAJA

Paget