A warning from a father

October 6, 2004

Dear Sir,

I write this letter out of concern for our children, thank you for allowing me to express my concerns, over a very sensitive matter. I am pleased to hear that John (Chalky) White (a policeman) was found guilty for sexual assaulting three children. In addition I am relieved to hear that justice has been served. I am appalled someone of trust can use their position to do such a thing, to these innocent children; hopefully he will get all that he deserves.

My further concern is to the mother?s judgment and I feel that the mother bears some responsibility by allowing such a thing to happen. How can this single mother allow her child to go away on trips or even be in a care of a person without knowing that person?s background, Policeman or not? My heart goes out to those children as their scars cannot be measured. Where are the fathers of these children, and what part? Have they been systematically removed from these children?s lives? A warning to mothers who fight to keep a father from raising their children. Statistics prove that you increase the chances of abuse when the natural father is not actively involved in the child?s life.

Pembroke

Remove that graffiti

October 5, 2004

Dear Sir,

I was taken aback yesterday afternoon to see the ?artwork? spray-painted all over the wall at the old Royal Navy wharf north entrance. Given the content and colour of the graffiti I assume that the wall was decorated by crew members of the Tycom Reliance ship which was berthed alongside. What did our visitors to the Music Festival think?

RAYMOND RUSSELL

Pembroke

Do more to fight dyslexia

October 3, 2004

Dear Sir,

Through your paper I would like to get the attention of the Education Department to take a good look at why so many children are leaving school that cannot read and cannot answer a job application. You see quite a few at these sitting on the wall. For a lot at them it is not their fault and so many children go right through school not able to read because they have inherited dyslexia from one of their parents or grandparents.

The teachers do not have a clue how to teach these children and just let them go along. Dyslexia is a brain problem that needs to be turned around so they are able to read like every one else. They need help and now, actually, these children are very clever and smart but they see letters the wrong way around. Teachers should be able to spot one by the time they reach ten years old.

The United States is having a big campaign on dyslexia. Bermuda should do the same. Dyslexic children can feel very upset and frustrated with this disability and it can be turned around but they need your help. Spare a little money for just that or it will go on and on because it is inherited from family to family. Please help these children now.

E. RABEN

Fed up senior

September 30, 2004

Dear Sir,

Twice a year Government contributes forty dollars toward any two visits made by seniors to the doctor which amounts to a savings of eighty dollars for them the seniors. Providing your doctor is a very compassionate and patient one who does not mind deducting the eighty dollars from your two visits and wait for the Government ?HIP? to reimburse him however long it takes. It has gotten to the point now where a few doctors are getting fed up having to wait close to a year before ?HIP? reimburses them for being so compassionate and patient and are now charging us seniors the full fee for a visit to them and they are telling us that the Government ?HIP? should reimburse us the $80.

You present a statement of our doctor?s bill for the two visits to ?HIP? in hopes that you will be reimbursed within a reasonable amount of time which by Government?s time ranges from reasonable amounts to eight months to a year to wait for a measly eighty dollars from their coffers which by my arithmetic is ten lousy dollars a month for eight months and even less if you have to wait a year or more. A savings of eighty dollars on your doctor?s bill may not round like much to many, but to some seniors on a very low fixed income that eighty dollars saving is a blessing. This writer is not a very extravagant person, I can eat well on $80 and a bit less per week. So if it?s owed to me, pay me. Government ?Wake Up? because this senior PLP supporter is fed up. And yes, I pay my monthly $144.90 HIP premium on time.