November 25, 2003

Dear Sir,

Regarding the complaints about overcrowding at Westgate, there's a very simple solution: reactivate Casemates for murderers, drug importers and sex offenders, and stop being so wishy-washy with our prisoners. In case anybody's forgotten this, prison is supposed to be punishment for crimes, not a reward for them!

DAVIE KERR

St. George's

Swept under the rug

November 13, 2003

Dear Sir,

Age ... concerns? It would seem that the only people who are concerned are the aged themselves.

Having read the Throne Speech with a sceptical microscope, we should have no further illusions that the aged's concerns are the Government's concerns.

We hear about the politicians needing more money so they can serve us better!

We hear about the increase in the pensions, promised last August, still no increase yet.

We hear of promises that the insurance companies are trying to help, and yet close their doors (unless you have enough money to pay a high premium every month) after we become 65 years of age - just the time that the elderly seniors need health care.

Does anybody care? Having contributed all our working lives to the welfare of this wealthy little Island - to have the door slammed in your face is a national disgrace.

We are in many cases left below the poverty level and finding we have to beg from our children or experience the humiliation of going to the many help organisations, (which are wonderful but have limited funds) to pay for medications, food, and housing - we all know which one gets unpaid - we at least have to have a roof over our heads.

Britain and Canada have long since had a conscience about their elderly seniors, and rightly so; for to find oneself through no fault of your own to have to worry as to whether you can buy your medications, eat, or pay the rent is debilitating and degrading.

Not so long ago we were needed desperately but now you hope we would just go away, an embarrassment that for far too long has been swept under the rug. We need empathy, understanding not sympathy, and respect, a stirring of emotions amongst the powers that be to help and to put into place a programme that at least pays for medications, this would be a start in the right direction.

Otherwise we have to say sadly, that perhaps one day it will be too late for us - but good luck yuppies, you could be next!

DIANA WILLIAMS

Pembroke

Thanks, UBP

November 26, 2003

Dear Sir,

Thanks to the untiring efforts of the UBP on behalf of senior citizens, the government finally decided to do something about the overdue pension payments. Hopefully, seniors will receive these payment before Christmas, 2003. I certainly hope all seniors will remember this the next time they go to vote.

SENIOR

Warwick West

Calling for a curfew

November 17, 2003

Dear Sir,

I was very pleased to read that Martha Dismont has called for a curfew; we need it for all ages.

Here in Fort Prospect you can't go for a walk at 8 p.m. with so many young kids out on bikes etc and no helmets, lights on bikes etc. They enjoy themselves scaring the adults from the back etc. There is never any adult with them day or night. They can do what they like throw eggs at doors etc. etc.

Half the street lights are not working and the workers have not been around since the storm.

They start early to give trouble; no wonder the older ones are so bad. What has the Housing Corporation done for us? Nothing and they know about it. A meeting should be called and rules put down.

A GRANDMOTHER

Devonshire

A mother's struggle

November 18, 2003

Dear Sir,

In your November 18, 2003 newspaper Martha Dismont gave her opinion on gang violence.

She mentioned that parents are very selfish and need to take more responsibility for the problems in society. I would like to say that before you make a comment such as that, please observe all angles of the problem.

I am a single parent and consider my children's welfare my number one priority. I have made every effort to prevent them from getting into trouble. Unfortunately I did have a disruptive child. I pleaded with members of our community to help me but to no avail. Eventually my child ended up being incarcerated when he got older.

I am so sick and tired of people such as yourself putting the blame on the parents for problems such as doing violence. I am no Brady Bunch Parent but I try to be the best parent I can be by being there for them as much as I possibly can, also by instilling good values in them. There is a saying, “you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink”. In other words, no matter what type of values you try to instil into the child, in the end it is the choices they choose to make which determines their outcome in life.

We the parent can't correct our child physically unless we want to face charges of abuse, yet when we try to seek help for our disruptive child we are made out to seem like we are overreacting and overprotective parents. Eventually the problem escalates into major problems and then society puts the blame on the parent, as you did.

However I will admit that in some situations there are irresponsible parents but please don't put us all in that category because we have a disruptive child.

Let us go deep into the root of the problem. Most of these children in gangs come from single parent homes. In most cases the mother, the one who should be at home to nurture the child, is too busy holding down more than one job to provide for the family. But is this ever mentioned? This is what society should take a look at.

Now let's go even deeper, look at Bermuda prices. They are outrageous to say the least. I for one make a fairly good income but still find it hard to make ends meet. School supplies and clothes make up almost half of my weekly pay on a regular basis. I spend $100 plus on groceries weekly but still run out before the week is up. Now don't even let me start on today's rents; one of the biggest problems facing Bermuda. For a single parent that is a battle within itself.

In closing all I ask is that before people such as yourself make such comments please do a lot more research before passing judgment.

LINDA WALES

Paget

Hooray for local TV

November 25, 2003

Dear Sir,

This morning I was happy to see that someone would expose Cablevision for its billing practices. Mr. Rich Smith of Pembroke I wish to thank you for this.

I wanted to wait and see how long it would take them to realise that I have not had cable since January, 2002. I have been ignoring the bill that they keep sending me since last year May. So you see, you have given me the incentive to send them a letter requesting them to stop sending me a bill.

I will continue to enjoy ZBM, ZFB & VSB . I have learned that there is so much talent in this country and that our youth are moving forward. I also realise that I would miss what is going on this wonderful country we live in. So thank you ZBM, ZFB & VSB for fine international and local television. By the way you would not find The Learn A Lots, People & Places and other programmes on cable.

Thank you Rich Smith and thank you, Mr. Editor.

KDH

St. George's

Thanks for the thrills

November 26, 2003

Dear Sir,

Now that I have just about caught up on my sleep, I feel that a vote of thanks should go not only to the organisers of the World Rugby Classic for an exciting week of rugby and a street party held recently, but also to the several thousand rugby supporters who showed Bermuda how to behave at a sporting function.

In the same vein even more congratulations should go to the Hon. Irish Consul John Kane and his associates who persuaded the organisers of the Rugby World Cup to allow the matches to be shown live in Bermuda, and to the corporate sponsors who made it possible. Now why couldn't the Bermuda Broadcasting Company have done that?

SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT

Smith's Parish