A frivolous reference

February 20, 2010

Dear Sir,

Apparently, Charles Zuill was quite lost in front of Christina Hutchings' painting which he singled out as "the most sophisticated painting in the show". A painting which he said brought to mind "that ridiculous and tiresome Bermuda triangle". Given, the centuries of iconography in the field of painting alone, it is baffling to find an art critic using such a scant and frivolous reference. Surely, a sophisticated painting deserves a sophisticated and knowledgeable interpretation.

Perhaps Dr. Zuill should buy a compass?

NANCY ANNE MILLER

Paget

Why retailers fail

February 20, 2010

Dear Sir,

It is the gas station that advertises a special price but still charges the higher price and hopes no one notices.

It is the Bank that has taken, so far, 12 weeks to do a simple share transfer of their own shares.

It is the convenience store that takes three staff members 15 minutes to make a simple sandwich.

It is the appliance store that still has not responded to a store visit, an e-mail and a phone call to order some parts.

It is the hardware store who was going to call me when they found the product I was trying to buy, after a 35-minute wait in the store, and never called.

It is the store that refused to order a product in the colour of my choice until all the other colours had "sold out".

It is the car accessory business that is closed on Saturday.

It is the Government Ministry who has not yet responded to a letter, two follow-up phone calls and two e-mails, since October last year.

It is the four visits to a jewellery business to get one watch battery changed.

It is the lawyer who is now in his third year of handling a simple Deed of Variance with no end in sight.

It is the air conditioning business that charges $637 for 2.5 hours of work.

It is the bank that hasn't yet responded to a mortgage question in four weeks.

It is the painters who have taken three months to paint a kitchen they promised would be done by Christmas.

Some retail and service industries in Bermuda will remain challenged until their ways change. They simply don't understand that Bermudian consumers, like consumers everywhere, want good service and fair pricing and refuse to have their time wasted.

KENT STEWART

Hamilton Parish

Letting down Bermuda

February 21, 2010

Dear Sir,

One thing is for sure, this Government doesn't have a clue about money – except, of course, how to spend it in the most profligate manner! Hence the huge, and unnecessary, financial hole we are now in. Minister Cox, I am hugely disappointed by your lack of a firm hand on our financial tiller, and obvious caving in to Premier Brown's excesses at every turn. In my view, you have let Bermuda down quite shockingly.

As for this latest Brown power play of $800,000 for advising on the Corporations takeover (nearly a million – mere peanuts!), based on past experience, it will probably end up double that, for what most people see as an entirely unnecessary exercise, profiting greatly one local law firm plus, oddly, a US one. Clearly another Brown power play like closing the clinic – out of the blue, totally unnecessary, and hugely upsetting for everyone involved.

The thought of the two Corporations' activities being absorbed into various Government departments is alarming indeed, considering their generally chaotic operation, and ever sinking standards. The ongoing Ministerial merry-go-round has resulted in ministers having large amounts of power but rarely any actual expertise in their particular areas. Add to this a dislike for sticking to the rules of government. Policies? Regulations? What are those? Mere irritations to be got round whenever possible. Trustworthy government? I don't think so!

Yours in desperation,

PENNY HILL

Hamilton Parish

Trashed Railway Trail

February 22, 2010

Dear Sir,

Today I enjoyed the PALS walk from Somerset to Hamilton and fortunately the weather was kind to us. However, I was dismayed by all the trash that litters the Railway Trail between Southampton and Paget. I do not know who is responsible for maintaining the trail but clearly a better job could be done.

It is reprehensible that people should discard litter there in the first place but it is equally important that there be a regular clean up also. I for one would be more than happy to assist if a legitimate clean-up effort was orchestrated.

Let me end by commending the organisers of the walk and thanking all the volunteers for a job well done ... especially for the excellent spread available at the finish.

PENNY CARRUTHERS

Paget

Not so secret spending

February 21, 2010

Dear Sir,

Victoria's Secret isn't such a secret any more thanks to the PLP Government. Spending of the Government's money at Victoria's Secret? Let me rephrase that. Spending of the taxpayers' money that makes up Government's money being spent on such things is beyond ridiculous. Minister Cox, your "cog in the wheel statement" simply disgusted me. You lack fiscal responsibility and the "testicular fortitude" you've mentioned in the past.

And to say that by the time an Auditor's Report comes out it's a year later and often the Government has since corrected the complaints? Mr. Dennis' reports go back pointing out flaws that have been going wrong a long while now.

Where did $20 million dollars go? I highly doubt that has been corrected as we are $679 million in debt and climbing.

And PLP want you to be the leader? You're as guilty as Ewart Brown and others in your Government's childish spending of our money. You sign the cheques.

Enough is enough. If you're going to spend money, spend it on useful things. Like a new Causeway that isn't a joke. I'm surprised trolls do not hide under it because it a mockery of a piece of work for a "first world" country like Bermuda to have, as well as our third world like hospital. Fix them. Spend money on tackling gun crime. Stop wasting money on Dr. Brown's elaborate trips. The amount of money he has spent on travel he could have gone to the moon and back.

Over 100 consultants in under two years? Can anyone in the PLP Government to do their jobs on their own?

ROBERT DAVIES

Devonshire

A tale of two leaders

February 23, 2010

Dear Sir,

I was in Canada over the weekend and an article in the Toronto Sun reported on what Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper spent on hotel accommodations, including spending a night in a hotel in Guelph, Ontario for less than $30. Can you imagine Bermuda's Premier considering such lowly accommodations? Neither can I ...

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/02/19/12952211.html

TIRED OF OVERSPENDING

Smith's

BA strike threat

February 23, 2010

Dear Sir,

As a one-time British Airways steward who stood up against the then-Union and crossed the picket line when strike action was called for higher pay with no compelling argument for it, I'd like to put forward a reason why the crews might be right to threaten strike action today.

In my opinion, the Manchester City FC goalkeeper look-alike who heads BA wouldn't know how to run a class airline if he had all the money in the world. He clearly does not understand that the passenger, in any one of the four often available cabins on BA and some other airlines, flies with his or her chosen airline on any route for one reason and one reason alone.

Ignoring for this purpose those other reasons that can compel someone to fly with BA, like it's the only airline serving the direct route or it means waiting all day at JFK to take the alternative, passengers want to be treated nicely, kindly and with some dignity and respect.

When I was a steward, I once ground into the dirty cabin floor with my foot the only Kosher meal on board my flight and the alternative option was a ham salad. It was an accident, of course, as the stewardess knocked it off the pantry top just as I was passing with 36 empty miniatures, used glasses, tiny soda cans and a few other items I'd collected from the cabin on my large wooden tray; but it's how you deal with someone that matters much more than what the problem might be or the fact it's unsolvable as far as fully satisfying the passenger's hunger pangs is concerned.

Anyone who eats out in restaurants a great deal knows that the service of the general staff, waiting staff and even the sommelier, often depends almost entirely upon whether or not there is a competent Maitre d' on site and in control.

Willie Walsh has not discussed with cabin crews the fact that, along with other cuts, he wants to remove the "extra" cabin staff member from long haul flights – you could say, the Maitre d' – but has told them that this is what is going to happen from a certain date.

Martin Ferguson writes in Air & Business Travel News: "Despite the apparent unanimity among Unite members, I can't help feeling they've just taken a decision equivalent to turkeys signing up for Christmas. It's no secret that BA's cabin crew – and, indeed, most of its long-serving staff – enjoy market leading pay and conditions."

This is probably why the airline still manages to attract discerning business and other travellers with that generally higher standard of individuals, as opposed to product offerings, who are better paid than their typical competitive counterpart. Take away the boss or the floating cabin crew member and you can forget it, Mr. Walsh. Service is getting bad enough without your once again brandishing the paring knife.

If he carries on in the way he's been going, not only will there be no Premier members and the continuation of no mileage points for British "Executive Club" members who buy a discounted ticket but there will be the cabin crew attitude that I was unfortunate enough to witness when I worked the skies at the end of the 1960s when there was no "political correctness" and very few rules for passenger engagement.

A steward with whom I trained was confronted by a blustering English businessman in the front of a 747 to JFK from LHR with "Don't you know who I am?" The steward said: "It doesn't matter to me who you are, love, but I promise you the same fabulous and attentive service that I'll give to all the other gorgeous men in First Class."

I think he was the same one who, when greeting all boarders at the front entrance to a Vanguard flight from LHR to EDI with: "Good morning, sir – Good morning, sir – Good morning, sir Good morning, sir," a bombastic male passenger retorted, "What's good about it?". The steward immediately replied: "That was a form of greeting, dear, not a weather forecast!"

Heaven help us if Walsh gets his way all the time; no, wait – heaven help BA's shareholders!

TONY FORSTER

Pembroke

Working on noise issue

February 23, 2010

Dear Sir,

I wish to thank your correspondent Un-Common Sense from St. George's for highlighting a long standing problem with external noise heard on the Hamilton Rotary weekly radio broadcasts. The Hamilton Rotarians are currently addressing the problem.

Un-Common Sense may not be aware that our meetings are held next to a general dining room. The secondary noise that is overheard is not emanating from Rotarians, who give their full attention to our weekly speakers, but from consumers that are bestowing their patronage to the establishment where our luncheon meetings are held.

We have had meetings to resolve the issue and are hopeful that we will manage an appropriate solution that is agreeable to all.

BARRETT ST. VINCENT DILL

President

Hamilton Rotary Club

BDA's new leaders

February 22, 2010

Dear Sir,

Heartiest congratulations to Craig Cannonier on his election to BDA Leader. Congratulations are also due to Myron Piper for his valiant contest: he will surely live to fight another day.

No doubt Shawn Crockwell, MP and first leader of the BDA, will be giving Craig the benefit of his experience.

Supporters of the BDA will also be extending best wishes to Michael Fahy who has become the Alliance's first chairman, and to Kathy Michelmore, Deputy Leader.

OWEN H. DARRELL

Pembroke