VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

THANKS FROM BAHAMAS

I am a retired American residing in Freeport, Bahamas, with a summer home in downtown Halifax. I returned home after hurricane Dorian and started volunteering at the Rotary Disaster Relief Center in Freeport.

We receive donated supplies from Canada, the U.S., and other countries, sent by individuals, clubs, groups, companies, etc., and I help open and sort arriving shipments.

In October, I kept noticing that there were a lot of boxes with an “Apple Self Storage” logo. This was the largest shipment I had noticed from a single group. Where were they from? Checking a shipping label, I saw “Disaster Relief Halifax.”

Seeing “Halifax” on the label got my attention, so I checked the internet and discovered that this is a group of university students in Nova Scotia from the Bahamas, who organized a donation drive on several Nova Scotia university campuses and sent 370 boxes of relief supplies. I just want the group to know that they did a fantastic job. The donations arrived in good order and were distributed.

And I would like for the people of Halifax and the Bahamas to hear about your efforts and the generosity of many university students, Haligonians, companies, and others who participated.

And I know Grand Bahama thanks you in this time of need as many homes were destroyed from flood waters rising from four to over 20 feet. Even the local hospital was flooded, so your medical supplies were welcomed. Again, thank you.

Bob Wilkins, Freeport, Bahamas

RETRIAL BY FIRE

Re: Your Nov. 29 article, “Retrial ordered in child sexual assault case.”

It seems that in order for justice to prevail, we must now force a sixyear-old girl to give her testimony once again in a new trial wherein it is alleged that she was a four-year-old victim of sexual assault. This is apparently necessary despite the fact that she confirmed that she not only understood the difference between a truth and a lie and was telling the truth, but (through no fault of her own) made these required confirmations at the end of her testimony rather than before her testimony began. Really?

Where is the shame?

R.J. Walton, Antigonish

ACT OF DESPERATION

Re: “Husband was ‘at wit’s end’ caring for spouse before he left her at Bridgewater hospital” (Nov. 27 story).

I recently lost my 97-year-old veteran parent. I have nothing but sympathy for this man’s plight. In desperation, he left his wife at the hospital. In desperation, I threatened to leave my mother there. Although I am a physician, I was no more effective in finding adequate care for my dying relative than he was.

Withholding of narcotics from palliative care patients is part of this whole issue. One certainly does become desperate.

Dr. A. Thurgood, Halifax

GREAT DISCONNECT

“It happens more often than you think,” Mary Jane Hampton stated in your Nov. 28 story, “73-year-old woman abandoned by husband at South Shore Regional Hospital.” While this is so sad and disruptive to the people affected, the more disturbing aspect to this story for me was why Department of Community Services has not stepped up to provide for housing and possibly legal aid. The article said Elaine Flemming was working with a social worker to find housing, without success. Of course her resources are limited, as we know is the case for many senior women in our province!

There continues to be a great disconnect between the two government departments — Health and Wellness and Community Services — wherein many people “fall through the cracks.” In addition, these situations result in incredible costs to the system. Just think about it: a hospital bed at over $1,000 per day vs. providing social assistance and housing for far fewer taxpayer dollars.

Many attempts have been made over the years by Health and Wellness to facilitate improved communication and resource allocation between these departments by appointing a “liaison” position. It seems obvious that another initiative of government has proved ineffective, as illustrated in Ms. Flemming’s case.

On the same front page, we read the account of fraudulent activity in the social assistance system over many years, with over $230,000 spent! It makes my head spin to think of who is in charge or, more importantly, accountable, for spending our tax dollars. Millions are spent on inquiries into situations where injustices in the system appear to prevail. I believe there should be an inquiry into the injustice Ms. Flemming is enduring as a result of the ineffectiveness of departments of Health and Wellness and Community Services.

Sandra Bauld, HRM