We don’t want to be poorer so ask people
Parliament is discussing different routes forward for our country after recent political showdowns in Westminster. As local people, we urge politicians to think long and hard about the impact of Brexit on communities in Wales.
British people had a whole host of reasons for casting their vote back in 2016. But we can say for certain nobody voted to become poorer. We know now every version of Brexit leaves us worse off. According to the government’s own analysis, May’s deal would dent our economy in Wales by 1.8%. It’s clear the PM’s Brexit won’t deliver for our communities.
Brexit will be disastrous for jobs here. Recent University of Sussex research shows 15,450 people in Wales are at risk of losing their jobs if we leave the EU on soft Brexit terms. This number doubles if we crash out of the EU with no deal. It’s clear a “jobs-first Brexit” is a complete myth.
It’s time now for MPs from all parties to focus their energies on opposing May’s Brexit deal and on ruling out a disastrous no deal. MPs must stand up for the most vulnerable communities up and down the country. And ensure the Prime Minister doesn’t take us off the cliff on March 29, 2019.
We, the undersigned, urge our politicians to find a way to bring the British people back into the Brexit process. This is the democratic thing to do now.
Jain Haste, SA10 6AA, Aberavon
Christine O’Leary, SA13 2TS, Aberavon
Keri Pinch, SA13 1ET, Aberavon
Laura, Williams, SA13 2SF, Aberavon
Robert James. SA10 6UF, Aberavon
Marilyn Harris, SA12 9BY, Aberavon
Martin Peter Hill, LL31 9QE, Aberconwy
Bill Chapman Chapman. LL31 9TE, Aberconwy
Garth Higginbotham, LL30 2EE, Aberconwy
Louis Brady, LL330 RP, Aberconwy
David Jones, LL30, Aberconwy
John Pilsbury, LL12 8NU, Alyn and Deeside
Simon Darvell, LL12 9AY, Alyn and Deeside
Magdalena Gogola, CH4 8TN, Alyn and Deeside
Alex Irvine Irvine, CH4 0LG, Alyn and Deeside
Alex Symons, CH5 2AH, Alyn and Deeside
Gareth Symons, CH5 2AH, Alyn and Deeside
Sarah Crawshaw, LL55 3NH, Arfon
David Markland, LL54 7YR, Arfon
Grant Peisley, LL54 5SY, Arfon
Iona Edwards, LL55 2HH, Arfon
Denni Turp, LL54 6RN, Arfon
Mieko Yamaguchi, LL57 1PH, Arfon
Karin Mendelova, LL571AY, Arfon
Annie Greenwood, LL57 4AJ, Arfon
Jacqueline Bradley, LL57 1AP, Arfon
James Wilson, LL57 4HN, Arfon
Sheena Kenyon, LL57 4AT, Arfon
Marc Noel, NP23 6PT, Blaenau Gwent
Jane Johnson, NP22 3AG, Blaenau Gwent
Cerys Phillips, NP23 4HY, Blaenau Gwent
Richard Phillips, NP23 5NA, Blaenau Gwent
Jessica Perkins, LD6 5HA, Brecon and Radnorshire
Sherrida Carnson, NP8 1NN, Brecon and Radnorshire
Prof John Flavell, NP8 1NU, Brecon and Radnorshire
H D Lewis, NP8 1LU, Brecon and Radnorshire
Anthony Webb, LD1 6AB, Brecon and Radnorshire
Polly Pearshouse, LD6 5BW, Brecon and Radnorshire
Anne Benfield, HR3 5EG, Brecon and Radnorshire
Susan Price, LD6 5PB, Brecon and Radnorshire
John Rees, NP8 1DH, Brecon and Radnorshire
Chris Martin, LD7 1AN, Brecon and Radnorshire
Sheila Lewis, SA9 1AD, Brecon and Radnorshire
Deb Hayward, NP8 1NW, Brecon and Radnorshire
Bettina Hayles, LD7 1BD, Brecon and Radnorshire
Mark Brenchley, NP8 1NU, Brecon and Radnorshire
Sam Powell, LD8 2HG, Brecon and Radnorshire
Malcolm Williams, HR3 5RP, Brecon and Radnorshire
Chris Old, LD3 9EP, Brecon and Radnorshire
Erica Gould, LD2 3JT, Brecon and Radnorshire
Arwel Watkins, SA9 1AN, Brecon and Radnorshire
Robin Fawcett, CF48 2UR, Brecon and Radnorshire
Jackie Charlton, NP8 1LD, Brecon and Radnorshire
E Jones, CF36 5SB, Bridgend
Justine Jenkins, CF31 1RP, Bridgend
Gareth Date, CF31 2NF, Bridgend
Steve Lee, CF33 4PD, Bridgend
Dave Bowen, CF31 4ST, Bridgend
Peter Lake MBE, CF31 4SH, Bridgend
Rob James CF83 2UJ, Caerphilly
Stephen Dickinson, CF83 1NE, Caerphilly
Ann Young, CF83 1HS, Caerphilly
Wyn Bligh, CF83 8QQ, Caerphilly
Robert Hopkins, CF23 6SJ, Cardiff Central
Dev Kushu Kushal, CF23 9HJ, Cardiff Central
Bonni Crawford, CF24 3AG, Cardiff Central
Kristina Taylor, CF23 5DX, Cardiff Central
Olivia Jones, CF23 9BA, Cardiff Central
Greg Cullen, CF24 4RB, Cardiff Central
Justin Chaloner, CF24 4TZ, Cardiff Central
Diana Wood, CF24 3QW, Cardiff Central
Emma Bailey, CF24 3PT, Cardiff Central
Lizzie Cox, CF23 5HN, Cardiff Central
Sam Heffernan, CF23 6EB, Cardiff Central
Frederik Juul Eilersen, CF24 0SP, Cardiff Central
Jess Randal,l CF23 5EL, Cardiff Central
Paul Roach,, CF23 6JR, Cardiff Central
Robert Purvis, CF23 6PR, Cardiff Central
Colin Ings, CF24 1QZ, Cardiff Central
Emma Harris, CF24 4JJ, Cardiff Central
heather leeson, CF24 3QS, Cardiff Central
Jan Taube, CF24 3QB, Cardiff Central
Helen Kalliope Smith, CF14 4LT, Cardiff North
David Glover, CF14 0SQ, Cardiff North
David N Berman, CF23 8FP, Cardiff North
Jane Elliott, CF14 2QL, Cardiff North
Mark Jordan, CF14 4BE, Cardiff North
Juliet Roberts, CF14 5PU, Cardiff North
Norman Heffernan, CF14 1RD, Cardiff North
Meg Underdown, CF14 3DR, Cardiff North
Alan Prosper CF14 0SU, Cardiff North
Laurence Kench, CF14 7EF, Cardiff North
David Hughes, CF14 5QD, Cardiff North
Alan Craggs, CF14 4SP, Cardiff North
Ian Thomas, CF14 1DY, Cardiff North
Graham Roberts, CF14 9AY, Cardiff North
Michael Ogonovsky, CF14 4HW, Cardiff North
Carole-Anne Davies, CF11 7BX, Cardiff South and Penarth
Beryl Johnson, CF64 3JN,, Cardiff South and Penarth
Helen Wales, CF24 2AB, Cardiff South and Penarth
Theresa Keating, CF64 2WB, Cardiff South and Penarth
Elizabeth Hopkins, CF3 4ED, Cardiff South and Penarth
Julian Doyle, CF24 2DG, Cardiff South and Penarth
Harry Lane, CF3 3HH, Cardiff South and Penarth
Mike Brooks, CF11 7JN, Cardiff South and Penarth
Caroline Lamb, CF64 1BA, Cardiff South and Penarth
Vicki Masters, CF3 1RX, Cardiff South and Penarth
Vanessa Mordin, CF64 3ND, Cardiff South and Penarth
Kath Smith, CF11 6QG, Cardiff South and Penarth
Sam Whiting, CF3 5JW, Cardiff South and Penarth
Sion Williams, CF11 6PW, Cardiff South and Penarth
Stephen Blackler, CF5 1DG, Cardiff West
J. Beaumont and Family, CF5 3NB, Cardiff West
Debra Baldwin, CF5 2NB,, Cardiff West
Russell Davies, CF5 5QU,, Cardiff West
Lucy Robinson, CF11 9HL,, Cardiff West
Peter Donnelly, CF5 3EG,, Cardiff West
Jamie Vans, CF5 5LZ, Cardiff West
Steven Biddlecombe, CF5 1GB, Cardiff West
Colin Jones, CF15 8RE, Cardiff West
John Parker, CF5 1BX, Cardiff West
David Satterly, CF52SL, Cardiff West
John Kelly, CF15, Cardiff West
St.John Walker, CF5 2RY, Cardiff West
Sue Shields, CF15 8AG, Cardiff West
Amanda Clegg, CF5 1LQ, Cardiff West
Tim Ferguson, CF5 2DQ, Cardiff West
André Swanepoel, CF11 9JN, Cardiff West
Margaret Sian Williams, CF51HS, Cardiff West
Heulwen Sault-Jones, CF5 1NT, Cardiff West
Anne Davies, CF5 1AF, Cardiff West
Paul Driscoll, CF5 2BX, Cardiff West
Andy Brice, SA20 0TN, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Chris Coleman, SA18 1DA, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Robert Bazalgette, SA32 7BL, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Mary-Ann Nossent, SA14 7EU, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Rebekah Sharpe, SA19 6ED, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Simon Jones, SA19 6HY, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
John Boshier, SA38 9HY, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Richard Smith, SA18 2EW, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Allan Timms, SA19 8JJ, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Russell Ferriday, SA31 2NU, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Robin Wealleans, SA40 9RB, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Peter Berman Berman, SA17, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Ebony Rees-Targett, SA32 8NX, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Thelma Jones, SA33 4AR ., Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Huw Jones, SA33 4AR, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Shaun Bowie, SA68 0PP, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Neil Bland, SA70 8PLCarmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Mark Tobin, SA71 5LN, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Eleri Hutchison, SA33 5LW, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Trisha Putwain, SA70 7BU, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Dorothy Bailey, SA70 7DT, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Elise Eastoe, SA34 0TG, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Robert Elward, SA33 4QY, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Vince Shambrook, SA31 2ATCarmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Sara Ellis, SA33 4PS, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Jeff Evans, SA33 4SY, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Saffron Simpson, SA68 0PT, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Jan Bagshaw, SA311SY, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
David Smoothy, SA34 0DT, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Ray Baker, SA71 4QR, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Joan Norman, SA71 4TPCarmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Jill Scourfield, SA72 6BQ, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Angharad Shaw, SY25 6DP, Ceredigion
Stephen Wilson, SA32 7NY, Ceredigion
Susan Forrest, SA44 6AF, Ceredigion
Marie Thomas, SY23 1ET, Ceredigion
Heather Scott, SY23 1JJ, Ceredigion
Michael Young, SY23 4QT, Ceredigion
Judith Riley, SY23 4DW, Ceredigion
Dave Stead, SY25 6HU, Ceredigion
Julie Greenslade, SA446QE, Ceredigion
Bob Wilden, SY23 1TH, Ceredigion
Joseff Thomas, SY23 3BY, Ceredigion
Sophie Magrath, SA43 1BN, Ceredigion
Suzy Shipman, SY23 4BB, Ceredigion
Pauline Hughes, SY23 3GF, Ceredigion
Karen Grainger, SY23 1RZ, Ceredigion
Gwen Gibby Mitchell, SA43 2QX, Ceredigion
Jake Rayson, SA38 9PA, Ceredigion
Teresa Hassell, SA48 8RR, Ceredigion
Alistair Pearson, SY23 3QQ, Ceredigion
Laura Hockenhull-Smith, SY23 1DD, Ceredigion
Stephanie Tillotson, SY23 1QB, Ceredigion
Susan Gillham, SY25 6TW, Ceredigion
Joy Harris, SY23 3QG, Ceredigion
Paul Davies, LL11 3LZ, Clwyd South
Sally Gaskin, LL20 7AU, Clwyd South
Jacqueline Moxon, LL13 0BT, Clwyd South
Peter Browning, LL13 0ST, Clwyd South
Chris Bailey, LL14 1UG, Clwyd South
Chris Eardley, LL14 6HP, Clwyd South
Stephen Frost, LL29 6AL, Clwyd West
Roger Edwards, LL15 1DF, Clwyd West
Susan Farrington, LL29 8HF, Clwyd West
Maggie Sheahan, LL22 8LP, Clwyd West
Eleanor Daws, LL29 9BY, Clwyd West
Karen Williams, LL219RD, Clwyd West
John Rae, LL22 7DB, Clwyd West
Shirley Mountcastle, LL15 1RS, Clwyd West
June Hawkins, NP7 9PS, Cynon Valley
Jonathan Gosden, CF44 7LA, Cynon Valley
Philip Holliday, CF37 3LS, Cynon Valley
Shelley Inman, CF44 7BN, Cynon Valley
David Morgans, CF44 8NG, Cynon Valley
Jayne Palmer, CF44 6HL, Cynon Valley
Mervyn Pearce, CH7 1SX, Delyn
Heather Smith Thomassen, CH8 9QF, Delyn
Joyce Hart, CH7 6TG, Delyn
Mrs Graihagh Pelissier, CH7 1GB, Delyn
Terry Ireland, CH8 8QN, Delyn
Rhiannon Anderson, CH7 1DA, Delyn
Graham Hall, LL40 1UT, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Martin Hughes, LL46 2TU, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Howard Jones, LL53 8ET, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Alan Wheal, LL41 3AX, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Douglas Oliver, LL48 6AX, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Cai Rutigaliano, LL41 4DD, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Jim Neal, LL48 6PL, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Viv Seears, LL41 4HF, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Janet Kaiser, LL52 0EA, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Kate Rowland, LL36 9NN, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Rory Francis, LL41 3RH, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Anne Suffolk, LL41 4EW, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Richard Harrison, LL49 9HT, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Gary Partington, LL53 5PN, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Alexandra Magson, LL41 3SN, Dwyfor Meirionnydd
John Dunworth, SA3 1EE, Gower
Robert Wist, SA3 4BJ, Gower
Mike Greenaway, SA3 3EH, Gower
Chris Simpson, SA4 3RN, Gower
Julie Tate, SA6 5SY, Gower
Julie Summers, SA3 2ED, Gower
Sue Bradshaw, SA3 3EH, Gower
Margaret Mclean, SA3 5LU, Gower
Pippa Richardson, SA4 6BB, Gower
Hugh Munro, SA4 9XZ, Gower
Rosie Jones, SA3 3EH, Gower
Juliette Shapton, SA3 1AE, Gower
Arwen Hilton, SA3 4SN, Gower
Neal Harman, SA4 3PU, Gower
Philip Stott, SA3 4LA, Gower
Margaret Dennehy, NP11 7LZ, Islwyn
Nicki Rumble, NP12 0JN, Islwyn
Susan Williams, CF81 9EE, Islwyn
Andrew Mark Chamberlain, NP12 0HL, Islwyn
Linda Joyce, NP11 5JL, Islwyn
Caley Crahart, NP11 6JT, Islwyn
Philip Evans, SA4 0UU, Llanelli
Susan Davies, SA16 0BP, Llanelli
Norma Dalziel, SA17 4RA, Llanelli
Jennifer Allan, SA16 0SG, Llanelli
Paul Weal, SA15 4DW, Llanelli
Jeff Burt, SA16 0EG, Llanelli
Martin Woodrow, SA15 2JW, Llanelli
Susan Woods, SA16 0UT, Llanelli
Alexandria Franklin, SA4 0TN, Llanelli
Chris Lee, SA17 4AB, Llanelli
Chris Jones, CF47 9TP, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
Irene Andow, CF48 1AS, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
Christopher Jones, CF48 2DG, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
Ann Irvine, CF48 2YB, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
Mike Evans, CF47 0TU, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
Roy Culliford, CF48 1JG, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
Emily Barry, CF81 9GX, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
Phillip Barker, NP25 3TE, Monmouth
Rhian Bisson, NP15 2ET, Monmouth
Pete Allerhand, NP25 4AN, Monmouth
Ka Adams, NP7 7EU, Monmouth
David Parsons, NP7 8SU, Monmouth
Michael Gollop, NP16 6ET, Monmouth
Judy Adamson, NP7 5PY, Monmouth
Liz Gardiner, NP26 4QQ, Monmouth
David Cousins, NP15 1SG, Monmouth
Haydn Cullen-Jones, NP25 3HQ, Monmouth
Lorraine Morgan, NP18 1HA, Monmouth
Wendy Matthews, NP18 1TN, Monmouth
Bettina Reeves, NP7 5YD, Monmouth
Sue Konieczny, NP7 5TN, Monmouth
Liz Cantelo, NP7 8EA, Monmouth
Graham Ayling, NP25 5DW, Monmouth
Cheryl Cummings, NP25 3HF, Monmouth
Matthew Vickery, NP16 5AL, Monmouth
Sophie, NP25 4BU, Monmouth
James Thomas, SY21 7GZ, Montgomeryshire
Kathy Ferguson, SY17 5PS, Montgomeryshire
Steve Page, SY16 3DS, Montgomeryshire
Patrick Adams, SY17 5QR, Montgomeryshire
Rees Wesson, SY21 7HP, Montgomeryshire
Folkert Veenstra, SY21 7NB, Montgomeryshire
Steve Howlett, SY20 8NR, Montgomeryshire
Veronica Sherlock, SY17 5JT, Montgomeryshire
Veronica White, SY22 6SG, Montgomeryshire
Lou Kellett, SY10 7QT, Montgomeryshire
Jane Lloyd Francis, SY20 8NW, Montgomeryshire
Michelle Hamilton, SY17 5SG, Montgomeryshire
Ralph Barraclough, SY21 0PW, Montgomeryshire
Sarah Hurford, SY15 6JS, Montgomeryshire
Stephen Todd, SA8 4AH, Neath
Chris Dancer, SA10 8EQ, Neath
David Malpass, SA11 1TF, Neath
Steven Watkin, SA9 2NJ, Neath
Piers Meynell, SA8 3JB, Neath
William Havard, SA11 3YA, Neath
Steve Preddy, NP19 0LY, Newport East
Jessica Morgan, NP19 7JG, Newport East
Tim Jones, NP26 5BX, Newport East
Julie Wreford, NP19 7BN, Newport East
Christine Pettitt, NP19 9PD, Newport East
Karen Williams, NP19 8BU, Newport East
Robert Bennett, NP19 0DU, Newport East
Andrew Thomas, NP20 7RT, Newport West
Catherine Linstrum, NP10 8SS, Newport West
Rita Fellows, NP10 9BR, Newport West
Ginevra Williams, NP20 6NA, Newport West
Lorraine Ware, NP20 7GN, Newport West
Christine Evans, NP10 8SD, Newport West
Arthur Christoffersen, NP20 4FD, Newport West
Nathan Tarr, NP10 8PS, Newport West
Margaret Lovett, NP10 9AG, Newport West
James Nethercott, NP20 5GE, Newport West
Colin Pari, CF72 9NL, Ogmore
Richard Williams, CF35 6UA, Ogmore
Douglas Oshea, CF35 6YH, Ogmore
Nia Price, CF72 8DW, Pontypridd
David Myles, CF72 8GA, Pontypridd
Tania Llewellyn, CF39 8NE, Pontypridd
Jeff Williams, CF72 8RG, Pontypridd
Clive Hybart, CF37 2AB, Pontypridd
Gaynor Gregory, CF72 8BQ, Pontypridd
Suzanne Williams, CF37 5EU, Pontypridd
Steve Gill, CF38 1GF, Pontypridd
Adrian Rixon, CF37 4DD, Pontypridd
Clare Hallett, SA62 6EJ, Preseli Pembrokeshire
Michael Williams, SA62 5HA, Preseli Pembrokeshire
David Heighton, SA37 0EX, Preseli Pembrokeshire
MJ Wort, SA61 1DH, Preseli Pembrokeshire
Richard Moore, SA61 1LB, Preseli Pembrokeshire
Jane Felton, SA73 1PF, Preseli Pembrokeshire
Andrew Lye, SA62 3HF, Preseli Pembrokeshire
Yacob Cajee, SA62 4LS, Preseli Pembrokeshire
Valerie Mann, SA62 5AX, Preseli Pembrokeshire
Blaise Bullimore, SA623DG, Preseli Pembrokeshire
Susan Thomas, SA41 3XA, Preseli Pembrokeshire
Charlie Middleton, SA41 3SA, Preseli Pembrokeshire
Denbeigh Vaughan, SA66 7LB, Preseli Pembrokeshire
Honours for firms that help the deaf
It may surprise you and your readers to learn that one in six people in Wales is deaf or hard of hearing. By 2035, this number will increase to one in five. Many people across south Wales will be directly affected, either through personal experience or supporting deaf friends or family members living with hearing impairment on a daily basis.
At Action on Hearing Loss Cymru, we work to improve the lives of the 575,500 people in Wales affected by hearing loss to help them live the best possible lives. From providing hearing aid support sessions to social groups, as well as specialist care and support – our services provide a lifeline to those affected by hearing loss. It can be hard to imagine just how difficult simple tasks can be, from contacting customer service desks to querying a bill – both tasks that can unnecessarily cause confusion and upset if companies don’t have the right tools in place.
This is why we launched the Action on Hearing Loss Cymru Excellence Awards four years ago, to recognise and celebrate the amazing work of companies across Wales to make their services accessible to people affected by hearing loss. Since launching in 2015, we’ve honoured over 20 Welsh companies that go above and beyond to make their services deaf friendly and now we’re busy preparing for this year’s awards, which take place on Friday, May 17. Nominations are open and we’re looking forward to recognising businesses across south Wales that are taking steps to make their services readily available to the thousands of people affected by hearing loss.
If you have hearing loss, or have witnessed the great work of local businesses who support friends and family, then now is your chance to have their hard work recognised.
To nominate a business – whether it’s your local bank, nearest supermarket or even your workplace – and to find out more about the awards, visit www.actiononhearingloss.co.uk/wales or email excellencewales@hearingloss.org.uk.
Daisy Cole
Director, Wales at Action on Hearing Loss
Tolerate this outrage and you’ll be next
Councillor Nigel Dix’s letter in Monday’s Western Mail attacks Jeremy Corbyn for not throwing his weight behind Trump and his puppets’ totally illegal attempts to incite a bloody coup in Venezuela.
It’s been admitted by senior members of the Trump regime that behind this blatant interference in the affairs of a sovereign nation is the desire to get US corporate hands on the vast reserves of Venezuelan crude oil. The chance of making an example of a small country that will not bow to US foreign policy and neo-con economics must of course also be a factor.
The usual excuse for regime change, normally swallowed whole by a compliant media, is that it’s about restoring democracy and humanitarian issues.
Isn’t it odd that they find no fault with a totally undemocratic Saudi regime which beheads gays and allows the stoning to death of unfaithful wives, to say nothing of its horrendous war crimes in Yemen? But then again Saudi Arabia is already a close ally of the USA and is willing to spend billions on US weapons for its massacres.
The Venezuelan economy is in a mess, for two reasons – mainly because the US and its puppets like the UK have illegally applied sanctions which stop investment and the purchase of spare parts for the vital oil industry.
Secondly, President Maduro has “squandered” the country’s resources on free healthcare, building homes for the poor and eliminating illiteracy.
In the past they have even gifted heating oil to the poor in the US, and the GLC before the decidedly unpoor mayor, Boris Johnson, cancelled the scheme as not needed by his poor Londoners.
At the moment Venezuela cannot even access billions of pounds’ worth of gold reserves it held in the Bank of England which the Bank is, totally illegally, threatening to give to Guaido, the man who has been appointed the new unelected president of Venezuela by Trump and his cronies. This is an act of stupendous arrogance totally ignoring all international norms.
But if this is the way things are going I may as well go with the flow, and appoint James Dean Bradfield as the new independent councillor for Blackwood in place of Nigel Dix, because “if you tolerate this your children will be next”.
Denver Thomas
Pontcanna, Caerdydd
Challenge austerity and save our libraries
One day last week provided a terrible snapshot of the vital public services our communities are losing because councils have been starved of money.
On Thursday, February 7, local newspapers in Wales reported that Wrexham libraries could be moved into schools; ten rural libraries and a mobile library are threatened in Powys, and Conwy’s mobile library could be scrapped. Libraries elsewhere in Wales have already been closed or have reduced opening hours or staff.
Council workers belonging to Unison report that every day in Wales public service cuts are being considered by councils; it might be leisure services or care services, for example. The Wales Governance Centre reports libraries, culture and sport have faced funding cuts of 36.3% since 2009/10.
Councillors must surely know all the great things libraries provide to people of all ages, which they risk losing: story-telling classes for young children; internet access for those who can’t afford it at home; IT training and adult education and job advice for the unemployed, not to mention the wonderful availability of free books.
A well-organised local Unison campaign involving library staff, users and politicians, recently saved four libraries in Neath Port Talbot but we should not be placed in this position. Libraries must be recognised as being at the heart of healthy communities.
Nine years of UK Conservative government brutal spending cuts means Welsh Government and Welsh councils have millions of pounds less to invest. We need an end to cuts. Unison calls on Welsh Government to work with councils and trade unions to challenge Westminster-led austerity and save our libraries.
Dominic MacAskill
Head of local government, Unison Cymru Wales
Cold comfort for Britain’s destitute
Food insecurity! What a great phrase from a government minister, rolls nicely off the tongue, Amber Rudd. Consider that it might be the only thing rolling off the tongues of people while they starve and freeze in the streets. How fortunate they must consider themselves to live in one of the richest countries in the world.
Pauline Woolcock
Cwmafan
Holmes, Watson and Moriarty dream team
During the recent Wales v Italy match a moment of great significance passed almost unnoticed. When Ross Moriarty came on as a second-half replacement this was the second time Wales had managed to get a Moriarty and a Holmes (Joshua) on the field at the same time. The first time was when Terry Holmes played with Richard Moriarty.
Now, if Bath were to lend us Anthony Watson, Wales could field Holmes, Watson and Moriarty at the same time. What an achievement that would be. Almost as good as winning a Grand Slam.
Cleanth Jones
Rhuddlan