6 - Wednesday, March 4, 1998 — North Shore News

Healthy decision

IE other shoe has dropped in the local regional health board co tion. ' It’s now long past time for the heal- ing to begin.

Monday’s firing of North Shore Health _ Region CEO Inge Schamborzki follows the Feb. 5 dis- missat of the region’s entire health board. Government-appointed board trustee Len Kelsey had little choice in sending Schamborzki packing.

Doctors at Lions Gate Hospital, who had broken off communications with Schamborzki prior to the board’s firing, demanded her dismissal and refused to communicate with her, even with the board’s firing.

Clearly feelings ran too deep on this issue to allow Schamborzki to contin- ne and still be expected to bring func- tio rality back to the health region.

north shore news

VIEWPOINT

Regardless of what credentials she brought to the job, Schamberzki was never the choice of LGH medical staff. She was chosen by a hiring committee that she helped put together. She dis- placed long-time Lions Gate president Bob Smith, who was a highly regarded hospital administrator plugged into all aspects of the local health industry.

The report released earlier this year from a three-member consultation team investigating the mess at the North Shore’s community hospital reported that Schamborzki’s style was perceived as being autocratic and divi- sive. It recommended leadership changes.

With the installation of interim CEO Bert Boyd, it’s time for the doc- tors and other health region personnel to apply their best medical skills to nursing Lions Gate back to health.

maiihox

A fond farewell to N. Van barber

Dear Editor: _

" This is a response to Mr. Speakman’s question, won- dering if there is a lesson to be learned from (barber) Derrell Bickel’s departure from the “Dollar” shopping centre.

It seems to me that Derrell, and any of his neighbors who might be treated in the same manner, are the ones learning the fesson.

Mr. Speakman and his company are providing the les- son: 2 lesson in economics.

After 35 years, Derrell could be excused for believing thar he has worked to create a marketable business. But he would also be reluctant to agree to an unusually large rent increase. If he sold his business, his successor would also be reluctant to pay a large rent increase.

However if Derrell could be persuaded to leave, pro- viding a new barber with an existing clientele without the cost of purchasing Derrell’s business, a significant rent increase might not be out of the question.

Good luck, Derrell. It has been a good 35 years. And

ood-bye Dollar shopping centre.

ack McGuire North Vancouver

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HOW BADLY do citizens of a bankrupt former “little Asia tiger” suffer? Up to now, it seems, not quite as much as a frugal, pushed-

around Canadian

might suppose.

T don’t know how I got on the South Korean Embassy’s mailing list (was it those Big Macs bought with my Visa three years ago on a half- day tour of Pusan?).

Anyhow, they now mail

me their weekly News

Review — an attractive

English-language news magazine full of the latest political, economic and social goings-on in their country. It provides some fascinating reading, a mix of upbeat fong term forecasts and pity-poor-us- right-now propaganda.

Article after article stresses the decp shame felt by Koreans at now needing a $57 billion bailout by the nasty International Monetary Fund. Everyone is pressed to do their bit to wipe out the national disgrace.

Regular photo-op features show loyal Koreans cashing in US dollars at their banks, women handing over their jewelry to the state and even used clothing being donated to depar:ment stores.

Amid this pious breast-beating North Americans may be a little surprised to learn (eat your heart out, Ken Georgetti!) that until just a month ago it seems mass layoffs of unionized South Korean employces were technically illegal.

PETER SPECK Publisher 985-2131 (101)

oat

ferry Pat Photography Managet 985-2731 (180)

Classified Manager 908-6222 (202)

ar ee ee

oe ‘

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Entire contents © 1997 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

7” IVE GONE OVER THE RESULTS OF YOUR TESTS. THE GOoD NEWS 15, AFTER ACOUPLE OF DVS INTHE HOSPITAL YOULL BE CUPED.

YOU LIVE IN BC... ‘BYE!

On Feb. 6 -— with the heartless IMF on their tail — they finally fixed chat ina “landmark” deal between labor, manage- ment and the government under new president Kim Dae Jung. Now, companies

in “emergency situa- tions” will be legally able to pink-slip work- ers with 60 days notice, provided they endeavor to rehire those dis- missed when business improves. In return the unions won the right to orga- nize teachers and pub- lic officials, and to engage in political activities, The fallout from this radical development has been conservatively put at one million jobless (5% of the approximately 20 million workforce). But some labor sources pre- dict double that figure.

Kim Dae Jung also wants to open the door (hi there, MAI fans!) for foreign investors to freely acquire up to 33% of the shares in Korean companies instead of the present 10% limit. He’d also allow foreigners to freely buy local firms worth two trillion won (USS1.25 billion) or more. But all this may land Kim in a political battle. Koreans are very touchy about foreign control of their businesses.

Then there's a sad story about the woes of co-signers, as ever more personal borrowers go belly up in the present financial crunch. Co-signing for loans to relatives or friends is almost universal practice at Korean financial institutions. So now countless uncles, brothers and dads find themselves on the hook for

_— Can 85% off weddings save Korea?

many millions of won (many thousands of

US dollars), and in numerous cases facing —

the luss of their home, for doing what

comes naturally to Koreans —~ helping.

out family members. _ Finally, though maybe cause for fewer =

North American tears, it’s mark-down) |":

time for traditional Korean weddings which — with expensive gifts to in-laws, exchanges of jewelry, lavish parties and overseas honeymoons — last year aver- : aged nearly 37 million won (USS$23,000) - each, five times the US average. Today,

job insecurity and difficulty in getting

bank loans are slashing many wedding budgets to as low as five million won. Rings are replacing elaborate jewelry sets, - in-law gifts arc ‘out altogether and honey- moons are being spent an hour or two down the road from Seoul.

Meanwhile, from Seoul, Associated Press reports record bankruptcies, record low factory ourput and “a looming sec- ond currency crisis” — with jittery South Koreans looking to an even worse future.

A very different analysis from anything _ you'll read in News Review, But at least.” there has to be some hope fora nation’ - where 23-year-old brides can cut their wedding budgets by 85%!

O00 WISH HAPPY 55TH Saturday, March 7, to West Van birthday boy Tom Wardell ... And many happy returns of that same day to former West Van coun- cillor Andy Danyliu.

000 WRIGHT OR WRONG: A smile is contagious; be a carrier.

mune HOWsET

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