Donald Trump’s outbursts will lead to more focus on WHO over China

I HAVE no issues with anything you said in your open letter to President Trump (The Yorkshire Post, April 20).

I do wonder, however, about what you did not say.

Trump was given the excuse to withhold America’s payment to the World Health Organisation by that body’s failure to take issue with the way that China’s initial contribution to safeguarding the world’s health was to jail the physician, and journalists, who alerted the Chinese authorities.

Their fearful reaction was to prevent news of the virus being made known when those first alerts were made in December, and at the start of January. Trump has been able to claim that while China has committed to contributing $44m to the WHO’ funding, America’s agreement is to pay $450m.

Is it possible that Trump’s petulant action might just concentrate WHO minds rather better than has been the case hitherto?

From: ME Wright, Harrogate.

IN November 2016, I was chatting casually to a young American who was working here. Naturally, the recent election result cropped up. His response was 
“As you Brits can’t tell the difference in the accents, I’m telling everyone I’m Canadian”. “Is he really that bad?” “Just you wait!”

After a three-year wait, I can say only “If you’re reading this, you were more than right and sorry for doubting you”.

Let’s hope that your ‘Letter to America’ (The Yorkshire Post, April 20) has the desired effect.

As I read it, I decided that “oafish” was probably as much as I could expect you to print. I also decided not even to mention his name. However, if forced, I will put a derisory 20p on his being re-elected!

From: Canon Michael Storey, Healey Wood Road, Brighouse.

WHAT a shame that the Government doesn’t class garden centres as being the same as supermarkets. Supermarkets are trusted to ensure the two-metre gap is kept between customers. I am certain that garden centres could also apply these rules.

Meanwhile Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman told Matt Hancock that he was “letting down the NHS and that many did not believe he was being truthful about coronavirus”. I suggest that it is Matt Hancock’s condescending manner presenting his reports, such that one is encouraged to doubt his words.

From: Nat Wendel, Land of Green Ginger, Hull.

BERNARD Ingham is wrong (The Yorkshire Post, April 22) if he thinks this Government is making a good job of the crisis.

There is so much to say about the Government’s unpreparedness, but possibly the worst thing over the past few days is seeing this once great country going with a begging bowl to places like Turkey and Burma for a few items of spare protective equipment that we can no longer manufacture in this country.

Let’s not forget it was his former boss, Margaret Thatcher, who destroyed our manufacturing base in the 1980s.

It’s a crying shame.

From: Colin Richardson, Brandesburton.

MY reason for writing is to say thank you for our Government’s handling of this pandemic.

I find it sad that we are now inundated with armchair experts with diplomas in hindsight constantly criticising.

Wherever possible, I have watched the Downing Street daily bulletins and I admire the courtesy extended to the media.

I was taught in my working life that those who never make a mistake never do anything. The main thing is to learn from those mistakes and make sure you never make the same mistake twice.

From: Bob Holland, Skipton Road, Cononley, Keighley.

ON Thursday, when we clap workers in NHS and social care, is this an empty gesture?

The Duchess of Cambridge has said “the extraordinary job” of staff had “really come to the forefront in the last few weeks. Now I think all of us can really see how hard they work and how vital their work is”.

Many of us agree. All these staff must receive a pay rise, but are we are prepared to pay more tax for NHS and social care?

Are we “all in this together” and want major changes – or are we hypocrites? Pensioners like myself who pay income tax, and are not hard up, can certainly contribute. We benefit more than others from the NHS.

From: Dai Woosnam, Scartho, Grimsby.

ON April 22, I awoke from my sleep apnoea haze at 5.07pm, turned my TV on and saw – to my delight – an Army general speaking to our nation.

I thought that the long-awaited military coup had arrived to save the nation from our overpaid hapless politicians of all parties, who had thus got their just deserts.

And then the camera moved to Dominic Raab, and my heart sank. My dreams were dashed.

From: Pete Thetree, Bawtry Road, Sheffield.

DON’T just applaud healthcare and other key workers, protect them. Thursday nights at 8pm, we’re chanting “give them PPE” from our doorsteps. Spread the word. Healthcare workers should be protected properly.

From: Elaine Wright, South Cliff, Scarborough.

WE have noticed a large increase in the amount of dog mess which has not been picked up in Scarborough. Do people think it OK at present for their dogs to foul pavements, parks and beaches?

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