Time to get tough

April 2, 2010

Dear Sir,

Why is it that this latest act of brutal violence which had been inflicted upon a family (and our community as a whole) this past Good Friday at Victor Scott School grounds is considered any different than all the other killings? Yes, it was and is despicable! To think, our Island has become a playground for "wannabe gangsters". The only way to deter certain things from happening is to get tough. Stop the "slap on the wrist sentencing" that we are seeing issued out in the courts of recent days ...

If we have a problem (and we do), then the only way to counteract these problems is to remove the "kid gloves" on the hands of the Courts, and allow the Court to issue sentences like, "Life without parole or "string em up " but this has to stop!

RAYMOND RAY

St. George's

Thank you, Bermuda

April 1,2010

Dear Sir,

We would like to thank all of our friends and all of Bermuda for making us feel at home for the past 17 years. We have made life-long friends during this time, many we consider family.

After so many years as Bermuda residents, we have moved back to the United States and have taken many wonderful memories with us. We may no longer live in Bermuda, but Bermuda will live in us always.

The advice we would like to pass on to others who choose to make Bermuda their temporary home is to realise that it is a privilege and not a given right. Enjoy the wonderful opportunity that has been given to you and be a respectful and courteous guest.

God Bless and be good to your Island ... it is truly a Jewel in the middle of the ocean. We will be back to visit the friends we have left behind so we are not going to say "good bye" …. We will just say "see you soon".

LARRY AND CARLA KAUFMAN

Crofton, Maryland

Happy Easter, Bermuda

April 1, 2010

Dear Sir,

Some 40 years ago, my husband was doing ornithological research at the Bermuda Biological Station. When we heard that Bermudians built kites on Good Friday, we equipped ourselves with kite sticks, string, and tissue paper and headed to the park in St. George's. Children happily showed us how to make kites and I especially recall the small, delicate butterfly kite made and flown by a large gentleman.

One child rushed home and came back with fragrant hot cross buns to share with us. Being a new bride I asked if by any chance his mother would share the recipe. In short order the recipe was produced.

Over the years I have shared hot cross buns, the Bermuda recipe, and the story. I wonder about the boy, now a grown man, and Bermudians who make kites and hot cross buns these days. It's about time I send the story back to your island, with my ever-increasing thanks. Happy Easter!

MARNIE REED CROWELL

Deer Isle, Maine

Policy is backwards

April 2, 2010

Dear Sir,

Government's fixation with term limits and its increasingly parsimonious time allowance for expats ignores the real problem.

We're in a deep recession and need to spend our way out of it. To do so we need more people, not fewer, to add to our spending power. Those coming in on work permits are usually higher earners and therefore higher spenders. What we need are more consumers with the means to patronise shops and restaurants, to buy cars and homes, and to employ local services now going begging.

Government should also recognise those of particular value to the community, such as Roger Crombie, and allow them to continue to add value to Bermuda instead of sending them packing.

ARCY DUBYA

Paget

Crombie will be missed

April 2 ,2010

Dear Sir,

Upon my return to Bermuda from a recent trip, I was saddened to learn about the non-renewal of Roger Crombie's work permit. I was even more upset when I realised how this situation seemed to have come about. I've learned much from Crombie's articles printed in this paper, and in various other publications; they have been well-written and informative. The author's wit helps the reader to retain the lessons, but it is not the loss of these columns which impel me to write to you; it is because Bermuda will no longer be promoted on the international playing field by Roger Crombie, a man who is experienced and accomplished at doing so. I view this loss as something we simply cannot afford, especially in our current economic environment.

Is it right, and is it prudent at this juncture in time, to axe the work permit of someone who has consistently marketed Bermuda and all that is on offer here to 'the big players', and the smaller ones too? Bermuda is the affluent jurisdiction it currently is, largely as a direct result of those insurance/reinsurance/investment management companies that have set about business here.

Roger Crombie was part of making that happen – his opinions are valued, and now seemingly he has been kicked to the kerb. He will be a real miss to Bermuda, and I wish him well in his future endeavours.

JEAN GARDNER

City of Hamilton

Party politics failing

April 2, 2010

Dear Sir,

David Chapman has written an article (RG March 31) that is well worth serious consideration. He is certainly accurate in pointing out that the PLP did not have "a focus on race". From its inception the PLP refused to address the issue of racial injustice inherent in segregation, racism and the economic disparity between the two communities, even though it was founded during the days of Government-sponsored segregation. It attempted to follow the Western European political ideology concerned with addressing the exploitation of labour. Thus there is more than a little irony in the recent frequent conflicts and hostility between various segments of labour and Government.

Very few Bermudians currently perceive this PLP Government as having sensibilities to the aspiration of labour and it is hardly legislatively proactive to the continuing economic disparities of the centuries old economic disparity between the black and white communities. Gestures towards senior citizens apply to the wealthiest senior as well as to any others.

Unfortunately the formation of political parties made inevitable the concentration of power around the "King of the Hill" and a political hierarchy, with a political elite which has found it too easy to grow indifferent to the marginalisation of a large percentage of the black community. Being called "racist" would be a small price to pay for addressing the centuries old economic disparity even in these difficult times. But that is not likely to happen unless voters realise that we need to find another way to govern ourselves. Those who benefit from the current system of party (and partisan) politics are not likely to lead the way to a more democratic and even handed form of governance.

EVA N. HODGSON

Hamilton Parish

Gambling helps tourism

April 4, 2010

Dear Sir,

Our present cruise ship business is good, thanks also to the new wharf at Dockyard. While the hotel room numbers are still down, I hope a higher number of cruise ships and passengers that come here go to St. George's and Hamilton but are staggered throughout the seven day week. Maybe hotel and air discounts could be given to cruise passengers that come by air to stay any time in the next year after their cruise trip.

Our Government will keep working to help investors build hotels here, and I hope their set-up costs won't be our payment that will add to the debt. How many tourists worldwide are travelling nowadays in comparison to the 1980s, supposedly the most travelled time? This could have a bearing on the number of hotel beds needed here.

I see and hear the old Lantana Club being knocked down right now, hope it doesn't grow trees as the old Sonesta property is.

I'm still in favour of a hotel at Southlands. BEST might want to lead buying the former Banana Beach/Bermudiana Beach Club properties. I hope Government would get started as soon as possible on the cleaning up of the pollution at Morgans Point. The area could be for future use after a long term cleaning plan. During the cleaning time, more ideas can come forward for its development. Morgan's Point is about one tenth of our land mass, so why race to develop it? In contrast to Southside where it seems neither tourism nor international businesses want to be, but local entrepreneurs are. But then if the big private businesses did wish to go to the east, then it may be easier for a partnership to build a new Causeway. Let the Big Business Rental income be spread around.

Gaming, why not? Tourism is a business like any other, but Bermuda competes more externally than internally for the tourist dollar. Without dispute the more air tourists that come here, the more tourist dollars are left here. Gaming is done in many other countries within a thousand miles of us and that number is growing. So why should we allow potential customers go to another country so easily by not offering a product that is becoming more popular amongst tourists and tourism destinations. Again tourism is a business, and there is competition for those able to travel. Thus we need to offer this same activity. We can't just have more hotels here in this modern era; we need more of what the modern traveller wants. If there are more investors for gaming building than say a race track or a fun park, we need to encourage more investors here. Sonesta had a small water park, maybe others could invest in small attractions, as in Las Vegas, and the biggest attraction could be gaming.

ROGER LAMBERT

Sandys

... and so do stamps

April 2, 2010

Dear Sir,

Many countries issue postage stamps promoting tourism and most use familiar tourist scenes and atractions to catch the eye.

If we were to advertise Horseshoe Bay, Tobacco Bay, John Smith's Bay, and Long Bay West (as examples) with a gent on the side of the postage stamp, wearing the Bermuda shorts, long socks, jacket and tie it would promote Bermuda tourism around the world simply by just using the stamps.

The same could be done with the mega cruise ships in the Dockyard area tied up alongside the new mega cruise ship dock.

Where else in the world can you find the beautiful colours of the Bermuda sky, and water so clear?

I'm sure these stamps would be best sellers in promoting tourism for Bermuda.

PETER BROMBY Sr.

Paget

P.s. Spain issued tourism stamps on January 2, 2010 and they do catch the eye.

Writing is on the wall

April 4, 2010

Dear Sir,

To Minister Burch: Don't worry about the Ten Year permit issuance – if Bermuda follows its current trend, the only people wanting a ten-year permit will be drug dealers and gun suppliers. No really, Mr. Minister, stop the rhetoric and start to be a little more embracing to Business in Bermuda before it's too late for all of us. You are close to retirement, I am not, and I would like to have a job next year …

To Minister Cox: The Budget was short-sighted and counter-productive – I believe more money will leave Bermuda in the next 12 months due to not only your policies but those of your fellow Ministers than at any other time in Bermuda's history. The money you gain in your payroll tax increase will be severely offset by the capital leaving the Island with International Business. Please can you acknowledge that you are not a cog, and that you will indeed rein in your fellow spenders so that you can balance the budget? Please give us back some confidence before it's too late.

To Rolfe Commissiong: You are right – anything that goes wrong in the community is clearly the fault of the white people and the black community is exempt from fault in all circumstances. Please, take a page out of Nelson Mandela's book and grow some tolerance and respect for your fellow human beings and residents in Bermuda, even if they don't look like you. I suggest you read the book Invictus if you haven't already. You might learn a thing or two about inclusion, forgiveness, and moving forward.

To Minister James: The Education System is a disaster. Accept that we have lost an entire generation and pull the plug out. Privatise the schools and provide Government subsidies – it will be cheaper in the long run, more efficient, and will produce better students who hopefully can find a way out of the mess we are in today. The last 20 years have proven that the Bermuda Government is incapable of running a sound education system - it's time to move on.

To Premier Brown: You without a doubt will go into the history books as the most divisive politician in the history of Bermuda. You have Bermuda on its knees and you don't seem to care. Violence is at unprecedented levels and that doesn't really seem to bother you. In fact, your example to flout the laws of the land when they suit you instills in Bermuda's population that look up to you as a hero that indeed, it's ok to act inappropriately as long as the mean justifies the end. On your blog today I see that it's written "over the last several months, we've moved forward with a number of key reforms to build a safer Bermuda" and I see you've noted some highlights. Newsflash – your spending is increasing, and so is crime.

To the voters of Bermuda: The writing is on the wall – Bermuda has stumbled down a terrible path and is heading towards a cliff. Without business and tourism, none of us have jobs. Tourism is dead, so the reality is that all we have is International Business, and collectively we need to save the outflow of jobs to safer harbours. We must stop the violence, the hatred, and the insane spending that has lead to $1 billion of debt. We must stop the racism that is too readily flowing in both directions, even if our politicians think it is OK to speak such filth – as Bermudians, we know better. We are one people and share one love. We must start to take action and be accountable, now more than ever.

A CONCERNED BERMUDIAN

Devonshire

Words can cause damage

April 4, 2010

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter as a concerned Bermudian on how Col. Burch can speak his mind without being reprimanded for what he is truly saying. After all, he is an appointed official and not elected. He is worried about making sure everyone speaks the "Queen's English", but is not listening to what comes out of his own mouth.

For example, his comments, regarding how all women from the Dominican Republic have ulterior motives marrying Bermudian men.

There is an irony to this and it came to me while watching the Red Sox-Yankees game on national TV beamed across the whole of the USA and no doubt the Caribbean and Latin America on Easter Sunday evening. Although it was lovely to see that during one of the ad breaks there was a very short statement that the game was partially sponsored by BDA Tourism, it goes deeper than that.

Does our good Colonel not know that, the Bermuda Department of Tourism has partnered with the Red Sox this season again but more importantly, their (Red Sox) relationship with the Dominican Republic. Right now, they have one of the biggest stars in baseball, David (Big Papi) Ortiz who is from the Dominican Republic playing for them and they have had many others before with Pedro Martinez and Manny Ramirez coming to mind. What do you think the sentiment will be when we host our Bermuda days at Fenway Park on two dates later on this season finding that our Government leaders are spewing such venom?

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Larry Luccino (who is one of the owners and a top executive of the Red Sox) here last summer while he was visiting our Island and he was very gracious in having a half-hour conversation on my beloved Red Sox. I can only imagine what he is thinking now as he expressed that he was an avid reader of your paper online due to the relationship forged by the very same government that is causing such strain.

I just hope that when Billy Griffith, our Director of Tourism, throws out the ceremonial first pitch on the planned Bermuda night, he has borrowed one or two of Dr. Brown's body guards to protect him from "Big Papi" on his way back from the mound.

Please Colonel Burch, be mindful of what you say, as I am sure you do not know how much it hurts in more ways than you know.

LENNIE THE LIZARD

Pembroke