July 6, 2002

Dear Sir,

“Arrogance is an obstruction to Wisdom”

Last year, St. George's's was given the honour of celebrating status as ‘A World Heritage Centre'.

To encourage our many visitors and locals to visit and enjoy the quietness, uniqueness quaintness, charm, beauty, romance and historical part of the Island.

Several plans were brought to the table by an elected committee.

Two of these plans were: to establish a Visitors Service Centre and to build a Ferry dock. The original plans made by the committee and sanctioned by the Government of the day were to build the ferry dock at Hunter's Wharf and the visitors centre around the corner at Penn's Wharf.

Work began at Penno's Drive by the drive. When that was finished, work came to a stand still, as one thought. But someone noticed that work was being done down by ‘Chicks Bar', and wondered what was going on. It was later discovered that the ‘Government of the Day' had given the go ahead to a company to prepare that area for a Wharf to be built to accommodate the ‘Fast Ferry'.

When “the elected committee” discovered what was happening, they contacted the Honourable Minister Brown to find out what happened to the original plans.

Dr. Brown informed the Committee that they had brought in a surveyor from oversees and discussed the matter with him and he agreed with them that the fast ferry should go down by Chicks Bar, and the visitors Centre go over at Penno's Wharf.

This means that people arriving by Ferry would have to walk across town to the visitors centre for information.

The Committee voiced their objections but to no avail, as this, they said, was “a done deal”.

Amongst the locals and visitors coming to St. George's by ferry to visit the information centre, will be the elderly, handicapped and others, who will find it difficult, if not impossible, to travel that distance. But the deal is done and that's, that they said.

This reminds me of a quotation once read:

“When men are most sure and arrogant about many things; they are the most mistaken”.

BINO

St. George's

July 31, 2002

Dear Sir

I never thought I would be writing a letter to the editor. I am a supporter of Bermuda's fantastic infrastructure of international business and completely understand the need for a qualified expatriate population of workers to support that infrastructure. But I have to share my experience to say that it is very disheartening to be a Bermudian searching for a job in Bermuda.

I am well qualified (unfortunately not an underwriter or actuary) with many years of experience, have been told I have an excellent resume and references, and have the misfortune to find myself unemployed.

I can now relate to the letters in the past from Bermudians who have been seeking employment and are thinking of leaving the island, because I am considering doing the same. The majority of the openings advertised in this paper are for positions with very little experience, not much is advertised for experienced candidates unless it is a work permit renewal or a new job for which an expatriate has already been identified.

The majority of the interviews I have been on have been conducted by expatriates and many of these are merely work permit renewals for other expatriates in the company, whereby they are compelled to interview all Bermudians who apply and have no intention of hiring them (a waste of time for everyone concerned).

Rather than forming a list of jobs held by expatriates on the Island, the Department of Immigration should be forming a list of qualified Bermudians unable to find suitable work. If there are number of Bermudians looking for work in a particular sector with particular qualifications, then the Immigration department should take a hard line on new work permits or work permit renewals in this area, i.e. free up some real jobs for the locals that have a mortgage or rent to pay and Bermudian children to support and educate.

Similarly if more than one qualified Bermudian applies for a job which is being advertised because it is a work permit renewal, then the work permit should not be renewed. It is far too easy for the employer to renew the work permit under the current set of circumstances, because it can always be argued that the current holder of the job is the most qualified for the job. If numerous Bermudians are applying for the position held by an expatriate, employers must start looking at the long term benefits of hiring a Bermudian, rather than the short term pain of getting used to a new employee.

There seems to be very few instances where an expatriate does not get their work permit renewed. I understand there is a considerable delay in work permit processing. But I don't think the Department is doing enough (or anything) to investigate whether there are Bermudians qualified for the job before it gets processed. Clearly, significant improvement in staffing at the Department is required.

Finally, the Island is taking a bad rap in the US media regarding US companies reincorporating here. There is additional income coming to the island in terms of annual company fees and some work for lawyers, but these recent incorporations are not resulting in new jobs on the Iland. Is there a true long term benefit to the island of these reincorporations or are we simply creating a reputation for being a domicile for tax avoidance and thereby alienating the US Congress?

UNEMPLOYED

Hamilton