Here we go again for the umpteenth time, Re-Invent Yourself! I think it is time that we got serious and acknowledged that all re-invention has gotten us is no-one, neither local nor visitor, knows what is Bermuda anymore. The main problem with our product is that same thing prospective visitors have said for the last decade, over-priced and less value for money! Ask most persons who have Bermuda at or near the top of their list of places to go and they will say that it costs too much to get to here and stay here.

We still believe as we were told in the 80s "They will come because it's Bermuda alone!'' Well not any more as seen by our declining arrivals.

Here are possible ways to improve them: 1) Airfares -- Our Government needs to ask a low-priced carrier like Southwest to call here. Have them fly to us from Raleigh-Durham (their closest city) and help drive down prices. They have restored competition in markets they have entered and can do so here. Kiwi began that but unfortunately did not have as good a domestic system as does Southwest. The existing carriers match each other's prices so no competition exists. Do not expect someone to pay $400-plus to fly two hours to Bermuda from the east coast when they can go transatlantic for less. Most Bermudians seek the cheapest way to travel and leap at seat sales and so do those coming here. Lets face it, air travel is the same as getting on a bus nowadays, as luxury left it in the 80s. There should be a low cost option in airlift so if someone wants only soda and peanuts, they can get it. If they save money getting here, then they may spend more once they arrive.

2) Hotels -- Our hotels, needing serious updating, do not offer value for money. Very few people want to pay $250 (plus) per night in Bermuda for only a room when they can get cheaper elsewhere, one which has a mini-bar, data port, in-room movies, etc. as well as more complimentary in-house amenities. We all search for these when we leave on vacation so why should not tourists want them here. Go to one of our local hotels and ask yourself if you would be willing to pay for what they offer on your own vacation. If you can honestly say "Yes'', then you prove me wrong, but I don't think you can. We used to be the pinnacle for tourism in this region but now are nowhere near the top, the fault of our own complacency.

When the money flowed in the 1980s, we took it for granted and were blind to its disappearance in the 1990s, thus we now pay the price for our arrogance.

You cannot ignore certain segments of the travelling public, as we have been ignoring those at the lower end of the scale. Truth be told, wealthy people are that because they don't spend much.

Our tourism can only be saved if we stop giving lip-service and seriously do something. We have wasted enough money talking and smiling overseas, the money must flow here. One would have thought (at least the minister) that during the interim period until the current hotel properties under construction or refit are completed, a two-year contract with Carnival would have filled the gap. I guess as those 1,100 passengers weekly were not going to be in hotel beds, their money is not wanted. Wake up Bermuda! Our name may get the travellers interest but the over-all package doesn't get their money! EMPTY PLANE WATCHER St. David's Lay down the law April 27, 2001 Dear Sir, I wish to use your forum to say "Well Done!'' to the bus driver who unfortunately is in the centre of the storm about his ejecting an unruly child.

As a former pilot on the ferries I can sympathise with his situation. You have in your charge a group of people whom you must transport safely from point A to B, and will be raked over the coals if something goes wrong, yet are rendered powerless to ease the situation at the same time. In the past there have been many who were ejected from a bus for unruly behaviour to remind us that it is not private but public transportation. If anyone wants to be disrespectful, then let them do it in their parents' car. To all those who called the "People's Show'' today asking that the driver be discharged, shame on you! What you are doing is condoning the loss of respect for those in whose hands the lives of your children, families and friends are placed. You would have been the same ones to call and say that he should have "done something'' if the disruption had escalated and caused an accident. He did what he thought was in the best interest of the majority of his passengers and should be praised. Too often now we attack those who are trying to return some semblance of common decency to this Island while not doing anything ourselves. Some will even sit back and say "Not My Child'', until it is blatantly in their face.

To any other drivers in the same situation, I suggest that you do as I did a few times on the ferry. When someone becomes unruly and will not heed your requests to stop, give them a choice to either honour your request to get off or to be met by the Police at the next stop. The person, even a child should then be charged with creating a public nuisance and dealt with accordingly. I am quite sure, as I found on the water, the parents of those unruly children will not enjoy the possibility of having to collect them from the Police station and it will soon come to an end.

Once again I thank this driver as well as the others for attempting to ensure their passengers have a trouble free ride.

WENDELL BURCHALL Jr.

St. David's Don't hide the numbers May 2, 2001 Dear Sir, Before the 1998 Election David Allen and the PLP were full of mouth about how they would turn tourism around in 100 days. Some 30 months later we have had an unbroken string of disastrous down-turns reported to us with monotonous regularity...albeit usually several months late. Now Mr. Allen has announced that figures will be released quarterly -- rather than monthly -- and I have not heard a peep of protest from anyone. This information is valuable to the business community in planning their activities, and to the public in tracking David Allen's accountability. Free boondoggles may excite him and his political colleagues, but ultimately they will be judged on the mess they have made of tourism. This fact should precipitate Government seriously thinking NOW about privatising the whole operation, and releasing Mr. Allen to resume his journalistic travels, at his own expense.

TAXPAYER