February 23, 2002

Dear Sir,

I would welcome the opportunity to respond to a letter to the editor titled "Respect the Premier" which appeared in the Gazette on February 21, 2002. As a PLP supporter, and an unemployed worker, I participated in the march to Parliament on February 8, 2002. The Honourable Madam Premier did conduct herself with confidence and regal aplomb. Prior to the appearance of the Premier on the infamous steps of Parliament I did have an opportunity to mention to the workers' designated speaker to show respect, prior to her speaking to our Premier.

Lois L. Weeks, the lady speaker spoke the way the lady felt. I, as a reasonable person, standing within three feet of the Premier during the exchange did not find the sister from Works and Engineering guilty of an "outrageous tirade of disrespect". The workers marched for a reason and I would like to think that the W&E spokesperson without benefit of a public address. system spoke to be heard. She was a little loud. The words spoken were timely.

In keeping with, united we stand and divided we fall, I thought the workers delivered a message. The march was enjoyable, timely, and undertaken without incident. Sister Weeks, what if many workers present agreed with the way the spokesperson spoke. Lois L. Weeks, I respect your comment that the Premier is doing an excellent job. However, 1,500 workers at Parliament may feel "someone" can, and should be doing a far better job in the area of labour. Mr. Butler, who is a member of the Immigration board which oversees permits granted to guest workers, said of the 1,200 jobs advertised by employers last year, only 75 Bermudians applied for the positions. Wow! Bermudians, we need to support Mr. Butler's investigation into this matter. We all know that employers do not cheat and Immigration does a sterling job. I have chased a few of the opportunities and I do have an informed view point.

Mr. Butler, how does Immigration know for which jobs Bermudians apply? Employers tell them so. Dale, investigate. This situation is potentially explosive. I am somewhat mystified as to why Mr. Lister would be upset with Mr. Butler for sharing this information with the public. The CURE survey was a part of the "social cure" and Immigration should be a government department that does not rely solely on employers advising them as to the number of Bermudians applying for jobs.

The workers' march to the House of Parliament on February 8, 2002 was somewhat political. If 2,000 workers hard marched I would have said that the march was political. If 2,500 workers had marched? Mr. Editor, on February 2, 2002 a letter appeared in the Royal Gazette and was titled "A little heat needed".

DEVONSHIRE

Positivity at CedarBridge

February 27, 2002

Dear Sir,

I am a CedarBridge Academy student and I am writing to ask you if you would think about featuring my school in an article of an upcoming Young Observer. I feel that my school has a history of "bad reputation" but that isn't the way I see it at all. There is a lot of positivity that goes on at my school but no one in the public hears about it because everyone is focused on the "negativity" of CedarBridge Academy.

My school isn't perfect but there are a lot of people like our principal, Mrs. Richards, who is trying to make something out of the students. She, and a lot of the teachers believe in us and I would like for you to please contact her or the school about coming in and seeing what good our school does and publishing it in the paper so that other people can see for themselves.

It bothers all of us when people talk bad about our school because of its history when we are trying our best to make it something better. Thank you so much for your time.

STUDENT OF EXCELLENCE

CedarBridge Academy

Visit limits is a good idea

March 1, 2002

Dear Sir,

No doubt you will receive lots of letters complaining about the enforcement of the three-week stay policy. Personally I would like to applaud the cooperation between the Ministers of Tourism and Home Affairs for having such insight. This stroke of genius is the most important initiative to increase visitors arrivals in years. Think how much better the statistics would be if they reduced the time period to one week.

I am surprised however that the Tourism Minister has not seen the fatal flaw in this strategy. This being that visitor numbers from Canada and Scotland will plummet because they will not be willing to pay $900 to go to New York for the day. All is not lost however! Having borrowed enough money from BNTB to keep Calum Johnson awake during this retirement a new business is under way.

A group of entrepreneurs have purchased a high-speed boat. We will take people out beyond Bermuda's territorial limits and back again. On board immigration officials will process customers while at see, thereby cutting out the level of delays seen at the airport. In addition, pasta, pizza and alcoholic beverages will be served throughout the trip.

We will provide all of this for $100 per head. Hoot's mon a pretty good deal eh?

COT IN A SHORT STREET

Southampton

Two curious things

February 25, 2002

Dear Sir,

While listening to the Premier's address to the country two things struck me as curious. First, she started out a call for the country to come together followed by a verbose and personal attack on David Dodwell. Second, she kept referring to 'stake holders'; Aren't stakeholders the ones who hold the stake while the driver drives it through the heart?

SPANISH POINT VOTER

Election year follies?

February 22, 2002

Dear Sir,

Oh, Jennifer - WE are on to you. We loved your unprecedented appearance on the big screen, where you blathered on for 20 minutes about feel good resolve as a means of saving tourism (sadly your best plan yet), but we did notice that you slipped a bomb in the middle.

Congratulations to the PLP for feeling the noose tighten around your neck, as the election year ticks on, so much as to raise an issue that is sure to be debated as pandering to those energetic enough to go to the polls, but not energetic enough to apply to the numerous jobs that are offered (we saw the statistics).

If you argue unemployment insurance loudly enough, and pull in 9-11 and the race card often enough.. with a side order of shake up the boundaries, we may just forget our resolve to vote you out.

HISTER

Paget

Clarification needed

February 27, 2002

Dear Sir,

With reference to yesterday's article "Can I extend my island holiday? Not with us, says Terry Lister", I am very concerned as a guest house owner. The contents of the article caused alarm both to me and my guests (who come for a month or longer in the winter months).

May I request that the Immigration Department kindly provide explicit clarification in a further article on the position of persons wishing to stay longer than three weeks? We are trying so hard to attract winter visitors to the Island. Let us remember the valuable contribution (financial and otherwise) our visitors make to Bermuda.

A further article, with clear guidelines, from the Immigration Department would be much appreciated and would serve to reassure my guests who are already wishing to book their 2003 holiday.

HAZEL LOWE

Salt Kettle Guest House

Paget

Need better mail delivery

February 22, 2002

This was sent to the Postmaster General and copied to The Royal Gazette.

Dear Sir,

In New York, on January 3, 2002, I posted a letter to my niece in Bermuda. Last night, February 21 by telephone she told me that it had arrived that day in her mail box. January 3 - February 21 i.e. 49 days! Accepting the slight excuse of a heavy Christmas mail backlog, I cannot believe that staff shortage, illness, airline cancellations or whatever, can be proffered as an excuse for this delay.

This is demeaning to the Public Service sector of the government.

I assure you this is not the first occasion that mail to and from Bermuda is exceptionally late, and this recurring situation is in need of correction. How often must the 'poor' Bermudian have complained and to what avail? Must there be a scandal or disaster before any deficiency is corrected?

Furthermore, since postage costs in Bermuda are expensive, better and faster delivery/dispatch should be accorded the impatient public. My patience has run out!

HARRY ATKINSON

New York City