Approach to the 'Bunny'

August 17, 2010

Dear Sir,

While I do not agree with the approach or language of critics like 'Buddha Bunny' (Royal Gazette August 17) I have to question the motives of the Premier's press secretary. IF (note the emphasis) this is a real threat then going to the media and the Premier's personal Facebook page with it would only hamper any potential investigation. I also wonder why the statement came from the Premier's press secretary and not the Minister of Public Safety or the Police themselves. To me this appears to be another witch hunt and an attempt to silence critics (again, not agreeing with the approach in this particular case), while tying up the Police and other taxpayer resources.

This country is in desperate need of strong leadership; leaders that can rise above this kind of rhetoric and implement real solutions to real problems (crime, education, healthcare, national debt, the economy, tourism, etc.). Surely implementing sound solutions to these real problems is the best way to silence critics like 'Buddha Bunny'.

KENT SMITH

St. George's

Staying off Court Street

August 16, 2010

Dear Sir,

First let me echo the words of our esteemed Premier, Dr. Ewart Brown: "Wherever you go, whatever you do, experience the warmth and generosity of Bermudians. Wherever you go and whatever you do, I'm sure you will have a wonderful time." Thus concludes Mr. Brown's welcome address on page 4 of the July issue of Bermuda.com's tourist guide. Now, in the hope of saving Bermudians from appearing completely naive, I'm going to share my own cautionary message to visitors to the Island.

If there's one warning that I've heard time and again, it's "stay off Court Street". As a kid, my father and I used to stop at the video store on the corner of Court and Dundonald on our way home in the evening. This was the only time I was allowed out of the car. While it had yet to deteriorate to its current state, even then the road was on the brink of ruin, with graffiti scarring its empty buildings and homeless asleep on its curbs. It wasn't difficult to imagine why you wouldn't want to venture through Court Street alone.

Over the last ten years Court Street has decayed into a veritable hive of concrete, squalor and filth. At dusk, obtrusive locals dart from sidewalk to sidewalk. Brown-bagged bottles sit unattended in dark thresholds and loud catcalls pierce the night. Recently, stopped in traffic, I was approached by a local who, after placing his arms in my car window, proceeded to scam me for money. Only after I cleared the church and the court building (oh, the irony) did I feel safe to roll down my windows.

Now consider an article in last month's Bermuda.com guide, which advertises the Island's popular bars and pubs. There, on page 94, inserted innocently between Robin Hood and Swizzle Inn is none other than Court Street's own club, The Spinning Wheel. Touted as the go-to destination for "streetwise" visitors, the nightclub is apparently now one of the "best" venues on the Island! I was shocked to be asked by a tourist to give a review of the place; I couldn't believe that the Bermuda.com guide openly encourages visitors to venture down the one street I have avoided all my life. I know I wouldn't appreciate it if I were to visit a foreign country and get sent down a dark avenue with aggressive locals, no taxicabs and gang shootings.

So dear Bermuda.com guide readers, let me append my own wisdom to Premier Brown's welcome message: "Wherever you go, whatever you do, experience the warmth and generosity of Bermudians and I'm sure you will have a wonderful time. But wherever you go, and whatever you do, stay off Court Street."

DOT PENISTON

Student, Pembroke

Immigration office layout

August 16, 2010

Dear Sir,

Recently I was in with the Immigration officer to renew a passport. The layout of the public area is an open room. When at the reception desk or at a service booth, everyone can hear your business.

A couple who were being served by the receptionist were asked some questions that were (as seen on the faces of many in the room) very personal. The questions in my opinion, were very pertinent but also very embarrassing to all within hearing. This is a sensitive area and should be laid out as such.

I have been in the Planning office and there are booths to check plans and for consultation with planning staff. I suggest that personal questions like those asked by Immigration, be asked in enclosed booths and not in a public/open area to avoid embarrassments.

GERALD L. BEAN

Paget

Thank you, Bermuda

August 18, 2010

Dear Sir,

My wife, two of my daughters, and I just spent a wonderful week at the St. George's Club in Bermuda. While we had a delightful time, I must acknowledge that we were concerned to read the newspaper accounts of gang violence. We sincerely hope that Bermuda can address and overcome this problem and remain the wonderful tourist destination it has always been.

While some things have changed in Bermuda, with the introduction of gangs and gang violence, some things have not changed the warmth and friendliness of the people of Bermuda and the extraordinary natural beauty of the country.

Dee Dee Furbert, the reservations and front desk manager at the Club, was always cheerful and friendly. All of the service staff at the Club were cordial and did an excellent job. Our lodgings were spotless, and the grounds were well kept.

The owner of the Esso station below the Club entertained us each morning with stories of his life on Bermuda, and shared with us the beautiful historic wooden boat carvings created by his uncle, as well as photographs of Bermuda and the small island he owns on the outskirts of town. Tobacco Bay was, as it has always been, a safe, clean, and wonderful snorkeling destination.

Here in the States, everyone tends to hurry about their business, often failing to take the time to acknowledge, much less converse with, a stranger. That is not the case on Bermuda. Everywhere we went on the Island, people were friendly and outgoing. It was almost as if they wanted to be sure we felt welcome and were having a good vacation.

Thank you all, and see you next year.

JOHN W. CANNAVINO

Wilton, Connecticut

Be tough with gangs

August 16, 2010

Dear Sir,

Having mediation with gangs, and their members is exactly the wrong thing to do. This is the message of those officials who are bereft of ideas, and have reached a point of desperation. As has been proved throughout time, whether on the scale of nations, or with the schoolyard bully, only with the show of resolve, strength, and the will to carry out punishment will these types of issues be resolved.

Thank God, Bermuda has not yet turned into a New York City of the 1980s, or other such places, due in large part to the small scale of the country, but if the Island wants to avoid becoming a shooting gallery, criminals must be met with the full force of the law before the problem spirals out of control. As Mayor Rudy Giuliani showed in New York City, in the face of tremendous opposition, crime can only be halted by a very tough, and perhaps initially unpopular zero tolerance policy.

AN ONLOOKER

New York

Praising Tucker's Point

August 16, 2010

Dear Sir,

Further to the letter in your newspaper dated July 20 concerning the Tucker's Point Club. This letter was written by a retiree of Castle Harbour Hotel and later Tucker's Point Club. David Ralston retired in 2004. An awful lot has happened at TPC since his departure.

Let me state from the offset that I am not a member at TPC. A family member who is a Bermudian was until recently employed at TPC, he loved TPC and thoroughly enjoyed his years there, but he has chosen to go overseas to study and to broaden his knowledge of the hotel industry hopefully he will return to Bermuda.

I feel David Ralson's letter was grossly unfair to the management of TPC. This wonderful new, fresh, well run hotel is a tremendous asset to Bermuda. Bermuda has been suffering from the economic problems of the world it seemed to start with the closure of both H.A. & E. Smith and then Triminghams, and the hospitality business has not been riding on the crest of the wave over the last few years, they have all been struggling and obviously have had to cut their own costs and expenses. David Ralston said he spent his first two weeks in Bermuda getting to know Bermuda (over 41 years ago) lucky man, that is virtually two weeks vacation he had as he was acting out as a tourist from Scotland. These days a new employee has a computer to consult about Bermuda and getting to know the product.

TPC is attracting tourists to the Island and in many cases they are the offsprings of families who used to spend part of the summer in Bermuda every year. These people put money in the pockets of taxi drivers, grocery stores, hotel workers and many others. Everyone knows that Bermuda has a good product and as we are so close to the eastern seaboard we must continue to attract those people. I felt David Ralston was very negative and let's face it we do not have many Bermudians who want to work in the hotel business.

Please allow TPC to keep producing a good hotel and environment for Bermuda.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK TUCKER'S POINT

Smith's

Gordon's good deed

August 16, 2010

Dear Sir,

The recent untimely and tragic death of Gordon Howard brought back memories of an extraordinary good deed for which he was responsible many years ago.

We had been talking from our diverse business perspectives, and for some unaccountable reason the subject moved to charity and the needs of charities. At that time I was a sponsor of education of under-privileged children in poverty-stricken communities in various parts of the world, and I was expressing my concern over the appeal launched by world-wide registered charity ActionAid (formerly Action is Distress) to launch funds to build a school in an African country, in a very poor community. ActionAid is a very reputable charity with a long record of success in sponsoring children's education and preparation to develop skills to make a life and earn a living in their communities.

Gordon Howard suggested that I asked the London-based charity to give him a call.

Suitably motivated, I did just that, not daring to hope that something would come of this brief encounter. I explained to the rather suspicious and sceptical "well-spoken" (omitting a more suitable description) young man at the end of the phone that if he were to give Gordon Howard a call maybe he could give some advice or guidance in the matter.

I checked back with Gordon a few days later and no-one had called. It was more than a little discouraging that a charity seeking important funding should not act quickly in the face of a clear opportunity. I rang ActionAid again, rather irked at this point that nothing had been done, and asked for someone in a senior capacity, explained as briefly as I could, and clearly this man believed that every avenue should be explored, and he promised to ring Gordon Howard.

The next thing I knew was that ActionAid was overjoyed that it had received the necessary funds, and a double page article appeared in their international newsletter. The school was built.

I am sure that Gordon would not have wanted it to be known as "The Gordon Howard School", but in my mind, it has always been and will always be "The Gordon Howard School".

WITH GREAT RESPECT & ADMIRATION

Warwick

PS: ActionAid's work can be viewed on their website: www.actionaid.org.uk