Dear Sir,

I would like to have the opportunity to respond to the letter published in the December 23 issue of The Royal Gazette called “Letters that should not be promoted” by (Member of Parliament) Rolfe Commissiong and which was written in reply to my letter dated December 18th. On a side note, I would also like to respond to anyone who has or will write, think and say anything bad about me. (Including very very recent contributions in which my name was used in anger.)

First of all, Sir, as my name is as common as John Doe, I sincerely hope that the next person bearing it who crosses anyone’s path, will not get slammed/slapped in a case of mistaken identity.

I am sad to note that you have taken much of what I wrote out of context, and turned it into a very shameful rhetoric. As to your point of not publishing offensive texts, I agree 100 percent. As to deporting foreigners who abuse the host country, again I agree 100 percent, and this applies for all countries, not just Bermuda. (I have been to many countries, some very poor, and nothing offends me more than fellow “foreigners” abusing their status).

But do you really think that The Royal Gazette would have published both your and my letters, if they were not morally and ethically acceptable? I am confident The Royal Gazette knows what it is doing. As for the comment on my black (again I use the term black with respect) girlfriends, were I an African Bermudan/American woman, I would be offended by your words. You portray me as a shallow and selfish man, which implies that the women in question were too dumb to see through me! I can assure you that all the ladies I court, (black, white and Asian) are all smart career-oriented ladies, obviously more open minded than some. I would give you their names, that you may learn from them, if I were not afraid you would make pariahs of them.

You also insinuate that I am somewhat of a failure, due to the fact that I was not allowed to remain in Bermuda. (I left of my own free will to pursue my career). Are you seriously of the opinion that former guest workers fail once they leave? I can assure you that I am highly successful in my career, and would ask to return to Bermuda because I wanted to, not because I had to. As for the comment about slavery, if you had interpreted my words correctly, you would have known I was talking of just one individual; you have made it a generality. Or did you (or others) just write what you did to inflame opinion?

What you have not commented on, is the thousands of dollars I contributed to the Island’s economy, when I could have chosen to spend it elsewhere. Nor do you comment on the fact that I never had so much as a parking ticket, when a number of residents are complaining about being caught speeding or losing their license for drunk driving.

Most importantly, you do not appreciate that I was willing to join the Regiment, and serve a country that was not my own. (In fact, I am surprised no one from the anticonscription group Bermudians Against The Draft picked up on that either) Maybe I was wrong though, to suggest less people in power, as if someone with the wrong mind set came to the top jobs, there would be a need for many cooler heads to curb their “enthusiasm”.

But, as I have no intention of entering a tit-for-tat contest with you, Sir, (nor with anyone else who has so very recently portrayed me and my words in bad light) this will probably be the last time I write in this forum. Consider that a victory if you feel the need to.

I extend my sincere apologies to anyone who read my words correctly, and still felt offended, and to anyone at all who may have suffered “social antagonism” as a result of my letter. My intent was to put into words what many fear to say, and not cause such a storm; But to those who only read what served their own agenda, I cannot help you.

In anticipation of your (or anyone’s) “come back” there is one undeniable and non-debatable fact that needs to be mentioned: At the time I write this, no one, not a single person had commented on your letter. And that, my friend, says it all!

May I take this opportunity to wish everyone in Bermuda, (yes including you Sir, your loved ones, and all the others who feel ill-inclined towards me) a happy new year and all the best for 2014. Thank you.

CHRISTOS IOANOU