March 30, 2005

Dear Sir,

In the local media the other day there was a picture of a four-door hatchback car, a Toyota RAV4, starting at $42,000. Seeing these sell for $18,750 on the Internet in the US, this seemed a misprint until seeing other prices in the same promotion.

For example, a small BMW Z4 sells in the US for $34,300. Here you can pick one up for a mere $78,000. And the tourists complain about the prices for meals!

March 24, 2005

Dear Sir,

Since I have lived in Bermuda for the past six years, reading the letters page of has been a valued part of my daily routine as it is a meeting of the minds of the community.

I wanted to express my thanks to those who have bought insight and wit to the issues of the day. For instance I always enjoy John Zuill's original, slightly off the wall thinking- not that I always agree with his points (He should try reading T.S. Eliot's poem The Cultivation of Christmas Trees before he gets into another rage about Christmas).

There is one issue I feel compelled to write about and that is homelessness in Bermuda. Put quite simply: How can this community know that there is a considerable number of families who cannot afford somewhere to live and not find some means to house them? I can only see that it is the Government's duty (especially a People's Government) to provide a safety net for the very poorest members of society and society's duty to make sure they do it.

How can we be so heartless to let those children of the homeless (and adults too) believe that there is no larger community who care about their plight? Pointing fingers of blame back to those in trouble without bothering to find out the true picture is just a lame excuse not to get cracking. I would be very interested to hear from anyone, through this worthy medium, who has concrete ideas on what should be done to make things happen. As has been said on the subject of education?it's a ticking time bomb.

DEIRDRE HILL

Warwick

March 16, 2005

Dear Sir,

The closure of world-famous Trimingham 's is sad news indeed, especially for more than 200 of the fine staff they employ but it's not unexpected. It's all part of this modern trend called "globalisation", or "dog eat dog" mentality, in which acquisitions, buyouts and take overs are the order of the day. It's happening all over the world, and Bermuda is just the tip of the iceberg. More is yet to come. Only the most cost-effective, competitive, results-oriented and high-profit companies will survive - and the rest will be swallowed up or remain in the backwater in our world of corporate madness.

My wife and I have been taking a February vacation in Bermuda every year for the past ten years, and we especially enjoyed our shopping trips to Trimingham 's -with their friendly, helpful staff and wide variety of good products. We are sure that many Canadians will feel the same way as we do about the closure of this fine company, and hope that the staff will quickly recover from the blow, and soon find other employment. Our very best wishes to them all!

President Lawrence Trimingham 's remarks about the decline in tourism arrivals and tourism expenditures area quite true. In my business as a tourism marketing consultant, I follow these trends and regret to see Bermuda's falling numbers. Bermuda needs to add new product and reposition itself in world tourism markets, in order to attract a wider audience. The older and more affluent generation of US and Canadian visitors is in decline, and they are not being replaced by the younger generation, who seek more excitement and new experiences, which Bermuda is not fulfilling. Bermuda is also becoming a more expensive tourism destination, and is in danger of pricing itself out of world markets. It's all very well to say that Bermuda has the highest standard of living in the western world, the highest minimum wage, no poverty and many other social benefits - but somebody has to pay for these, and we know it's the tourists. This leads us to the third problem mentioned by Mr. Trimingham , which is Bermuda residents shopping overseas. This problem is not restricted to Bermuda it happens all over the world. If you live in the sunny Caribbean, for example, you get "island fever" every year and rush off to visit the USA and "shop 'til you drop". The same happens in Hawaii and other exotic sunspots around the world. It will never change. The problem is aggravated in Bermuda because everybody seems to have a higher standard of living and more disposable income for overseas travel and shopping. They rush off to the USA and Canada and spend literally millions of dollars every year, buying high-quality, reasonably priced consumer goods, which are not available in Bermuda. Add to this the fact that Bermudians have a very generous customs allowance when they return to Bermuda, and you begin to see what a serious problem this is to the economy of a small country like Bermuda.

Overall then, tourism visitations and expenditures are in decline in Bermuda, and the future of this vital industry should not be taken for granted. It will not spring back automatically when times get better, because times are changing and unless you reposition yourself, appeal to new market segments and moderate you prices, the decline will continue.

We, regular visitors to Bermuda who enjoy your country and its fine people, will help out all we can - but we want quality, reasonable prices, value for our dollar and a satisfying tourism experience, which includes unique places like Trimingham's.

JOHN COLE

March 24, 2005

Dear Sir,

I would like to make a few comments on your editorial of March 23. There seems to be a misconception that principals in the public schools do not have autonomy. For several years now they have been operating under a policy of "on site management". As this term was never defined, many principals have interpreted it to mean they can operate according to their own dictates. This policy is causing chaos within the public school system as many (not all) principals act in a vacuum. They lack in many cases an understanding of national and social issues which result in the implementation of solutions which are not addressing Bermuda's problems but creating others.

Autonomy in other countries exists within the parameters set by the Government. This is as it should be. We must remember that the principal has the responsibility for one school, the government for the country. It is this lack of parameters (non-negotiables) that is a major cause for the chaos in our education system. People who do to see the big picture are been allowed to make decisions for the system.

On your point regarding black males in Britain, the main issue here is that in Britain they are a minority and like minorities everywhere the system seldom caters to their needs. Bermuda's problem is one of defining blacks here as if they were a minority and the adoption of solutions that are addressing problems of a minority. Instead of looking at the USA or Britain where blacks are a minority, let's look at countries like the Caribbean. We will more likely see that the problem is not the race they belong to but the economic class. We mist ask ourselves if a main part of the problem is that too many teachers have low expectations for students in the public school system because of the economic background that a high percentage of students belong too.

Lastly, Ashay is not addressing Bermuda's larger problem which is one of the colonial mentality (socialised to feel inferior and incapable and ashamed of one's culture). Colonialism systemically determines how we think and why we think that way. As it is systemic, it is seen as "normal" and is never questioned. All Bermudians, black and white, must begin to question what is considered to be the "norm". Why,after all that we have accomplished, do we still believe that people who do not know us and our needs can devise better solutions? Yes they can give us ideas but they cannot solve our problems for us - that is something that we must do.

Adopting exams and curriculum devised for other jurisdictions will not solve our problem. This has been proven throughout our history. Our success in education is embedded in our belief in self and country, high expectations and being accountable to the public.

It is unfortunate for Bermuda that many of those who hold key positions in our education system do not believe sufficiently in themselves and the people of this country to do what is right - but this is the legacy of the colonial mentality.

CONCERNED BERMUDIAN

Sandys Parish

March 31, 2005

Dear Sir,

With regard to the following excerpt from today's :

"Dr. Kamarakafego, who also sent a written submission in to the BIC, said Independence could lead to Bermuda becoming the regional headquarters for three UN agencies which were a perfect fit for the Island: the International Monetary Authority (IMF), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and the World Bank.

"Exempt companies would eat it up," Dr. Kamarakafego added. However the Commissioners only said they had received his submission and were considering it."

Please advise Dr. Kamarakafego it's illegal to import "carrots" to Bermuda. He offers no guarantees and the costs could be prohibitive.

I would be extremely concerned if the purpose for taking Bermuda Independent was so Bermuda's Politicians can claim a position in the WTO, the IMF or the World Bank or even the UN. Hob-nobbing with the world's leaders is no reason for Independence. We are such a small fish in a huge ocean that our input would probably have little impact. Spending time with the people of Bermuda and trying to resolve our own significant issues is what is best for Bermuda and that is what we should work on. Bermudian's are world leaders when it comes to helping others in times of need. Bermudians do this out of their own sense of pride and generosity and we get to do it on our own terms!

As individuals, Bermudians have a huge amount of independence as it is. It is my concern that going Independent as a country would actually diminish each and every Bermudian's individual independence. At the moment, Bermuda has the best of both worlds but I guess the grass will always be greener on the other side. There should be no rushing this.

March 28, 2005

Dear Sir,

There is nothing new being said or even persuasive, about the Independence issue, in fact it is becoming dangerously close to a yawn and that must not happen.

This matter is of vital importance if, as we all should, value the quality of our future lives in Bermuda.

I therefore challenge this Government by asking them to come up with 10(ten) basic reasons how we will benefit from Bermuda becoming Independent?

10 Mr. Premier.

10 to anyone who can present solid facts (apart from emotional) that will benefit our lives.

I only ask 10, of course one could ask for more than 10, but I don't want to take unreasonable advantage!DIANA WILLIAMS

Pembroke