Get off the wall

December 13, 2006

Dear Sir,

Wonderful letter from ?Sam? from Warwick, in today?s . In short ? Get off the Wall. You Bermudians that feel left behind, and get yourself an education, it?s all here and never too late, so stop whining. It takes guts, courage and hard work, but anything worth having is worth the effort for an education. Nothing in this entire world will give you more pleasure and satisfaction, to see those doors open that you thought would never be open to your. The truth will dawn on you and you will be so proud of yourself, like so many examples here in Bermuda. Your black brothers have set good examples. Well done Sam, an educated Sam, who has written an insightful and compassionate letter; I wish I knew you, I know this is not a dating Service but I would be delighted to reward you with my, rum cake ? delicious! Will the real Sam please stand up!

Dr. Gibbons was right

December 14, 2006

Dear Sir,

Securities and Exchange Commission investigations in the mid-1970s disclosed that over 400 US companies admitted making questionable or illegal payments in excess of $300 million to foreign government officials, politicians, and political parties and as a result the Congress passed the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1977 (?FCPA?) which makes it unlawful to bribe foreign government officials to obtain or retain business.

The Act is violated if the following five elements are met:

1. The FCPA applies to any individual, firm, officer, director, employee or agent of a firm whether a US citizen or not who makes or authorises the payment of a bribe.

2. Such person must have a corrupt intent ? i.e. the bribe must be intended to induce the recipient to misuse his official position to direct business wrongfully to the payer or to any other person.

3. The FCPA prohibits paying, offerings, or promising to pay money or anything of value.

4. The FCPA extends only to corrupt payments to a foreign official or foreign political party.

5. The purpose of the bribe must be to assist the individual or firm to obtain or retain business for or with any person.

The Bermuda Government employs many US individuals and firms for tourist advertising, pension and other fund managers, operating hotels, providing consultant expertise and a myriad of other services. In connection with Dr. Ewart Brown?s proposed PLP fund raising scheme it would seem unlikely that any US individual or firm would pay US $25,000.00 and not expect something more than just one meal. It would also seem that Dr. Ewart Brown should have thanked Dr. Grant Gibbons for calling his attention to the possible relevance of FCPA rather than calling him a racist dog.

Sir David is astute

November 14, 2006

Dear Sir,

The undermining and dismantling of Tourism began in 1978. The then Premier and Finance Minister David Gibbons, on the floor of Parliament in 1978, made a surprise statement to the effect that the future of this country would no longer depend on Tourism. The wisdom of David Gibbons to give Tourism a sister and Bermuda another economy built around international business shows how astute he was and still is. A commemoration Day of International Business should be celebrated in honour of Sir David Gibbons.

Subscribe to WOW

December 21, 2006

Dear Sir,

In response to BERMUDIAN SICK OF GREED in today?s paper complaining about the lack of English Premier league football on Cable, may I suggest he subscribes to WOW instead. Like many other fans of English football who have WOW, we are able to watch up to four English Premier League games every Saturday. (WOW?s also a mainly Bermudian-owned company unlike Cable, I believe). WOW also showed the cup final for free last year!