The cost of casinos

March 11, 2010

Dear Sir,

Having watched the debate regarding legalising casino gambling in Bermuda, there are a couple of observations I'd like to share with my fellow Bermudians. I now reside in Southeastern Connecticut, which is home to two of the world's largest casinos, Foxwoods/MGM Grand and the Mohegan Sun. This area used to be referred to as "The Quiet Corner" of Connecticut. It isn't quiet anymore, and life hasn't gotten any better for local residents, despite myriad promises made by local politicians.

Local residents are faced with the many social ills caused by gambling, gamblers and casino operators. Area towns are being forced to add staff to their overburdened Police forces to control the problems caused by the influx of gamblers. The fact that gamblers are plied with free alcohol so that they gamble more freely, or less cautiously, means that when they lose all of their money and get in their cars to go home they are far more likely to end up in drunken accidents or incidents. The increase in the number of people killed by drunk drivers in this area is staggering.

Then there is the question of social ills associated with gambling, from addicted gamblers robbing banks and actually taking the stolen money directly to the casinos, to big-time gambling fraudsters attracted to this area by the casinos. These criminals, when caught, then have to be imprisoned and supported by the taxpayers of Connecticut, not the casinos … the root of these problems.

The only ones who are doing better are the casino owners and the politicians who sold their constituents down the river. Twenty years ago there was so much talk of the jobs that would be created, the jobs were created but not to very much benefit to locals folks. Because gambling is all about greed, the casino owners do not pay the kind of wages that were held out to show that the prosperity would be shared by those affected by the presence of these gambling institutions. Instead, most of the labour is imported from poor, third world countries who work for substandard wages.

This adds to local the taxpayers' burden in the form additional educational needs. Local education authorities are scrambling to find and pay for teachers of English as a second language, because of the huge demand from casino employees and their dependents.

C.A. DAWSON

Connecticut

End the child's play

March 12, 2010

Dear Sir,

If I may ask a question of our "Leaders" in the House, how have the silly games by the ruling party and the official opposition moved Bermuda ahead in any way, shape or form? I refer to the filibustering by the PLP and the scheduling of debates by the UBP. It would appear that in the constant game of tit for tat between both parties, that they have forgotten about the business of the People.

I can see this interaction for free between my two daughters of three and eight; I do not need another example at much higher costs to the taxpayers of children not playing nice in the sand box together. How proud they must all feel. As for myself and many other Bermudians, we shake our heads.

SEAN SOARES

St. George's

Apply business methods

March 10, 2010

Dear Sir,

It is obvious to almost everyone that this Budget is a big mistake. In not reining in spending and reducing capital expenditure, debt will grow while the imposition of new taxes, especially the increase in payroll tax, will reduce incomes and make Bermuda Inc. less competitive. The inevitable result will be less employment thus less revenue for Government leading to more taxes and perhaps forcing drastic measures like massively reducing the size of the civil service and services to the stakeholders. The longer term result of unwise Government borrowing is currently being experienced in countries including Greece and Portugal.

There is, however, a short window for Government to reconsider its actions based upon the reasoned reactions to the budget by the stakeholders – I would suggest that we are talking the next six months. After all, during this time frame many international businesses will be forced once again to reconsider whether it is appropriate to move to a better managed economy. This would be the act of mature politicians and not a loss of prestige.

The answer is to consider Government as a Business and to take appropriate and prudent management actions to reduce expenditure. Sell off non-essential assets and encourage streams of revenue that will not adversely impact the stakeholders including Joe Public, the consumer. At the same time, postpone the introduction of increased taxes whilst properly considering these alternatives.

Reducing expenditure requires fortitude. It includes a hiring freeze, encouraging early retirements, cutting out layers of unnecessary bureaucracy, eliminating most budgets for consultants and reducing budgets to non-operational departments that really do not produce revenue streams or are not essential for public safety and health, reducing overseas travel, making all overseas travel economy only.

Ensure politicians use their accumulated air miles from years of first class travel to upgrade to first class if they wish or force them to travel in economy for essential travel. Remove perks to politicians and senior civil servants such as cars for ministers and replace with a vastly reduced pool of small cars for loan for official events or use taxis like the rest of us when we have to. Institute Civil Service pay freezes in exchange for continued employment for those that remain, ban overtime etc, etc. The politicians must take the lead.

Review Government assets to see what can be sold or leased as sources of revenue. Selling off or leasing non-essential assets could include public golf courses, closing down schools that have "uneconomic" numbers, consolidation of spread out departments and disposal of unnecessary facilities that currently require maintenance and manpower. Gambling as a source of revenue is touted by some, but if this results in the need for more Government services for the inevitable ills i.e. taxation, it should not be considered for locals.

Encouraging streams of revenue for Government could include removing work permit term limits, despised by international and local business alike, in exchange for an escalating work permit fee based upon length of employment in Bermuda after the first six years. This would encourage international business to stay.

All Government departments should be required to look at what they can do to expand revenue by going into direct competition with the private sector. For example Government IT department could consider offering IT services. It would also be a good measure to see if the Government departments are competitive – if they cannot match private sector costs they should be privatised. Government departments must also prioritise the collection of revenue e.g. parking fines that remain outstanding – this helps cash flow.

I could go on, but if Government does not take action, short of a great deal of luck on the economic front, certain incumbent politicians may not be on the gravy train come the next election. In fact there would likely be public support for the proposed action and kudos for the politicians.

RON LUCAS

Smith's

We did not write letter

March 24, 2010

Dear Sir,

May I use your Letters page to make it absolutely clear to your readers and to the people who have called my home in the last two days that neither myself nor my wife are the authors of the letter to the Editor that was published on March 23 entitled "Time to Step up to the Plate" and was signed "A. Black, Paget".

ANDY BLACK

Paget

Protect the Causeway

March 11, 2010

Dear Sir,

I have been reading the recently published letters regarding the proposed Causeway Bridge and feel compelled to offer comments.

1. The proposed public-private partnership to finance this project will result in a project cost significantly more than a typical public financed project. This type of financing has advantages when the finished project results in an income stream that is dedicated to the retirement of the project debt.

2. Based on my review of the Budget, the employment situation and the softening of construction in Bermuda, an alternative that will offer employment for Bermudians would be the most cost effective plan.

3. As an alternative I suggest that consideration be given to construction of an appropriate Breakwater parallel to the Causeway with a top elevation that would protect the causeway from wave and surge action expected during severe storms.

2. The area between the Breakwater and the Causeway would be backfilled and landscaped to provide an area that would create favourable comment from both visitors and locals.

3. In the event that a decision is taken to close the waterway at the existing bridge, the breakwater can be extended to the Airport and continued along the shoreline, thereby protecting the airport facility from storm surge.

4. This construction will result in permanent protection for the Causeway in its present location, provide local employment and be completed for significantly less that the design, construction and maintenance of an elevated structure.

CHARLES W. NEARON P.E. M.ASCE

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

Floor is dangerous

March 13, 2010

Dear Sir,

What is wrong with the wooden floor at the new Dockyard Pharmacy? It makes you feel as if you are on a roller-coaster ride when you walk on it. It is very dangerous for the staff to try and walk on it. Something needs to be done about it before someone is seriously hurt. Where is the manager? That pharmacy is very seldom open. Did we really need another pharmacy?

OBSERVER

Southampton

A change in approach

March 13, 2010

Dear Sir,

The recent petulance between the Government and the UBP represents a classic example of the unpalatable and far too common ad nauseam exchanges by the representatives of The People.

I recently learned that there is actually such a thing as a Ministerial Code of Conduct – apparently a Sasquatch of a document, and I wonder if the Members of Parliament have forgotten its existence? I'd like to see this document brought back to life and adhered to. The people are already very jaded and indeed exhausted with these unnecessary, antagonistic exchanges that waste the taxpayer's time and money. The parliamentarians' actions make a mockery of the democratic process and do nothing to advance this country, nor do they provide a model of appropriate behaviour for our youth. When can we expect a higher standard of debate and representation within the chambers of The House?

Even in the short time that the Alliance has been in existence, shifts in the behaviour of the UBP and PLP have been observed. In some instances, they even seem to mimic the Alliance's modus operandi. This can only be positive for Bermuda's people – we need a more constructive Opposition. For too long, the current Opposition has provoked little more than apathy from the Government. The UBP's weakness has caused complacency on both sides – the Alliance has come to cause some ripples in the political pond.

Moving forward, the Bermuda Democratic Alliance has a focus and mandate for a more collaborative style of governing. Enough with the discord and opposition for its own sake. Talk about cutting off the nose to spite the face of Bermuda! The Government (and rarer still, the Opposition) does sometimes enact good policy that merits support so let us start working together towards solutions rather than perpetuating the problems through pugnacious behaviour.

As a self-employed business owner and single mother, I have found the methodology of the Alliance inspiring and attractive enough not only to shed my political indifference, but actually to feel hopeful for what changes the Alliance could bring to Bermuda. The Alliance is prepared to collaborate to put the country first. These ideals excite me and I can wholeheartedly identify with and support these standards.

TONI DANIELS

City of Hamilton

Waiting for permission

March 12, 2010

Dear Sir,

We have our house on the market. There are two very interested purchasers, both Bermudian and both married to non-Bermudians. This means the transaction requires Spousal Approval from Immigration, a procedure which used to take three weeks. Now it takes five months and know what? They couldn't care less! This defers payment of taxes to Government, funds which they sorely need. They still don't care! How on earth can it take five months to issue such a simple document? Easy, just hire incompetents who just don't care.

ARCY DUBYA

Paget

Who will pay the debt?

March 12, 2010

Dear Sir,

Simple question: Who will pay the crushing debt that this Government is adding to by the minute? They are overspending about two and a half million every week! Who will pay? Our children, grandchildren? The Bermuda of the future? How, when it will be bankrupt? What happens to a country (island!) when it becomes bankrupt?

UNCOMMON SENSE

St. George's