Something went wrong!

August 5, 2008

Dear Sir,

In a very informative article, a former Director of Tourism used the words "dying"and "survival". Those are very dramatic expressions, which, hopefully, will wake up the politicians.

Years ago, under Mr. Jimmy Williams, there was a "Bermuda Briefing", which involved the top hoteliers travelling from city to city promoting travel to Bermuda. The people must have done a lot of things right, since it was nearly impossible to get a room "in season" and the off season, not quite as profitable, kept the hotels busy with incentive and groups avoiding employee layoffs.

Something went awfully wrong! Marriott's Castle Harbour disappeared, The Trusthouse Forte Hotels — Bermudiana, Belmont and Harmony Hall phased out – the Sonesta Beach ceased to exist and the St. Georges Project is still a mirage on the horizon. Less hotel rooms on the market and still declining occupancies? A good enough reason to look at the sales productivity.

The insurance industry is a fine business, but does it invest on the Island? Yes, a several million dollar office building, but how much of an investment is it really, in relation to the industry's total assets? It's peanuts for them and in the computer age they can pick up at a moment's notice, relocate and don't even worry about the computer wiring, it goes by satellite anyhow, anywhere, any time. So do not feel too comfortable with them. They are already looking for a more advantageous location to do business. And condos have no need for any labour, except perhaps a gardener. Good luck.

MANFRED STUMPF

New Orleans, Louisiana

Do not accept this

August 11, 2008

Dear Sir,

It has been great to see Lindo's supermarkets encourage the use of reusable shopping bags – a simple thing that we can all do to reduce waste in Bermuda. Today I shopped at Supermarket on Front Street – only to find that they are working hard to counteract the efforts made by Lindo's – at the Supermarket they are putting the brown paper bags into a plastic bag! Come on Supermarket – is this really necessary? Come on Bermudians – don't accept this!

K. CARR

St. George's

The complete truth

July 30, 2008

Dear Sir,

When we read letters like Pat Ferguson's in the Mid Ocean News of todays date, we realise how lucky we are to have a lady who has the expertise and clarity of mind, plus the courage to put it all in perspective regarding Dr. Brown. There has been lately quite a few apparently "put up" support articles praising Dr. Brown, but few, if any, tell the truth and the complete truth about this man.

There is no doubt he is an administrator of decisive courageous and forceful deeds, he gets things done and designates with authority and fear.

The fear is a healthy fear, whereby if you don't produce and do your job correctly, your pay packet is in jeopardy, which is fair; this has long been missing. Where have the supervisors been, like in the old days when they would say "I want this job done and when I return I will see if you have done it correctly, if after a few efforts, this person has not, a replacement by somebody else who will honour their pay packet will take place. This man is a great example of the work ethic, that so many lack.

It is tragic that this talented man has lost his way and failed the people. How long have the PLP waited for such a man, and where has he failed and why? Arrogant and ruthless for sure but there is more, otherwise those attributes could be the makings of a strong vibrant Government heading for great things in Bermuda.

We have always had the right to know, which turned into amazement and then into shock and disbelief and now tragically all too obvious., to list a few.

1. There is little or no consultation with other boards, he does what he wants regardless.

2. He spends "The Peoples" purse outrageously, but does not limit his own needs.

3. He neglects the very serious matters of the homeless and the poor, and yet again he lives in luxury himself.

4. Education has been relegated to the incompetent, according to The Hopkins Report. The children damaged and short changed for life.

5. He has bribed support with expensive carrots, and given away land that will be gone for generations of Bermudians.

6. His example to the youth especially the young men, is arrogance and "In your face mate"., and has exhibited a life style that Mugabe would envy and the youth here would see as worthy to emulate.

7. And finally, and I feel this is the most important of all these transgressions, is the lack of trust that he has created and surrounded himself with the people of Bermuda. He has indulged in practices that cannot be proven because of outdated laws on the books, but that has left the community with a serious trust problem.

He admitted he had to deceive in order to gain his end. Well Dr. Brown be careful what you wish for! There is an unspoken word of honour and that is resignation. We must hope you will take this option to release this lovely little island from the grip of discontent.

DIANA WILLIAMS

Pembroke

Save the sharks

August 12, 2008

Dear Sir,

Why? Why? Why? Why would anyone catch and then destroy a magnificent 800 pound Tiger Shark? The Global Shark Assessment (PGSA) is an ongoing project in partnership with scientists around the world, in which the desperate appeal to stop the depletion of apex predators, warns of the continued destruction of the oceans ecosystems. Study after study has revealed that the removal of apex predators has disastrous effects on marine life at all levels.

The explosion of the cow ray populations off the East Coast of America that are now decimating scallop and oyster beds due to the lack of predators, i.e. Tiger Sharks, which have been removed from over fishing, is just one example. This very disturbing research was presented in a lecture series at our very own Aquarium.

The distinguished professor Callum Roberts, in his 2007 book "The Unnatural History of the Sea," details the systematic destruction of the world's oceans and dispels the myth that the oceans are vast and invulnerable. "High Apex Predator Biomass on Remote Islands," is another wonderful book that illustrates this point magnificently, which details the destruction of Groupers, Sharks, Marlins, Snappers & Jacks. Yes, you read that correctly, Marlins.

As this year's Marlin tournament came to a conclusion this summer, complete with the proverbial photographs of anglers standing beside yet another remains of an apex predator in the form of 1,000 pounds of dead fish, one does ask why? This tournament does, in fact, not have to kill a single fish, but they continue to do so. Why? On the final day of the tournament, as the sleek parade of sport fishing vessels came roaring past Daniel's Head, I noticed the name on one of the sterns, "Size Matters." Hmmm… perhaps in the words of Shrek, "Do you think they're compensating for something?"

KEN VICKERS

Pembroke