Still getting stiffed

December 8, 2008

Dear Sir,

On October 1, you published my letter to the Trustees of the Golf Courses regarding their failure to pay reimbursement for the St. George's Golf Course locker fee paid in April, 2008, which course was closed the next month. The following week in early October I received a communication from the Board and within two weeks a cheque for one-half of the rental paid. This following six months of inattention to golf locker tenants of a closed golf course. Of course, I was both surprised and pleased.

The cheque was deposited in my bank but the very next day it was charged back against my account and sent for collection. It appears that The Board (Golf Courses) sent me Bermuda dollars instead of US dollars. Not to worry I was told; it is just a formality. Bank of America sent the check on to Bank of Bermuda for collection.

Today, two months later, I learned that Bank of Bermuda has subsequently sent the check back to Bank of America unpaid. Wow! How many other Bermuda and US locker renters have been stiffed like this? Not only is this a disgrace to whomever is running the show there, it smacks of yet another Bermuda scam. How badly does Bermuda have to treat its tourists before we all find other vacation destinations?

BRACKETT DAVID CLARK

Wellfleet, Massachusetts

More than unfortunate

December 6, 2008

Dear Sir,

As a once longtime resident of Bermuda, it is with sadness that I read of the intent of Government to permit commercial development at Warwick Long Bay. The foreshore that stretches from the old Mermaid Beach Hotel to Horseshoe Bay would likely be the longest continuously accessible beach area in Bermuda. Only at the West End of Horseshoe is the continuity broken by commercial facilities. One of Bermuda's greatest vistas is the South Shore view overlooking Long Bay, the coves and the natural area leading to Horseshoe. To permit this natural area to be opened to commerce, contrary to the recommendations of advisors and public opinion, would be more than unfortunate. It would be done at the expense of one of Bermuda's most beautiful assets, for Bermudians and tourists alike.

ALEX MACFARLANE

Nashville, Tennessee

An incredible asset

December 2, 2008

Dear Sir,

I have been a frequent visitor to Bermuda for many years but I had never had the occasion to venture onto the Railway Trail. This past Sunday afternoon it was a beautiful sunny day so I decided to go for a long run from the Hamilton Princess to Somerset Bridge and spent most of the journey on the Railway Trail. I have a few observations that I thought I would share as I have been to many Islands around the world that have great trail systems that kept meticulously.

The Railway Trail is an incredible asset for Bermuda and deserves to be protected, preserved and upgraded. In an era of more health and exercise conscious tourism (the key role of my Assistant in booking a hotel for me is making sure it has a good gym), and with the very limited space that Bermuda can devote to trails, paths and parks, the Railway Trail has the potential to be a prime tourism asset.

My suggestions for enhancing it and elevating to the status it deserves as a "National Treasure" are as follows:

¦ Invest in regular housekeeping, pruning of trees and branches, repair of holes and areas of erosion (there are some wonderful vistas and views that could be enhanced with some reasonable trimming without losing the ambience and leafy hidden nature of the Trail – it is clearly quite overgrown in some areas)

¦ Upgrade the surface to a consistent gravel that will enable it to be navigated in all weather conditions (even after it rains – because of the mud and shade I can imagine sections likely remain wet for extended periods). It would also be great to reclaim some of the paved sections by removing the paving and thereby make the surface consistent with the rest of the upgraded Trail so it would be more "natural" (there is already enough pavement in Paradise, it just heats things up, looks unsightly and is expensive to maintain and fix over time);

¦ Better signage to:

(1) point the way to nearby tourist attractions (the only one I saw identified a side trail to Elbow Beach);

(2) Identify intersections with busy roads (I almost ran right into a car), and to clearly show the names of cross streets and lanes;

(3) Show the correct route between the Trail's different sections (little railway train engine symbols could be inset in the roads and sidewalks to make it completely obvious as to where the trail goes (in this way the trail could be "extended" along sidewalks right into Hamilton, Dockyards, etc). Ultimately all sections of the Trail could be more effectively connected together in a seamless network (this may require rebuilding some of the bridges as pedestrian bridges);

The existing historical signage and trail signs are quite good (it would be nice to have a clear "you are here" arrow on the maps).

¦ Regular patrols. Police on mountain bikes patrolling regularly would make it safer (although I only saw a couple of questionable looking characters and never felt unsafe, I can see how if you were a single female walking, hiking, or running it would not feel safe in a few places);

¦ The low gates at the end of trail sections would be very irritating if I had been mountain biking instead of running. I realise there is a need to keep scooters off the Trail, but it would be much better to remove the low bar on the gate and keep the scooters off with regular patrols and very stiff fines (immediate forfeiture of the Scooter?) if someone is caught on those sections that do not double as roads.

If there isn't already, someone should start a Railway Trail Society/Foundation and champion the cause of the Trail. An annual fundraiser with an end-to-end Trail walk/run/bike-a-thon where adults and kids obtain pledges from sponsors based on the distance they travel, with the Trail being the beneficiary.

So with someone to champion the cause, with a little imagination, some initial and ongoing government investment, private fund raising and action, the Railway Trail could be restored to the status of one of Bermuda's most important national assets for both tourists and the people of Bermuda. It is too valuable to let it deteriorate.

STEPHEN LISTER

Toronto, Ontario