In support of Zoom

July 25, 2007

Dear Sir

After so many negative letters regarding Zoom Airlines, I felt the need to write to you. I also e-mailed Zoom to tell them I enjoyed my flight immensely.

I travelled Premium Economy return from Bermuda to Gatwick and I must say it was a first class experience.

The legroom was the best I've had on any flight and I've travelled a lot. The food was very good and nicely presented. The service was superb — nothing was too much trouble and the comfort of the passenger was really their main concern. I highly recommend it.

I agree that the travel agent or Zoom themselves should have advised travellers about the extended length of time the flight takes from Bermuda-Gatwick, however soon I'm told they will be able to fly the same more direct route as BA. In my case it didn't matter as I had hours to kill before my next flight.

ROSEMARY DAVIS

Warwick

Meaning of Democracy

August 1

Dear Sir,

I've recently been doing a little research into the concept of government and governance (or, as is often the case, government versus governance, and vice versa).

There are, of course, dozens of different kinds of government, from anarchy to tyranny and passing through a myriad of more or less moderate kinds in between. There are basically, however, just two kinds of governance, namely, good and bad, though of an infinite variety of degrees.

In the Western World we pride ourselves on having adopted what we call democratic government. Democracies, too, come in varying shades of socialism, republicanism, plutocracy, oligarchy, monarchy and so on. One species of the genus Democracy is pseudo-democracy.

This is where a country claims to be democratic, on paper, but isn't really (mainly in the sense that it doesn't allow free and fair elections). Bermuda, of course, has free and fair elections, so it isn't a pseudo-democracy. But I'm beginning to wonder to what extent its governance is actually democratic. Let's stop for a moment and look at the meaning of the word Democracy: from the Greek demos (common people) and kratos (rule); namely, rule by the common people (note: by the common people, not by the politicians). Now let's take a recent example where The People have spoken up about a controversial subject: the infamous Southlands-Jumeirah project. Literally thousands of ordinary people in Bermuda have objected to this project in writing and by direct action.

Eminent people in Bermuda (people who really do know their onions) have spoken or written about the damage this project will do to the irreplaceable natural environment that it will displace. As far as I can see, the overwhelming majority of The People who have voiced an opinion about this project oppose it, for reasons too numerous to repeat here. The government (which represents The People in most conventional democracies) has nevertheless seen fit to counter the opposition of The People.

It seems ready (if it hasn't already done so) to give the project the green light. Well, I for one am frankly thankful to the Government of Bermuda for disabusing us of our silly notion that the democratic process is governance by mandate of The People. And in honour of this acknowledgement, I would like to propose the discovery of a new species of democracy indigenous to Bermuda: I shall call it jingaz!ocracy. Or, as it might be more commonly known in other parts of the world, klepto-democracy, in other words, stealing rule from the people.

GRAHAM FAIELLA

London

How most whites think

July 31, 2007

Dear Sir

Fed up with Politics (RG July 31). I am fascinated that he/she did not even consider the obvious! From its inception, in the very early days, the PLP hierarchy have knocked themselves out trying to get Whites to join the PLP (Often trying much harder than I, personally, felt that they should).

Consider the recent rhetoric we heard with the presentation of the current two white PLP candidates. The solution is simple.

There are "loads" of Blacks in the UBP. If all Whites joined the PLP there would be no political divide! Even if only the percentage of Whites, equal to the percentage of Blacks in the UBP, were to join the PLP we would be on our way to something very different to what we currently have.

The fact that Fed Up With Politics could make reference to Blacks in the UBP (and is actually reading my book which says a great deal to me about his/ her intentions) and still did not think about the obvious underscores our problem. The most fundamental aspect of our problem is the way most white folks think, or do not think.

EVA N. HODGSON

Crawl

Foreign landowners

July 24, 2007

Dear Sir

It is with troubled hearts and minds that we write this letter about the proposed amendment concerning Bermudian homeowners with foreign spouses.

We are Bermudian homeowners, (who is a Bermudian and what makes one a Bermudian?) married to foreign spouses, who have children who are homeowners/landowners married to foreign spouses, we are proud Bermudian homeowners.

Our question to the Premier: Premier Brown you own properties and under the new amendment to the Immigration and Protection Act will you be affected as (i) your wife is American, (ii) wife is a beneficiary, (iii) will she become a status Bermudian, (iv) contributes to the household (iv) would this new amendment not affect you because you are the Premier.

Homeowner's have had to pay: (i) Death Tax — extremely high and persons who have not been able to pay upon a loved ones death have lost the family home, (ii) Docks/Wharfs — no documents to prove it was there before the house was built or after the house was built sixty years or more ago, have had to pay just recently thousands of dollars to the Government, now how far back did you have to look for that one and (iii) Land Tax.

This Amendment will effect those whose parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, god-parents, Bermudian or otherwise, who have sacrificed, toiled, sweated and bled, and those who are today sacrificing, sweating, toiling and bleeding with their spouses and families in order to put a roof over their families heads, to keep them dry, warm and together in order that their children can provide the same in years to come. Bermuda, home to thousands whose one desire amongst many is to own a piece of the Rock. Did you say they do, cars, bling — bling.

To those of you, who are renting or are landlords, there is probably something in the books for you as well.

Thanking you in advance for your most honest response through the Letters to the Editor and not that of your Press Secretary.

LUCY's x 2

Pembroke

Morgan's Pt. more to offer

August 2

Dear Sir,

The Southlands development could be a win-win for Bermuda and its Bermudian investors/developers if everyone would step back a minute and consider other possibilities.

There is a fabulous site called Morgan's Point, which was ready for development 10 years ago. On this site there is room for a golf course. (If you recall, Jack Nicklaus was here and designed it.) There is room for water sports such as sailing, windsurfing, boating. There is a beach. One could take a water taxi to Hamilton. There is room for condo development and employee housing. It is screaming to be developed.

The Southlands site is stunning, but what make it stunning is its natural beauty, its quarries and follies. Yes, it offers a South Shore Beach, but outside of sunning, swimming and snorkeling, one is limited to activities due to the surf. So really, the only thing that Southlands has that Morgan's doesn't is snorkeling on the south shore Morgan's Point has so much more to offer a tourist or a condo owner.

We have three Bermudian investors/developers who want to build a hotel. I am sure that the Government, the BLDC and these Bermudian investors/developers could creatively come up with an exchange of properties.

Bermuda gets to keep an unscarred South Shore Road. Warwick gets to keep natural habitats (that means birds that eat bugs and plants that help cool the island). And our Bermudian investors/developers get a great site to build Bermuda's newest resort.

It may be that in 30 years we look like Hong Kong, but why on earth would we want to get there quicker than necessary. Morgan's Point is 270 acres just sitting there doing nothing. It has unparalleled potential to enhance Bermuda's tourism product and quality of life. Why give up the natural resources at Southlands so that a few tourists can snorkel on south shore.

RONDA JAMES

Paget

Consider the disabled

July 25, 2007

Dear Sir,

I write with horror and concern at the proposal of new hotels that are due for construction in the future to which I object and being a partially handicapped individual, must voice my concern about these hotels as they should involve access for the disabled traveller no matter what their disability and I speak of those future hotels mentioned in previous editions of your paper . . . namely the Southlands Development and the Par-la-Ville Hotel, on Queen Street in Hamilton.

As I move around Bermuda, I see more and more handicapped people whether they are here on business or pleasure, whether they visit by air or sea and ask them how is their stay going and in most cases to find that their accommodation is lacking.

It is my hope that the architects and builders will have taken into consideration the access for the disabled traveller. Our US Office has a set of guidelines and the Bermuda Chapter has a copy. If you need help I would be pleased to provide it. As the Regional Director of S.A.T.H. (The Society for The Accessible Travel and Hospitality) I am most concerned that all new buildings meet with the US standards. If anyone would like to know more about the US Regulations, please do no hesitate to call me. If we provide for the handicapped traveller we will open up a whole new market for ourselves and thereby increase our trade to the island for all who visit us.

Finally, as we heard on the news from a group of young people a few days ago and I quote "We don't want to come back to a concrete jungle". Whilst improving our facilities let's preserve what we have.

RICHARD M. KITSON

City of Hamilton

Causeway bridge welcome

August 6, 2007

The following letter was sent to the Minister of Works and Engineering, the Hon Dennis Lister, and copied to the Royal Gazette:

Dear Sir,

Many thanks go out to Works and Engineering for finishing the new Causeway bridge in a timely manner. To those of us who live on one side of the Causeway and work on the other we have had to deal with many obstacles:-

1) The bridge opening and often not closing

2) The reinforcement work done prior to Hurricane Fabian

3) The one lane traffic after Hurricane Fabian

4) The recent one lane traffic over the bridge

The temporary bridge is very welcome to those of us who repeatedly have to sit in lengthy queues waiting to go over the bridge. I do hope that the longer term issues of the Causeway are being dealt with and that this temporary measure will not still be in use five years from now. Please keep up the good work.

RACHEL PARSONS

Smith's

Save our island

August 1, 2007

Dear Sir

A LITTLE DITTY ON SUSTAINABILITY

Oh Premier Brown, Premier Brown

Do you really know up from down?

I have a hunch

That brown bag lunch

Left a bitter taste

When you described in haste

The simple (?) Southlands Tunnel.

No need for alarm?

It won't cause harm?

I don't believe it

Whoever conceived it

Should take a trip

on his ego ship.

"More jobs" you say.

We'll build all day,

And all night too".

You haven't a clue

Of the worry and stress

From all this progress.

So I think I'll decide

Enough of this ride.

There're others more caring

(perhaps less daring)

To take over the reins,

And save what remains

OF OUR BEAUTIFUL ISLAND BERMUDA.

ANONYMOUS

Smith's