Tourists want to explore

March 14, 2008

Dear Sir,

When did nature become so undesirable? Saturday I'm out shopping and I bump into one of Bermuda's very successful developers. He's talking about where he thinks the next big hotel should go – along South Road Warwick.

Someone else says: "Why build a new hotel? Tourism is dead." Developer says: "Everything is cyclical. Tourism will come back and we should do what they are doing in the Caribbean and put the hotels on the beaches. That is what tourists want."

I realise that the developer is just thinking the way developers think. But it is up to the people of this country to ensure that we all win, not just a few people with big trucks and bank accounts.

Mr. Editor, Bermuda is a place that tourists have always explored. If you are in Jamaica it is recommended that you don't even leave some of the hotel properties. Let's face it, they need to build on their beaches.

Why do we have to be like everyone else anyway? Maybe when/if tourism returns to this Island, people will be attracted to the fact that you can explore our pristine Warwick coastline. Just maybe Bermuda will have her tourism comeback because she is beautiful and safe and not like every other place. I've been back in Bermuda for the last 20 years and every time I drive along South Road in Warwick, I am reminded of what a beautiful island we live on.

There are still several Brownfield sites that should be looked at for development so that Mr. Developer has something to do. Development is necessary for growth, but for goodness sake we should be looking at ways of saving our natural beauty not just seeing it as space to build on.

A final note on safety: We need to be different from the Caribbean because we don't have near as many "beach days" as the islands down south. In my opinion, this is why, in order to provide a truly Bermudian tourist package, visitors should be able to explore our rock.

Safety plays a key role here. No one wants to be mugged or robbed on holiday or anytime. We need to sort out this very important issue that involves all areas of the island, government, judicial system, policing, education and family values. Every person – friend, parent, witness, civil servant or leader – has a role to play in reducing this problem. Tourism aside, Bermuda should be a safe and gorgeous place for Bermudians.

Have a Bermudaful day (hoping we can say that for years to come),

RONDA JAMES

Paget

A gas saving measure

March 17, 2008

Dear Sir,

Due to the ever increasing cost of fuel for vehicles, perhaps the Government should give consideration to all Government vehicles being parked overnight, i.e., employees go to and from work in their own vehicles. This will not be popular among the Government employees, however, it will certainly save Government a considerable amount of money.

PENNY PINCHER