Enemies or friends?

Royal Gazette Staff

Created: Mar 30, 2002 10:00 AM

Please print this response to a recent letter: Mr Michael G Marsh: Point(s) taken.The solution however (am I repeating myself?) is simpler: Ask Bermuda (not the Government of Bermuda) the following questions:Do we, the people of Bermuda, truly want to entertain and tolerate the people who will pay the costly airfares and high accomodation costs; do we really want to share our beautiful sophisticated Island and lifestyle; do we really wish to benefit from the dollars these people are willing to spend when they visit our shores?

March 20, 2002

Dear Sir,

Please print this response to a recent letter: Mr Michael G Marsh: Point(s) taken.

The solution however (am I repeating myself?) is simpler: Ask Bermuda (not the Government of Bermuda) the following questions:

Do we, the people of Bermuda, truly want to entertain and tolerate the people who will pay the costly airfares and high accomodation costs; do we really want to share our beautiful sophisticated Island and lifestyle; do we really wish to benefit from the dollars these people are willing to spend when they visit our shores?

Are we complacent? Let's face it: life is good, business is good - are we hungry?

Analogy - Jamaica: Sophistication? so-so. Cost of airfares? so-so. Crime rate? questionable. Standard of living? so-so. Interest in the Tourism industry: high.

Jamaica - you tell Bermuda: your advertisements speak loud and clear and I can confirm that I, for one, am interested in Jamaica's acclaimed fun, relaxation, and sport because I have the sense that they are interested in me: The visitor.

To conclude: here's the opinion of one individual who has visited Bermuda many times, and has wished to "mix" (ie cycling on Tribe Rd, visiting the RBYC, eating at the Paraquet) yet has sensed (believe it ) that Bermuda sends not a message of apartheid; but a message of apartness, to its well-meaning visitors.