The Bermuda Industrial Union strike which crippled the Island after Hurricane Fabian has been condemned by a visitor in the letters' page of the travel section of the Sunday New York Times.

Tourist Arnold Hyman from the Bronx, New York, wrote: "The BIU called a strike that basically shut down the Island.

"My wife and I were onboard the Norwegian Sea, which was stuck at port in St. George's for our entire stay. No ships were allowed to reposition.

"Passengers saw very little of the Island as there were no buses or ferries. In time of trouble you would think Bermudans (sic) would find another way to solve their problems."

Tourism Minister Renee Webb declined to comment on the letter yesterday, other than to say "it's understandable".

In the same letters' page, another visitor to Bermuda complained of being unable to find rooms in October at Sonesta Beach or elsewhere, which has prompted him to no longer come to Bermuda in the autumn.

Tourism Department spokesman David Dumont responded that Sonesta was closed due to repairs to damage caused by Hurricane Fabian and no other rooms were available on the Island because the Jazz Festival was taking place.