Made to feel unwelcome

May 6, 2008

Dear Sir,

I must share with you and your readers an experience I had upon recently visiting Bermuda to visit a friend working there.

Now, I travel frequently and can say almost without exception, that I am always excited to visit a country for the first time. And, as they say, first impressions count for a lot.

This brings me to my point. The visitors first impression of Bermuda, from my experience, will be a grumpy, over officious immigration officer with not an ounce of interest in transmitting any welcoming signals to the visitor at all. There is absolutely no need for anyone to be treated like the piece of dirt I was coming through immigration as essentially a "customer" of the island of Bermuda.

I was asked stupid and insulting questions, treated discourteously and without respect and made to feel most unwelcome.

Having travelled to many countries with very tight border controls I appreciate the need for care, but I'm sorry, Bermuda, you have got it wrong with your immigration staff's attitude.

I have found out since that this tale is not unusual, and I for one can assure you I will not be in a hurry to come back. I take my tourism business where I feel welcome and wanted, if I want to be insulted I can think of places to do that nearer home.

The tourism market is a tough place to do business, and getting tougher. I can see now why Bermuda has lost tourists and will continue to do so.

TRENT CHIBO

Bradford, United Kingdom

UBP maxed out

May 7, 2008

Dear Sir,

I'm a staunch UBP'er who feels very strongly that the Party must disband. I have been a Party supporter all my life; I understand that the MP's got 47 percent of the vote; and I understand all the arguments that start with "Well, the Democrats or the Republicans or Labour or the Conservatives don't disband when they lose three in a row...". but I still believe in my heart of hearts that the United Bermuda Party has maxed out and can never gather enough votes to win again.

But I do not think that's all bad. The fact is, and I am very well aware that this is quite true, the only real thing that is killing the Party is that it has come to represent all that was bad for blacks in Bermuda over the past 50 years. I can see the point although it doesn't much matter what I see but if enough Black Bermudians believe that the UBP, despite all it's accomplishments, represents the Colonial Yoke; oppression; bias; and generally promulgated policies which gave whites an advantage and treated blacks as second class citizens – then there is nothing in the world that's going to convince them to vote UBP. And that's exactly what they said in December.

Now, you have a group in the UBP who believe if we (that is, the UBP of today) have goodness in our heart and we can convince people that we do, we will win them over. With the greatest respect, I disagree entirely.

So what's the big deal? As one of my black friends told me, the real solution to our societal ills and historic problems lies in how we, as individuals and members of the community, deal with these things, one-on-one, in the same vein as Cummings Zuill is doing. Politics is a game. It's just a game about governance. Politics is not about to solve our social problems. The only objectives in politics are to present your ideology and to try and convince more people than the other guy that your ideas and ability should result in the Government.

So what if the UBP disbands ? I guarantee you that the phoenix that rises from its ashes will embrace many of the same principles and will be a Party that will be attractive to many of the same people and many others who simply cannot embrace the UBP in its current persona. The MP's can still represent the 47 percent (even if they do so independently) but hopefully some of those old-line MP's sitting so snugly in safe seats for many, many years will actually stand aside and let the younger generation take over.

A new Party will be challenged by those brilliant people who spend their lives on talk shows but, over time, things will change and a new Party will be accepted. And I can also assure you that it will not be a third Party ... whether the UBP disbands or not, a new Party will wipe us off the map.

The biggest shame in all this is the lack of understanding within the 25-45 age group as it relates to the need for political governance. Whilst I have a great deal of respect for the likes of Phil Barnett, standing around and bleating about what Government is doing wrong is about as useful (especially in Bermuda 2008 !!!) as 'you know what' on a bull. If the younger generation could actually take some time out from making money and recognise that their inaction is going to cook the golden egg just as much as allowing these clowns to stay in Government.

As they say, when good people sit on their hands, bad things happen.

Lastly, I refer to two letters in today's paper. One from 'Clean Slate' which hits the nail on the head, and the other from Mike Fahy which continues to put the white spin on whither the UBP goest. Clean Slate is right when he says, from the political game perspective, the only perspective is the black perspective because that's where the Party would need to get its additional votes. Mr. Fahy's spin is all about making sure that the public sees the ship on a steady course....problem is, even the Titanic floated a little while longer after it hit the iceberg.

AUNT POLLY SAWYER

City of Hamilton

IPOC windfall

May 11, 2008

Dear Sir,

When we heard Bermuda will receive about $21.5 million due to the winding up of the IPOC International Growth Fund we immediately thought about the quote: "Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present." This unprecedented windfall attributed to the criminal conviction of a scandalous operation means quite frankly, we will enjoy the spoils of others.

We can't help but think with prices rising feverishly and destructively all over the world, this money should be set aside for those who need it the most and not just slotted into the general fund. One day, as promised, consultants will determine how much citizens of this Island must earn to stay above the poverty line. In the meantime our seniors and destitute families who are trying to keep ahead of spiraling inflation, deserve special consideration and it is our hope the Government will make a serious effort to assist them with financial support.

This can easily be achieved through pensions and other data already in place that determines the income of the majority of Bermudians.

Toppy and Saundra Cowen

Warwick

Editor's Note: Although it has not been formally confirmed, it is believed the $21.5 million must be used to combat money laundering and associated financial crimes.

Striking for chaos

May 9, 2008

Dear Sir,

Following yesterday's reinstatement of the bus driver, who allegedly threatened a member of the public, and the reinstatement of the ferry driver who collided with the dock while intoxicated; it is clear that intoxication and assault are not just causes for being fired.

I therefore propose next Friday, May 16, as National Chaos Day. I am suggesting all employees from the non-public sector, lawyers, accountants, doctors, mechanics, retailers, underwriters, etc. get belligerently drunk during their lunch hour and return to their jobs for the afternoon, verbally or physically assaulting anyone who chooses to disagree.

When a majority of us are fired for such behaviour, we will collect our picket signs and then march up and down Front Street until everyone is reinstated. Surely we should all benefit from this great democracy.

Shakin' My Head

St. George's

Stop being union-passive

May 9, 2008

Dear Sir,

Here we go again!! It is now even more obvious that Bermuda has accepted the irresponsible and immature behaviour of its men as consent to strike and justify work stoppages.

What lessons are we teaching our young people? That it is OK to act in an anti-social manner without consequences? That it is OK to strike-out at a woman to justify individual insecurities? That we are a bunch of weak men, afraid of confrontation and the Union? Or is our weaknesses as men so much that it does not allow us to be a man?

It is time for the PLP Government to stop being Union-passive and be a Government.

SAM

Warwick

Pot washers

May 6, 2008

Dear Sir,

I wanted to write in regards to Senator Burch's comments that, "the assertion that every effort is made to employ Bermudians in this industry rings a little hollow when we can recruit over 200 people to work on the Hustle Truck", and that "(he doesn't) think that a pot washer should be considered a key employee."

As somebody who has worked in the food-services industry on this Island, I can tell you that despite the fact that it's a low skill job, it is impossible to run a successful business employing Bermudians as pot washers. The establishment at which I've worked pays pot-washers the same wage as other more skilled employees, in the hope that this will encourage them to stay on and eventually work their way up in the business.

We've actively recruited Bermudians through agencies that work with government and in the private sector with zero luck. Let me describe how a typical tenure goes for a Bermudian pot-washer, something I've seen at least twice a month, every month, for as long as I've worked here.

The person shows up late on their first day because they "weren't sure where you were located." After 20 minutes they take a cigarette break or go out to talk on their cell phone. Then they wash some dishes, badly, and go for another break 40 minutes later. This repeats until the end of the night, when they are woefully behind in their duty.

Over the course of the first week, there is a combination of unexplained absenteeism, tardiness, insubordination, laziness, and in the worst cases, theft, substance abuse, and threats of physical violence against the owners. The employee then terminates themselves by either not showing up without explanation, or leaving in the middle of a busy shift on the weekend at the height of dinner service. It's the same with guys and girls, and doesn't matter what the colour of the pot-washer's skin is, it's always the same. This leaves the rest of the kitchen staff in a bad predicament: non-Bermudians employed as chefs or waitstaff are forbidden to wash dishes by law. Bermudians who are employed in either of these capacities don't want (and shouldn't have to) wash dishes either. This leaves the task to magical dish-washing fairies who sprinkle detergent around the kitchen over night.

I won't speculate as to why it is that this happens over and over, and why it's so hard to get local people to stay at the job longer than a couple of weeks. I do know that in many countries around the world, pot-washers are new immigrants, or students, or people who have a drive to advance in the restaurant business. In a nutshell, these are people who are willing to take lower paying jobs that are tough to do. I can't understate how invaluable a good pot-washer is to running a restaurant. And once you have a good one, they are a key employee. Clearly, one job qualification that is undervalued in Bermuda is work-ethic.

Compare this to the people on the so-called Hustle Truck. What the Senator either doesn't get or purposely leaves out is that this is a "come if you feel like it" enterprise. If you show up today, great. If you feel like taking the next day off, that's fine too. There are no rules or commitments on the Hustle Truck, it just keeps rolling on and on! This might work when you've got some graffiti to wash off a wall, or some bricks to move, or some other task that isn't time sensitive. But it doesn't work when you need to serve food to people now and have no clean pots to cook with, or clean dishes to serve it on.

I'd like to see how successful the Hustle Truck would be if people were required to show up five days a week, for two weeks in a row, to collect their pay cheque. Also, having seen the Hustle Truck workers in action, I'd like to know what would happen if you actually had to hustle. I think a more apt name would be the "Lollygag Truck."

So where does that leave restaurant owners? Stuck with a pile of dirty dishes. I have a solution though. Until more non-Bermudians are permitted to stay for long tenures, I invite Senator Burch to show up at any of the busy restaurants in Hamilton around 6 p.m. and offer to wash dishes for a few nights, to see how long he'd last. Trust me, they can use the help. But until then, I'll just let the dish-fairies keeping doing their job.

OMAR TAN

Warwick

Overtaking at lights

May 9, 2008

Dear Sir,

Right on to the car I spotted today which had a blaring red bumper sticker which said:

Undertakers Love overtakers.

A jarring phrase to be sure, but I doubt most reckless drivers would pay it any mind.

Speaking of overtakers: I wish to add my two cents to the sound suggestions made recently by other writers to your column. There should be a law - or some mechanism put in place - to prevent overtaking vehicles at red traffic lights. The culprits being cycle riders who want to get ahead of the line.

I realise such a law would be impractical in town, but surely something can be enforced for "outer city limits". One of the most dangerous places is the intersection at Collectors Hill.

The westward-bound traffic is the worst as there are two exits from two busy parking lots. And the idiot overtakers know that vehicles exit onto the main road when traffic is stopped at the red light.

I dread pulling up to the red light at that intersection, having witnessed countless near-misses between an overtaking cycle and someone exiting those parking lots. Some of these near collisions have involved a third vehicle eastbound.

Works and Engineering or the Road Safety Council, please look into this. Perhaps a large pole sign stating "Caution – Car Exit" and flashing a light as a vehicle approaches the exit.

Pamela H. Willcocks

Smith's Parish