July 9, 2014

Dear Sir,

With regard to Bermuda’s tough line on cruse ship passenger with drugs, perhaps we need to take a look at one of our most successful competitors in the world of cruse destinations ... Singapore.

This small country competitor of Bermuda’s welcomed over 14 million visitors last year bringing in more than 23 billion dollars in tourism receipts.

Singapore also has the lowest recreational drug usage in the world. The reasons for this are that drug users are punished with severity. Drug trafficking carries a mandatory death penalty which is applied to every, including foreigners.

It is also worth noting that it is an offence even to have any drug metabolites in your system never mind that they were consumed outside Singapore. Occasionally customs does spot urine tests at the airport.

This is not to suggest that Bermuda should have a mandatory death penalty for drug dealers but surely it is in our best interests here to support the police and customs officers who are trying to hold the line on bringing drugs into Bermuda.

It would appear tourism numbers and revenues are not being affected in Singapore by their tough stance on drugs. Maybe, just maybe, it makes it an even more attractive destination for world-wise travellers.

FREQUENT VISITOR TO SINGAPORE