Dear Sir,

Some time ago I read in The Royal Gazette that Bob Richards, the Minister of Finance, was being interviewed about the intended airport and he got very arrogant in his answers, saying the number bombers had it all wrong and yet he, as the one heading these negotiations, gave no numbers.

Anybody with an ounce of common sense going into a project will first work out the approximate cost so that they will know if it is at all feasible for them to do the project, and it appears that he has not done his homework.

Or better yet, as is always the case with the Bermuda Government, you invite others to do your homework even when theirs leads you astray and then you are left with the bone in your hands and the meat is long gone.

I have grown old enough to see that governments are living in an illusionary world of dreams and the worst thing is that it is following a country that is falling and it has the people believing all is well.

Bermuda needs a new airport — for what, when our tourism is falling off?

I ask this question, Mr Richards: Will this bring tourists to the Island?

Unless you have forgotten, all the people who look to travel are in transit and the present airport seems to accommodate them very well.

When we look at the Government, there are more questions than answers. Costs continue to rise as it is borrowing to pay for the day-to-day running of the country.

When your outgoing is bigger than your income, your upkeep will be your downfall and the results are staring us in the face.

All of the Government and those wannabes have all kinds of diplomas, but the one that is most important is the one for common sense. I have never seen a diploma from the University of Common Sense and that is the missing link in the puzzle of life worldwide.

As I look again at this airport, I ask Mr Richards this one question: would he allow me to build him a house and then collect the rent for the next 50 years? I do not think he would.

So why would the Government turn all the profits over to some outsider? If we cannot afford it, forget this airport. The present one is working very well, the country cannot afford it and the hole of debt is too deep as it is.

The Government is very top heavy with highly paid people and there is no accountability of the positions. In all honesty, the Government does not have a clue how to downsize without losing the confidence of the people.

I would like to refer the Government to Psalm 127:1: “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it. Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”

I would also like to encourage you note this Bible passage: “The Word of God is truth so why not follow it and not your own gods. And if the blind lead the blind, they will fall in the pit.”

ARTHUR “SCOPSIE” HASSELL, Sandys