April 8, 2002

Dear Sir,

What is happening to beautiful Bermuda?

I have had the privilege of living and working in Bermuda during the 1980's and indeed I have very fond memories of my time in your country. Wonderful lush nature, the always attractive Atlantic ocean, a quality life style for all, a good infrastructure, an almost surrealistically (apparent) peaceful society, and above all: truly wonderful people, Bermuda's star asset.

Over the last few years I have started to read The Royal Gazette daily via the Internet.

True, during the 1980s, the first signs appeared of drug abuse, of youngsters in need of guidance. But I am shocked by what I read now; theft, violence, drugs, murder cases, street gangs, youngsters battling at the St. George's Police Station.

No longer, it seems, events happening on an incidental basis - there seems to be a real structural problem and a real loss of moral values.

Please, please wake up Bermuda, before it is too late!

THEO PUNT

Bargemon, France