Raising the dead

July 17, 2002

Dear Sir,

Toppy Cowen obviously thinks he is Jesus Christ. One can only hope that Sir John Swan doesn't turn out to be his Lazarus.

EVANGELIST

City of Hamilton

Is it all downhill?

July 9, 2002

The following letter was sent to The Department of Tourism and copied to The Royal Gazette.

Dear Sir,

My wife and I have just returned from our 16th Bermuda trip in the last 15 years, and I am compelled to write this letter of "concern".

I have been reading The Royal Gazette for quite some time along with the comprehensive files written by Keith A. Forbes, from which some of my opinions are generated, along with our personal observations.

The first point that rubs me the wrong way is the way cruisers are considered secondary to those who fly and stay at a hotel or guesthouse. It's true that we don't pay the huge cost of staying at a beautiful hotel or eating at extremely expensive restaurants; the cruise ship offers adequate cabins and unlimited food plus activities, shows and so much more for an all-inclusive price that the hotels can't compare to.

From a tourist point of view, and vacation dollars, a cruise is the only way to visit Bermuda. I guess it's the hotels and restaurants that object to this view. We do pay our share too.

Going by the costs given by Keith A. Forbes in his Cruise Ship file; we pay an exorbitant fee just to arrive in Bermuda. Average passenger capacity for only the five regularly scheduled New York and Boston to Bermuda cruises is approximately 6,240 passengers a week (assuming the ships are NOT filled to double occupancy numbers - way less than maximum occupancy numbers with all berths filled). They pay $60.00 each in an "Arrivals Tax". This equates to approximately $10,000,000 for the May through October cruise season. Add to this the $10.00 or $14.00 per person per night charge (depending upon month) and this adds another $6,000,000 just to have a captive audience docked in walking distance to all the business districts.

I'd be willing to bet that $16,000,000.00 a year is way below the actual numbers generated by the cruise ship passengers because the summer months usually have the double occupancy numbers exceeded by the volume of children travelling. I really have to wonder just where does this money go since Bermuda changes four times as much as the Bahamas, 12 times as much as St. Maarten and 20 times as much as Mexico just to have the tourist arrive at its port.

This number also does not include the scheduled Carnival, Radisson or Renaissance visits or those others that are stopping on a limited basis. Neither does this figure take into consideration the approximately 2,200 crew of the five New York/Boston ships that get some shore time to stock up on their supplies and take in some sights during the four days and three nights these ships are in port. Another 20,000 to 25,000 crew and passengers for the Carnival, Radisson and Renaissance cruise season and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the true value of the cruises added ten times the $16,000,000.00 to the pockets of Bermuda when all is said and done adding together all that is spent for everything by the cruise tourist in Bermuda.

We do spend our vacation dollars too when we are on the Island. We do rent mopeds, take taxis, ride the ferry, take tours and take the bus. We play golf, rent chairs and umbrellas at the beach, scuba dive, snorkel, visit the pubs, use the restaurants and the Swizzle Inn. And most of all, we shop. Just look at Front Street, or any other shopping area when the ships are in. Notice the number of people carrying purchases, we are buying, just ask the merchants over at Dockyard after the Carnival visits.

Another area of concern is the increase of crime being reported by The Royal Gazette and the seemingly lack of control the Police have over this problem. The stabbing at the school of a guard and the stabbings outside the nightclubs. It's way out of hand when there is an attempted firebombing of a Police car at the Police station in St. George's. It's time to start treating crime with an iron hand because whatever has been done isn't working anymore.

Lately, the number of drug-related crimes and activities is mind boggling. In such a controlled environment, one airport and three ship ports and no common borders with anyone, completely surrounded by water, how can any drugs make it through customs? The conditions can't get any easier to control, somebody's asleep at the switch. All this contributes to the petty thefts, homelessness, and gang violence, even the accosting of a tourist at Dockyard. All the articles about drugs, crime, violence and Government corruption certainly don't give the prospective tourist incentive to consider Bermuda for a vacation.

How has Bermuda gotten so bad so quickly? Your Premier can't even get the full support of her own party. The fiasco of moving or not moving the Police station in St. George's, and the confusion generated by all those officials involved, plus the corruption in the housing authority, the failure of the Tourism Minister plus many other items demonstrate that the present Government isn't helping Bermuda to become a desirable tourist destination or anything else for the benefit of the people of Bermuda.

Last concern. We had a wonderfully enthusiastic guided tour of Great Head/Little Head Park. Whoever takes care and maintains this park should hang their head in shame.

Our guide apologised many times for the volume of trash, especially at the entrance and exit of this park. There were mounds of debris at the entrance, chairs, clothing, bottles, paper and various kinds of stuff, disgusting! Some of the pathways were clean, but not all. We even came across an old weathered mattress along the way! Near the cricket field, there was a pile of mostly cans and bottles that had to be four feet high... hundreds broken! All along the paths we came across all sorts of trash, some of what was partially buried, indicating that it was this way for quite some time. I certainly would not suggest or recommend to anyone to visit this area. What a horrible way to treat such a beautiful Island.

From what I've seen of Bermuda over the last 15 years, I can see it is going downhill quickly. It's obvious that it's not a good value anymore, a similar length cruise with similar level accommodations either to the Bahamas or Canada from New York seems to be always cheaper, by hundreds of dollars, and that counts with a limited vacation budget. With increasing violent crime, wishy-washy Government, very poorly maintained Parks, overall high prices and general indifference to the tourist, no wonder tourism is down and still declining.

Years ago, 99.9 percent of the people we encountered were friendly, now, maybe 85 percent are. And now, that's Bermuda's best selling point. In the future, it will be hard to justify another trip to Bermuda to say, over Nassau.

Both have beautiful beaches, similar prices on name brand items, both about the same in cleanliness, Bermuda has the edge in "nice" people, we've had no problem with crime in either place, similar climate, all in all similar places. The one big difference is the cost.

Easily it's $400 cheaper for the two of us to go to Nassau as compared to Bermuda - comparing apples to apples. I hope Bermuda cleans up its act, gets a forward thinking Government, puts crime where it belongs and somehow moderates expenses, because I'd like to see Bermuda again, especially the way it was several years ago.

PAUL E. POLESKI

New York

New tune, old song

July 17, 2002

Dear Sir,

My dad and uncle used to sing "Bermuda is Another World" to the tourists in the hotels in the 70's and 80's. I used to love staying up late and listening to them sing the words of this song.

But turn around, I'll tell you why, Bermuda is another world now: If you were sitting on your bike stationery, and were hit from behind, and the people that hit you (that, by the way, were half your age and fellow Bermudians) did not get out of their car, or cordially inquire if you were OK as you lay on the road, but continued their conversation on their cell phone, and drank their soda, would you think Bermuda was another world?

If the insurance company told you that you had to call the person yourself that hit you, and who did not get out of their car, that continued their conversation on their cell and drank their soda as you lay in the road, to ask them: "Please, please go into the insurance company and file a report, so I can get my bike fixed", or else (as the insurance company tells you) you could pay for it yourself, even though you were hit from behind, while sitting stationery on your bike (you know the rest by now).

Would you think Bermuda was another world? And if the bike mechanic place tells you it will cost you $35 for an estimate if you pay for the repairs out of your own pocket, but it would cost the insurance company $0 for the estimate if you decide to use the insurance company (where you have to claim off your own policy, lose your no claims discount, and pay for the first $100 yourself anyway... because you cannot get in touch with the person that hit you from behind, while sitting on your bike stationery, that they did not get out of their car, and continued to talk on their cell phone drinking their soda, that the insurance company told you YOU had to call in the first place), would you think Bermuda is another world?

Oh, by the way for those of you that do not know, if you want an estimate on your car or truck, you can get it free of charge, just drive in with your car or truck and they'll do it for you as you wait, but if you want an estimate on your bike from the same company, it will cost you $35, but that's only because that's the way the policy has always been. Ridiculous!

My one thanks in all this is that the people that hit me did not attempt to snatch my handbag and make off, as another fellow Bermudian did so not so long ago. My years at M.S.A. taught me it is grammatically incorrect to read between the lines. In this Bermuda World now, it is imperative to do so.

Bermuda is Another World. Boy, I remember when I used to like that song.

OFF THE ROAD

Smith's Parish

Simple theatre etiquette

July 19, 2002

Dear Sir,

I, like most of you (I think), love going to the movies. I love the smell of popcorn; the level of chatter while waiting for the movie to start (you hear the most interesting conversations); the coming attractions (I know, some people hate them); and I love sitting back and getting lost in a story and losing the sense of being in a room with a bunch of people I don't know.

Sadly, however, my enjoyment, and I know that of others, is being irritatingly compromised by ill-mannered, discourteous and downright boorish behaviour of what seems to be lately, a majority of moviegoers. And to those louts, I have a few rules that are, for most of us, matters of simple courtesy but for you, well, you seem to be a few steps behind.

1. Turn your cell phone off before you come into the theatre.

2. Don't belch... it's just crude.

3. If you absolutely must go to the bathroom, at least make an effort to "keep your head down".

4. Leave the cellophane wrapped candies and bags at home. Or at the very least, open them during the car chase not during the love scene.

5. The seat in front of you is not for kicking or pushing.

6. A lapse in dialogue on the screen is not your cue to continue the conversation you started before the movie began. Bottom line is STOP TALKING DURING THE MOVIE!!!

Please, it's really quite simple... a little courtesy and respect for your fellow moviegoers.

R. STEPHEN

City of Hamilton

Roads scholar sidelined

July 19, 2002

Dear Sir,

For what it's worth - and while I'm still reeling with astonishment at the total indifference shown, I wish to submit the following.

A few months ago I read that there was a three month waiting list for a driving test. As I am facing that dreaded seventieth birthday, I attempted to make an appointment at TCD for a road test in late October, believing three and a half months to be sufficient time to be fitted in. I requested a road test, rather than backing through the cones which I am told is my right.

I was told that there were no appointments available in October ...full stop. When asked when the first available time slot was, I was told November 14. So now we are up to a four month wait?

With my limited intelligence, I see a problem here. With my limited intelligence I also see a solution. Why can't they?

L.M.B.

Warwick

Thanks for the service

July 15, 2002

Dear Sir,

I am writing to acknowledge the men and women who respond to local 911 calls. I am eternally grateful for the patience, efficiency and professionalism that they have given me during my difficult times over the last three months.

ALICE OSMOND

St. George's

I see it coming

July 9, 2002

Dear Sir,

Dateline: The Royal Gazette, July 15, 2005

'Bermuda dollar reaches all time low... trading at 62 cents against the US dollar."

"Rumours that Bermuda is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACE Ltd have been rigorously denied by Master of The Universe, Brian Duperrault"

Studio apartments now collect US $3,500 [BD$4,830] a month". 'Thank God for my US$15,000 a month housing allowance' says Biff of General Re:

"Average Bermudian now working two jobs a day to keep afloat"

"Lack of tourists put 3,000 onto the job market"

"Price of gas and lack of jobs has eased traffic congestion" says a jubilant Dr. Ewart Brown"

"GPS no longer an issue with only 12 taxis on the road"

"Caricom considers loans to BDA Government as Premier Smith & General Burch leave tomorrow for meetings with IMF"

"Record number of Bermudians emigrated last year. Figures expected to rise this year"

"David Allen is 'guardedly optimistic' about tourist arrivals from Iceland"

"Tom Wadson awarded concession to convert Port Royal golf course to arable land"

"Former political party UBP goes into liquidation"

Far fetched, Mr. Editor, I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine. Perhaps, we should ask Sir John Swan.

WANDERING & WONDERING

Southampton