December 6, 2005

Dear Sir,

After reading the first two articles in your ?Hell in Paradise? series, I?m still not sure what the Hell you?re referring to is.

While at first glance it would seem that you?re talking about the so-called plague of drugs but a more thorough investigation reveals something different.

Surely the Hell you?re speaking of is the fact that we do not have democracy in Bermuda. In the first article, it was reported that if 75 percent of inmates tested positive for illicit substances, we could infer similar user rates among the general population.

To look at another issue: Your newspaper has taken the correct stance that if 40 percent of the population has demanded a referendum on the subject of Independence, we must have one in the spirit of democracy.

So let?s say that drug user rates in general are only half what they are in prison. That still makes 35 percent of the general public using drugs. Clearly, if we do not have a referendum on the subject of decriminalising recreational drugs, the Hell in Paradise is our fascist and draconian judicial system.

BINGO BOB

Pembroke

Small-minded behaviour

December 12, 2005

Dear Sir,

I wrote once before on behalf of Sean O'Connell and the lack of respect and consideration he received after years of devoted service from the College. I tried to highlight the lack of thought for the students at Bermuda College. Here we are again.

The important thing is that the students like Gina. She did an excellent job and was an inspiration for any young Bermudian.

Years ago, Walton Brown was given a free rein when teaching students in his Political Science lectures. Now the assumption is that the students are too stupid to make up their own minds about where they stand and that they might be influenced to change their political preference by one person's personality.

The administration at the College would do well to lead by example. At the moment the Board of Governors' example is suspect. In this world one needs flexibility but no, Bermuda College could not allow anyone to be different. This Island is so small. Do we have to behave in such a small-minded way? No wonder some of our best brains decide not to come back.

FRAN HINTON

Pembroke

Why tourism is failing

December 7, 2005

Dear Sir,

Let me start with the end of Gene Steede?s letter to the editor of December 6, 2005.

I have vigorously supported the arts all my life and still do. So be corrected on that, my friend.

Between my father Terry Brannon and me, we brought more entertainers to Bermuda than anyone in the history of the local entertainment industry and indeed have hired more locals than anyone else in Bermuda. My record speaks clearly. The work I have accomplished in entertainment so far in Bermuda is there for all who care to acknowledge it.

As for who was responsible for the entertainment industry fading into obscurity, Gene Steede has a short sighted view. He even said his job at the airport was ?created? in response to the hotels slowing down.

Tourism, Mr. Steede, and its failure under both the UBP and even more so under the PLP, has caused Bermuda to be basically the deadest island known to man.

There is at best a five-month season. There are no nightclubs left that feature good live shows. There are no nightclubs in the hotels. The Fairmont chain has cut it all out. The Government, Mr. Steede, continue to lead us in to the darkest of ages. The Premier refuses to budge by giving Bermuda hotels the way out to provide good entertainment and make profits again by refusing to allow Casinos here. No wonder cruise ships rule the roost in tourism these days.

Until that day happens, the party is over. If I thought the 40 Thieves or any club could be viable in Bermuda I would open one?but this is not the case.

You, Mr. Steede, have a very short memory because it was you I met in none other than Minister Ewart Brown?s house over a year ago when I said that the airport entertainment programme was a waste of your talent and indeed the taxpayers? dollars.

Now that we know that Government created your job since the private sector couldn?t financially support you and others ? maybe I will go to the Government for a handout next week, now that Hawkins Island is closed for the winter !

Mr. Steede you missed my point at that meeting. I never ever said that you should lose your ?Government Sponsored? job, but that the money would be better spent having you perform where the visitors could truly appreciate you. I suggested the town square in St. George?s or the Dockyard.

I can tell you, Mr. Steede, many of my fellow entertainers totally agree with me.

If you indeed are a National Treasure then you are not playing in a place fitting for one. I agree I was insensitive referring to anyone as ?Ageing Calypsonians? and for that I again apologise. I will for the public record state that I called you personally to apologise and you refused to acknowledge my apology. I am a man, Mr. Steede and real men apologise. Enough said?

As for my personal belief that I would rather hang myself than end my playing days at the airport, of that I still feel sure. If you want to play at my funeral that would be an honour, but I plan to be around a while!

Gene: I hope you and the rest of Bermuda get your heads out of the sand and realise that Government has let you down by having no plan for the revival of Bermuda Tourism and the blame can be laid evenly across the political spectrum. It is the Government who has created nothing, who builds nothing, and refuses to listen to Bermudians and voters who know how to revive Bermuda.

It is the PLP who have chased tourism to new lows since 1998 under the leadership of David Allen, Renee Webb and while Ewart Brown maybe known as the man who gets things done; he will fail in tourism because of the Premier?s stance on Casinos and the loosening up of this island. Whilst P is so preoccupied with becoming Prime Minister, tourism will continue to fail.

In closing until the people of Bermuda vote this Government out at the next election there isn?t much hope for any of the entertainers in Bermuda ever seeing a rebirth of entertainment.

By the way did you notice another hotel closed its doors to tourists this week? Wake up.

TONY BRANNON

Director of Entertainment

Hawkins Island

A note of thanks

December 2, 2005

Dear Sir,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank those who assisted in the Interfaith Service on the 50th Anniversary of the Stand taken by Rosa Parks, which was held at the Cathedral on December 1, 2005 which turned out to be a magical event. First , we thank the principals and staff of all the island?s senior schools for their generous cooperation during such a challenging time of the year. Those students who performed acquitted themselves in a way that reflected most positively on themselves and each and every one of the schools. We must also thank the Cathedral for hosting the service as well as the clergy involved; including Canon Jeffrey Smith, Rev. Lorne Bean, Bishop Robert Kurtz and Bishop Vernon Lambe.

We also appreciated the role played by the Minster, the Hon. Dale Butler and the Shadow Minister, the Hon. David Dodwell. We also thank the Bermuda Press, A.F. Smith?s and the Bermuda Industrial Union?s Publishing Department. Special assistance was provided by the Chamber of Commerce, Charles Gosling and Michael Charles. This event proved to be a little different. The mood was set by the piano stylings of Steven Manders of the Bermuda Institute. When the Saltus Brass Ensemble followed the Opening Prayer with a rendition of the iconic song, We Shall Overcome, they did it in such a way as to break the mould that we all recall and tested their own technique with different harmonies that spoke to the bitter/sweet memories the tune brought up.

That set the stage for the readings; one form Uthmani Talbot of the Berkeley and the Islamic community who gave an account of our own Progressive Group, highlighting Rosalind Williams. Chantyl Johansen of CedarBridge and Lizzie Thompson of BHS offered an overview of Rosa Parks? demonstration of the power of one. Also from BHS, Kelsey Peek Ball ? of the Bahai Community, offered a soulful slant on a classical tune. Another violinist was Devin MacCallum of Mount Saint Agnes, who gave a classic hymn, a folksy slant. Included in this mix was the Berkeley Choir which provided a unique offering of Bob Marley?s Redemption Song which saw new life flow from an old standard.

In fact, that sums it up; those performing were able to take on something that had been passed to them from yesterday and were able to imagine something new, something that reflected themselves as they are today. And it is for that, that we reserve the biggest thanks. It was evident to all in the Cathedral that they were bearing witness to an inspired event. One might even dare to say that Rosalind and Rosa paid us a visit.

GLENN FUBLER

For the Steering Committee of Imagine Bermuda 2009

Where will it end?

December 3, 2005

Dear Sir,

The Bermuda Customs is in an impossible position at best, but it seems to grab every opportunity to make it worse. The question is whether the cumbersome effort to shake down individuals yields enough revenue to support the massive manpower committed to it, plus the cost of space, transport, employment benefits, vacations, supervision, uniforms and whatnot required to keep the whole wretched impedimenta of tiered obstruction grinding along. Compared to everywhere else we?ve travelled, the process is supremely cumbersome, time-wasting, and an irritating welcome-home to residents. It must be a source of amazement to visitors.

Now, here we have Customs announcing that if you buy 15 outfits to travel with, you had better have receipts to get the stuff back in. Is this tacit permission to import up to 14 outfits without declaring them? What constitutes an ?outfit? anyway? How can Customs advise 14 outfits is the cut-off when in fact a single button off any one of them is (ridiculously) dutiable? When travelling, if my wife and I take along clothing several years old, of long forgotten origin. Are we now liable, on someone?s whim, to pay duty on each item, each time, if we don?t still have the local receipts ? which of course are long lost?

Now, like most people, I take a laptop with me in hopes of e-mail and reading the Gazette online to stay in touch with this increasingly farcical jurisdiction. It is now maybe four years old, bought from some supplier in Hamilton. I have no idea where the receipt now is. Most business people carry laptops around in the way they used to carry brief cases. Do Customs check every one to see if there are receipts to prove where they were bought? Should all these people line up at the Customs in Hamilton to have their laptops? serial numbers listed? How totally ridiculous in this electronic age!

How about wristwatches? Does everyone have a receipt for each watch they have? The statistics suggest that more or less every resident of Bermuda travels at least once a year. This means, to get started, say 70,000 people lining up for paperwork at Customs to get a bit of paper for each watch they own. Assuming this paperwork takes 15 minutes for each queuer-upper, that?s 17,500 Customs man-hours that could be better spent going after drug dealers. If it takes the long suffering resident ? of an hour lining up waiting, 15 minutes on the paperwork and an hour getting there and back (not counting the parking ticket) this is 140,000 resident-hours wasted that could be spent earning money to pay, say Customs Duty, and, 8 times that wasted by the Customs itself.

My wife has a wedding and engagement ring of considerable age that she always wears, bought years ago in Triminghams. Does the Customs mean that these must be either provided with a receipt by Triminghams (sadly impossible) or somehow recorded in one of the Customs Offices during regularly scheduled operating hours? (? ?Ring; 1, Round, Finger for the Use Of, Shiny yellow, Clear Stone One Side. Note: looks no different from thousands of others seen.?). Jewellery is worth even more than watches and hard to differentiate even with photo copies. How does Customs intend to deal with this conundrum? Suggested solution: Confiscate the lot.

Then we come to the miserable business of the Christmas presents. We came back on a plane with a worried lady whose mother had driven her to Logan Airport, and, when dropping her off, surprise, surprise, presented her at the kerb-side with a small check-through suitcase full of carefully wrapped Christmas presents for her three grandchildren in Bermuda. No one except Granny back in Boston knew what the packages contained ? but without receipts doubtless they were seized. Perhaps they will be recovered when the backlog of ?investigations? (shades of Guant?namo Bay) after January 3 are finished, amongst the Christmas paper and ribbons, after x-raying and valuing for duty Granny?s knitted booties and baby rattles. Happy thought: call up Granny on Christmas day and lie about how happy she?s made the kids.

Clearly, this procedure as a whole is an exercise in forcing people, every time, to sweat out returning to Bermuda, because 99 percent of them will have failed to go through a massive rigmarole of retaining receipts, getting pieces of paper from Customs to be renewed and updated every time a cell phone replacement, pair of glasses, pair of pants, shirt, blouse, gold pen, different watch or piece of jewellery is selected to travel with. In the real and much larger modern world of throwing a few things together and jumping on a plane, matching such things against records from the past is a virtual impossibility and imposition that should be abandoned, the concentration instead focused on drugs. I know that if I was stopped, besides my possessions being obviously elderly like myself, I could never prove any were bought in Bermuda.

GOLD BRAID AND LITTLE TIN GODS

St. George?s

Why not fix it?

December 5, 2005

Dear Sir,

I have two very short comments:

1) Whoever placed the ad about the Missing Police Force hit the nail on the head. Only thing I can think of is that, if there?s nobody out there to catch the lawbreakers then the statistics look a whole lot better. The PLP crime fighting mentality at work.

2) If Jonathan Smith saw the problem, why didn?t he fix it instead of running to the Press when he?s about to leave. Great way to retain your credibility.

CLEMENS OF HANNIBAL, MO.

Southampton

Ageism in our midst

December 7, 2005

Dear Sir,

Having read the various articles on our ?young? Police Commissioner, I am not surprised he is resigning his post! We have racism, sexism and now ageism!

I have for many years had bosses who were younger than I. I have held them in utmost respect for their intelligence, energy and ambition.

How about looking at others as we would like them to look at us? I would not want to be judged on my now older, fatter, less upright appearance, nor my ?senior moments?, any more than a young person wishes to be judged by their inexperience.

Let?s give credit where credit is due. The type of criticism I have been reading in the past few days is not at all constructive, but just plain mean-spirited.

WORKING SENIOR CITIZEN

Pembroke

Too weird to be true

December 5, 2005

Dear Sir,

Bermuda should have its own version of ?Well I Never!?, with all the ignorance that happens here. Some of the stories that pop up in the Bermuda Shorts section, are too weird to be true.

PEMBROKE RESIDENT

Freesia or hibiscus?

December 6, 2005

Dear Sir,

Your article regarding John Lennon?s visit to Bermuda referred to the ?double fantasy? as a freesia. I believe that is actually an hibiscus.

PAULINE DEFONTES

St. David?s