January 5, 2002

Dear Sir,

Congratulations on your editorial of January 3 regarding the growing divisions between workers in international businesses, and workers in local businesses, both blue and white collar, and the tourism sector. You deserve credit for having the courage to address such a sensitive subject. It is however a subject that needs extensive and honest discussion, as to how we can prevent these divisions becoming even more pronounced and dangerous than they already are.

I believe that this, and the related issue of overpopulation, are the most important issues facing Bermuda in the early part of this decade. I also believe that you are absolutely correct that we cannot afford to write off tourism. Quite apart from the fact that it is still our biggest employer, many tourism staff, although excellent workers, may not be equipped to work in many other sectors.

However I feel that I must take issue where you state that the Island is more successful than ever...", then in the next sentence state: "People who are not highly skilled are finding it harder and harder to find adequate housing, to put food on the table and to enjoy a decent lifestyle." I have to question by what definition, ordinary working class people struggling for the bare essentials, can be described as successful.

I also have to question your conclusion that education and training are the answer. I believe that they may be a part of the answer, but do not agree that they are the total answer because:

(a) As you state a sous chef cannot become an underwriter overnight. But, in my opinion most sous chefs will never become underwriters. They simply do not possess the qualifications needed to even start on that career path, and cannot obtain them in Bermuda.

(b) Many people are not capable of being trained to the required level due to a number of reasons including lack of intellectual capacity, low public education standards, poor social conditions etc.

(c) International business still only employs approximately 3,000 people out of a total work force of roughly 38,000. There are simply not enough jobs in that sector to employ everybody. Even if there were, who would do the local service jobs? We cannot simply keep on importing labour. We are already one of the most densely populated places on earth. Yes, let us educate and train Bermudians for all the international business jobs that are available, but let's not pretend that all Bermudians can work in international business.

However, if international companies wish to pay salaries which are way over the market rates for the rest of the Island's industry, there is very little that we can do to stop them. A very progressive system of taxation would ensure that most of the money is retained by our Government in the short term, but would also drive the companies to alternative jurisdictions in the medium to long term.

Just as important as international business causing divisions within our society is the issue of overpopulation, which is the major contributor to the high housing costs that have such a devastating impact on our lower paid workers. More and more demand for a fixed supply of accommodation is merely driving rents in an ever increasing spiral. At the same time it appears that we have increased numbers of foreign workers in the lesser paid jobs, most recently from the Asian continent.

They of course, are also competing for what little reasonably priced housing does exist. Also in this volatile equation are the huge housing allowances which international businesses pay to their employees, that can be up to $5,000 to $10,000 per month. This type of money being forced into a tight housing market can only result in increased rents at all levels of the market. These in fact may have more impact on the lower paid workers than anything else.

We cannot simply keep increasing housing costs, then labour costs to pay for them, as to do so just makes us less and less able to compete in the tourism market. Unless this whole situation is addressed in depth we could indeed face grim times ahead.

NOT OPTIMISTIC

Warwick

January 8, 2002

Dear Sir,

A rather unusual event happened in the House of Assembly several sessions before the Christmas recess that for some reason failed to get reported in the media. A relative of mine was visiting Bermuda and she and her friends decided to visit the "House" during one of its sessions. At the beginning of the session a whole lot of "toing and froing" occurred during a presentation to the House by Dame Lois of her biography written by Mr. Randy Williams. Mr. Williams had come to the House to be present for the presentation and Dame Lois was insisting that he be allowed on the floor of the House during the presentation. Unfortunately Mr. Williams was not dressed in a jacket and tie as is required by the rules of the House and the Speaker was regretfully refusing Mr. Williams access to the House floor. That action of course raised Dame Lois' hackles and she was arguing strongly that he should be allowed to be part of the presentation.

While everyone was occupied by the dispute, one of the members of the Opposition, Mr. Allan Marshall quietly left his seat, went into the visitors gallery, took of his jacket and tie and offered them to Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams accepted and Mr. Marshall assisted him in getting his tie tied and then sat down in the Visitors Gallery since he was no longer appropriately dressed for the floor of the House.

By the time the Speaker and the other Members had noticed Mr. Marshall's actions and Mr. Williams was invited onto the floor of the House to be a part of the presentation. Good sense finally prevailed when the Speaker invited Mr. Marshall to return to his seat on the floor of the House during the presentation despite his tieless and jacketless condition. We hear so much of the growing incivility that goes on in our political forums that it is good to her that not all that goes on in the House and the Senate is marked by anger, bad will and downright rudeness. My hat goes off to Mr. Marshall. Let's hope that his small gesture of common sense and civility is picked up and copied by other members of the House and Senate in the future.

ALASTAIR MACDONALD

City of Hamilton