June 13, 2003

Dear Sir,

We would like to praise one of your Island's taxi driver, a Mr. Phillip Galloway.

We were not aware that you could only use coins on your buses, so we went into Traditional's Restaurant to acquire the coins, when a gentleman kindly offered us a free ride to the swimming bay we were headed for.

We cannot thank him enough for the wonderful gesture. He is a treasure to your Island.

MARIA MARINO

London, UK

June 18, 2003

Dear Sir,

Once again advocates of independence are jumping up and down. All I can say is “Are they out of their minds?”

The only reasons to go independent are if there is a really good reason or if there is a real advantage. As far as I can see there is neither.

Right now we enjoy the best of both worlds. We are self governing and have Great Britain to take care of security, defence and foreign affairs. We can now live and work anywhere in Great Britain or Europe - if we wish.

This is a great opportunity for our young people particularly. They can study and get work experience and are not restricted in their field of study and occupation which they are if the only country they can work in is Bermuda.

We only have tourism and international business as sources of income. Tourism can disappear overnight. It has been declining for years, mostly because of competition. Every country in the world is vying for tourists and look what can happen.

For example, consider what SARS did to Hong Kong, Toronto etc.. Look what the Iraq war has done to countries in that area. Egypt's tourism is down 90 percent (Conde Nast, June edition).

Similar figures apply to many other countries. International business will not be with us indefinitely. Even now it is getting assaulted, especially by the United States. Competition, tax changes etc. could wipe out this source of income. Sooner or later it will go.

I have lived in countries that went independent and watched what could only be described as devastation. After the flag waving came the power struggles, then came the devaluation of the currency etc. Could we in Bermuda survive devaluation of our money. We cannot even feed ourselves. We have no natural resources. Everything we have to import. Could we afford everything to cost twice as much. Even necessities such as food could double in price.

How many islands in the Caribbean are presently flourishing since independence? How many African countries? Every day there are reports of civil war, massacres, ethnic cleansing, starvation etc. Look what tyrants, despots, etc. have been doing over there.

We are a tiny isolated Island that is completely dependent for everything and that will never change. What happens if some time in the future we have a devastating hurricane or even a huge tidal wave which could happen. An underground earthquake can cause a huge wave that can travel at hundreds of miles an hour. Britain is pouring tens of millions of pounds every year into Montserrat following the volcano eruptions. Could we expect that sort of help if we were independent?

I may sound like I am full of doom and gloom. Could things fall apart for us? Who knows? Why take the risk? The benefits of independence are minimal, the risks enormous.

Something else to consider. If we were independent, the USA could impose sanctions or even an embargo on us if they got upset enough about our approach to taxes, interest in Cuba etc. They would never do such a thing as we under the umbrella of their close ally, Great Britain.

If you have not read it already I recommend you read Charles Barclay's article “Bermuda's Survival” in the June 13 edition of The Bermuda Sun.

Normally I would not give a second thought about signing my name but I really don't fancy getting phone calls from fanatics and there are some out there.

DON'T KNOCK A GOOD THING

Southampton

June 14, 2003

Dear Sir,

I thank the Premier of Bermuda for bringing the focus of the Government (that includes the Opposition) back to the business of Bermuda by calling an election.

For a while at least, we can allow the United States of America to deal with their enemies-of-choice without feeling they enemy is my enemy. I was beginning to think we were following Briton Tony Blair's lead in becoming another “state in the union”.

To my knowledge, Bermuda does not engage in hostilities with Cuba. Bermuda has not placed a trade embargo on Cuba. Bermuda does not maintain a military base in Cuba. Bermudians have not been banned from travel to Cuba. Bermudians have not been banned from conducting business in Cuban soil. Why then, is there so much kissing-up by some Bermuda politicians on the subject of Cuba, to an employee of the Government of the United States of America, who occupies an office and a portion of the sidewalk on Middle Road in Devonshire, Bermuda?

Now, perhaps those idle politicians can focus on the promises to Bermudian voters that secured their jobs in the House of Parliament. They can pay attention to the needs of Bermudians, honestly represent their constituents and politely tell guests and friends of Bermuda to mind their own business whilst we mind our own business! Friends will not be offended!

N.B. The Cuban president, Fidel Castro is not the only president who is aware of people imprisoned in Cuba without the benefit of legal representation! Human Rights Groups, Amnesty International , Anybody, where art thou? Why the double standards?

NO POLITICKS, TRUE FRIEND

Warwick