November 29, 2006

Dear Sir,

As I read and listen to the current debate on ?The Term Limits Policy?, I believe that people of Bermuda are forgetting the reason this policy was established in the first place.

If my memory serves me correctly, this policy was put in place to ensure that non-Bermudians who are working here in Bermuda on a work permit don?t grow grass under their feet, and than in ten to 20 years later, after working here in Bermuda, get upset when they are told that they have to leave, for whatever reason.

This policy was put in to place so that the non-Bermudians would not have after working here in Bermuda for a number of years, an unrealistic expectation of permanent residence, an automatic right to citizenship or Bermudian status, as was the plight of the Portuguese guest workers of the 1980?s.

This policy has nothing to do with the PLP versus the UBP, Bermudians versus non-Bermudians, black versus white, the employed versus the unemployed or even the suggestion by some to a totally Bermudianisation of the Bermuda work force.

I believe the reason that certain members of the non-Bermudian community feel so strongly about this issue is because eventually it will affect them. I was always told that, ?a graveyard is full of indispensable people?. I feel that six years is a fair time limit for guest workers. The world is growing every day, and I am sure that we here in Bermuda will have no problem attracting highly qualified guest worker. The key word here is ?GUEST?. Sooner or later guest have to leave. If not after six years, when? No matter what time limit you place on a policy such as this, it?s not enough time.

This policy is no different from other countries like the Caymans, Australia, Canada and others. Let?s move on.

What?s customer service?

November 27, 2006

Dear Sir

I am getting extremely annoyed about the deficiencies of customer service in Bermuda.

There is a total lack of responsibility from some management teams to ensure that customers are satisfied with the services offered.

CableVision is still suffering from the pains of the past, with contracted services not delivered and promised return telephone calls and e-mails not materialising in a timely fashion.

The Bermuda Electric Light Company has not had a website fully functional for a number of months, causing potential loss of promised discounts.

The Bank of Bermuda has created a nightmare scenario with the introduction of their new banking cards with extremely long wait lines and insufficient new deposit/withdrawal forms. The Bank of Bermuda online transactions are not carried out promptly when customers are attempting to pay online merchants.

When their telephone lines are out of order, The Bermuda Telephone Company is charging exorbitant fees for a repairman?s services.

The Bermuda Broadcasting Company seems to have no regard for promptness with their daily news casts.

HWP Group charge excessive rates for regular car maintenance and lose repaired cars in their parking lots.

Cycles International performs a full service on a motorcycle but does not necessarily check the battery water and then refuses continued repair to the motorcycle because the cycle has an installed alarm system.

Eve?s Cycle Livery refuses to return telephone calls, faxes and e-mails to resolve payments for damages caused following an accident by one of their clients.

Frequently managers do not even have the courtesy to respond to letters of complaints from customers.

As I am truly puzzled, can someone explain to me the actual philosophy of customer service as it relates to the Island of Bermuda and why Bermudians continue to accept this deficient service?

Don?t be fooled

November 29, 2006

Dear Sir,

The reason that Bermudians will not be granted British citizenship after Independence is simple. The day that Bermuda becomes independent, Bermudians will join a group, citizens of former British colonies, that literally numbers in the hundreds of millions. Think Hong Kong, the African colonies, the West Indian colonies and India, to name a few.

No matter how special we think we are, the British government will never set a precedent that will create the possibility for any of those other hundreds of millions to seek British citizenship for themselves.

Be nice to our guests

November 21, 2006

Dear Sir,

It has been reported in The Royal Gazette today that the Democrats would like to put a stop to the tax-free arrangement that companies have in Bermuda. It is felt that it is unethical for American reinsurance companies to avoid their tax responsibilities by setting up tax shelters in Bermuda.

I only hope that the PLP Government will read and understand the ramifications of even a small exodus of companies from Bermuda. However, I doubt very much whether anyone in the PLP is at all concerned with this potential catastrophe.

On the front page, we have Mr. Derrick Burgess suggesting a minimum wage of not less that than $18 per hour, when the minimum wage in the USA is $5.30. Does Mr. Burgess have any idea at all what this will do to businesses? Does he understand the way a business works? Isn?t he content with having destroyed the hotel industry in Bermuda and the subsequent closing of 47 hotel/cottage colonies/guest house properties since 1975? Now he wants to close down any remaining businesses. the sad thing about this is that he simply doesn?t understand and his intentions are the best for the workers. However, what good will it do if he once again kills the goose that lays the golden egg. I beg Mr. Burgess to stop and consider how the hotel industry was slowly destroyed by untenable Union demands.

Then we have our new Premier suggesting a four-day PLP gala fund-raiser. Sounds wonderful, but isn?t this supposed to be Socialist Government? What does the Premier think about changing the law so that $18.00 an hour is the minimum wage?

My main purpose in writing is my fear that the offshore companies may leave. Frankly, this Government should be trying to work with them - rather than against them. Immigration restrictions is a big problem, as well as the six-year term recently implemented. I am sure the companies would prefer to be here - even with our high cost of living - but we need to be trying to make life easier for them; otherwise, when the Democrats get their way, the companies may be so sick and tired of the treatment they have received in Bermuda, they may be quite happy just to leave. Is this what the PLP Government really want?

ANTONY SIESE

City of Hamilton

Where are the wardens?

November 15, 2006

THE BUSINESS AND STORE OWNERS LOCATED IN THIS AREA

City of Hamilton