Bank officers colluding?

January 8, 2004

Dear Sir,

Having followed the unfolding saga of the Bank deal, a most surprising facet has convinced me that "Bermuda is Another World". (See story in of January 7, 2004)

An old-world description of the situation here comes to mind. "Making the goat the gardener" is an appropriate term for bank officers as directors/administrators of the Bank of Bermuda Foundation.

Since all these individuals are going to benefit personally from the sale to HSBC, they should not be in a position to vote for or against the sale of shares vested in the Foundation. I may be old-fashioned, but it sounds like collusion in the classic sense.

While on the subject of the bank sale, there is at least one other item which should be addressed and incorporated in the sale contract. Many international services and corporations may have their offices in one country, but they hire inexpensive labour in India, Pakistan or China to answer customer phone calls from e.g. Europe or North America.

This may mean the loss of many more positions currently providing jobs to many locals.

More CableVision madness

January 14, 2004

Dear Sir,

I have just gotten off holding for eight minutes with the CableVision switchboard.

Unable to get a human, I stupidly resorted to the "answering service". Of course there is no room in their "mailbox".

We have been without cable since the electrical storm in the early hours of August 23. We reported the outage the next Monday. And the next day. And the next. And e-mailed. And phoned again. We live within a mile from CV head office. One hundred and forty four days later (Tuesday, January 13), we finally received cable.

It took the technician five minutes to reconnect the loose wire. The day after, it was disconnected due to 144 days of unpaid bills.

They seem to think it unfair that I have refused to pay for not getting cable. My girlfriend finally got through to them today, the day after it was disconnected, and explained the situation. The operator on the end of the phone replied ? "so what's your query?"

After explaining again, it became apparent that we would have to pay for the period between our outage and Hurricane Fabian, as no-one seemed able to authorise our cable to be turned back on, and our bill reset to the actual outage date. The operator then avoided any further discussion by putting my girlfriend through to the "answering service" despite all attempts at conversation.

CableVision, I am visiting you tomorrow with our cable box. Not only is it ugly and outdated, but is taking up valuable space on my TV, a space much better suited to next month's new member of the family: A WOW receiver.

Justice well served

January 18, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am compelled to write a few lines, about my positive experience with the Bermuda judicial system.

I am an expatriate from the US, and was a plaintiff in an action to recoup monetary security wrongly withheld at the end of my tenancy by an ex-landlord. The venue was Magistrates' Court presided over by Magistrate King. Not being a citizen of Bermuda, and unfamiliar with its justice system, I was nervous about what to expect. However, when the trial concluded, I was awarded judgment for full return of my security as well as costs.

In addition I found Magistrate King to be an experienced, knowledgeable judge, with two goals in mind, to find the truth and fairness. I represented myself at the trial. The defendants choose to be represented by an attorney.

Magistrate King, knowing I was not an attorney, kept me centred by explaining court procedure and motions when necessary. He also picked up on my cross-examination of the defendant and witness, and inquired of them information I failed to ask.

I must add that in addition to being professional and astute, Magistrate King added a lighter touch to the proceedings at times, by interjecting anecdotes, and insights relevant to the case.

In conclusion, I would encourage anyone who feels that they have been wronged and has exhausted normal communications to resolve the matter, to use Bermuda's judicial resources. They have helped and guided me to winning my case.

Bermuda? Or Manhattan?

January 15, 2004

Dear Sir,

We were deeply saddened recently to hear of the plans to convert Newstead.

The last two years we have stayed at Newstead and we were looking forward to returning in March. For some time we have been hearing that the business and insurance interests have been crowding out the tourist interests in Bermuda and the Newstead conversion seems another step in that direction.

During our recent visits we have felt the atmospheric effects of this evolution, from the formerly pleasant vacation atmosphere that we loved and enjoyed for so many years to the now more serious atmosphere created by the business people who seem to be everywhere. It was more like visiting downtown Manhattan than lovely Bermuda. We hope that Bermuda will not be irrevocably altered by this current wave of business interests and business conversions. The business world is always changing in every way and the lure of business to Bermuda today could be gone tomorrow.

If the current business trend should go away, I imagine it would be very difficult to convert Newstead back to the lovely small hotel that has served its devoted guests for so many years. We will say a prayer for Newstead and the lovely island of Bermuda.

GEORGE HEFFERAN

South Casco, Maine

To Sunday shop or not...

January 13, 2004

Dear Sir,

In your editorial today, you state, and I quote, "And perhaps, sadly, a large number of visitors... want Sunday shopping". On checking with the Ministry of Tourism, their current Exit Survey does not contain a question on Sunday shopping. Nor has this issue been raised to any degree in the open-ended questions on the survey. Indeed, the Ministry is unaware of any studies ever being conducted on Sunday shopping.

Thus, there exists no body of evidence to suggest that visitors want Sunday shopping or, for that matter, that they don't want Sunday shopping.

With regards to the increase in flights by US Airways, you caution Bermuda about being to heavily dependent on one airline. Under normal circumstances, this is something to avoid. However, in the current economic climate in which airlines operate, I suspect that there are not too many airlines that would want to increase seat capacity to destinations like Bermuda since the bed capacity has been falling for a number of years.

Given that US Airways is bold enough to increase capacity to Bermuda, I don't think that the extra capacity should be declined on the basis that it places US Airways in a position of dominance. Bermuda did in fact learn a valuable lesson back in the late 80s when Eastern Airlines went bankrupt. However, by 1991, when Pan Am went bankrupt, Bermuda had learned its lesson and the impact of the loss seats to the Island was minimal.

In our present situation, we have no choice but to accept the generosity of US Airways ? unless of course Air Bermuda comes to our rescue!

CORDELL W. RILEY

City of Hamilton

Defending the Panto

January 10, 2004

Dear Sir,

My letter is in response to "Panto was perverted."

As a practising Christian myself, my parents have brought me up to live by my faith and most importantly love God and his creations. God loves everyone no matter what colour, race, gender, creed or sexuality they choose to practice. If you want to live by the bible then you should be guided by the Commandments that God gave us. Jesus told us that the greatest commandment was: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself." Are you attempting to teach my generation and others to be disgusted with what God has created?

I've been in three pantomimes and I can tell you that role reversals occurred in all of them. Role reversals are not attempts to convince the world that homosexuality is okay! They are merely attempts to get a friendly laugh out of the audience. It is meant to be enjoyable. I don't understand how you can observe this and criticize it so harshly. If your comments were intended to be protective of your children perhaps you should do some background research on the annual pantomime before blaming others for corrupting today's society. Who says that Polly the Trolley and Prince Rupert are portraying homosexuals? Prince Rupert was disguised to look like a man. This was only a show, a satire of a fairytale. I will agree that it appeared twisted, but isn't that what Pantomimes intend? Aren't we reading a bit too deeply into this harmless, fun experience? Reflecting back on my years at BHS, taking part in theatrical productions, many of my peers had to play male roles and are to be commended for it because it is so difficult. Does this say that these girls are homosexuals? I think not!

As others have said in previous letters, in the time of Shakespeare, it was traditional for men to play female roles and it was considered humorous. A Pantomime is simply a continuation of the practice that took place years ago in British theatre, during a time when women were banned from acting on stage.

The Pantomime is meant to be fun for "children" of ALL ages. If you feel this kind of humour is wrong then you are welcome to your opinion and you have the right to not involve your family. However, don't attack the Producers, Directors, Cast and Crew who worked so hard for months to make this show a success. That in my opinion is what's wrong!