June 16, 2005

Dear Sir,

It takes a long time to earn credibility, especially in the media, and once lost it takes even longer to re-earn.

You have run a short story in today's Royal Gazette with the headline “They are paid too much already, say the public”.

This result we learn is gleaned from a Royal Gazette online unscientific poll in which respondents were asked if they thought politicians in Bermuda were paid too much, or if they were paid enough, or if they were not paid enough.

To ask the general public such questions without telling them what the job of a politician entails is grossly unfair. And without such information you and I know the answer is predictable. Most people will think politicians are overpaid which, not surprising, is the result of your unscientific survey. But the worse is yet to come.

Suddenly what was an unscientific survey takes on the cloak of a scientific survey and is now being used to contradict the views of the Premier regarding politicians pay and influence the minds of the public unfairly on a very important subject. “They are paid too much already, say public”. Which public? Surely you cannot regard such journalistic tactics as fair. This sought of unscientific survey is being used more and more frequently in the media to influence the public. I am very sorry to see The Royal Gazette succumb to that level of reporting.

THE HON. QUINTON L. EDNESS

June 26, 2005

Dear Sir,

My daughters Karen and Jenna and Karen's husband Michael have just returned to Ireland from a short holiday in your beautiful country where they were visiting my other daughter Lynn who works in Bermuda.

They have being telling me of the wonderful hospitality they received wherever they went. If a country is judged by its people, yours is exceptional. According to them you have a great heritage, a high standard of living and an incomparable natural beauty on your Island. They swam with dolphins, hired a boat for a day and visited all your lovely beaches.

My wife Rita and I would like to thank your people for being so kind. My wife and I now hope to visit your country and my daughter in the near future. Thank you once again.

HUGH GAMBLE

Dublin, Ireland

June 15, 2005

Dear Sir,

A view from Stateside. I have been at least annually visiting Bermuda since 1963 and worked in Bermuda in the early 70s and have been increasingly concerned about the so-called “push for Independence”.

Bermuda is unique in beauty, friendliness and standard of living which is very high. The squeeze on the middle class is increasing. The rich get richer and the poor are multiplying, but that is the same situation which exists in the US the UK and most everywhere else in the civilised world. Independence from Britain will not solve the internal economic problems and the constantly contentious and self-serving political parties appear to care as little as the politicians in the US for anything but themselves.

A Minister has pointed to the terrible situation which occurred in Haiti upon independence from France which continues to this day. But a closer example would be Jamaica or the Bahamas. After independence from Britian, the Manley and Seaga governments literally destroyed the economy of Jamaica and she is not the beautiful island she once was and may never be again. The Bahamas is just a disaster - period. The well-to-do do not vacation there and unlike Jamaica, the Bahamas have no natural resources.

We do visit often, appreciate that Bermuda is not the trashy, tacky, crime-ridden, disorganised mess that most Caribbean islands are. Look to your financial and economic future. Keep a close eye on your greedy politicians - always question their motives. Closely examine what would be lost upon “independence.”

MYRA K. MERCIER