October 23, 2003

Dear Sir,

It is with great concern that I follow the current debate on work permit term limits. We need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of international business finding Bermuda an unfriendly environment and quickly take appropriate action to remove term limits. We are repeatedly told that there are two major partners in our economy - Tourism and International Business - one cannot survive without the other.

Let's face it - tourism has declined so far that if it were not for business visitors and relatives of guest workers it would be in its final death throes. Fabian has given us the chance to see what the tourism industry would be like if international business were to leave - two out of the four remaining major hotels currently shut down. Other properties also closed for renovations. We have people presently being laid off work because of Fabian - what if international business ups and leaves?

Con's: Bermuda would find itself heading into a downward economic spiral with growing unemployment and people losing rental income and defaulting on mortgages. Government would experience rapidly shrinking revenues from import duty, taxation and fees paid by international and local business. Small businesses would close - initially those that serve international business but eventually across the spectrum. The construction industry would collapse. Larger enterprises e.g. banks, utilities and law firms, would reduce in size or go out of business with Government services and employees drastically cut.

Government would be forced to try to make up the short fall with additional taxation i.e. higher payroll (income) tax, larger sin taxes and increased prices for services. Sports and charities would lose sponsorship and donations. Scholarships would evaporate. With rising unemployment, crime would increase dramatically.

We would bring in casinos and huge cruise ships with the resulting damage to our society and the environment and few employment opportunities for locals. Thank goodness for having the right to work abroad in the UK and Europe. We would not be able to afford trips away for other reasons. The reduced working population would be required to support a proportionately larger ageing and unemployed population.

Pro's: Bermudians who have savings in US dollars (the Bermuda dollar would be devalued after all and exchange controls reintroduced) would suddenly have the opportunity to buy up large residences, boats, choice moorings etc. at bargain prices because of departed business executives and locals seeking opportunities abroad. Many of us would sell or downsize to survive.

Pressure on our environment would reduce. Stuart Hayward would be joined on the road by hundreds of cyclists and walkers - not only because they would be free of traffic, but because with wage deflation we could no longer afford the fuel and import duties on cars. Solar water heating would become a necessity to reduce energy bills. Fast ferries would be full of people going to and from town (to look for work and file social assistance claims).

With thousands fewer residents, population control would no longer be a problem and many pollution concerns would go away! Best of all we will have returned Bermuda to Bermudians and won't have to put up with those guest workers who indirectly provide us all with our livelihood! Could all this come about because of term limits on work permits or other unfriendly approaches to international business? Yes I'm afraid so, but then I am optimistic that we can resolve this problem quickly. Are you?

RON LUCAS

Smith's Parish

In defence of pigs

October 23, 2003

Dear Sir,

I suppose Big Bad Wolf imagined his stretch of hog heaven letter to be the height of cleverness and wit and perhaps even entertains wistful imaginings of success within the booming children's literature industry. The Letters to the Editor column has traditionally enabled readers of the Gazette to air their views on the topical issues of the day, with most of the letters being to the point, and without excessive waffle.

Clearly for a small Island which wishes to retain/further develop its flailing tourism industry, the need to present its inhabitants favourably is important. The individuals who can make the changes necessary with regard to the untidy roadside inhabitants in question need to be lobbied directly.

So let's keep the three little pigs where they belong - in children's literature and importantly, not liken the inhabitants of the stretch of road in question to such wonderful creatures. Contrary to popular belief, pigs are not creatures which enjoy dirty living conditions but in actual fact thrive when their living environment is clean and orderly.

Furthermore, they are known to be extremely intelligent. Those who revel in a very public style of sub-standard living conditions are what they are - human beings.

TO THE POINT

City of Hamilton

A threat to insurers

October 14, 2003

Dear Sir,

Hurricane Fabian damaged a house, which was supposed to be covered by one of the largest and oldest insurance companies, in Bermuda. The property was insured since 1977 with only one claim being made (Emily 1987) and a partial amount was paid as the property was under-insured. A claim adjustor arrived to survey the damage, for a claim for replacement of approximately 150 slates ripped off a porch during Fabian.

Lo and behold he noticed that the house had not been lived in (under renovation) and proceeded to tell a family member that in certain circumstances if a property was unoccupied for over forty days it was not insured. He made the family member believe that the property was not insured, by giving out misleading information.

The next day I sent a fax cancelling three home policies. I received a telephone call the next day from the claim adjustor informing me that I should have called for clarification. I told him that he had no right to make the family member believe that the building was uninsured. The statement that he made was immaterial and should not have been said in the first place, as he was checking out hurricane damage from Fabian only. I told him I would not deal with any company that dealt with clients in this manner. I told him to cancel my policies and refund the money.

I went to check with the company yesterday to see if they had cancelled my policies - they had and they would be mailing the cheque shortly. I spoke to a very nice man and I told him that the insurance company that he worked for did not deserve my money, as not even a supervisor bothered to call. I presume over four thousand dollars a year means nothing to such a large company. Insurance fees go up every year.

The public will not be able to afford to have insurance on their properties soon. Wake up insurance companies - a lot of people can add up money today, they will start their own mini emergency accounts.

ROSE-ELLEN GIRAUD ROBINSON

A well wisher from UK

September 30, 2003

Dear Sir,

My daughter Julie likes and works in Bermuda. I have visited your beautiful island three times and have always found everyone helpful and friendly. It was with sadness that I heard about Hurricane Fabian and all the damage and loss of life it has caused.

Julie has kept me informed of what was happening, and she has sent your newspaper to me, so I could see the devastation it caused. Although the damage is tremendous I'm sure Bermuda will bounce back in the near future. I send my best wishes to all of you, and hope to visit you again soon.

MRS. MARY WOODWARD

Somerset, England

Break the rules to save Dill

October 20, 2003

Dear Sir,

Just a few questions and/or comments that are puzzling me, regarding the inmate dying waiting for the prison nurse to arrive. In jail they have an Occurrence Book that they write in, if you ask for medication, to take a shower, whatever goes on during that shift gets written in this book. Time, dates, etc.

Just wondering what was written in on that fateful evening Mr. Dill informed the officers he wasn't feeling right? The P/O states he felt Mr. Dill was faking sickness, to take a drive to the hospital. I'm thinking why would he? He goes out to work every day and he was to be free in four months so why would he be so desperate to go for a drive?

The P/O also claims his call to the nurse couldn't get out (due to rain) but all other calls got out with no problem, that night. Lastly do you need medical training or first aid to exercise common sense?

Mr. Galloway wasn't the only officer on duty. Why didn't one of the others try to call the nurse? From 4.30 p.m. to 11.45 p.m. Seven hours and fifteen minutes, no one realised Mr. Dill was in distress - no one saw fit to go over the P/O's head and call someone... anyone.

INGRID LINDO

Devonshire