December 17, 2001

Dear Sir,

I have been roundly chastised by a number of "my readers" for the lack of letters of recent weeks. I offer my sincerest apologies and tender the following observations of late.

David Burch accuses certain members of the opposition, who rightly question the reasoning for membership of Caricom, of hypocrisy and whining. Col. Burch seems to have his drill boots firmly on the wrong feet. Those Opposition members successfully established their businesses in the Caribbean without the need for Caricom. Who needs Caricom?

Delaey Robinson advocates the introduction of income tax, again. He should speak to Eugene Cox on this subject. Mr. Cox has the biggest plus sign on his calculator in Bermuda. He is currently extracting $150 million more in taxes per year from the voters than the UBP ever did, and still had to extract a further $26 million in supplementary spending earlier this year, and that for only a half year! Who needs income tax?

David Allen ranted in public, again, disclosing private information and making disparaging statements about a successful hotel operator. Mr. Allen is a perfect example of the expression "you can't make a silk purse out a sow's ear". Who needs a sow's ear?

I would like to thank my buddy Calvin Smith for supporting the concept of dictatorship and denying the voters the right to vote on constitutional change. Who needs democracy?

I would not want the voters to believe that all is bad with the PLP, that most transparent of all organisations. I must thank Ewart Brown for my personalised license plate. In the words of Monty Python, 'its a vary nice'. Who needs priorities?

Lastly I take this opportunity to thank all 'my readers' for their 'phone calls and hand shakes and encouragement over the last year and wish you all a fun-filled Christmas and a very prosperous New Year.

PHIL CRACKNELL

St. George's