March 1, 2002

Dear Sir,

In what direction is tourism and travel industry going? I've heard it over and over that we need to get our children involved in our tourism and travel industry. Why?

I know of a young man and I am sure that you know of him too. He has been involved in many areas of the tourism and travel industry. He is one out of many that has put time and effort into an industry that many of us do not even want to go into. He's involved believe me! I feel that this young man is being left behind. We should be encouraging him to be the best that he can be instead of discouraging him. If we don't see it, than who will? He's not going to be the one losing out, we are! This young man has overwhelmed me; I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

But you want us to get our children involved!

CONCERNED BERMUDIAN

Southampton

No need to cut seats

February 14, 2002

Dear Sir,

Bermuda with a population of 66,000 and a working population of only 38,017 is smaller than most jurisdictions in the world. On the other hand the International Businesses welcomed here in the past years bring us by far the largest portion of our income and a good standard of living. We have a place in the business world compared to Guernsey and the Isle of Man rather than the islands south of us.

Candidates who speak for us on the floor of the House must, to win a seat, have charisma, common sense, intelligence, education and patience. To this add knowledge of the local needs and the assets of the island. Few will add to that an expertise to run a Ministry efficiently and an understanding of long term planning, as well as an ability to handle overseas commitments to our advantage. We understand that Guernsey, with a population of 58,000 has 57 seats, that many being considered necessary to them to run a very efficient economy.

Bermuda having thrived over the years with 40 seats (even a ratio of 21-19 gives the government in power enough members to select ministers and leave a good back bench in reserve). The present Premier has suggested reducing the Cabinet to nine or thereabouts, perhaps even less. With the work load of present day business this would be disastrous and would not provide for future needs.

To offer the population anything less than 40 seats would be to deprive them of a means of good government at the start.

MARGARET C. GRANT

Curb these bad habits

February 27, 2002

Dear Sir,

Recently, on David Lopes' excellent morning talk show on ZBM Radio, there were some people wanting cars to move out of the way to allow them to come through traffic on their motorcycles, and David quite rightly pointed out to them that that was OK as long as there was no oncoming traffic. I have two comments here: 1) if there's no oncoming traffic, the cyclist should have plenty of room to pass without anyone needing to get out of the way, and 2) if there is oncoming traffic, the cyclist shouldn't even be thinking of passing anyway, never mind actually be doing it!

I'm open to correction here, but my interpretation of what these people are actually asking for is the cooperation of the average motoring public to let them drive even more recklessly than they already do, and I'll say right here and now that I have absolutely no intention of complying with their wishes. I have absolutely no problem with someone overtaking either me or a vehicle coming towards me, provided that I am not forced to alter my course or speed because of the overtaker's actions, but I respectfully refuse to put myself to any inconvenience so that anyone else can get away with acting like an idiot. In fact, on the not infrequent occasions when I've been negotiating a bend in the road and have been faced by a motorist coming towards me on my side of the road, I've often wished that, at that precise moment, I'd been driving a payloader with the shovel down, so that I could simply scoop the offending idiot straight off the road without missing a beat!

I honestly feel that a lot of the bad driving on Bermuda's roads is caused by the fact that the vast majority of motorcyclists are self-taught, and don't know (or, possibly more likely, don't care) that they have bad habits, and I feel that there should be some consideration to having licensed motorcycling instructors just as there are licensed driving instructors. The current motorcycle test only proves to the examiner that the rider is competent to handle the cycle: it doesn't give any indication of how that rider reacts in actual traffic conditions and, let's face it, out on the roads is where it all happens. I'd be interested to hear any feedback on this from other motorists, whether 2-wheelers or 4-wheelers.

DAVIE KERR

St. George's

A welcome speech

February 25, 2002

Dear Sir,

Premier's Speech

The Premiere's recent speech has been widely criticised by the media.

I take a quite different view.

Apart from a minor elbow in Mr. Dodwell's direction, the talk was up beat, positive, statesman-like and inclusive. Let's not look for a hidden agenda.

We should all welcome her conciliatory manner and hopefully be able to look foward to a continuation of this new and welcome demeanour.

PAGET EXPAT

Running out of patience

February 22, 2002

This was sent to the Postmaster General and copied to The Royal Gazette.

Dear Sir,

In New York, on January 3, 2002, I posted a letter to my niece in Bermuda. Last night, February 21, by telephone she told me that it had arrived that day in her mail box.

January 3 - February 21 i.e. 49 days!!!!

Accepting the slight excuse of a heavy Christmas mail backlog, I cannot believe that staff shortage, illness, airline cancellations or whatever, can be proffered as an excuse for this delay.

This is demeaning to the Public Service sector of the government.

I assure you this is not the first occasion that mail to and from Bermuda is exceptionally late, and this recurring situation is in need of correction.

How often must the 'poor' Bermudians have complained and to what avail? Must there be a scandal or disaster before any deficiency is corrected?

Furthermore, since postage costs in Bermuda are expensive, better and faster delivery/dispatch should be accorded the impatient public. My patience has run out!

HARRY ATKINSON

New York City

Tag Day thanks

February 27, 2002

Dear Sir,

The officers and members of the Orchid Charity Club would like to extend a heartfelt 'Thank you' to all those persons who assisted in any way during our Annual Tag Dag which was held on January 18 &19, 2002.

Many thanks to the kind merchants who offer their support on a yearly basis. Appleby, Spurling & Kempe, Argus Insurance, John Barritt, Bermuda Press, BF.&M, BTC, Butterfield and Vallis, Bermuda Paint, Gypsum Transport, Dr. Clarence James, Kitson & Co., Gloria McPhee, Market Place Group, Meyer & Co., Warwick Workmen's Club.

Thanks also to the many managers who allowed our Taggers on their premises.

It would be remiss of me not to make mention thehelp we received from the residents of the Summerhaven and The Lighthouse. Thank you all.

Very special thanks to our PR officer, Sis Ann Beach and the members who worked so tirelessly for the good of the club.

Thanks also to our brothers The Leopards Club.

We realised in excess of $12,000.

May God's blessings be abundantly showered upon you all.

LOIS L. WEEKS

Corresponding Secretary

The Orchid Charity Club

No sign of corruption

February 27, 2002

Dear Sir,

You recently spoke of the importance of having both sides of a question. I am therefore certain that both you and your staff are sufficiently skilled as journalists that you need no lessons from me. However, biases in Bermuda are often so strong that the obvious is missed.

A story is not objective if the headlines (large enough to announce the Second Coming) blares out only one side of the story, even if the other side is hidden in the article. Your story of Monday, February 25, would have been more objective if your sub-heading had been something like the following: "Hodgson, former Cabinet Minister, denies the charge of Paget residents concerning his involvement, as a Minister, in the development project for which he once granted Government approval".

I do not claim objectivity when I suggest that your paper not imply corruption in the PLP Government, even in your 'Second Coming' Headline, when it does not exist.

EVA N. HODGSON

Why do they complain?

February 27, 2002

Dear Sir,

I'm confused about the taxi situation on Friday 27th.

Why are the taxi drivers going slow and complaining. Should we the citizens of Bermuda plus some tourist go slow and forget about hiring a taxi for a couple of days? I think the GPS system would be a good thing. A lot of the times when we (locals) need a taxi either called for or flagged down it takes a very long time before a taxi arrives. Even if a taxi was called for Roberts Avenue or somewhere around that way it takes about 20 minutes, but Tucker's Town, two minutes. Hello!

But I must admit there are those who do make an attempt to help us locals. No matter where the job is they are there and to that 20% I applaud you.

CONCERNED

Devonshire

Too expensive to visit

February 26, 2002

Dear Sir,

I had been going to Bermuda for twenty six years, and have noticed that the cost of airfares have outpriced Bermuda as good place to vacation.

My family have stayed at various hotels and cottages over the years. In order to keep Bermuda viable I bought a time share at the Hamiltonian Beach Club.

We continued to return to the Island for about four years. We then decided to bank our timeshare and go somewhere else where the cost of arrival was within reason after realising that there are other places that are tourist friendly costwise.

We gave up the seventeen years left on the timeshare...even though I then encountered a substantial economic loss...therefore instead of enduring additional high cost of travel to my former favourite Island I found other sources holiday delights.

Crime and less English influences were other concerns that were considered and should be looked into by the Tourist Office.

ROBERT A. PINE, ESQ.

Hawthorne, New Jersey

Thanks for the thought

February 28, 2002

Dear Sir,

Thanks are in order for how well The Young Observer has highlighted the Thinking Day Parade held at the Bermuda Cathedral on Sunday afternoon past. From time to time some group or other have felt overlooked in much needed exposure of their positive contribution in the community of Bermuda. do keep up the good work.

Well done to all of the participants, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and Scouts. Last but not least hats off to the many leaders who are putting so much of their time for the advancement of our many young people.

G. A. BELL, JP

Hamilton Parish

Black businesses left out

February 21, 2002

Dear Sir,

I would like to address the panel members that selected the top ten local businesses in the cover story of the Spring 2002 edition of the Bermudian Business magazine.

The fact that there was not one black business, in a country that is 60 percent black, that made the top ten puzzles me. Is the panel telling me that not one black business is even worthy of a mention? Or, is it the fact that you do not consume regularly at black businesses? Or, are you simply saying that black businesses don't make the grade? Please, clarify this for me and, I am sure, for many others.

Not knowing the full criteria that was used except for the one line that is written in the article ("continually raise the bar for success"), I suggest that you take a look at the following businesses for the 2nd Annual Top Ten Bermudian Business Awards. That is, if you have not already.

My vote for consideration are True Reflections, Emerald Financial, People's Pharmacy, Spanish Town International, Jamaican Grill, Four Star Pizza and Paradiso Cafe.

MALCOLM RAYNOR

City of Hamilton

One rotten apple

February 28, 2002

Dear Sir,

In regards to today's story "Accused Attacker", this is a prime example of non-St. David's Islanders giving St. David's a bad name. I am sick and tired of these types of people coming in and committing crime, you cannot even hang out your clothes! Since the new influx into our society we have had a lot of break-ins and I'm tired of it. Keep the riftraft out!

PROUD PEQUOT

St. David's

A surly welcome home

March 4, 2002

Dear Sir,

Mr. Hamill's comments about the chaos at the airport were spot on. It is so slow and third world that if that ridiculous woman had an ounce of brains, she would remove her portrait which stares down on arriving Bermudians, so she is not immediately associated with the pandemonium.

How is it that citizens of almost any other country in the World return home to a smile, a warm welcome and a glance at their travel documents. Bermudians on the other hand are subjected to time consuming scrutiny and are punched into a computer by surly individuals on arriving home.

There are too many big brothers and big sisters watching us.

LOCAL

City of Hamilton

Prices don't add up

February 24, 2002

Dear Sir,

Why is it supermarkets can have different prices for their products and are exactly the same size and make? I have noticed recently that prices keep going up on different items being quietly.

I was in White's Supermart and I notice dry milk that used to be $6.49 a 8 qt. box is now $8.14.

I priced the same size at A-1 Supermart, Paget: $6.49.That's a big jump.

Every supermart should keep to one price.

It is very bad, these days to try and keep your grocery bill down and them lots of other little things that jump up to 20 cents to 50 cents. Nothing is coming down.

BERMUDIAN

Devonshire