Going the extra mile

January 11, 2007

Dear Sir,

We would like to send a great, big "thank you" to Mr. Willard Lightbourne at Brightside in Flatts and to acknowledge his outstanding hospitality and kindness.

While there on vacation there earlier this week, our daughter injured her eye. Mr. Lightbourne drove her to the hospital himself. He made every effort to assure that she was well taken care of and continued to inquire about her progress. The hospital, doctor, nurses and other staff were all courteous and very helpful. We have rarely encountered such compassionate and magnanimous hospitality in our travels.

Thank you Mr. Willard and thank you Bermuda. What a wonderful place and what wonderful people.

GOLDWIN SMITH

AND NANCY SCHIFFER

Annapolis, Maryland

Save your character

January 7, 2007

Dear Sir,

It breaks my heart to read of all the destruction occurring in Bermuda in the name of progress.

What on earth do Bermudians need yet another hotel for, whether it be seven stars, eight stars, whatever? The Club Med property has been vacant for some 20 years. Was it only last year that there were concerns about the lack of occupied hotel rooms on the island, and how the tourists were not coming? Has that suddenly changed overnight? And don't the powers that be understand that they are destroying the very things that make Bermuda unique and the reason the tourists they do have, visit the Island?

I was born and grew up on the Dockyard when no one cared at all about it. And they would have destroyed that piece of history too. How about preserving what we have on the island instead of tearing it down and replacing our historical past with buildings and more buildings that are completely unnecessary. The Island will look like Singapore with its high rises, or Barbados which has totally destroyed its beachfronts with "five star hotels". Once the character of Bermuda has gone, the tourists will be well and truly gone ? then what ?

DIANNE DE CRUZ

Gosnells, Western Australia