Questions about tourism

February 26, 2008

Dear Sir,

Congratulations to Bermuda Tourism for the 2007 increase of 3.44 percent in visitors to the Island!

However, what we really need to know is what was the actual increase in "overnight visitors" – was that because that's where the big money comes from. Day trips by cruise ship passengers are "peanuts" in revenue, although they do look good in the overall visitor numbers – but they can be quite misleading.

Perhaps Dr. Brown would like to clarify.

JOHN COLE

Tourism Marketing Consultant –(and annual visitor to Bermuda)

Toronto, Canada

There's no place like home

Dear Sir,

I hope I am given the opportunity to voice my thoughts and concerns about my Bermuda and that you find this worthy of printing. I was born in Bermuda; I lived in Bermuda as a child and as a young adult, but have been away from Bermuda for some time. I still have family there that has been part of the fabulous fabric of Bermuda for as long as there has been a Bermuda. I and my sister had the opportunity to return home this past Cup Match 2007. During my time home I came to the realization that Bermuda has lost her magnificence, charm, grace and pride.

The Bermuda I remember was full of life, vigour, respect and went without saying the best and safest place in the world to ever live and raise your children. The Bermuda I encountered was full of bitterness, sadness and lacked direction. Our young people have lost their way and for some reason the elders have turned a blind eye. I ask myself: Do they really want to be like the United States? Somewhere along the way something has been lost in translation, emulating the United States or any other country is not the Bermudian way. I have always been proud of the fact that we as an island overcame a great deal of the back biting and racism that was and is prevalent in the United States and other countries.

We were the casting of what others wanted to be. To have someone say, Good Morning, Good Afternoon or Good Evening was our way of life, to have the elderly hit the first step of the bus and before they were fully in the door several young people would be jumping up to give up their seat ensuring that our elderly were respected and revered for what they went through to ensure a better Bermuda. In today's Bermuda you are hard pressed to get someone to look you directly in the face without an expletive spurring from ones mouth, the fact that an island as small as Bermuda has the audacity to allow gangs to penetrate the fibre of her gracious shores is beyond me. There was a time that I walked from Southampton to Warwick at three o'clock in the morning without a worry in the world. I was not attacked, raped or beaten and maybe during that time of my life I was naïve but I do not think so.

We were a proud island and when the tourist came to our island they knew that this was not an act but we were genuinely a proud and prosperous island and that sort of foolishness was not tolerated. During my recent visit the fate of Bermuda was on everyone's lips, the political parties were doing what they do best making promises and writing the preverbal check that we all knew was not going to be cashed as the coffers were empty.

Our young were being asked to come out and speak about their Bermuda and where they felt it was heading, what perplexed me was why some of these meetings were held in Bars and the promise of liquor and beer and something to eat was offered. Did we really believe that the fate of our island should have been addressed in that environment? Has Bermuda lost its way to such an extent that the fate of our precious island can and should be discussed over some beer and sandwiches with our future leaders, teachers or doctors?

What message were we sending our young Bermudians? When they went home at the end of the festivities did they not feel used and their self worth diminished, that to think that our government leaders would think so less of them to have a meeting of such great importance that all that was needed to obtain ones vote was a drink and a sandwich. Our future should have been in better hands than that. Our future should have been allowed to express their hopes, dreams and desires in a venue that was befitting of the occasion. To think that both parties ran on a platform of fear and racism was beyond my comprehension.

The Bermuda I remember was a cornucopia of colours, dreams, ideas and experiences. Yes there was a time when we were misguided and had our share of problems, but I truly thought we had let that boat sink, never to be resurrected again, but here I was in 2007 listening to my fellow Bermudians discuss race and fear of being lied to as if we were fresh off that boat.

I want to let all of those that think that there is a better way of life elsewhere that they are wrong. I know there are Bermudians that have left the island and the veil of disillusionment has lifted and they realise now that where they are is not where they want to be. We who live abroad all have the Dorothy syndrome, we want to click our heels and repeat three times, there's no place like home, because we know that there is no place like home.

I truly believe that it is time for all of us to click our heels and repeat those five words, not only those of us that live abroad but those of you that are there, believe me when I say this, Bermuda is a precious diamond and like all diamonds must be maintained in order to retain it's lustre and shine, there are those on the outside that realise this and are patiently waiting on the sidelines hoping that we don't open our eyes in time. I am not concerned as neither should you which party is governing our island, what I am concerned about is that in years to come there will be a Bermuda to govern.

Whether the voice is PLP or UBP there should always be a POB (People of Bermuda) voice, whether the hue of your skin runs the gambit of the colour spectrum that is neither my worry nor concern, we are all Bermudians and the betterment of Bermuda should be our concern. I know that deep in my soul if the opportunity arose I would be home in a minute, helping to bring Bermuda back to the shinning diamond I know her to be. I access my computer everyday to keep up with my Bermuda, and after I read what is happening in my Bermuda I am genuinely shocked and appalled. Please take the time to look around as I and my sister did during our stay and realise what we realised after being home for less than a week that when it is all said and done, there is NO PLACE LIKE HOME! Bermuda! What has happened to you?

NANCY DENICE CRUZ

USA

(Formerly Nancy Denice Todd

South Shore Warwick East)

The facts remain

February 12, 2008

Dear Sir,

Allow me to respond to those letter writers who have taken the time out of their busy schedules to correct my use of the word "indigenous" that I used in a previous letter to your paper. They are correct. The slaves that were brought here were not indigenous to Bermuda, but instead they were they were indigenous to Africa.

However, the fact remains that unlike the guest workers who choose to make Bermuda their home for a period of time; these people had no choice in the matter. The fact also remains that it was these indigenous Africans and their descendants who have helped to make Bermuda the prosperous country that it is today through blood, sweat and tears.

The "Bermudian" who responded to my letter in your paper dated February 11th reminded me that "Aborigines are indigenous to Australia" and "American Indians are indigenous to North America". Let me remind, or inform, "Bermudian" that the treatment meted out to the Aborigines in Australia and the "American Indians" by the British settlers in those countries was as harsh as the treatment meted out to the Africans in Bermuda and elsewhere in the Diaspora. I read with interest on page 11 of your paper today that the Australian government is now making some sort of apology to the Aborigines. I would say better, late than never.

It is unfortunate that "Bermudian's" family owns no property in Bermuda in spite of the fact that they have been domiciled in Bermuda for "many, many generations". I must say that most of my family members do own property in Bermuda. However, this ownership did not come without hard work and sacrifice. "Bermudian" needs to lay the blame where it belongs with regard to property ownership by her family and that is at the feet of the United Bermuda Party and its predecessors, the white oligarchy. At the same time "Bermudian" should give thanks and praise to the Progressive Labour Party, in particular, the Hon. Paula Cox, for the fact that those Portuguese who lived in Bermuda for many, many generations now have some security.

I do stand by my premise that guest workers should be told up front that Bermuda, like the Cayman Islands, the UK, the US and Canada, and other jurisdictions on the planet all have work permit term limits. However, I agree that offshore companies "afford Bermudians vast opportunities in regards to career progression". Only a fool would disagree with that fact.

LAVERNE FURBERT

Hamilton Parish

It's all in the stars

February 21, 2008

Dear Sir,

Your "star reporter" Scott Neil states that Mr. McGonagle is the President of the Bermuda Astrological Society and he goes on to state that "Next year has been declared the Year of Astrology by the UN to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first telescope".

I was under the impression that Mr. McGonagle was the President of the Astronomical Society, and maybe, if Galileo was talking about telescopes he was interested in astronomy and not astrology. Maybe you could clarify the situation because I am somewhat confused.

Your spaced out reader,

ANTONY SIESE

City of Hamilton