Spirit of the people

The following letter was sent to Joyce Joell-Hayden and copied to The Royal Gazette. Ms Joell-Hayden gave Bob and Sarah Hayden a lift in her car and a short sight-seeing tour.

December 21, 2009

Dear Joyce,

Our trip was magical. Bob has always said that he would like to put a foot in every continent. Now he says he would give that thought up. He says that he just wants to return to Bermuda. Sure, the environment, the weather, the sand, the sun, the sunsets, the birds, the frogs, the water ... all was beautiful. But what made it magical, what made it "Heaven on Earth" was the spirit of the people.

The beauty was in the people. I can give example after example of how giving and how undisguised and true to spirit the people were during our trip. At first it was difficult to really believe what was happening but after a bit we accepted that it was not a fluke. It gave us renewed belief in the inherent goodness of people. Why can't there be more places on this earth like Bermuda? Why are we so scared to be ourselves? Why are we so distant with each other? Why can we not accept each other and rejoice in our differences? Let us support each other in a more meaningful way and truly risk caring for each other. The beautiful people of Bermuda show us that it can be done.

I am sounding a bit preachy but I already miss being there and we will be back as soon as we can. You made such a difference for us. We celebrate your beautiful spirit. I have some pictures to share with you and will find a way to send them as soon as I can.

Take care. Do write back soon.

SARAH AND BOB COLLINS

Seattle, Washington

Money well spent

February 2, 2010

Dear Sir,

Everyone I know seems to be pretty dismayed at the idea of Government taking $800,000 of our money to do a report on the Corporations which we won't be able to see.

Wait just a second, though. The two law firms contracted to do the study/report may in fact earn some credibility by pointing out a few truths.

We may learn that the Corporations operate transparently, manage their fiscal affairs responsibly, bring their capital projects in on budget and are better at paving roads than Public Works.

They may also note that Bermuda is only the size of a medium-sized town elsewhere and that the Corporations could do a better job of governing than the incumbents.

Might end up being money well spent, don't you think?

WARWICK LIZARD

Burying the good news

January 21, 2010

Dear Sir,

I would be very grateful if you would allow me to make a small suggestion to your newspaper. On January 18, you printed on the bottom of Page 7 a fabulous piece of news that Bermuda has been voted the best shipwreck diving destination in the Atlantic by Scuba Diving Magazines 2010 reader's choice awards. This title was bestowed on us through a survey of over 5,000 very discerning divers.

Might I humbly suggest that as the Island works to revitalise tourism, boost our economy and generally feel good about ourselves that the winning of this "world cup" of diving, along with a not too shabby third place for snorkelling and beginner diving, be given another run in your paper (on a quiet day) and republished as front page news with the banner headline "Bermuda voted best shipwreck Diving Destination in the Atlantic".

I feel that all your readers, at home and abroad, would enjoy learning that the rest of the world has finally come to acknowledge what we have known all along.

Most sincerely and without bias,

DR. PHILIPPE MAX ROUJA

Acting Director

Custodian of Historic Wrecks

Department of Conservation Services

Government of Bermuda