Customs humiliation

August 29, 2008

Dear Sir,

On August 8, I arrived on US Airways for my annual visit with my family. I filled out the Customs form and declared $25 in gifts. I was directed to the customs inspection area, where I opened my suitcase. Forty-five minutes later, it was mostly empty and my belongings, including underwear, were spread out for all to see. The young inspector, who was in no hurry, had opened and sniffed each of my bottles, counted my cash, and looked carefully at all my cards and coupons.

At one point in this virtual rape he asked if I was "nervous". ("Nervous?? No, just tired, and my 85-year-old father is outside waiting for me.") He didn't know what licorice was, so spent a long time trying to find it in his computer; in the meantime, I found the receipt buried in the candy and realised I had underestimated the value by $8 (a sloppy mistake for which I take responsibility).

I re-valued my Customs claim and said, "Now will you please put all my s*** back in my suitcase?" The next thing I knew, I was hauled back to the supervisor's office by his henchmen, threatened loudly with being put on a list that would never allow me back in Bermuda, forced to apologise for "cursing" at the inspector, and reduced to sobbing.

In 35 years of visiting Bermuda, I have never been treated this way. It was a humiliating experience, and disgusting conduct on the inspector's part. During the ordeal, I had plenty of time to watch a Bermudian family with a dozen huge bags sail right through.

I am afraid to sign my real name for fear of retribution, since I have to return to Bermuda every year to see my family. (If I were a simple tourist, I would never go back.) The experience ruined my week and exposed to me what Bermuda has become.

A DISAPPOINTED VISITOR

Washington, D.C.

Boorish behaviour

August 29, 2008

Dear Sir,

This is to the young person who was so very loud and rude to me today at the Supermart on Front Street.

You were in line at a checkout counter with, I believe, your mom and toddler daughter. I was called to the checkout counter next to you by the cashier. I said 'excuse me' nicely to you because your cart was blocking the way. You told me I had to move so you could get to the front of your cart to push it away. I moved for you without saying a word. I proceeded to place my items on the table and you said in a very, very loud and rude tone "some people need to go back to where they came from". I asked you if you were talking to me. You continued to go on and on in a loud and rude voice and I told you that if you were addressing me I was a born Bermudian and also fourth generation Bermudian. You proceeded to tell me to go back to where I came from four generations ago and then you left. You continued your ranting outside to a tag seller.

As I paid for my items I commented to the cashier that all I said was 'excuse me'.

Just to let you know that you did not impress anyone with your rantings. Everyone around was disgusted with your actions.

To whom I presume was your mom…shame on you for not correcting your child. You obviously have not taught her well.

To this young person, I feel sorry that your toddler is seeing this and will no doubt grow up to be just like you….which is not a good thing.

SADDENED

Pembroke

Club Med surprise

August 26, 2008

Dear Sir,

Last night I went online to read The Royal Gazette as I do weekly. The photos on the front page caught me off guard as this area, this hotel, was somewhat of a milestone for me. You see, I was there, and my father and grandfather were a part of the construction of what was originally known as the Holiday Inn there in St. George's.

I was fortunate enough to return to Bermuda in 2006 and show my husband where I'd grown up and the hotel (though from afar as we were not allowed on site).

I told him of the fort on site and that we used to venture into the tunnel that went to the ocean. I showed him where I'd wait for the school bus at the end of the road and what used to be Gunpowder Cavern (when it was a restaurant).

The hotel itself did not hold any sentiment; it is just a building. But the time-frame, a big part of my life, was in and around it.

I'm glad to hear there will be something else built there. The site is lovely and I pray it will bring more tourism to that end of the island. I plan on returning soon and I'll have to go by there. I only wish there were a way to obtain a piece of the building, a rock or something, just for "old times' sake".

Thanks for allowing me the space to write and express my feelings. I must say, my heart sank at first sight of the photos. But I am glad to know something productive will be taking place there.

God bless and hope to see you all soon!

TRINA WRIGHT

Summerville, South Carolina

Blind to Island reality

August 29, 2008

Dear Sir,

In November we will reach 10 years of the PLP wackiness. Undoubtedly we will hear all about the wonderful achievements of the past decade and the regime will elevate itself to the status of World Super Power. This will be one of those unforgettable moments when all sides will have an opinion and in maybe January we will have all forgotten what the heck anybody said and we'll continue to float down the River of No Return.

From a "who runs this country" standpoint, I'd support just about anybody other than the PLP. And for no other reason than they are virtually all incompetent, arrogant and morally bankrupt (I use that term with care). I also appreciate the cultural reality of the majority who seem to have a burning desire to be manipulated by people with the same pigmentation while at the same time screaming for better race relations etc.

That aside, no halfway intelligent human being can look at Bermuda in 2008 and think that we are in the kind of shape we should be in. John Swan said it best...we are in a mess. Can the average person see this...I doubt it.

The average Bermudian doesn't get that involved; doesn't spend a lot of time dwelling on matters of national importance; doesn't even want to know anything other than the superficial surface where most live their lives...that is, until something affects him directly. Believe me, I ain't knocking the average Bermudian...I just wish it wasn't so.

It's too easy to point out the incompetence in the running of our public education system; the staggering sky-rocketing of brutal crimes against Bermudians, tourists, young people and old, black and white; and the total failure of our tourism product. The list of other areas of incompetence, lack of integrity and arrogance stretches past most Bermudians mind-set. I will say that there are two areas of some positive moves: the first is in the area of transport and the second is the PLP's amazing development of the skill of seeming to do something actively whilst really doing nothing at all...other than talk. The latter is now an art form for the rest of the world to admire. SWAT Team....are you serious?

Ten years of a downhill spiral. Kids not getting educated; gangs in full development; guns seemingly readily available; no cruise ships in Hamilton (in fact, that City seems deader than a doornail); beaches in total chaos because all the tractors are broken (!); a library that's been closed for four months because the Government cannot manage to clean one floor; public lands looking like something from Haiti (does anybody actually understand that image is important); a team of public officials (read: the PLP regime) who never speak honestly to the press and continue to believe that the press is against them, therefore, 'silence is golden'; and last but certainly not least, the twin pillars of our economy (tourism and international business) are starting to crumble and the day is coming when us locals will feel the pain.

How do we tolerate such a situation? Is race that important now? If that's the case, let's stop talking and just live in separate worlds. How do we tolerate a leader (and I most certainly use that term with major leeway) who has a team of bodyguards, full blown home security, a butler, a cook, a house manager, a chauffeur, a press secretary and God knows how many other 'perks' of office, whose family is for the most part incarcerated and his best buddy (Michael Misick in Turks and Caicos) is a role model for how to run your life like a reality show.

How did we get to this level of acceptance and ability to turn a blind eye to this deterioration in and of all things Bermudian.

How? Or maybe it's ... why?

AUNT POLLY SAWYER

Southampton

On SWAT and tourism

August 29, 2008

Dear Sir,

Re: A statement by Toppy Cowen in a letter the other day said in part ... incidentally Texas is one of the few states that still use the death penalty – they are also the state with the highest rate for serious crimes.

Mr. Cowen needs to revisit his US state geography map and read up-to-date news on US legal matters!

As of April 1, 2008 the death penalty was authorised by 37 states, the federal government, and the US military. Those jurisdictions without the death penalty include 13 states and the District of Columbia. (Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin).

There is quite a difference between a few and 37!

On another matter ... Ewart Brown must have lived in the States for too many years, when he talks about utilising 'US-style Swat' teams in Bermuda!

"Swat Teams" in the States evolved because of the massive amount of weapons and heavy duty fire power that was/is available to the criminal element. The criminals sometimes out-gunned the police! The police needed a new tactic to tackle this problem so they could minimise officers deaths in confrontations, such as in the following scenarios!

These can include serving high-risk arrest warrants, performing hostage rescue and/or armed intervention, counter-terrorism, and engaging heavily-armed criminals!

Think about it! Does Bermuda readily make all this fire power available to the criminal element as easily as in the States? Do we regularly have the above scenarios occur? ... I think not! Oh, and where are the terrorists? When was the last time a Police officer was shot and killed in Bermuda, besides George Duckett's murder? Bermuda requires better practical policing, not US-style commandos!

This link will educate you about Swat Teams and their beginnings in the USA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWAT

Finally in closing, I again must raise the topic of tourism, or the lack of it! I don't have a college degree, but I think I do possess a certain amount of "Common Sense". If the majority of your dwindling tourists still come from the Eastern Seaboard States, why on earth would you close the sales offices that serve those States? Cutbacks, yes. .. closure, ridiculous! We have wasted millions of tax dollars in tourism promotion that has had little return. Dr. Brown would have lost his job in the private sector with a managerial performance such as this. But alas ... Bermuda is definitely another world!

I read John Swan's article in today's Royal Gazette ... As usual he always makes a great deal of sense! It's too bad the present leader does not have the 'managerial skills' and foresight of Sir John. Ewart Brown would do better to utilise his training in the medical field! Leave the CEO decisions to the CEOs!

BRUCE McCLARRON

Tucson, Arizona