Tourism minister's silence on RIU is deafening
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Dear Editor,
I vaguely remember a news report stating that the minister of tourism would comment on the RIU situation once an official report had been submitted. Well, judging from what I have heard over the past few weeks on the radio, it appears that quite a few reports have been submitted, but still no comment from the minister.
Quite frankly, it is improper for a minister to be so silent on a matter which directly impacts his portfolio. They say that silence speaks volumes, and in this case the minister's hushed approach to the RIU issue, or for that matter anything which paints the Spanish hotels in a negative light, is really scaring a lot of us.
I held Mr Edmund Bartlett in such high esteem when he took office. I remember the several photographs of him with the airport staff, and he seemed so genuinely interested in the livelihood of all tourism stakeholders. I cannot find the words to express my disappointment in him over this situation; he was always so quick to speak on any tourism-related matter.
Although he has been in office less than a year, it pains me to even consider that the minister of tourism is turning a deaf ear to such a critical issue because he may have fallen victim to any evil temptation. That would not only ruin his career but would also destroy an entire sector.
I can only hope that if he has fallen, he has not gone too far to recover.
J Brown
Havendale
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Dear Editor,
I vaguely remember a news report stating that the minister of tourism would comment on the RIU situation once an official report had been submitted. Well, judging from what I have heard over the past few weeks on the radio, it appears that quite a few reports have been submitted, but still no comment from the minister.
Quite frankly, it is improper for a minister to be so silent on a matter which directly impacts his portfolio. They say that silence speaks volumes, and in this case the minister's hushed approach to the RIU issue, or for that matter anything which paints the Spanish hotels in a negative light, is really scaring a lot of us.
I held Mr Edmund Bartlett in such high esteem when he took office. I remember the several photographs of him with the airport staff, and he seemed so genuinely interested in the livelihood of all tourism stakeholders. I cannot find the words to express my disappointment in him over this situation; he was always so quick to speak on any tourism-related matter.
Although he has been in office less than a year, it pains me to even consider that the minister of tourism is turning a deaf ear to such a critical issue because he may have fallen victim to any evil temptation. That would not only ruin his career but would also destroy an entire sector.
I can only hope that if he has fallen, he has not gone too far to recover.
J Brown
Havendale
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