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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, NOVEMBER 8, 1982
ON THE WORLD SCENE
BEAUTIFUL BERMUDA: LITTLE-KNOWN SEAGATE FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE
PAGE 10
DATELINE: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (November 5, 1982): Yesterday, Mr.
Herbert
w.
Armstrong and his party arrived in this bustling African
metropolis after a six-hour flight from Abidjan, capital of the Ivory
Coast. We refueled along the way at Windhoek, South West Africa (Namibia).
Abidjan was a rest stop--and a very interesting one at that--en route to Mr.
Armstrong's major destinations in Africa, Greece and Spain. The Ivory Coast
is perhaps Black Africa's most successful nation. Its huge outpouring of
coffee (world's third largest producer) generates considerable national
income. Abidjan's skyline is indeed quite impressive as is the layout of
the city itself, weaving its way around a series of coastal lagoons.
A Pearl in the Atlantic
Abidjan was not our first stop, however. The first day and a half were
spent on Britain's tiny Atlantic island colony of Bermuda, situated 570
nautical miles off America's East Coast. To those of us in Mr. Armstrong's
party, Bermuda was a most pleasant and beautiful surprise.
The tiny archipelago, which can be driven by car from end to end in only an
hour and a half, is a most idyllic spot. One readily sees why it is such a
favorite destination for tourists, who come by the thousands auring the
peak April-October holiday season, mainly aboard cruise ships from New York
City. Verdant, subtropical Bermuda is too far north to be considered part
of the Caribbean, but it is warmed, nevertheless, by the soothing Gulf
Stream.
Bermuda's economy is strong, with unemployment virtually nil.
Tourism
directly accounts for 40 percent of the total employment, with the opera
tion of "exempt companies" (foreign operating, locally-registered firms)
providing the second largest source of employment. Bermuda authorities are
also careful to maintain the island as what they call a "quality tourist
destination." As a result of these policies, Bermudians enjoy an income
said to be one of the ten highest in the world.
Mr. Armstrong Well Known
Bermuda is an impressive "outpost" for God's Work as well. As a result of
being on radio and television for many years, Mr. Armstrong is a well-known
figure to most Bermudians. The ratio of Church members and PLAIN TRUTH
readers to the total population is very likely the highest in the entire
Work. (Approximately 58,000 people occupy Bermuda's tiny 21 square miles,
one of the highest densities in the world.)
Mr. Armstrong's arrival was reported on the local news, along with an
announcement of his Monday evening, November 1, PLAIN TRUTH readers
lecture. Approximately 270 readers responded. A little over half of them
were our members.
Mr. Armstrong was also interviewed by a woman reporter for the daily news
paper, the ROYAL GAZETTE.