The Tribune

ALTHOUGH in his world travels, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell seems very attracted to the long-robbed leaders of the Arab world, he would do well to tread carefully about any talk of cultural exchange or investment with them.

Mr Mitchell should note the turmoil now threatening the future of Hollywood’s fabled Beverley Hills Hotel as a result of the harsh penal code recently passed in Brunei by that country’s Sultan.

Bahamians might wonder what a law passed in Brunei would have to do with Hollywood on the other side of the world, but what they have to realise is that today’s world is smaller than it was even a decade ago. Communications has brought us into each others backyards. And today what affects one affects all — as happened with the world’s financial crash in 2008.

The fierce-looking Sultan of Brunei, reputed to be worth $20bn, announced last October that by April 1 he would gradually enforce Sharia law in his country. This law includes flogging, severing of limbs for stealing, and death by stoning for gays and adulterers. He has warned that anyone complaining of the implementation of these laws will be sorry. Of course, criticism of His Highness is also forbidden by Brunei law.

Sultan Hassani Bokiam has explained that his Islamic monarchy is “a firewall” against the “moral turpitude of globalisation”. To him, the internet is the greatest threat to Brunei’s future.

So what has that got to do with the Beverley Hills Hilton, which today celebrates 102 years at the high end of the resort industry? The Hilton was established even before a city called Beverley Hills was heard of.

The Dorchester Collection, of which the Hilton is a part, although not owned by the Sultan, is owned by the Brunei Investment Agency, described as “the sovereign wealth fund that is the investment arm of the country’s ministry of finance”.

Christopher Cowdray, the Hollywood hotel’s CEO, made it clear that the Sultan of Brunei is not his boss. He said he “reports directly to the investment agency’s board of directors”.

But Hollywood celebrities and other monied patrons who have burnished the hotel’s reputation with glamour will have none of it.

Virgin Airlines founder Richard Branson tweeted on Saturday that neither he, nor his family and staff would be staying at the hotel “until the Sultan abides by basic human rights”.

Jay Leno, host of the Today Show for more than 20 years, who is to introduce a new show to the Bahamas in the Imperial Ballroom of the Atlantis Hotel on June 14, also made his position clear.

“I’d like to think that all people are basically good and when they realise this is going on, hopefully they’ll do something about it.”

Many other Hollywood stars are supporting the boycott, not only of the Beverley Hills hotel, but of other hotels owned in the US by Brunei.

It was reported that after a heated debate, Beverley Hill’s city council unanimously voted to condemn Brunei. The Mayor has also announced that he will no longer attend functions at the hotel. The Mayor urged the city council to not only condemn Brunei’s new law, but to force Brunei to sell the hotels that it owns through the Dorchester Collection chain. Already the Beverley Hills has lost $2m in cancelled events. It was reported that the hotel hosts about 550 events a year.

Mr Cowdray begged for the boycott to be called off. He pointed out that it was hurting the economy of the region and also the hotel’s employees. The Collection’s two Los Angeles properties, he said, employ about 1,000 people and spend about $19m annually in the local economy. It was for the US government to protest, not for hotel patrons to hurt fellow Americans by selecting a particular property to demonstrate their displeasure, he said.

Mr Cowdray was particularly upset with Richard Branson’s withdrawal of business, particularly, he said, as “he has an airline that flies to the Middle East. He has hotels in Morocco. He flies to Dubai. He flies to Nigeria”.

And so, Bahamians have to remember what side their bread is buttered on. It is our tourists who are our bread and butter — and in the main they come from the United States.

Our government should also consider the words of Rudyard Kipling that as far as our culture is concerned “East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.” One would have thought that the gap would have narrowed by now, but – what with ideologies like Sharia law – it seems wider apart than ever.

It would be a tragedy if a clash of cultures should destroy this country’s main industry — tourism. So, Mr Mitchell, in your zeal to bring in new investors, make certain that you choose wisely.