This letter is addressed to the elected representatives of the Bermuda Government and Loyal Opposition Party of these Islands of Bermuda.

Whereas the majority population of Bermuda, on November 9, 1998, elected you to the Public Office to handle the political affairs of this country, and have been duly compensating you out of the public coffers, since that momentous date, and since the British Government has given the Islands of Bermuda an ultimatum, British citizenship or Independence, you have been entrusted with a public responsibility. That responsibility is Public Accountability. As elected representatives, you have no choice but to openly and clearly state your personal position on the matter to your constituents and the general public of Bermuda. You also have a responsibility to ensure that the public of Bermuda be given the respect of voicing their position on the matter through the medium of a public referendum. Let the mandate of the people carry the matter through. Your political hedging on the matter and your evasive subterfuge on the matter is deceptive to say the least.

At this point in our history, the Bermuda public will settle for nothing but forthright open and honest leadership. Stop the hedge-mongery and lead this country to its new destiny. That's your job, that's what you are getting paid to do, or refund us our money and step aside and let someone else do the job.

A New Bermuda -- A New Deal -- A New Destiny.

TAKBIR K. SHARRIEFF Devonshire No apostrophe, please March 29, 1999 Dear Sir, Daniels Head (note: no apostrophe) has been in the news a lot lately and I am wondering why The Royal Gazette (Daniel's Head) assumes that this part of Bermuda was named after someone called Daniel (usually a forename) and not someone having the surname of Daniels.

It would seem to me that the latter is far more likely than the former thus Daniels Head should stand as is. Our maps and literature do not use the apostrophe; if The Gazette has any further information on this perhaps you, Mr. Editor, will add a footnote to this letter.

On another matter: A writer to your columns commented recently on the price of gasoline. However, the information supplied was incomplete. Did he really expect your average reader to equate 67 cents a gallon with $1.12 per litre! Never mind, I have done the arithmetic for him. A Us gallon is equivalent to 4.22 litres, therefore at $1.12 per litre the price per gallon is $4.73 and $5.10 respectively.

We, in Bermuda, use the metric scale for gasoline so the comparison is currently $4.73 to around $1 in the USA. (The price of 67 cents was about the lowest in recent times but the cost of gasoline is once again on the increase in the USA.) PETER J. WILLCOCKS Smith's Parish God's commandment March 21, 1999 Dear Sir, The Government is not hypocritical for saying that there is nothing threatening in the UK White Paper. On the contrary, what's hypocritical Mr.

Editor, is pompous persons clothed in Christian symbolism, who conveniently find an argument to overrule one of God's explicit commandments, "Thou Shalt not Kill''.

I'm convinced more than ever Mr. Editor, that the Almighty made this particular commandment, specifically, for people just like that! DR. CLARK GODWIN Show that you care March 3, 1999 Dear Sir, On Sunday February 28, 1999 my wife and I attended the Go Kart race in Hamilton. The amount of people who showed up for this event was incredible. We enjoyed the races from 1.30 p.m. to 3 p.m. When we left the races, we went to City Hall for the "Celebration of Life'' benefit that was put on by Ms Roshea Young in memory of her son Saed Rami Nadir Young and all the other children who have been murdered in Bermuda. I have enclosed a copy of the programme for you.

Firstly, I would like to congratulate Ms Young and all the other people who participated in the outstanding tribute to all the children who have lost their lives and to also let Ms Young know how much I admire her for her courage throughout her terrible ordeal.

I would like also to take this opportunity to ask all of Bermuda one question.

"Where were you?''. I could not believe more people did not show up. Ms Young was interviewed on the local news stations and the radio, so there is no reason why a journalist couldn't have been there to cover the event. There wasn't even a Politician there (from either side). When we as a community hear or read about a child who has been abused or murdered, we get angry and demand justice, but when there is a benefit to celebrate these childrens' short precious lives, where are we? On Front Street having a good time and socialising with our friends. My wife and I found time to do both. We are glad we were given the opportunity to see some of Bermuda's fine young talent. The talent of all the participants was truly outstanding.

I have spoken to Ms Young since the benefit and she has informed me that she is looking into doing something similar during the summer. So Bermuda here is another chance for you to show how much you care about our children. My wife and I will be there in the summer and we hope to see you as well.

LET'S CELEBRATE LIFE BERMUDA Give CADET a break March 26, 1999 Dear Sir, The Centre for Adolescent Development, Education and Training (CADET) has been the focus of public criticism and controversy since the project was first espoused, and certainly since it opened its doors last April at Warwick Camp.

The two things I had read in recent days were that (1) CADET was refusing to accept any students and (2) CADET was doomed to fail because "alternative schools don't work''.

This week four of us who are members of the Board of Education decided to pay a visit to CADET, and to find out for ourselves exactly what was, or was not, going on at Warwick Camp. We have not at this point had a chance to pool our views -- when we have, I am sure we will issue a statement of our impressions -- and so I am going to recount my personal reactions, because it is important to counteract the negativity which surrounds the issue of CADET.

As an ex-teacher, I was quite prepared to find that CADET was a disaster area, for numerous reasons which any public school teacher would recognise.

I am very, very happy to report, Sir, that I could not have been more wrong.

Far from being a disaster, CADET shows clear evidence of being something of a miracle -- well-researched, meticulously planned which works. The students sent to CADET attend; they do not play truant. They are enabled to recognise and understand their own antisocial behaviour, and are encouraged to replace it by productive behaviour which brings far-reaching and sometimes unexpected rewards. Anything which is unacceptable brings immediate, clear-cut consequences.

Behaviours which have been learned over a number of years cannot be unlearned overnight. CADET's Director, Mrs. Angela Fubler, estimates that it takes nine months of work before a student is ready to re-enter his original school. At that time, and subsequently, Mrs. Fubler works closely with the school concerned to ensure that the transition is smooth and the student does not backslide.

The first three students have now completed their time at CADET. Independent validation of CADET's success came to me from a teacher of the one who has returned to her public school: "I can't believe she's the same person!'' She marvels at the changes in the girl's attitude, and at her grasp of her own motivation.

CADET has presently 17 students, three teachers and three teaching assistants.

It is able to absorb 21 students. The only referrals which have been turned away have been those put forward without any of the necessary case history details -- for reasons obvious to anyone of average intelligence.

Obviously, no proper evaluation of CADET can be conducted until it has been in operation for a few years. However, the strength and backbone of the programme has to be its Director. Mrs. Angela Fubler is far from the stereotypical head of an "alternative school''. She is petite, attractive, soft-spoken and elegant. She is also highly intelligent, articulate, down to earth, motivated and dedicated -- a dynamo who loves her job and is very, very good at what she does. She is proud of the group she heads, and gives immediate credit to the teachers working with her.

Let's give Mrs. Fubler and CADET a break. Let's allow it to function for a while longer before we jump to any more conclusions of doom and gloom. There may very well be one of two students who revert to former ways (human nature being what it is), but my bet is that very soon we will all see the overall success of the programme.

I for one will support CADET in whatever way I can.

HELLE PATTERSON Hamilton Parish `Enough is enough' March 29, 1999 Dear Sir, I wish to bring the public's attention back to the tragic fire at the Harrington Sound Primary School and its consequences to the school's family of faculty, parents and most importantly children.

Let everyone notice that nothing is being done to rebuild our school. The Ministry of Education, Works and Engineering and the insurance company are dragging their feet with red tape and political posturing. Enough is enough.

Our newly elected government says that education of our children comes first.

This doesn't seem to be the case. Our children and faculty are split up and housed in sub-standard conditions, told to be thankful and don't make too much fuss.

This is not good enough. The children are traumatised and deserve better.

Teachers and parents are completely frustrated with the lack of action. Part of our role as a parent is to protect and fight for our children. The battle is getting the school rebuilt. Our school is in a crisis and no one seems to care. The Minister of Education (and also our Premier) should come down hard on the Permanent Secretary of Education and Works and Engineering. This is their job. If they aren't competent to do it then get someone who can. Don't say that it can't be done by September. It can. We deserve a unified school by September.

I have nothing but praise for the commitment and perseverance shown by Mrs.

Beverly Daniels and her team in this crisis situation. Blessings to you all.

MRS. ANA M. DAWSON City of Hamilton Seeking dismissal March 25, 1999 Dear Sir, I write to ask for the immediate dismissal of Government Veterinarian Mr.

Jonathan Nisbett. No one with so little regard for the health and welfare of animals should remain in this position. His disregard for the condition and well-being of the horses owned by Mr. DeShields is shameful. As has been said, these animals cannot reach that state of ill health in two or three weeks. Mr.

Nisbett has ignored this situation and seemingly didn't even realise these animals were on Government property and therefore could have been taken away from the owner immediately. Mr. Nisbett certainly didn't look at all the facts.

To Mr. DeShields I have only one thing to say: You shouldn't be allowed to own any animal, let alone horses which require a lot of work and attention. Your cavalier attitude towards the health of these animals is shocking and your refusal to accept assistance, because you have enough money to feed them yourself, makes for an even stronger case against you. So you had money to adequately feed them but you didn't. Nice.

To Mr. Nisbett, take a few weeks and go without proper levels of food and water and then let us know how you feel. You are insensitive and don't belong in the position you have been honoured with. Hopefully through the caring and dedicated attention of veterinarian Andrew Madeiros and horse owner Heidi Mello and friends both of you will be exposed for the uncaring individuals you are.

LYNNE MATCHAM Southampton Help the horses! March 24, 1999 Dear Sir, I write to you concerning the articles written in The Royal Gazette on March 22 and 23 on the "undernourished'' horses in St. George's.

As a person that loves horses I was disgusted and appalled to yet again see such cruelty on this Island! There is absolutely no reason why these horses have to look like this. I do not know Mr. DeShields, and this is not a personal attack on him, but concern for these animals. I am flabbergasted that Dr. Nisbett feels that he could not seize these animals as he has "no facilities to keep the horses''. The paper states that Dr. Nisbett could not get in touch with the owner. Please, this is Bermuda and if he wanted to he could have found Mr. DeShields or left an official letter stating that if he didn't respond by a specific time, the animals would be seized.

There are many licensed stables on this Island that would open their doors to help these poor horses. Why isn't this man being reprimanded for the starvation of these animals? I have seen photos of three of the horses that are suffering, but it didn't surprise me that a person who should be facing charges would show the best of the six horses for a newspaper photo. Is Mr.

DeShields too embarrassed or guilty to show the others? I have seen people prosecuted for the starvation of dogs, goats, and other horses, so why is this case an exception? Rest assured, had the previous Government Vet still been in charge, this case would be dealt with differently.

Come on, Dr. Nisbett, these animals are relying on you to step in. Sure they'll be fed for a while for publicity's sake, but what happens when the coverage dies down? The article in the paper implies that Mr. DeShields is "under a lot of pressure''. Perhaps he should sell, give away or put down his animals. Switching feed is not an excuse for the horses to look like this, many people switch feed in the winter for their animals, but a blind person can see when horses are losing too much weight.

Dr. Nisbett please wake up and help these poor animals. The proof is in the pictures! DISGUSTED Paget