Perhaps Tracey Kelly would like to explain to me why my payments, through an attachment of earnings process -- is always delayed by two weeks.

These payments come straight from the father's payroll and are sent to the court on the same day faithfully. We do not see them until almost two weeks later.

It has been like this since we both had this order in court. As for this computer delay, it has been going on for a month come Tuesday the 16th! I've just received a payment for the week of February 15th, last week. Up to this day, there have been no more payments. My payroll goes through monthly, so you see how far my child's nursery fee is backed up. This computer error is just a delay on top of a go-slow that's already existing.

LOOKING FOR CHILD SUPPORT NOW St. George's Keep our waters quiet March 10, 1999 Dear Sir, Plagued by the noise pollution and disruption caused by `personal water craft', better known as jet skis, great strides are now being made toward effective control throughout US waterways and harbours wherever there is conventional boat traffic, swimming, and shoreline residential areas.

It is now generally agreed that these are not `boats' in the accepted definiton of a means of transport, but are nothing more than very dangerous and high-speed thrill machines that, like racing cars, need specific regulation and exclusion from all but strictly dedicated areas.

Seen as a pure annoyance and a noisy menace by everyone, without exception, that is anywhere within sight and especially hearing of them, they decapitate swimmers, cause lethal accidents, including to the operators, and especially renters, who are almost all completely ignorant of even rudimentary seamanship.

It is now recognised that the great majority of the `associations', claiming a victimised membership are nothing more than the dealer's list of customers touted as a pressure group set up in accord with instructions from the manufacturer.

These are designed, of course, to offset the public ire and outcry that arises wherever the machines are sold. The `spokesman' is usually the local dealer himself who has specific instructions from the manufacturer on setting up the `Associations' for this very purpose.

The good news is that many new owners, gulled by the extensive TV advertising, after a few weeks get thrilled-out and bored with chasing around in circles.

The bad news is that by then, an accident has already happened.

WATERSIDE St. George's Cover the positive, too March 12, 1999 Dear Sir, A fight among students at the Berkeley Institute recently led the evening news on both ZBM and VSB; it also made the front page of The Royal Gazette .

We, students and staff of the Berkeley, are disturbed to see how heavily our local broadcast media is influenced by the dictum of US-style news coverage: "if it bleeds, it leads.'' Hard news coverage most often consists of bad news, whereas good news gets relegated to the end of the newscast, as human interest "soft news'' filler.

Happily, the island's newspapers did cover our play in their Lifestyle section and VSB did a piece on opening night, but we would still like to point out the following.

We invited ZBM to cover rehearsals for our school play, `Switching Places''.

For this production, students took on a huge responsibility, made a commitment and achieved their long-term, common goal.

About 35 students (and several teachers) worked through their lunch hours, after school and on Saturdays for nearly three months to make this happen.

Although ZBM was booked to come on two occasions, they cancelled both times because they made the decision to send their cameras elsewhere. We realise that television news works to tight deadlines and that stations have a limited number of cameras available. We don't expect local television news to ignore negative incidents, but considering most people get their information, and thus their perceptions from television, it would be gratifying to see some balance in TV coverage.

We thank the local media for their coverage of our play. But still, we have questions: why does a half-hour incident that involved a few students who fought and another large group who watched, become the lead story on two stations, whereas lesser time and space is given to a three-month project that involved 40 hard-working students? Why is footage of vehicles and a building (because that is all the TV cameras got) more newsworthy than footage of students dancing, singing, acting, or building props? JOCELYN WILEY AND OTHER STAFF AND STUDENTS Berkeley Institute Crisis, what crisis? Dear Sir, As much as things change, some things remain the same.

The unresolved, affordable Bermuda housing versus tourism issue as long as I can remember has always been and is still a BIG problematic area socially, economically and politically on this tiny Island.

Socially, Bermuda's population pool steadily increases as it would with each new generation and people are living longer. On the other hand, land mass does not increase, but, rather decreases with the erosion of coastal ground by wind and sea.

But, by the grace and divine intervention of God, lands with sturdy dwelling structures already erected with functionable utilities have been given back to Bermuda. This was timely too, because socially Bermuda is suffering from grave problems that spill over and affect every strata of its social classes, visitors to the Island, and the economy.

Social problems are the underlying cause for astronomical increases in government financial spending in the areas of welfare, health care and judicial costs.

The impact of social problems on the infrastructure of many societies have been documented in literary works on social welfare dynamics in many western countries. In Bermuda, social welfare costs for servicing families with children run higher than $166 million per fiscal year. Health and prison costs can run just as high or higher.

Economically the debate about affordable housing versus tourism is always one-sided -- motivated by greed? Those economically well-off view housing for Bermudians as not a problem and certainly not a vital issue. They no doubt favour land for more tourist resorts and playgrounds.

Yet, they too are exposed and vulnerable to the impact of crime, human sufferings, and contagious diseases that assault this small and close island society.

All are byproducts of social problems arising out of a crisis in affordable housing. There is a housing crisis when six or more individuals live in a tiny three-room house paying $2,000 or more a month when four or more dormitory type stone buildings and some detached stone houses environmentally sound, and safe lay vacant, waiting, accessible and affordable on deserted baselands at the Eastern and Western ends of the island. Thus, the underlying factor from the economic perspective of the debate is a question of greed versus the common good.

Politically, the status quo historically has always favoured a one-sided economical aspect and interests in Bermudian society. Politicians who embrace the economical agenda -- preferring it over the social agenda do not have their fingers on the pulse of an ailing Bermudian society.

Veils of greed, bias, and selfishness blur the vision and perceptions of some, inhibiting them from seeing the handwriting on the wall. Fortunately in a timely, unified manner, the voice and will of the Bermudian people have prevailed.

Now is the time for the healing of Bermudian society resulting in a healthy welfare state where people can reach self-actualisation because one of their basic needs -- affordable housing can be met.

Then can an equitable sustaining economic boom beneficial to all be evident and envisioned. Now there is hope that Bermuda can and will be governed by a prudent, discerning, compassionate and God-fearing leadership that holds the life-blood of the well-being and interests of all the people in strong, equitable, progressive hands.

FLY ON THE WALL St. George's A first rate experience February 25, 1999 Dear Sir, Most people will take the time to complain about something and I am pleased to take the time to rave about the people of Bermuda.

We had our mini-vacation Feb. 16 to 20 and stayed at the Palmetto Inlet Hotel.

We rented mopeds for two days and on Thursday my husband lost control and crashed into a wall.

Within two minutes a wonderful gentleman stopped to pull us off the moped, walked across the street to the entrance of Elbow Beach and called the Police, made sure we were all right and left.

He said he was a firefighter but I never asked his name. WE WOULD LOVE TO SAY "THANK YOU'' again. It is not very often that someone would help another person in today's world.

A woman was walking her two dogs and stopped to see if we needed help because she lived down the road and she stayed with us until the Police officer came.

She told us she would probably see us on Friday at the Airport since she worked for the Department of Agriculture.

She saw us as we were leaving for home and actually looked in a phone book to give me the address of the newspaper and Tourism.

The Police officer was very kind to take us to the local hospital and the staff was wonderful to me while taking x-rays to make sure nothing was broken.

You should be very proud of your citizens of Bermuda -- I have visited nine times in the past 20 years and I look forward to returning again.

BARBARA SABATINO 502 Chase Avenue New Jersey