I have some questions regarding Mr. Alex Scott's new car: What's the point? What is the purpose of a larger car? Why does he need a larger car? What function does a larger car have that a smaller car doesn't? Never mind that it's elitist, it just isn't necessary. Does Mr. Scott not drive the roads and see the traffic problems that we already have? Does he not wish to aid this problem rather than add to it? Does his big car compensate for other inadequacies? I was just curious.

KATE HUNTINGTON Pembroke Stop wasting money January 12, 2000 Dear Sir, I cannot understand why anyone would bother Mr. Scott over the size of his car. Being an elected member of our Island's government, it is vital that each representative be entitled to drive an automobile that truly complements the size of their ego and freshly inflated sense of self worth. By choosing the Peugeot 406, Mr. Scott has done just that.

His justification for the large car in yesterday's Royal Gazette was both articulate and clever. In fact, he may have convinced the entire Island that shipping a car overseas, in order to sell it, will significantly reduce the cost of the entire transaction for the Bermuda taxpayer.

Instead of focusing on the surface of this issue, let's get to the heart of the matter. Who really cares about the size of the car? Who cares that the Ministers and the Premier are subject to a completely different set of rules than the rest of us? When you get down to it, it doesn't really matter.

What does matter is when you waste money on personal status symbols that could have been used for education or bettering the community. What does matter is when you waste our time, the time we pay you for, to amend automobile laws as inconsequential as this one.

Instead of looking after your personal interests in purchasing expensive champagne and big cars, please try tackling problems that will benefit the community, the people who elected you. Or did you amend that out of your job description.

REALITY CHECK Pembroke Thank You Mr. Bearden January 12, 2000 Dear Sir, I would like to express my support of Mr. Mike Bearden's letter of January 12 in response to comments by Mr. Lister about the United States and its military.

I agree with Mr. Bearden wholeheartedly and, hopefully, he speaks for all Americans in Bermuda and, for that matter, all people who value the contributions made by the US in defence of freedom.

Mr. Lister's comments were irresponsible and should have been retracted immediately. That, however, would have taken courage.

VINCE McGEEHAN Another US Veteran and Citizen Paget In defence of the Senate January 10, 2000 Dear Sir, In The Royal Gazette dated January 10, 2000, Mr. David Sullivan writes a very critical commentary on the passing of the bill to abolish capital and corporal punishment. Mr. Sullivan proclaims in his letter that Bermuda has a "Rubber Stamping Senate''. The explanation for this state of affairs is that the Senate members representing Government and the Opposition (with the exception of Senator Pettingill) were all rejected by the electorate in the last election.

I called Mr. Sullivan to point out that I was a member of the Senate and, like Mr. Pettingill, did not run in the last Election since I had been appointed as Chairman of the PLP election campaign. Undaunted, he responded "Well you ran in the previous election''.

I believe Mr. Sullivan needs to explain to the Bermuda public what rejection by the electorate has to do with one's ability to serve in the Senate. To serve with distinction at the highest political level, requires intelligence, integrity, and courage. Are these qualities assumed to be absent should one lose an election? Do they miraculously return should that same person win a subsequent election? The flaw in this reasoning becomes even more apparent when one considers that the bill passed the Lower House without any member of the Opposition raising the issues posed by Mr. Pettingill. Yet the electorate did not reject these 14 men and women.

Sen. Milton Scott, Government Leader in the Senate, ran in Paget East. Does anyone with the exception of Mr. Sullivan, really believe that his so-called rejection by that constituency means he is lacking in the qualities required to serve at the highest level of government? Mr. Scott would have lost in the UBP stronghold of Paget had he been running against "Scooby Doo'. Similarly, Mr. Sullivan would lose an election in any PLP stronghold whatever his opinion of his own omniscience.

Mr. Sullivan speaks about his concern that good law is produced. Certainly it was good law to abolish capital and corporal punishment. All the major countries of Western Europe have abandoned these barbaric practices, surely that is the point. Mr. Pettingill's concerns will be given due consideration by this Government and to the extent that his criticisms are valid, appropriate adjustments will be made to the legislation at the earliest opportunity.

Obviously, the president of the Senate supported the bill -- thereby assuring its passage -- because he felt very strongly that it needed to be passed and because he was confident that amendments -- to the extent that they were deemed necessary -- would be forthcoming. Bermuda can be grateful for this sterling display of Statesmanship.

SENATOR CALVIN J.M. SMITH Pembroke St. George's was fantastic January 11, 2000 Dear Sir, As you will be aware, Bermuda featured in our global telecast on December 31, 1999 and I would just like to confirm that the presentation from St. George's was in fact fantastic as we expected and showed the true tradition of your Island.

Having Bermuda included in our worldwide broadcast was very important for us and we would like to thank Rick Richardson and his team for their excellent presentation on the evening and all their assistance leading up to the event.

If you wish to view further information on the Yes 2000 Project, you may visit our website on Yes2000.co.uk. You will note that in addition to the Telecast we ran a live webcast on the night so Bermuda midnight was also shown on the web and is still continuing to be shown on the web until the end of January.

AUDREY H. MASON-WADSWORTH Chairman. Yes 2000 Glasgow, Scotland Car was badly damaged January 11, 2000 Dear Sir, Please allow me some space in your newspaper.

On New Year's early morning, my car was parked on Radnor Estate Road. When I returned to my car after having a wonderful time with friends bringing in the New Year, someone had badly damaged the back right-side to the tune of $3,883.43, and of course left no note to say they were sorry.

What they did leave however was paint, paint chips and other parts from their car which appears to be a light tan or beige Mazda 323, I know the coward would never reveal his- or herself, but like the saying goes: "What goes around comes around.'' WENDY EMERY Devonshire Tourism pays the price January 10, 2000 Dear Sir, I refer to your front page of January 8 where the two lead articles cover the party to be held at Davos and the continuing "plunge'' in air arrivals.

The reception is designed to show the "synergy'' between international business and tourism. The only synergy there is in this relationship are the taxes that are bankrupting local tourism to support tax exempted foreign business. The irony will be if it turns out that Tourism is to foot the bill.

If this is the case, the new Millennium will continue true to form.

PRO BONO Hamilton