A letter in yesterday's paper incorrectly stated that Christiana (Christeane) Allaire had been an employee of ACE Ltd. She was an employee of Centre Re.

June 2, 1999 Dear Sir, Please excuse the barrage of letters -- I feel like I am imitating Dr. Clark Godwin. But these are many things that need to be said.

Every single problem in Bermuda has a racial overtone (or undercurrent). I call politics in Bermuda "race politics''. Realistically it has been played from a different angle by both the PLP and the UBP for too many years.

But let me turn to Bill Shoaf. There is too much a one sided fury here. He might well have made a stereotypical comment about the black mayors in the lobby and maybe he did not -- we were not there. But not all stereotypical comments are insulting. The real issue is the sensitivity of the recipient.

For instance, if you said that Englishman might next cook Yorkshire pudding, who would mind? But as your editorial pointed out last week people of colour have been sensitised after centuries of abuse, and although I am trying to find another viewpoint, I do understand that black hypersensitivity. Often when I talk with a black activist I will say "talking with you is like tip-toeing through a minefield of emotions'' -- they inevitably go ballistic which proves my comment! I again refer to the Christeane Allaire affair when she called the policeman a black bastard. I have been called a white bastard about one hundred times in the last ten years -- maybe I am! Did I not hear the new Attorney General call English policeman "limeys'' the other Friday in the House -- need I say more! And then there was Dr. Ewart Brown. Remember my letter about twelve months ago. He said to the monthly Medical Association meeting with venomous intent: "What right do you white English Doctors from lowly born origins, have to come to Bermuda, make a lot of money and tell me what to do''. Remember? When questioned by your reporter, he only lamented that my wife had broken the confidentiality of the medical fraternity -- no remorse! Imagine if I were to say to the countless thousands of black Bermudians who have been here for one generation only: "What right do you black West Indians from lowly born origins have to come up to Bermuda make a lot of money and tell me what to do?'' When you think that my family has been here for perhaps three hundred and ninety years and thousands and thousands of West Indies come here, without work permits in today's parlance, some might think I was justified.

So what am I on about? Race relations. Better race relations. A little give and take. Not to crucify someone who in a moment of pique makes a "racist'' remark that too many of use are guilty of.

I say to black activists: "You hold your black fist in my face -- I cannot see past it even if you are smiling. Most of the white community runs for cover.'' I took the trouble to face the "black activists'' -- two words I use intentionally and I found them to be just as human and concerned as I am. So to the white community, don't run and hide.

Stop the witch hunt with Mr. Shoaf. Look in the mirror and say you have never said "white bastard'' in the last twelve months and you would be looking at a liar.

SANDERS FRITH-BROWN Must be impartial May 29, 1999 Dear Sir, The article in Friday's Gazette quoting Mr. Alvin Goulbourne, president of the Fathers' Resource Centre, contains a very important observation. I quote: "The Magistrate has a lot of information at his disposal and bases his judgment on this. Yet he is attacked on all sides by persons who do not have this information.'' Perhaps we do not always have to have all the information before we question a decision which seems strange and it would be dangerous to forbid critics lacking total knowledge of a situation to voice their opinions.

Governments are often forced to take action based upon critical information not available to the public. What is missing in Bermuda is the restraining hand of a discerning editor. We old ones had become accustomed to this in the "good old days''. Today we have foreign-style anything-goes editing or lack of editing. For example, letters repeating the same worn-out theme appear week after week. Apparently, (I do not have full knowledge, you see), no editor dares say no to publishing an offensive letter. Front page articles criticising whatever government happens to be in power, and based on allegations that are unsubstantiated at press time, appear to be the norm.

Even so, you appear to me, (Forgive me if I am wrong, please!), to criticise the present Government much more harshly than you did the former. Tabloids fighting competition in other countries use these ploys to gain market share.

What daily is The Royal Gazette fighting? These actions can create the foreign-style opposition you do not have at present.

I visited a Caribbean island last year and bought two newspapers to get the "feel'' of the place. Both of them reported on some of the same local news which such differing accounts that as an outsider I could not tell which was the truth. Oddly, both may have been true up to a point! Each ignored, or did not know, facts revealed by the other. Remember when the BBC could be counted upon for relatively unbiased news stories? As the only daily newspaper of Bermuda, The Royal Gazette has a responsibility to be as impartial, as BBC-like, as possible in its local reporting. It saddens me that with increasing frequency the Gazette becomes a gossip-monger. At the present time we do not have two partisan daily newspapers. If we have more objectivity from our Gazette , we will not need another newspaper.

Finally, a plea to letter-writers and article originators. Please be temperate. Ask yourself whether you have all the information, then write your letter, or state your case, accordingly. I thank you Mr. Goulbourne, for your very timely observation.

BERTRAM GUISHARD City of Hamilton Foreigners and hot lines June 2, 1999 Dear Sir, I have watched with irritation the various factions in the Bill Shoaf debacle.

Shoaf was wrong to make the remark that he made. It was racist and any excuse to make it seem otherwise is dishonest! Americans hardly ever make a success of hotel management in this part of the world because they have practically no experience with face to face encounters with black people in the workplace prior to coming to Bermuda or the Caribbean, and have difficulty in dealing with people who have not been psychologically demoralised, as sadly many African Americans seem to be.

The middle managers who made a fuss and used their political clout to oust a foreigner are alarming if this is a portent of things to come. Soon all foreigners will have to wear yellow stars and live in fear of being reported on the stupid immigration hot line. Do we have to remember that this once caused a holocaust? Bermudians need to welcome foreigners into their land. It is a measure of our success that we need to import guest workers to do jobs that we no longer need to do or choose to do. The top offshore jobs are just that, OFFSHORE. There are jobs we will never have unless we too become immigrants in other foreign countries and climb our ways up in foreign companies and then get reposted to Bermuda. However we can accept the spin-offs that impact on the economy favourably and stop grumbling about foreigners in our midst.

Back to the hot lines. How about having one for people who don't come to work when they should, and one for men who don't support their kids, and another one for men and women who are unfaithful to each other and last but not least one for people who don't do a full day's work but have no compunction in taking home one of the best salaries in the world.

"HUGH MANATEE'' Stop bigger cars! June 1, 1999 Dear Sir, Please allow me to say how appalled I am with even the thought that we have bigger cars on our roads. Bigger is not always better for Bermuda and in this case it certainly is not. To add to our current road problems of noise, speed and reckless driving seems beyond belief... and let's not forget that we are only 21 square miles! The lack of space is clearly reflected in our housing crisis -- but then to think about trying to squeeze in bigger cars as well is beyond comprehension. Why would anyone need more space than what the cars on the market now offer? Let not greediness and egotism get the better of us and destroy our home.

DIANA HESLOP Pembroke Praise for Il Palio June 2, 1999 Dear Sir, Please see the attached letter, sent today to Il Palio restaurant in Somerset.

*** It is very encouraging to see that service is very much alive and well in Bermuda.

My wife and I enjoyed our anniversary last night at your restaurant and once again were treated not only to excellent food, but also superlative service.

This is actually no surprise to me as we have always experienced this quality at your establishment ever since our first visit on Valentine's night 1994.

The added gestures, warmth and generosity shown to us last night have prompted me to write this letter.

On the adjacent table I noticed a visiting couple on their second visit to the Island. They expressed that Il Palio was their favourite dining spot. I echo their sentiments and am pleased to point out that locals and visitors are treated equally well.

To those who live more on the East Side, Somerset may seem a long way to go for dinner.

When there are establishments of the quality and value of Il Palio, the journey is well worth it.

Kudos to yourself and all your staff.

You will see us again.

After all the knocking (much of it deserved) of the quality of service in the hospitality industry in Bermuda, I believe that establishments such as this deserve all the praise and public recognition they can get. I will also point out that our main waiter for the evening was a Bermudian.

ROSS D. WEBBER Hamilton Parish A waste of money! May 30, 1999 Dear Sir, Would somebody please explain to me why the Premier has to take her bodyguard with her when she travels overseas. Over the last 30 years and more all the other Premiers have managed to travel on their own. No one else has ever found it necessary to have a bodyguard. At the expense of every Bermudian, of which I am one, we now have to fork up money for two to travel abroad not just one.

It really galls me that our Government is expected to pay these extra expenses.

Furthermore I have been given to understand that all the present ministers travel first class. Could they not travel business class, which is just as comfortable, and be upgraded possibly? It is my understanding that this has been the custom in the past.

Lastly, the gossip I have been hearing is that the present Government plans to give all members of Parliament a raise. Since the PLP appears to have reduced the number of working hours on the Hill even down to half an hour on occasion, how do they have the nerve to give themselves a raise? They aren't even working a full day yet.

Could somebody please tell me where's the money coming from and at whose expense? PERPLEXED Pembroke Love `Tumbleweeds' June 3, 1999 Dear Sir, For what it is worth I LOVE Tumbleweeds and do not find it either racist or offensive and like it was pointed out, it makes fun on both Cowboys and Indians.

While I have your attention let me say that I think that the UBP make an excellent opposition party, let me also congratulate the PLP on their November 9 victory. While I like the PLP, I think they need a new leader.

So until Tumbleweeds gets married, keep Tumblewoods coming.

RUSTI Somerset Remove boat winches May 9, 1999 Dear Sir, I write with regards to your story concerning a Fisheries Warden discovering that Fisheries Officers cannot enforce anti-fish pot laws. What a complete surprise for anyone who has spent time fishing in Bermuda.

Maybe if the people running the warden service had a clue! Just look at the picture of the fish pot, with its huge weights attached this pot obviously needs a fair-sized boat with a winch.

Removing winches from all licensed fishing boats would be a good start. You say you use your winch to haul your anchor? Buy a ring and buoy and learn how to steam up your anchor.

Nobody is going to haul fish pots like the one in your picture by hand, at least not more than one or two a day. Plus you'll need half inch rope to be able to haul by hand, not to mention the buoys could be spotted by eye from Ft. George.

What we need is a review of all Fisheries Government Ministry, Fisheries Board and method of appointment, regulations and the effect of all the above on Bermuda's fishermen.

My father told me some weeks before his death that it seemed that the then Minister with responsibility for fisheries was killing him with his ever changing and punitive decrees with regard to pot fisherman. Thank you, Mr.

Minister.

Having served as a Fisheries Warden I look forward to a review, and would volunteer to give documented testimony.

If Nassau Grouper (Hamlet) are extinct why not have a wake, wake bye-bye and spend ALL of these taxpayer dollars saving the endangered Red Hind before it too becomes extinct?: Doc. Luckhurst chasing very expensive butterflies (and of course notoriety as the man who brought Bermuda's Hamlets back from extinction).

Being a retired cop does not necessarily mean you will be a great fisheries warden, which is something else I would like to see reviewed.

CURTIS A. DAWSON Discrepancies found June, 2, 1999 Dear Sir, On Friday May 28, a very frightening account of a hospital stay was recounted in a letter to the Editor. In response to that letter an immediate investigation was launched into the quality of care rendered to that particular patient. The records were reviewed and the nursing staff interviewed.

There appear to be several discrepancies between the medical records and the events recounted in The Royal Gazette . Our investigative review tells us that many of the events listed never took place.

We encourage persons who have questions or concerns about their care to report it immediately to the supervisor on duty or to the Hospital Ombudsman. The Bermuda Hospitals Board is committed to providing all members of our community with high quality compassionate care regardless of their age, or type of illness. One of our value statements outlines this perfectly -- We treat each other and our patients with dignity and respect.

SHEILA G. MANDERSON