This afternoon, there were a very large number of children at the Bus Station in Hamilton.

They got so bored they played football in front of the No. 3 bus stand and at the side of the road near City Hall. One rode a small cycle up and down the one way street and then played football.

I understand as a bus user that Police were present each afternoon, well nobody, drivers, or supervisors etc. spoke to those boys. They were still at it at 5.05 p.m.

I never see adults on the school bus either. That did not last very long. I was ashamed for the visitors they turn off. Then we wonder what happened to our tourist trade.

A MOTHER Devonshire Get into the 21st Century November 1, 1999 Dear Sir, I run a small business from my home. Due to "cable trouble'' my telephone was out of service twice this year for two weeks in July and for three weeks and two days in October. Lost telephone calls and faxes mean lost business. I will not bore your readers with details of the personal inconvenience.

I would gladly pay extra to have my phone listed as a business phone but was told by a representative in BTC Customer Service Department that this would not mean faster repair service.

I wish to remind your readers that they are entitled to credit for the amount of time their telephones are out of service. If more people call 811 and ask for this credit repair, service might get a bit faster. I also urge everyone who is inconvenienced by slow telephone repair service to write to their local MPs regarding this and to Minister Renee Webb of the Telecommunications Department.

These people may not realise just how bad the situation is. Surely something can be done to bring us into this century! DEIRDRE FURTADO Warwick Phase out two strokes October 12, 1999 Dear Sir, Beggars mounted thrash their horses to death. Young fools on powerful motorcycles race themselves to death.

One of the major contributors to our road chaos is the too powerful motor in the hands of a foolish and reckless teenager.

For years the UBP skirted around the issue of dealing with this problem. I seem to criticise them often but their legacy of 35 years of "partying while Rome burned'' is haunting the community.

Perhaps 40 years ago a law was passed that pillion passengers could not be carried on auxiliary cycles. Auxiliary cycles (bikes with pedals and 50cc or smaller engines) could only have one gear. One had to be 21 years old to ride a motorbike of more than 50cc and/or with two or more gears.

Some 25 years ago the maximum capacity of motorbikes was reduced from 150cc to 100cc. Around the same time the auxiliary bikes were allowed pillion passengers and the age to legally ride a motorbike with more than 50cc engine was reduced from 21 to 18 years. In the same time-frame, helmets became compulsory.

Originally, under the Motor Car Act of 1946, when the Members of Parliament quickly acquired franchises for various Motor Car Dealerships (even more flagrant than the corruption of modern day politics) there were three categories of motorised cycles. Auxiliary cycles of 50cc or less with pedals -- and often with two or more gears. Autocycles up to 100cc or less with pedals and two or more gears. Motorcycles up to 100cc or less with pedals and two or more gears. Motorcycles up to 150cc with two or more gears.

These specifics may seem irrelevant but read on. The problem of handing out positions on Boards to the ignorant and uninformed "party faithful'' is that the people who sit on these Boards are supposed to inform the Minister on technical and related matters. In this way their collective intellect contributes to the benefit of the community.

For 35 years the UBP chose Board Members not for their knowledge and expertise in the area but for their contribution to the UBP -- at least I assume so because of their fundamental stupidity in ignoring the most important issue in a motorcycle's performance -- horsepower.

Obviously a 150cc engine of the same specifications as a 100cc engine will produce more horsepower but let me give you a few approximations of power changes that modern technology has created and also some of the environmental consequences of the inefficiency of the two-stroke motor.

Think about the technological advances over the past 53 years since the Motor Car Act was passed in 1946. In 1946, the average 100cc two-stroke engine had a compression ratio of perhaps 4:1 and produced 3 horsepower at a maximum revolutions per minute (r.p.m.) of 2,000. Using a mixture of petrol and oil it spewed unburnt oil out of the exhaust port and would possibly do 45 miles an hour downhill with a tailwind. In 1999 a 100 cc two-stroke engine with a compression ratio of 10:1 can produce 15 horsepower at maximum r.p.m. of 12,000 or more. It still spews out oil and is far less efficient than a modern four-stroke engine.

With "nitro'' fuel and not very sophisticated modifications, the 125cc racing motorcycle on the racing circuit can produce 50 to 60 horsepower. These same components are readily available in Bermuda. It is not illegal to import these components although it is illegal to put them in a motorcycle on the road! Modern two- stroke motorcycles that come to Bermuda do have carburettor restrictors and catalytic converters in the mufflers. These are removed by the importers and "road's scholars''. The attendant emmision pollution let alone the noise pollution of these bikes is enormous -- and some of us wonder about our falling tourism numbers! I would estimate that 99 percent of the motorcycles on our roads are two-stroke and only ten percent are four-stroke motors. The four-stroke motor, especially in its simple form available in the modern motorcycle produces one tenth of the oil pollution, half the horsepower and half the noise. The engine "note'' is far less noxious. However, the overhead valves of these modern motors cost more to produce and generate less horsepower per cubic centimetre of engine capacity.

So what happens? The manufacturers produce two-stroke "screamers'' that are put in the hands of our young lunatics.

So what do we the community do to help our Members of Parliament make the visionary decisions that need to be made? All two-strokes need to be phased out over the next ten years. Almost all manufacturers also make four-stroke motors so local distributors need not panic.

Immediately the maximum capacity of two-strokes should be lowered to 80cc for five years and then 50cc for the next five years then phased out. Four strokes could easily be increased to say 125cc to make available the dozens of models most manufacturers produce for the "learner class'' driver. But, obviously, not many manufacturers produce 50cc four-stroke motors. Electric cycles will certainly offer an alternative soon.

So when the UBP visionaries lowered our maximum engine size from 150cc to 100cc did they have any idea what they were doing? They were well-intentioned but they missed the point. The point is the pollution and performance of the two stroke motor! SANDERS FRITH-BROWN Warwick Court St. has a role October 31, 1999 Dear Sir, As I was driving down Court Street yesterday, I was amazed at the activity and fellowship that seems to exist on that street and wondered why the "City Fathers'' have not thought to utilise this atmosphere by putting a Street market or Historical village there? It would be good to use the talents of people who are too often viewed only as troublemakers and wall-sitters. Sometimes pearls sit in front of our eyes and we only choose to see a sow's ears.

J.K. WILLIAMS City of Hamilton Same old Throne Speech November 1, 1999 Dear Sir, Same old, same old. That is a good description for the much touted Throne Speech.

1. Everyone knew the PLP would abolish hanging as they should.

2. The UBP Government promised more than 50 houses. The PLP was surprised to find very little housing problem, hence 50 houses just to be seen to be doing something.

3. Traffic monitors are very old stuff. etc.

4. Mr. Editor, when you inherit a Country in excellent shape, as the UBP left Bermuda, there is not much you can do.

5. Congratulations to the Premier on her Hallowe'en hat! WATCHING Paget Thank you, volunteers October 28, 1999 Dear Sir, So often we hear that our young people are not involved in positive activities in the community. Through your medium, kindly allow me the space to express thanks and highlight some young people who recently volunteered at St.

Brendan's Hospital.

In our readiness for Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW), a call was made for assistance. As the Director of Volunteer Services for St. Brendan's Hospital and a member of the MIAW Planning Committee, I extend sincere thanks to Vanessa Jones, Lianna Samuels, Tiffany Trott, Tiffany Pitcher, Reio Paynter, Sherica Trott, Carla Roberts, Okeisha Clark, Amanda Swan, Patricia Coyles, Allison Hansell, Greshona Gibbons, Jason Swan and Asha Greaves for their contributions to MHAW.

The above mentioned along with staff members and others who may have not registered their hours for the day, contributed significantly to making the event a success. You assisted where needed, you interacted with some of our clients, you asked about careers and also took time to learn about the many services and therapeutic opportunities for our clients. We shared laughs, witnessed talents, had fun, worked as teams and most importantly, you gained new insights.

We look forward to other individual and group participation in future events.

Thank you for opening OUR doors and coming in. Many of you have left our facility with a new knowledge about St. Brendan's as a result of you volunteering with us.

LINDA TROTT St. Brendan's Volunteer Services