Today I write to address my experience at the Customs Department, upon my arrival at the international Airport on 25 July, 2000.

I was picked out from the arriving passengers from Flight No. AA686 from New York, and had all of my belongings dumped on the counter. The agent proceeded to examine my medication for high blood pressure and for the next 45 minutes continued to strip me of my dignity.

I am 68 years of age and was the sole African American of West Indian descent on board. To be put through this degrading and discriminating search warrants addressing. Not one person of the Anglo Saxon race was approached for this search. I guess if you are black and in your 60s, one fits the profile of a drug dealer.

JOHN YEARWOOD The Bronx New York City Thoughts on taxation August 1, 2000 Dear Sir, A few questions for the Collector of Customs: 1. Hopefully none of the postcards (viz. Royal Gazette August 1) in question are Bermuda postcards which presumably had duty already paid on them in the first place.

2. The writer does not understand the difference between computer programmes, books, or books-on-tape. Please explain. (viz Royal Gazette August 1).

3. Although the Monetary Authority announces record amounts of money in circulation (viz Royal Gazette August 1) the writer feels that probably an economist would better explain that a small percentage of the population has seen an increase in the amount of money they hold. The majority of Bermudians have less.

How else can one explain so many retailers with sales on before Cup Match? The Collector could ask colleagues to explain how Cup Match used to be as important to many local retailers as Christmas. Retailers, who hire exclusively Bermudian salespeople, are having a very difficult time and the Collector does not seem to appreciate this.

ENOUGH ALREADY Flatts Village Land tax driving up rents August 2, 2000 Dear Sir, There now is a great cry about high rents, and the fact that landlords are increasing rents on properties such that tenants are unable to afford the rents asked. Although the Minister denies that there is an affordable housing crisis, the Government intends to reinstitute rent control. It appears that they have not learned anything from the failure of rent control under the UBP Government and the effect it had of deterring (not encouraging) development of rental property.

One reason for rental increases would be that the Land Valuation Department of Government increased the assessed rental values for land tax purposes by a sizeable amount and the Finance Minister has increased that tax take. An example: I administer and am responsible for the operation of seven valuation units, spread across the Island, of varying rental areas and values. The valuation of the seven units increased an average of 113 percent effective July 1999. After the changes in tax rates and the 60 percent "discount'', this resulted in an average increase in land tax of 25.4 percent. In July 2000, the "discount'' was reduced to 40 percent (you pay 60 percent of the calculated tax rates) for another across-the-board 50 percent increase in taxes from July 1999. All residential land taxes in Bermuda increased by 50 percent this year. The net effect of all this is the average land tax bill has gone up 88.14 percent from January, 1999 to July, 2000. These are averages, and necessarily are not the percentage for some of the properties (as high as 163 percent increase in one case).

I cannot imagine a reasonable landlord not expecting an increase in rent in light of these increases in Government taxes. I am aware of several people who have received notification of rental increases as a direct result of the increased taxes. I suggest that if you are upset at the rent you are being asked to pay, you ask your PLP MP why the land taxes have gone up and what they are spending the money on. New big cars as well as "cultural'' and other travel perhaps? What happened to the surplus they inherited from the former Government? CONCERNED AVERAGE CITIZEN Warwick In defence of potters July 30, 2000 Dear Sir, Pictured on a recent front page of The Royal Gazette are holidaymakers Regina and Gunter Einmal. I asked myself why are to German holidaymakers on the front page of The Royal Gazette ? Could they have been mugged, robbed or maybe even worse. then I read the headline `Where are our bowls?' Now I know what the article is written about, it is regarding the bankruptcy four years ago of a company called Island Pottery.

I do not work in a legal department but I do understand the basics: When a company goes bankrupt like Island Pottery, the company is liquidated, all the assets are sold and the funds raised by liquidating the company are divided amongst the creditors, and the case is closed.

The Einmals now return to Bermuda four years later and intended to find the owners of Island Pottery to get their $120 returned. As Island Pottery no longer exists there are obviously no owners, what the Einmals found at Harbour Nights were an ex-shareholder, Jerry Smith and his wife running a stand, which they are legally allowed to do.

I think the Einmals have a right to be upset as they lost their $120, but I think that is where it should lay. I have nothing to do personally or financially with the ex-Island pottery or the people that were involved within it, but I do think they have been through enough. I think the article written points a heavy finger of blame at a few individuals that failed to run a successful company. A lot of us know how hard it is to run a business, not to mention making the business a success, but it does not always become a success and the most stressful part of running a business is running a failing business, and trying to keep everybody happy. People are too quick to point fingers with their opinions of how things should be done, how things can be done better and whether it is a successful venture or a failure.

The reason for the Smiths being at Harbour Nights is that they are trying to make a new start after the failure of Island Pottery. They do not owe the Einmals any funds, it is a situation where both parties lose and the hardest part is understandably for the Einmals to accept it. Bermuda is too small to be dragging up the past, naming names and pointing fingers, especially when it causes undue stress for families who have paid their debt through the financial legal system we install.

JON FAULKNER Sandys Parish Keep it up, Mr. Greaves July 13, 2000 Dear Sir, I think it is a sad commentary on life in Bermuda today when no one in the administration has publicly rallied to defend the performance of Magistrate Carlisle Greaves.

When Mr. Greaves was appointed there was an incredible backlog of putative fathers who were refusing to pay for their children's support. Mr. Greaves has instituted discipline in procedures and is getting results.

The mother, who was worried about her sonny boy being at Westgate, should re-examine her priorities. Her son was in prison for refusing to support his own child (and, incidentally, her grandchild). It is too bad that she did not teach him to respect women and children when she was bringing him up. Now the job is left to Mr. Greaves.

Keep up the good work, Mr. Greaves.

TAXPAYER Paget Campers were a delight August 7, 2000 Dear Sir, We wish through this media to thank the campers of John Smith's Bay over the Emancipation Day and Cup Match holidays for their superb, courteous and considerate manners.

When my wife and I first saw that many tents were set up, some of which arrived as early as the beginning of the week, we thought we were in for some noisy and sleepless nights. However, this was not the case. We had the best neighbours imaginable. They were orderly, considerate and organised, truly an exemplary community.

Because I work split shifts and worked over the holidays I needed to rest...therefore the great conduct of the campers was really appreciated.

Thank you campers and we look forward to having you next year! A. DRISSI Smith's Parish