Dear Sir, Recently after many years of pleading with the former Minister of Finance by all the florists in Bermuda, we have a Finance Minister that listened to our pleas.

The Hon. Eugene Cox Minister of Finance for our new PLP Government has seen fit to give us relief on duties levied on all imported fresh flowers into Bermuda. This will result in stable cost and savings to tourists and the Bermudian public.

Therefore, I would like to thank the Hon. Eugene Cox on behalf of the House of Flowers.

REGINALD N. CABRAL House of Flowers City of Hamilton Whither the attraction? April 25, 2000 Dear Sir, The gardens are beautiful. The workers do a splendid job looking after the grounds and the gardens. It is a pleasure to walk through and admire the beauty.

Unfortunately right in the very middle of the garden is an old wreck of a building that has been falling apart for quite a number of years. Not only is it dangerous but it is an eyesore.

During the good old days when "the Building'' was in good shape, the ladies ran a very attractive shop and restaurant.

There were two large rooms. One had the shop and a small restaurant. You could get a sandwich and soup for a reasonable price. There were also salads, cake, cookies, cool drinks or coffee and tea and many other goodies. The second room was set up with tables and chairs with an arrangement of flowers on each table. There was also a patio with tables, umbrella and chairs. From there you could look out over the gardens and beyond was the ocean. Then there was a room for the visitors to see a video of the gardens.

The visitors would come in by the dozens and also the locals. It was a great meeting place for mothers with their small children to come and enjoy each other's company. There were also tea parties during the afternoons.

Even now the visitors that were coming here during "The good old days'' will ask what happened to the other part of the building and they want to know when the place is going to be repaired? At present the Visitors Centre is jammed into one tiny room with very little to offer and the only place to sit for a snack is on the outside patio with no shelter from the wind or the weather.

The great attraction has surely gone!!! A CONCERNED LOCAL Smith's Parish Time for a bluebird box April 4, 2000 Dear Sir, The wind and rain is heavy today in England, Mr. Editor, and we even had a few flurries of snow a few minutes ago. My thoughts turned to Bermuda and the spring in the air where the bluebirds fly. Hopefully everyone is geared up for the nesting season with their bluebird boxes already in use, eggs laid and hatched and chicks soon to fledge. No better sight than a pair of bluebirds in your garden, except the sight of their fledglings on their first outing. Ain't that the truth, sir? Talk to the people over here about the `Heralds of Spring' and the robin might get a mention. When the settlers sailed to Bermuda and North American and saw bluebirds, they called them `blue robins.' Bluebirds are not just fairy tale myth, I often assure the English gentry who happen to be growing concerned about the decreasing numbers of sparrows around the country these days. Pity we can't ship back the ones over on your side of the Atlantic, eh Mr. Editor? Although I see from the results of Audubon's Christmas Bird Count that their numbers are lower in Bermuda than eight years ago, plus there has been an apparent welcome decrease in the number of starlings.

Anyway, I won't be back this year for another nesting season unfortunately, so I will miss checking your bluebird box, Mr. Editor, to monitor the breeding situation and report on whether or not you get trouble with predators such as vandals, cats, mites or those cussed rats. Good luck to all your readers with a bluebird box and to all the people who ought to have a bluebird box. That's everyone.

THOMAS OUTERBRIDGE Aylesbury, England Thank you to everyone April 24, 2000 Dear Sir, This letter is in reference to the Good Friday, Community Spirit Day on Ord Road.

On behalf of the community we would like to thank firstly Mr. Wendell Smith and the Paget Primary family. All the Ord Road residents thank you for tolerating the noise. The day was enjoyed by all in attendance. Our hats go off to the soccer sides of Back Bush and Sugar Hill for an entertaining match.

Back Bush won 5 to 1. Sugar Hill, better luck next year. Billy thank you for officiating the match, I'm sure it wasn't an easy task.

Thank you African Pride and the Back Bush crews for the music, Tim of the Jamaican Grill, Paget for the voucher, Dean thank you for helping me to pick up the trash on the day and thank you Toast, Killer, Bingi and crew for the trash removal the next day. Johnny Bat thanks for presenting the trophies and the voucher. Sophia thank you for all your help and to all persons who contributed in any way shape or form, thank you, thank you, thank you.

DONNA TUCKER Paget Ferry silly schedule April 20, 2000 Dear Sir, This is my first (I hope definitely not my last) visit to your beautiful islands -- they are certainly amongst the most charming and colourful places I have ever visited.

For 10 days, I was able to enjoy the ferry service between Hodson and Hamilton, as well as the splendid trip to the Marine Museum and Naval Dockyards -- fast ships, convenient always on time, with kindly and efficient personnel. For us Europeans (and I am sure for many Americans) the thrill and relaxation of these sea-routes is unequalled. All year, we are driving, tensed-up, on overcrowded noisy roads, or struggling into buses and underground trains -- what could be better than a nice sea-crossing with your unrivalled scenery? But no -- the Government here has decided to slash a whole section of its ferry services with drastic reductions especially to Hodson's, Salt Kettle, Lower Ferry, etc. It is astonishing that a Socialist Government can actually envisage cutting Public Transport facilities and forcing everyone onto taxis in some areas, since the buses, efficient as they are, do not cover all parts of the islands.

Yesterday I was given a photocopy in black and white of the new schedule. At 19.23 hours, I waited for a ferry that never came. On telephoning the Head Office, I was told that that particular ferry only operated on the winter schedule. "That's too bad'' was the only comment I received, when I complained that the colour "pale pink'' has never been known to show up on a black and white photocopy. So my "day pass'' was unused and I had to order a taxi. By the way, how powerful is the taxi lobby in this country? Your newspaper has published comments that Bermuda is too expensive for the average visitor. The ferry service is attractive, more ecological than the car, or bus, and with day or weekly passes more economical for tourists. In Europe, a lot of public transport has to be subsidized, but this is balanced out by increased tourist trade, especially in France where I come from. In my opinion, the ferry service suffers from lack of proper publicity. I had no idea that weekly passes existed until told by a fellow guest in this hotel.

I am writing this letter in the hope that the new schedule will be re-considered -- it would be a tragedy if by setting up these new reduced routes, the Government managed to reduce tourists on the boats even more -- or is that what it really wants to do? AN AVERAGE VISITOR Plover-sur-Rance France P.s. The wonderful welcome I have had here, started badly at your International Airport -- it is neither fair nor friendly to expect passengers arriving here after a tiring 8 hour flight from London, to stand in line for over 35 minutes while Government officials, seated comfortably, go through their business. Not even a bench in sight -- no thought for young mothers with fractious children, or older folk who are exhausted.

Don't attack messenger April 25, 2000 Dear Sir, The Monday press release by Mr. Derrick Burgess, President of the Bermuda Industrial Union and Progressive Labour Party Member of Parliament is, as it refers to me, totally incorrect. It is a constant misrepresentation from the beginning to the end on the behalf of Mr. Burgess. Indeed it is most unfortunate that Brother Derrick would rather shoot the messenger than deal with the message. Certainly this is intended to be a feeble personal attack seeking to destroy my credibility.

So be it. This is a free country; he is entitled to his opinion.

As tempting as it might be, I will not descend to that level.

When I entered politics I knew at times that some would resort to such tactics. I have always made the conscious effort to remain on the high road and deal with the issues. Rather than attack personally, I choose to research the issues before making factual and informed comment. It is easy to dig in the gutter and try to embarrass a political foe. After all, nobody is perfect.

Unfortunately this approach takes us nowhere as the issue will remain on the table.

I however will continue to listen to the people who elected me to serve and then take their concerns and ideas forward. It is indeed most concerning in the "New Bermuda'', rather than dealing with issues, a union leader and Member of parliament would rather seek to destroy a person. It is shameful that a man in his position would resort to a vitriolic attack, which lacks any substance, on another Member of parliament. This approach will not work.

I stand by my original comments. They were not a personal attack on Mr.

Burgess. They were a forthright opinion to comments made by Mr. Burgess. If he did not in fact make these comments then I would have to reconsider my approach. However at no time has Mr. Burgess denied making these statements.

The Royal Gazette story with my comments dated April 22nd is accurate. For those interested in what I said, read it and then read the Press release by Mr. Burgess. Draw your own conclusions.

As we head into a new century we need good strong leadership. A big part of this is, in my opinion, leadership by example. Mr. Burgess, as the President of the Bermuda Industrial Union and a Member of parliament do you believe that good leadership is attacking the judicial system after a verdict has not gone your way? Do you also believe that making threatening comments during court proceedings is appropriate? As a union leader and a Member of Parliament he is well aware of the procedure to follow if he is in disagreement with a verdict handed down by the court. As a Member of Parliament if he is unhappy with the workings of our judicial system he has an inside track at enacting changes.

In life we are all challenged by issues, however Mr. Burgess instead of dealing with the issue would rather attack the messenger. He doesn't agree with the judges ruling so he personally attacks the judge; he doesn't like what I have to say so he attacks me personally. Is this leadership? It is shameless that a man in his position would resort to mud-slinging. To make the situation worse for him, these comments directed at me are totally fabricated, defamatory, libelous and irresponsible.

For anyone who knows me, I stand by my record. I stand by my actions. I will not duck issues. I also will not be muzzled in fear after comments such as these. I will remain committed to the people of Bermuda and the very real issues that we need to resolve. I will also always be accessible, available and accountable to the people of Bermuda.

MICHAEL H. DUNKLEY, M.P.

Devonshire South The Rhodes to immorality April 19, 2000 Dear Sir, The infamous Cecil Rhodes; he who pillaged and plundered Southern Africa, including present day Zimbabwe once stated: "Thank God for the machine gun, it's a wonderful tool to use to clear the land of savages...'' And the English presume to lecture us on morality! Perhaps it is a morality that only a Rhodes Scholar can divine.

ROLFE PATTON COMMISSIONG City of Hamilton Don't box me in! April 26, 2000 Dear Sir, It's funny (not really) but I remember having to tick a little box, that would have described me as "other''. This, by the way, wasn't obligatory but left me wondering. Imagine growing up with that label, if you are concerned with labelling? I never completely fit any of the races that questionnaires were trying to pigeonhole me in. My self-perception didn't describe me in any of those terms.

I had only one self defining goal to strive for and that was to be a good person (because I had good parents).

I never did find that box to tick. I was advised to tick "African American'' (half of which definitely wasn't true and the other half was 1 true). The reasoning (Plato never meant for "reason'' to be so self-defeating) was that I would have been seen as a minority and well, schools had a minority quota to fill. My academic achievements would have been a second concern, if at all.

Imagine that? All I had worked hard for, would have been overlooked and a place in that freshman year, guaranteed, just on the colour of my skin (which by the way is golden tan in the summer or pale white in the winter...to the visible eye).

I would have liked to have gained a place on my own merit, not because I was filling a quota. A subtle way back to self-proposed segregation? Well, I didn't tick a box (nice to have choice in a world of democracy, hmm?) and I got my acceptance letter in the mail. The pride I felt was insurmountable. I never thought I was "owed'' a place, but I did think I was worthy of one and obviously, so did they.

I work for an international company, who until I said anything (wonder what issue brought that on), had no idea of my heritage (spans a few continents).

Now, I may be asked to tick a box and I ask, will CURE (they are trying to cure what, again?) have included a box for "other'' or should I help my company out and follow that old advice, given to me ten years ago? They are going to have a quota to fill and I could be the missing link.

Ten years on and I am faced with this question. Well, I feel sick and disappointed, not sad. Disappointed with this government and the generation that runs it. Leave the ills of yesteryear behind. Your race or the race you claim to fight for, is dying. We aren't one race, we are many and let us be judged on who we are and what we have done (those who don't "do'', you are left behind for that reason and that reason only). This fight isn't yours, any more. The reason I am not sad, well, I achieved what I wanted (thanks again, mom and dad) and became that good person. When "asked'' to be judged, I won't have any problem putting a big "X'' in THAT box. As for the new generation, we are the new world order. Stand up and ask not to be counted.

FIONA ROBERTS (AKA SOMEDODY AND OTHER) Paget