It was such a great disappointment to see The Royal Gazette toe the ignorance line in this Monday's editorial. Your glowing support of the Shadow Finance Minister's Budget response once again demonstrates the great deal of myopia that perpetuates the myth of UBP financial mastery.

You have agreed with the Shadow Minister that: "It is the people who will pay, and they will pay dearly''. What you have failed to acknowledge is that the UBP was destroyed at the election polls because the people have long been paying, and they have long been paying dearly. There is not one issue of Budget planning that cannot be excluded from the greater need of social planning. In other words, you cannot say that you have been a master of creating budgets when your society has been falling apart -- as was the case with the UBP Government.

By paying dearly, we first need to count the cost of wasted talent in Bermuda.

This would include the ever-expanding prison system, the ever-expanding allocation to social assistance programmes, the ever-expanding Police force, the ever-expanding judicial systems. But let's not stop there. Let's look at our men and women who have fallen to the scourge of drugs and alcohol, who would otherwise have made a positive contribution to this society. It is the people who are getting their homes broken into, it is the people who are getting robbed by drug addicts on the street and it is the people who are taxed for addiction and medical services. How about the citizens of this country who were making great contributions to a neglected tourism industry? These must now be supported by social assistance programmes.

Worst of all though, I would like to point to the violence in Bermuda. Many of us have to wonder how many beatings and murders Bermuda could have prevented, had it ensured that its children were reared properly. Instead, we have an education system that ensured a massive illiterate labour pool, a judicial system that does nothing but turn criminals into worse criminals and an international business industry in which few Bermudians can be employed.

The sad thing about it is that UBP's "Budget mastery'' can easily be seen for the failure in economic planning that it is. The simple way of keeping a budget surplus is to keep the money that you gain through tax and do nothing with it. The UBP failed to deliver on Berkeley Institute, low income housing, a Police headquarters and numerous other capital projects that the PLP now has to finance. With the massive accumulation of problems left by the previous administration, it is no wonder that so many capital projects have to be lined up for this year alone.

I must ask the people of Bermuda to stop and think about the political games being played by the UBP at this time. Out of both sides of their mouth we hear: Give the retailers a break, but don't tax international business; don't increase tax to individuals, but you must do more to assist the people. Short of failing to develop the country with capital projects, anyone could tell you that what the UBP is demanding is impossible. Had they realised this 15 years ago, Bermuda would be far better off and they might still be in power today.

JUST ANOTHER BYE Sandys Parish Nothing but the truth February 26, 2000 Dear Sir, I have heard a saying about truth, that it will set you free.

I would ask anyone and everyone, what is the truth about truth? For the truth is blinding yet it is always seen.

It is like sitting under a shaded tree on a bright summer day.

There is no need to cut down the tree, to know the Sun exists.

For in light there is darkness, as in darkness there is light.

Search for truth to be free, or being free to know truth? Can anyone else express what they know to be true on this topic? For the truth of the matter is when one simplifies their life, they will see all the secrets.

THIS IS TRUE? Pembroke Generous thanks February 10, 2000 Dear Sir, We at the Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS) wish to thank the volunteers, members and sponsors involved with our telephone "Thank-a-thon' for demonstrating the generosity of people in Bermuda.

I must preface this letter by noting that BZS supports the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ). We are privileged to work closely with BAMZ staff, whose commitment to the animals in their care, and to education, conservation and research, is nothing short of inspirational.

Our organisations benefit from having dedicated volunteers who work year-around. Those participating in the "Thank-a-thon'' undertook a huge task, working a combined total of 180 hours over six nights, placing 4,000 calls to thank members and get feedback. The volunteers approached the assignment with enthusiasm that most certainly transcended phone lines.

Each evening the volunteers received appreciation gifts contributed by local companies. The donors are Aberfeldy Nurseries, Burrows Lightbourn, Leisure Time, Liberty and Neptune Theatres, The MuVi Service, the Phoenix Stores and Rock On. We also thank Sonesta Beach Resort for donating an attractive raffle prize as incentive to new and renewing members. We appreciate the generosity of these companies, as we do all that contribute to our programmes.

Finally, we're grateful to our loyal members who gave encouragement and useful criticism during the "Thank-a-thon''. We enjoyed speaking with members, and offer apologies to anyone we did not reach. With so many calls to make, we didn't have the capacity to double back, if someone was not at home, the line was engaged, service was interrupted or we had inaccurate information.

To the members we were unable to contact, and again to those we did, thank you for your support. Members, volunteers and corporate contributors enables BZS and BAMZ to fulfil our mission to inspire appreciation and care of Island environments. We couldn't do it without you.

BRIE J. CLEE Bermuda Zoological Society