November 12, 2000 Dear Baroness Scotland, I am most concerned about recent events in Bermuda. The present Government is planning to push through Parliament important changes to our Constitution without holding a constitutional conference. This is most undemocratic.

I am requesting that, you, on behalf of the British Government, do not allow this to happen.

Furthermore, I would ask that a clause be inserted that prevents any Government from changing our constitution in the future, without consulting the people and holding a constitutional conference.

I am in favour of the premise of one man, one vote of equal value, but I am against the method they are using to obtain this, which is unacceptable in any democracy.

AUDREY C. SMITH Paget Take a back seat, UBP November 8, 2000 Dear Sir, I have to say, that as a young Bermudian, this political situation is really annoying me. First off, I am going to comment on this speeding ticket issue.

Now, the members of the PLP are not the only ones to be ticketed and then later cautioned for a speeding ticket or any offence for that matter. There are many people that are fortunate enough not to have to appear in court. This matter shouldn't have even been an issue in the House of Assembly, because now all you have done is make matters worse for other members of the public.

Secondly, the tourism situation. Do you, the UBP, realise how much chaos the PLP has been burdened with since you have lost your place as Government. We've had hotels closing while the UBP where in power, (Bermudiana, Marriott, and Lantana) causing people to be out of work, or been forced to go into a different field of work (I'm speaking from experience here) because a job they have been placed in was not suitable enough. The PLP were elected in by the people because we felt you were not doing your job, it was only a matter of time before you were booted out.

Thirdly, the housing situation. I went to look at a fully furnished studio apartment which was located on Stowe Court, just off Cox's Hill, and the landlady cried to me because of the number of people she saw who were in desperate need of a place to stay, married people with children and single parents. First off, the rent for this apartment was outrageous and no larger than some of your bathrooms, it was like a dump. But she was blaming Government for the housing problem. I had to show sympathy of course because she was in tears, but I know very well that this was already a problem when the UBP was in power.

Now, as a young Bermudian, all I ask for is that Pamela Gordon and her party, stay in the back seat and enjoy the ride while the PLP clean up their mess.

MRS. ANONYMOUS Sandys Chefs deserved more coverage November 9, 2000 Dear Sir, I write to you regarding the Taste of Bermuda Culinary Team. Three years ago, we competed in the Taste of the Caribbean Competition in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The junior team won gold medals and also received the best of the Caribbean Culinary Junior Team award. Each student also received a one thousand dollar scholarship award to pursue his or her culinary education.

The senior team won silver medals and an award for the outstanding pastry chef. After competing in the competition for the first time and achieving very high standards, the team received very little recognition upon their return to Bermuda. Instead of appearing on the front page, at that time there was the story of one of our parliamentarians.

On November 2 to November 5, 2000, the Taste of Bermuda Culinary Team competed in the Taste of the Caribbean Competition, which took place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Culinary team competed in two new categories, namely the national team and the private team. The team consisted of a chef, an apprentice, a pastry chef, a waiter and a bartender. The combined marks of each competitor on the Bermuda Culinary Team won eight gold awards. They also won the Best of the Best Caribbean Award, Best Food Service Award and the Chaine des Rottisseurs Award in the commis chef competition.

After the events three years ago, we thought that with this tremendous achievement of eight gold medals, we would have been on the front page of your newspaper, but instead there was another story of one of our parliamentarians.

What does one have to achieve in order to make the front page of the newspaper? A sports event would not only be noted on the front page, but on several other pages.

In Bermuda, chefs are trying to boost indigenous foods and implement various local dishes on their menus. This was the concept of the competition -- to take indigenous foods that are relevant to Bermuda and the Caribbean and design and cook a three-course meal of ten portions.

I have often heard that Bermuda wants to boost its tourism business and increase its awareness in the hospitality industry. People in the hospitality industry should be recognised for their efforts, because we are the ones who ensure that visitors feel welcome while they are holidaying on our island.

In many countries around the world, chefs are held in high esteem, but in Bermuda, this profession is not recognised, despite the fact that chefs not only have cooking experience but also excellent academic standards. If we are to encourage people to pursue a career in the culinary profession, it is imperative that we obliterate the stigma of servitude.

The Bermuda College is doing its best to promote hospitality programmes. If, after graduation, the young commis chef is not recognised and received in the local industry, Bermuda will continue to employ foreign chefs. When there is sufficient local expertise, Bermuda should immediately take advantage of it.

The chefs of Bermuda would like to be a part of the change and make their presence felt by being accepted. It is our endeavour to promote Culinary programmes so that persons who are interested in the profession will understand the rudiments of becoming a chef.

Perseverance is the key to success. To the Taste of Bermuda Culinary Team, congratulations on a job well done, press on and one day Bermuda, your Island home will see fit to reward you for your efforts.

The team members were Christopher Malpas, Matthew Line, Sherman Trott, Wyman Lindsay and Shawn Lecki. Team coach was Jose Froncioni and Frederick Ming was Team Manager and Culinary Judge.

The Taste of Bermuda Committee members were: Jose Froncioni, Joseph Gibbons, Irving Rayner and Frederick Ming. The committee members and Culinary Team would like to thank the following sponsors: Department of Tourism, Bermuda Hotel Association, Bermuda Industrial Union, Butterfield and Vallis, The Bermuda College, Burrows and Lightbourne Limited, Continental Airlines, The English Sports Shop, The Market Place, Tuscany Restaurant, Barcardi Rum, Bernardaud N.Y. Office.

Many thanks to the employers who allowed the team members time off for practice, travel and participation in the event.

FREDERICK E. MING Culinary Educator Paget Call for a conference November 9, 2000 Dear Sir, With all the publicity concerning the constitutional changes proposed by our Premier, Jennifer Smith, I feel compelled to write this letter and I state from the outset that I am in favour of a constitutional conference on the matter.

The reduction in the number of representatives may or may not be a good thing, however, if the number of representatives is to be reduced and the way in which they are to represent us is going to change, then surely the people of Bermuda should be given the chance to approve such changes. The fact that constitutional change and electoral reform were included in the PLP's election manifesto is not, in my opinion, a sufficient mandate from the people. While the Premier has stated that the results of the November 1998 election is sufficient public support, it must be remembered that the PLP only garnered approximately 54 percent of the public vote. I believe, at the very least, that 10 percent of the people who voted for the PLP did so without thought to such constitutional changes. This, together with the assumption that 100 percent of the people who voted for the UBP are in favour of a constitutional conference, in my opinion does not provide sufficient public mandate.

As regards the specific constitutional changes proposed by the Premier, the issue of Section 54 and the so called impartiality of the Boundaries Commission causes me further concern. It would appear that the proposed amendments are the result of two possible scenarios, (i) sloppy drafting; or (ii) the deliberate concentration of power in one person. To borrow a phrase from John Barritt, "We don't know, you don't know and they aren't telling'', and accordingly we have to make our own assumptions.

If the retention by the Premier of the power to ultimately determine numbers of representatives and who they represent is the result of sloppy drafting, then this is clearly cause for a constitutional conference since the Premier has not fully understood the implications of what she is proposing and the ramifications need to be fully explained to the public. If, on the other hand, it was the intention to centralise such power in one person, the Premier, then this too is cause for a constitutional conference since the retention of so much power in one person is not healthy for a democracy.

In today's Bermuda Sun the Premier responds to the issue of Section 54 by saying that even though she would have the power to amend whatever recommendations the Boundaries Commission puts forward, these would have to be put to the House for a vote. She seems to indicate that this is a fair way of proceeding, however, given the Westminster Parliamentary system (which she is currently so fond of), all her PLP colleagues would have to "toe the line'' or they would "lose the whip'' -- does this sound like a democratic method of amending this most fundamental of documents? In closing, there is an old legal saying: "Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done''. This saying should apply equally to the courts and to the Government, however, it does not appear to be happening with this supposedly transparent and accountable PLP Government.

PETER A.S. PEARMAN Pembroke Let's have open debate October 30, 2000 Dear Sir, In all my criticism of the UBP for being self-serving, self-interested even, never would I criticise them for being hypocritical and disingenuous on one-tenth the level of this whole constitutional fiasco strategised by the PLP. I say fiasco intentionally; it is a fiasco for us, the people of Bermuda, and it will yet be to undoing of the PLP -- they will be hoisted on their own petard! I can remember at least one occasion over the past 30 years when the PLP boycotted the opening of Parliament. I remember the stream of vituperation levelled at Lord Waddington oven the appointment of the Commissioner of Police. Does any of this ring a bell? The ultimate dishonesty is their approaching the halls of their "colonial oppressions'' in the UK to do this dirty deed of deceit when we could have worked out a better, more representative, House of Parliament here in Bermuda with open and honest debate including all parties, all groups, all interests.

Do they, the inner sanctum of the PLP not see this? Are they so blind? They, this kitchen cabinet or cabal of loyal ministers are giving the PLP a bad name through a glowing proportion of the electorate.

I have criticised the PLP for the inflammatory, incendiary, even seditious commentary before. The official line -- "we don't say these things.'' But their most entrenched, ardent and venomous supporters do, and the PLP does not distance itself from the commentary. They let these few, and there are not many, do the dirty divisive deed.

SANDERS FRITH-BROWN Warwick