Recently I walked the lanes of St. George's and once again visited my favourite lane, Printer's Alley and the Stockdale property. The house, so evocative of the old town, is a powerful image. There it remains asleep and apparently forgotten but very much alive with time's past. Sadly I found that the distinctive yellow orange colour had been changed! Throughout history until the present day, artists have been inspired. They have immortalised the house and its colour in their paintings including world famous Ogden Pleissner. This colour had become well-known, like the building's signature, and in altering it, much has been lost.

The house was of course in serious need of some restorative paint. But surely a decision to change the colour should be as important as one taken to change the planning. Was this decision part of a scheme by the St. George's Foundation to improve the town as a World Heritage Site, or merely the whim of the owner of the property? Whichever, such apparently little decisions risk being a big let-down for St. George's and the world! A VIEW Hamilton Parish Funds required March 26. 2001 Dear Sir, I am an 18-year-old female who is trying to send herself through school.

Unfortunately, I do not have sufficient funds. I am planning on majoring in Psychology and Minor Business Management and upon graduating I would like to return to Bermuda so my talents can be used for the enhancement of our Country.

My attempts to obtain Government grants have proved unsuccessful, therefore I am pleading to those who are in positions to award scholarships. If you would allow me a personal interview to learn more, please don't hesitate to write PO Box MA 232, Mangrove Bay, Sandys MA BX.

AN EDUCATED WANNA BE! Sandys Lay off gambling March 27, 2001 Dear Sir, Just when are all the do-gooders in Government going to let up on the gaming machines? If Government is genuinely concerned for our well-being, maybe they should ban what contributes to the biggest addiction problem locally -- alcohol! I'll bet (pardon the pun) that if booze were banned here there would be the biggest uproar imaginable that goes to show just how many people can't go without it! Alcoholism is a far more dangerous addiction, destroying more lives, than gambling could ever be! Alcohol contributes to domestic violence, job absenteeism and road accidents -- some resulting in death! However, since Government receives their tidy profit from its sale, I guess that makes all of that okay! Well, just as you have social drinkers, you have social gamblers. Social gamblers (such as myself) gamble for entertainment, place limits on what they spend and know when to quit. If someone already has an addictive-type personality, then they are the ones who would become addicted to gambling -- just as they would become addicted to just about anything, be it cigarettes, alcohol, drugs or even sex (are they going to ban that too?) As a smart, mature, hard-working adult I resent being told how to spend my money.

Government can only have so much control over our lives -- as adults we must make our own decisions on what is in our own best interests.

In closing, if gambling is as serious a problem as Mr. (Gary) Pitman says, I'd be interested to know how he reached this conclusion. Did he hear of select cases through the grapevine, or did he carry out studies on local gambling addiction? If so, I'll be listening out for Mr. Pitman to produce the statistics to substantiate his claims! SHOW ME THE PROOF Sandys Well done Clearwater March 26, 2001 Dear Mrs. Charlotte Ming, Staff and Students, We congratulate you on the Clearwater Middle School's team's outstanding performance at the 16th Annual Quiz contest. It is evident that your coaches spent considerable time preparing our young people not only for this contest but also for future endeavours that they may encounter.

As Ministers of Parliament representing the St. George's South Constituency, we encourage the Clearwater Middle School family to keep up the good work.

Sincerely, REV. DR. LARRY LOWE, J.P. M.P.

ARTHUR PITCHER, M.P.

Bermuda is unique March 22, 2001 Dear Sir, Last Friday you published a letter signed by P. Holmes of Devonshire, in which the author goes to considerable length to characterise me in a negative light, presumably to suit some political agenda, such as the withdrawal of funding for BFAB. P. Holmes insinuates that, despite my education as both zoologist and veterinary surgeon and long professional experience, I do not understand bio-diversity. Now that is most definitely insulting.

I have no need to defend myself, however I do wish to state for the record that firstly, I am not a member of BFAB, nor have I ever unconditionally supported all of their activities. I am aware of the unacceptable situation at some locations, in particular at the Botanical Gardens, which has come about from the dumping of tame cats, and inappropriate timing, quantity and location of feeding.

Nonetheless, I know, and I am in the position to know, that this organisation has made a tremendous contribution to managing the cat population on the Island. Some cat-lovers are a little misguided in feeding regimens, but in all, this group of volunteers has genuinely made an effort, where most residents just pick up the phone and bawl loudly that someone else should do something.

P. Holmes makes a statement about scientific studies in North America and Europe (no reference to any specific work). Anyone interested in studies carried out by a whole range of highly respected, credible scientists and published by the Universities' Federation for Animal Welfare, may feel free to come by our Hospital, and we will make copies available.

Bermuda's situation is unique; we cannot be compared to large land masses with extensive agricultural hinterland. We are essentially an urban to semi-urban island with a finite land mass. The feral cat "problem'' is a human one, which is largely perpetuated by a wholly inadequate containment of garbage, both at the individual household level, and at a sub-central level. The extent of development of the Island makes any comparison with Galapagos-like or any other reserved natural space ludicrous. I have no respect for so-called scientists who would deny this, and go about Bermuda leaving threatening letters at feeding stations to the effect that they "will poison all the cats if feeding continues''.

Furthermore, these same so-called scientists, whose distorted bio-fascist notions make them believe that they have the right to select only for the colour blue, a long tail, or the Finch's call, and go about Bermuda using unspeakable methods to eliminate competing bird species, do not deserve respect. Nor do those who use their knowledge to concoct poisons which deliver excruciating deaths to a variety of "unwanted'' animals... At our end we try to put right many of these deeds, and we will go on doing so, always looking for humane solutions to man-made problems, and in the knowledge that ultimately any solution must flow in harmony with, and not against the forces of nature.

Incidentally Professor Holmes -- I am assuming that is what the "P'' stands for -- anyone who has studied wild predatory cats for any length of time, will tell you that they are actually very lazy creatures: They do not hunt more than necessary. This is simply not practical in the wild, where the name of the game is to conserve energy. When hunger overtakes them, they will kill.

They eat as much as they can in one sitting, and then lounge around for as long as they can, until hunger overtakes them again. They share their kill with their social group, which is why my cat likes to drag in the occasional rat for me. In cats the hunting urge can certainly be reduced tremendously by intermittent and regular scheduled feeding. Neutering an animal further suppresses the hunting urge, but fortunately does not remove it altogether.

When we keep house cats, we basically keep them in a permanent "kitten-hood'', as we take on the role of the chief hunter and provider, casting that freshly killed tin of food before them twice a day. Recreational hunting is a luxury of over-provision, but still the same rule applies: in nature a predator usually removes the weakest, sick, and the injured. If we cannot accept that fact, then it would be better to move to Disney World.

Man's greatest sins are those activities -- mostly pollution -- which directly weaken and sicken many individuals in a whole variety of species. Some types of animals are doomed to perish, some are more resilient to man's relentless pollution and corruption of his environment.

DR. A.M. WARE-CIETERS City of Hamilton Amend sign March 20, 2001 Dear Sir, Many of your readers will have appreciated the funny side of the new notice posted in the lobby of the General Post Office which reads: `No loitering, sleeping or smoking allowed' (or words to that effect). Methinks that could be improved upon by it being preceded with, `Whilst waiting for your mail'.

On another matter, the Gazette has reported and repeated that a recent head-on crash caused an injury to a 39-year-old woman. We are not getting any information here. No name, and we all know that she's not 39.

PETER J. WILLCOCKS Smith's Parish