On behalf of the Committee of 25 I wish to thank you for bringing the problems with donations of clothing, etc., being left outside the Bargain Box to the notice of the public. However, unfortunately there were some errors in the article.

The Committee supported our clients with the expenditure of $155,000 in the financial year 1999-2000.

The Bargain Box raised over $85,000 during that same period. It has raised $946,790 since it was started by Mrs. Bea Stott and her team of helpers.

The Bargain Box is open to receive donations each weekday morning from 7.30 a.m. until 11 a.m. (not p.m. as in the article). In addition staff are on hand to receive donations Wednesday and Friday afternoons until 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

I would be most grateful if you would print these amendments or our problems might be compounded.

RAY LATTER Pembroke It's all in the maths November 21, 2000 Dear Sir, Amidst all the brouhaha of constitutional changes, boundaries and numbers of MPs, I have been asking myself: Why, in a country where nothing seems particularly urgent, is everyone and his sister rushing for the finish line? All the usual tricks are being played, and all sides are blaming the UK for anything and everything that lends itself to the cause! The PLP is now manipulating the FCO into doing its bidding, with their usual two-faced attitude to those British civil servants with responsibility for Bermuda, whom they both need and revile at the same time.

The UBP is carefully avoiding the `I' word at public meetings. However their leader just cannot help making references to "if we were able to determine our own affairs'' and "when we are in a position to determine our own future'', and other similar verbal perambulation. (Anyone would think this was the Gaza Strip) the UBP could not resist a lashing of blame on the UK during the last public meeting in Devonshire, with not-so-subtle attempts at suggesting wholesale interference by the UK in Bermuda's internal affairs when for example in 1968, she "insisted that Pembroke be given four more seats'' resulting in the adjustment from 36 MPs to 40 MPs.

(Not unfair, not unfair at all if you ask me! Rather similar to insisting that we abolish slavery, it is but shameful that we are always so tardy in doing the honourable thing!) It all needs to be boiled down to the obvious: 1: What does the PLP want more than anything else, given that they have already achieved power? Answer: More power! 2: How? Answer: Independence 3: If we hypothesise that the last referendum, if nothing else could serve as a reasonable statistical sample and would still be a fairly accurate assessment of those not in favour of independence: over 70 percent (The PLP's behaviour to date would not be expected to engender confidence in those who in 1995 were undecided and the previous abstentions would more than likely be compensated for by the high non PLP turn out) then how can this present Government drag us all -- bumbling idiots that we are, wool drawn firmly over our eyes -- to the Independence wicket? Answer: As has always been their stated preference: via a general election, with Independence firmly on the election manifesto.

4: How? How can only about one quarter, or perhaps slightly more of the popular vote drag Bermuda into Independence? With the current system of two seat constituencies, and MP's numbers as they stand, it would be too risky; virtually impossible, assuming of course that the UBP brushes up their act, and manages to offer some respectable candidates, or any other opposition force is able to make a showing, for that matter.

Answer: Simple: it's all in the mathematics. Thirty-eight thousand voters, 30 (and this will be the requested magic number!) constituencies of equal voter size equal 1,266 voters in each constituency.

Single seat, therefore, winner needs only 634 votes per constituency for victory.

16 seats needed to win the election, which means 16 times 634 votes equals 10,144 would clinch it; 10,144 is 26 percent of the popular vote! Bingo! See you at the next election, wearing wool, naturally.

COUNTING SHEEP ...AGAIN St. David's Earning their stripes December 1, 2000 Dear Sir, The Bermuda Regiment is about discipline, no question about that. However, it is also about leadership, big time. Let me tell you a story.

Once upon a time my platoon was sent out on a map and compass exercise into the wilds of central Jamaica. An umpire was appointed and off we went.

The first day was spent climbing up into the Blue Mountains following a very rocky river. Some of the rocks were as large as a Bermuda cottage and quite slippery. The umpire took the lead and was setting quite a punishing pace, when all of a sudden he slipped and fell off a particularly large rock. By the time I climbed down and walked around the rock I found him clutching a very wet leg. "Oh God, let it be blood,'' it actually was Scotch from his personal supply for medicinal purposes; disaster.

We spent a very uncomfortable night camped nearby, high on the riverbank. It was hot, raining and teeming with mosquitoes, the umpire was exceedingly grumpy. In the morning the weather continued quite badly when out of the mist appeared two young boys. "Hey mon you want Red Stripe Beer?'' "How much?'' I asked. "Tirty dollas Jarnak'' was the answer and I gave them the money.

Everyone in the platoon laughed at me for being so foolish. "You'll never see them again'', was the general opinion. Just over an hour later, much to everyone's surprise, delight and admiration for my trusting disposition there appeared one crate of Red Stripe Beer, cold.

No habitation appeared on our map, so the boys were questioned as to the location of this modern-day wonder. "Just over this mountain, do you want us to guide you?'' "Are you kidding, let's get cracking'' and they did. By noon we were safely bivouacked in their village under a thatched roof meeting hall, with running water, electricity, beer and more importantly for the integrity of the exercise, Scotch.

Our diet for the remainder of the exercise, consisted of chicken, goat, pork and plenty of rice. Not forgetting that most important ingredient, girls.

Radio communication with the outside world was inexplicably severed and we settled in for a happy few days. At the end of a quick hike to the main road and a truck ride to base camp. To my embarrassment, the band came out to meet us and we all marched into camp, band playing like we were returning heroes. I guess they thought we were lost the entire time.

In the umpire's after-exercise debriefing, I was pleased to hear words such as high moral, tough and resourceful; I just had to laugh.

DOUGLAS C. ROBERTS Sandys Parish And on a lighter note... December 4, 2000 Dear Sir, Traditionally, libraries are not the brightest of public places.

The Bermuda National is no exception and it is this writer's opinion that much could be done to improve the lighting especially in and around the reading area.

It would do no harm for the powers-that-be take a look at the recently-opened Pink Cafe at the hospital to see for themselves what a difference a well-lit area can make (and, may I add, sample the fare offered there).

Strange indeed that an eating place should be so much better lit than the library! On a less serious note: The erstwhile Bermuda Gas and Utility Company is now known as Bermuda Gas and Belco (as prominently displayed on the Wesley Street building). This is not exactly the news story of the day, but it has occurred to me that if we exchange the letter `o' for an `h' in the word Belco we come up with Bermuda Gas and Belch. (Peter Woolcock, please, not for future reference).

May I take this opportunity to inform your readers who seem to have difficulty with our names, that Woolcock is the cartoonist and Willcocks the would-be author manque. And incidentally, that I am as ardent a fan as anyone of his brilliant illustrations.

PETER J. WILLCOCKS Smith's Parish Forgotten youth? December 4, 2000 Dear Sir, I have noticed that one of the issues Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon has not taken a great interest in is the subject of education.

As a teenager this makes me question where Ms Gordon's priorities are? Because Ms Gordon has not taken the time to really elaborate on this matter she is giving young Bermudians such as myself the impression that she doesn't care about our future in the workforce in Bermuda.

It appears that she has the morality that the youth of Bermuda do not possess the competence to fulfil the expectations of the businesses on the Island, but Ms Gordon must recognise that in the past there have been some eminent young people that have met the qualifications of different types of jobs but couldn't find employment because when she was Premier, she along with the rest of the UBP, immigrated foreigners who stole our work opportunities away from us.

Now the new government, PLP has to resolve all the problems that the UBP created when Bermuda was under its jurisdiction.

I would like to congratulate Premier Jennifer Smith and other PLP members who are pushing for the youth of Bermuda to achieve a good education and to contribute back to their country.

KENNETH MINORS Paget