On Thursday, May 20, five cheques of $28,000 each, totalling $140,000 were presented to the benefiting charities as a result of this year's End-to-End walk, thereby bringing the 12-year total to $1,272,000. It was also reported that I would be stepping down from the organising committee after 12 years to move with my family to Spain. We are grateful for the media coverage. However, it was reported that I am the founder of the event, and that this was the last walk over which I presided. I hasten to provide a clarification.

The End-to-End walk is the initiative of Jon Borrill, Clive Cotton and Paul Rowlerson, who together with Ian Birch, (four employees at the time of Johnson & Higgins of Bermuda), gave birth to a baby who has now grown up into a gentle and benevolent giant. How very proud they must be. The chairperson for the past three years has been Ms Starla Williams, and before her Paul Rowlerson, and before him Jon Borrill. For my part I have worn many hats over the years including historian, charities coordinator, and route master, to name a few.

I have a true confession to make: I have never been able to actually walk the End-to-End myself, having always been fully engaged in the organisational side of the event. (At least that has been my story and I'm sticking to it!) Well, now that I am no longer organising I have no excuse, so I want every person who has ever trod those 26 miles to hold me to my pledge that I shall return from Spain to experience "de agony of de feet'' for myself.

I thank my dear friends and colleagues for the very flattering tribute, it has been great to work with a fabulous team over the year, but for the time being from me it's "Adios amigos, hasta luego!'' EUGENE CARMICHAEL City of Hamilton Sentence was too short May 19, 1999 Dear Sir, I am writing on the recent sentenced imposed on Selwyn L. Berkeley on May 18, 1999, in which he was given a 12-month prison term and disqualified for two and a half years for causing death by dangerous driving, to my nephew, Ashanti Keino Smith. Also two additional charges of six months each (to run concurrently), for causing grievously bodily harm to the others involved (the Smatt family) in the accident which occurred on Saturday, May 2, 1998. Other families' names come to my mind who have lost loved ones recently to which the accused were given short sentences. The Matthew and Darrell families. No, you cannot bring our loved ones back, but what needs to be done is stiffer fines imposed and more years given off the road (i.e. five -- ten years), if not life! This way the person will always remember why they are not driving around enjoying the luxury of transportation.

In Bermuda you receive more time for speeding and driving while disqualified, then you do for causing road fatalities, as a result of impaired driving and/or dangerous driving.

When is Bermuda's judicial system going to change. Wake up Bermuda! ERICA KELLY Smith's Parish UBP bereft of future May 20, 1999 Dear Sir, The UBP is at it again like crocus cannibalising its children. Meanwhile the Gang of Five has been reduced and the rite of excommunication performed on the hapless committee for the renewal of the UBP. I am of the opinion that Trevor Moniz MP only became interested in long term residents when he decided to run for Parliament. There is a significant number of wealthy Portuguese who never took up the cause of long term residents until Mr. Trevor Moniz thought of getting to be a Member of Parliament by championing its cause.

Right about now, there are as many senior UBP members outside the party as inside it, but they seem unable singly or collectively to rescue the UBP Party from hara-kiri. Only a destroyed political party would retain a leader (the Hon. Pamela Gordon) after such a massive defeat (unlike others). I know that the racist white people in Paget are just waiting to dump her. In previous letters to the Editor, I warned the former Premier Sir John Swan that the racist whites in Paget would come against him when they decided he was of no further use to them. I also stated that the UBP would lose ten percent of the voters (black) and the election.

I am happy that what I wrote in my letter has come to pass and those who oppressed us are no longer in power. The UBP is bereft of an immediate future.

As it stands, it would remain disunited because of clashing personalities and the little white boy syndrome as told by the Hon. Jim Woolridge.

RAYMOND RUSSELL SR.

President CAFBR Start calling hotline May 17, 1999 Dear Sir, For years, long-suffering Bermudian taxpayers have put up with poor service and rudeness from Government employees -- and other Bermudians in the work force -- and they have had no-one to complain to.

Now that Paula Cox has established a Complaint Bureau why doesn't everyone phone 296-5202 every time a Bermudian is rude to them.

Ms Cox may unwittingly have done the community a big favour. Start calling now...

ROCKFISH Paget UBP grasping at straws May 21, 1999 Dear Sir, It would appear that now Mr. Michael Dunkley finds himself on the side of the Opposition in Parliament, that he can finally understand why a group of people, in this case, Policemen, would take action in the form of a sick-out, with regards to their pay contract.

I wonder if Mr. Dunkley will ever understand why Bermudians revolted against the United Bermuda Party in the last General Election, for their track record of issuing work permits to white foreigners and depriving black Bermudians from jobs for which they are qualified.

The caption on one of my pre-Election letters to this column was, "UBP Grasping At Straws''. To me, the results of the Election confirmed that, for indeed the party went down. It sank almost like a piece of lead.

My question is; if straws could not save them from going down how will straws help them to re-surface? They are still grasping, at what, I do not know.

Reality check though, is that, if a person finds him or herself under water, not knowing if he or she will ever resurface, that person would grasp at air if it were possible, let alone straws.

RENDOL JAMES Sandys Parish Dock absent MPs' wages May 13, 1999 Dear Sir, I read with horror some years ago that the UBP was debating a 30 percent pay rise for themselves while asking the unions and the community to exercise restraint on wage demands.

Eugene Cox donated the increase to charity. A man of principle. I believe that John Barritt also spoke against the pay rise.

When I ran in Paget East three years ago I said I would give half my salary to educate some children. I am ashamed I did not offer to give it all.

But what really interests me is to know how many hours each MP spends each week to "earn'' his salary.

This question was raised by the poor attendance at the House of Assembly on Friday, May 7. Only eight PLP and ten UBP members! I would dock their wages! SANDERS FRITH-BROWN Warwick Poor corporate citizens May 17, 1999 Dear Sir, It seems that we are in the midst of yet another Bill Shoaf public relations blitz! The rumours about his alleged racist statements seem to have come to fruition with the delivery of the Human Rights Commission findings, and as we have all suspected for some time, there was "overwhelming and credible evidence'' that Mr. Shoaf made the statements that he did.

Now we are to be subject to yet another round of his denials, which no doubt will be printed daily in this newspaper. I just have one simple question, at what point do we say enough already to Mr. Shoaf and his employers? The fact that they have never conducted their own investigation into this matter does not sit well with me. By their silence, do they condone Mr. Shoaf's comments, are these comments and sentiments that represent the Rafael corporate culture? In previous incidents that involved employees of some of our international companies, those companies handled the matters with the care and concern necessary for continued goodwill with Bermuda and her people. But the Rafael Group have not proven to be good corporate citizens -- if anything they have proven to be an autocratic company, going so far as to hold this company to ransom with their threats to shut down the hotel if Mr. Shoaf was not granted his work permit.

It is time for the Government to intervene and put an end to this highly unpleasant incident.

WATCHER Paget Thanks for the help May 20, 1999 Dear Sir, Through the offices of your newspaper I should like to thank the following for their help in making The Bermuda Girl Guide Fashion show held to support our International Camp in July, the success it was: Mrs. Elspeth Gibson who ran The Fashion Show, ably assisted by Mrs. Karen Rawlins, the shops who loaned the clothes, the models, and those who helped behind the scenes.

La Coquille for arranging such a delicious tea, Mr. Andrea Chamberlain for providing the music, all those who gave and made the beautiful floral arrangements, and those who helped in any way.

A special thanks to our appreciative audience who came, bought tickets or made a donation.

JOAN WILKIE For Mrs. Felicity Lunn Chairman Bermuda Girl Guide Fashion Show