Yesterday I had the opportunity of addressing senior students at Berkeley Institute. What a great privilege and positive impression I had upon leaving.

The students I met were extremely motivated, pleasant and appreciative of Bermuda and the world around them with a desire to learn. To all of them, I'm sure you will do well. You are truly an inspiration and the light of the generation to come.

Many thanks for the invitation.

TOM B. BUTTERFIELD City of Hamilton UBP governed wisely February 15, 1999 Dear Sir, I was amazed to read the letter from "For a New Bermuda'' in The Royal Gazette of Friday, February 12. I had to agree with him/her though regarding the fact that the UBP are considering a name change. I personally think the UBP have absolutely NOTHING to be ashamed of and that they should keep their name. I certainly had not heard that they wanted to use the word "Progressive'' in any new title.

The UBP ran this country brilliantly. We have a economy envied by almost every country in the world. There is virtually no unemployment. We still do not pay income tax and I would love "For a New Bermuda'' to move to one of the jurisdictions where 50 percent of their income is taxed. It is a clean Island with a low crime rate. I find it very sad that people like "For a New Bermuda'' cannot recognise how lucky we were to have the UBP running this country for over 30 years.

I only hope that the Progressive Labour Party keeps the Island the way it is; indeed, I will be the first to congratulate them if they do, but I suppose we won't know that for at least three years. They have started to spend the taxpayers money unwisely, which means we will all have to pay more taxes somehow -- I wonder how "For a New Bermuda'' will feel when his/her income is taxed a little more. It really makes me laugh when I hear complaints about the UBP Government (either by letters to the Editor or by telephone to one of the local stations), you would think these "chronic complainers'' were living in Kosovo instead of the paradise that is Bermuda.

To the UBP, I say, please do not change your name and please keep Pam Gordon as your Leader -- she is someone to be proud of. It won't be long before people like "For a New Bermuda'' realise they have made a major error in voting in the Progressive Labour Party.

HOPE I AM WRONG Paget Supporting our own February 14, 1999 Dear Sir, Wouldn't it be an amazing accomplishment for Bermudians to remove their rose-tinted glasses and see that the very people whom we are looking for, are right here? There is no need to search overseas or anywhere else for a principal or consultant for CedarBridge Academy.

We have among us an educated, qualified, experienced, capable, dynamic, motivated and inspiring Deputy Principal, Mrs. Kalmar Richards. In her former positions as Teacher Mentor and Principal, Mrs. Richards had served The Bermuda Government, the school system and the students in an exemplary and zealous method. Since September 1, 1997 to this present date, she has tirelessly and admirably fulfilled her duties and has far exceeded our expectations. She has proven to be dedicated, capable, determined, constant, willing and able in her personal quest for excellence. Mrs. Richards' very demeanour demands respect, peace, cooperation and success. She has earned the respect and support of many, if not all, of the CedarBridge Academy family.

It is past time for us to honour, promote and support our own. We must appreciate the worthiness and abilities of Bermudians.

NORMA-ANNE M. SMITH Business Studies Educator CedarBridge Academy Less than picture perfect February 17, 1999 Dear Sir, My child had his school photo taken by Lasting Impressions on November 23, 1998.

Great!!! The ideal Christmas present for grandparents and relatives overseas.

Christmas came and went -- no photos. January came and went -- no photos. Many phone calls to the company from many parents resulted in excuses of technical problems and promises that the pictures would be ready next week. We now approach the third month of waiting and hear the company are out and about taking school photos at a number of other schools around the Island but where are our pictures? We received a note saying due to the delay they would offer us a $5 discount voucher which is worthless as I certainly won't be in a hurry to use them again! A phone call yesterday got a response of sorry our transportation broke down -- Hello, haven't you heard of taxis, surely a $30 taxi fare is not too much to please 150 waiting parents? I'm still hoping that those grandparents will be able to have a photo enclosed in their Easter card but am not holding my breath. I hope all you other parents have more success with this company than we have had.

FRUSTRATED St. George's Prep School Parents Outraged by remarks February 18, 1999 Dear Sir, My thanks to Carolyn Thomas for her letter ( Royal Gazette , February 17). She raises an issue that has had me steaming for some time but unfortunately I procrastinated. Now I will add my voice.

I was also outraged by Senator Gordon-Pamplin's remarks in the Senate. On two counts. Firstly, as Ms Thomas points out, we are not all Christians. It is not the role of Government or Senate to impose their beliefs on its citizens. It is their role to be impartial. In fact, I believe that the State and the Church were formally disestablished. This is a Democracy is it not? On the second count; the issue of repealing Dr. Stubb's bill. What about human rights? To hear Ms Gordon-Pamplin she would have us regress to another century. Additionally I read in a recent issue of your paper that the Reverend Doctor Goodwin Smith who has been appointed Chairman of the Human Rights Commission states that he is opposed to the legalising of homosexuality and would reverse the law if he could. What is this man doing as Chairman of the Human Rights Commission when he has openly stated that he is opposed to human rights? M. COX Bailey's Bay Our littlest riders February 16, 1999 Dear Sir, This life on the bus entry is written for those who, as yet, can't write much for themselves. These are the people too big to carry very far but still under one metre tall. You know, the ridership who favours the pink and bright green backpacks with pictures of purple and blue creatures on them. They usually have something in one hand like a "flower'', a toy of some kind or a piece of sticky candy. If we could imagine how huge that first step is trying to board the bus from street level maybe we might be a bit more patient as they struggle to enter the bus.

Once they make it up the steps things continue to be difficult. Independently they attempt to place small pieces of paper or round metal things into a very tiny hole about their line of sight, and that is why what is in their hands winds up on the floor more often than not. Again, a chance for those of us on the steps behind them to exercise patience.

Having overcome these formidable obstacles, these little ones now start down a big aisle looking for a seat. I watched them closely and realised there is very little for them to grab hold of, other than us, in this process. The handholds on the top of the seats are over their heads and the bars or straps that hang from the ceilings must seem like skyhooks. If they make it to a seat, it is not their size and they wind up sliding all over the place again with nothing much to grab hold of. Maybe that is why they sit on the laps of the big people so readily. One of the best things I've seen lately to assist these riders of tomorrow is the title of this letter. I watched two people, one before and one after of our little rider, stretch their hands across the aisle grabbing the opposite seat and providing the little one with a height appropriate grab rail. This continued to give the youngsters support and independence. Something I guess we could all exercise a bit more of, along with a healthy dose of patience and understanding.

DOCTOR MIKE Smith's Parish Marijuana's true impact February 16, 1999 Dear Sir, Government must study marijuana's true impact on Bermuda and then reconsider whether it should be illegal. The glaring inconsistencies in drug and alcohol laws should be examined. The social problems that follow from alcohol abuse are enormous and frequent in Bermuda: physical impairment, cirrhosis of the liver, impaired driving, road accidents, to name a few. I'm sick and tired of seeing young men's lives wrecked when they're deprived of going abroad to study because they're been convicted of an offence involving marijuana. My concern is to resolve the obvious contradiction between our emphasis on punishing people for using marijuana and the lack of punishment for using alcohol.

These are the progressive, encourageable and courageous comments of none other, PLP Senator Calvin Smith but Mr. Editor, they could very well have been, the comments of anyone of the 20,000 plus marijuana smokers! DR. CLARK GODWIN City of Hamilton