Isn't it ironic Mr. Editor, that the cold month of February is the chosen month for the celebration of black history. What's also ironic Mr. Editor, is that for the people who have the longest history, black people, they get the shortest month to celebrate it! DR. CLARK GODWIN City of Hamilton Local businesses dying February 4, 1999 Dear Sir, For a number of years, the Monthly Retail Sales Index issued by the Bermuda Government Statistics Department has included overseas purchases declared by returning residents.

The Year-to-date summary appearing in the November `98 Retail Sales Index showed that in January last year, there was an increase in overseas spending of 26.3 percent, in February 16 percent and in March 15 percent. However, this information has not been made available since March, and there is a cryptic note at the bottom of the page stating that " the series has been temporarily suspended''.

The comment is also made that "in the general stores category sales declined by 4.5 percent and stores that cater to tourists continued to experience declining sales, but neither shops catering to local tastes or department stores fared any better''.

Government cannot continue to hide the fact that local residents are shopping abroad in increasing numbers and local businesses are dying. Walmart and other North American discounters scarcely pay any benefits to their own employees so they certainly won't do anything to assist Bermudians when they become displaced because there is no employment here.

This is a serious problem which needs to be addressed quickly or the consequences of inaction will be a very bitter pill to swallow.

CONCERNED Paget Expose EMF dangers Dear Sir, `In at least 17 states, legislative or administrative agencies have formally considered the possibility of health effects as a result of EMF exposure.'' As a responsible adult I feel we need to look at the long-term protection of the residents of Bermuda as a whole, not just those of us in Warwick. We need to protect ourselves and our community from the harmful effects of erecting such towers near our homes and public areas where people gather on a regular basis like schools, community centres and parks.

We need to look at not only where new towers are being erected but also at where the existing ones are.

By being neglected today we could bring unpleasant economic and health issues upon ourselves and those who come after us. The costs to Bermuda to treat its citizens for various health problems could become a major burden if this issue and others like it are left unchecked.

What of the reputation Bermuda will earn to the world, a society that does not think enough of the general population to protect it from potentially harmful emissions until they can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that it will not harm them? I would like to see the Ministry of Health and the entire Government take some proactive measures towards protecting the health of all of Bermuda's citizens by having these towers banned from populated areas until the studies currently underway by groups such as the World Health Organisation are concluded.

If there is even one iota of a chance that just one child's health may be in danger from these towers, they must be stopped. How would you feel if this child turned out to be your son or daughter or perhaps your grandchild, sister or brother? I would like to urge each and every one of you to do everything in your power to ensure the protection of all the residents of Bermuda for any ill effects these towers could be causing.

Bermuda is listening and we look forward to hearing the ways Government and Industry plan to protect its citizens.

CONCERNED WARWICK RESIDENT Christie's on the block Dear Sir, I read with interest your article about the sale of Chelston for $15 million by "Bermuda-based Sinclair Realty Limited - which is affiliated to top English fine art auctioneers Christie's, which also runs an exclusive real estate arm, Christie's Great Estates.'' For general information, Christie's was last year bought by a Frenchman Francois Pinaud, the richest man in France. It is now a private company.

Pinaud secured enough stock, when Christie's was previously a public company.

To ensure full purchase of the company under corporate law, the shareholders were, it is my understanding, generally very happy since they were offered a good rate for their stock by Pinaud at the time of his purchase.

This is against a background of the forced opening up of the French auction market, which has been reported widely in the art media following on from the Treaty of Rome. Sotheby's, another leading world auctioneer has also been pursuing interests in France with a fury of late.

Most of this information has been reported through such publications as the Antiques Trade Gazette from England and endless other art and antique publications, and of course in the general media.

Perhaps it may be of interest to the followers of such things from among your readership.

Yours sincerely, NICHOLAS LUSHER Fine Art Football needs swift kick February 8, 1999 Dear Sir, BFA General Secretary Mr. David Sabir asked why football fans don't support attendance at games. Firstly the BFA have themselves to blame.

The present executive that is the BFA have done very little to enforce recommendations by the Commission of Inquiry into football headed by Hon. Sir.

Jack Sharpe, ie: Police at games, more parking for fans, clamp down on drug use etc.

The two past presidents -- Charlie Marshall and Mr. Thompson -- did a great job in trying to solve the above mentioned issues. The present BFA executive are very much non-productive. So Mr. Sabir, these are some of your answers why the general public don't attend football games.

Also, too much of the gate receipts are unaccountable and not put back in the programme of football. I, as a football fan, have also made suggestions to the BFA and they have completely ignored them. Thank you.

CONCERNED RESIDENT Warwick Seat belts save lives February 1, 1999 Dear Sir, I find it frustrating that the people of Bermuda make such a fuss about positive things and cannot see that they themselves have to change to make improvements. I refer of course to road safety and the possible introduction of mandatory wearing of seat belts.

Most of us have driven or been driven overseas and worn seat belts without a problem. Why then should we not wear them here? I was in a serious accident some weeks ago and had I not worn a belt, I would not have been here today to write this letter.

It is no trouble to click on a belt, especially on small children who can fly through the air and through a windscreen at the slightest jolt.

So many children are allowed to sit in the front seat of cars here and surely we all know that the front seat is known as the suicide seat. I see mothers driving into town in the morning with a child on their knee behind the wheel, or standing on the front seat, completely unprotected.

Where are their brains? Of course, at the same time, the mother is probably reading The Royal Gazette or putting on makeup -- it's incredible what you see.

Can't those complainers see that it is their lives that are being saved by wearing a belt and we should appreciate that laws are made to help to protect us.

It is up to us then, the public, to drive carefully and considerately. If those who are crazy drivers and want to kill themselves, let them, but unfortunately they may take an innocent person with them. But the wearing of a seat belt may save you on impact.

So wear your seat belt, set an example and show yourselves as caring citizens who are trying to promote safety standards and to protect the innocent. It takes about two seconds to pull down the belt and click, so to all of you just "belt up'' and find something productive to put your energy into.

M. SMITH Warwick Proof's in the paper February 1, 1999 Dear Sir, May I include another letter to you in this envelope. My complaint to The Royal Gazette in general is concerning the poor proof-reading of your paper.

Continually I see their and there, affect and effect, where and were and other words with the same or similar pronunciation used in the wrong places. Today on Page 4 under "Harbouring doubts'' the words "revert back'' are used. The meaning of the word "revert'' means to go back to a former state, therefore the word "back'' is not required.

I constantly see such elementary grammatical errors in your paper which is somewhat degrading to a paper which is so widely read and which should be helping to educate by its accuracy rather than seemingly approve of bad spelling and grammar.

M. SMITH Warwick