Why is it that an expert is brought in every six months to monitor and check the Island's X-ray machines for radiation limits, when in the whole history of cellular towers in Bermuda there has only been one one-off inspection? Who will be re-inspecting when the cellular companies switch to digital, which according to Power Watch (UK) are even more dangerous to people living close to the cellular towers? There are too many unanswered questions, too many vague answers. The truth is a long way off.

WAITING FOR ANSWERS Warwick Shocked by illiteracy September 14, 1999 Dear Sir, I refer to the front page story in The Royal Gazette (September 7, 1999) with the headline "Illiteracy: Shock Figures''. Quite frankly, when only seven out of 126 pupils in a Bermuda middle school have reached the required reading standard, it is appalling, disgraceful and completely unacceptable.

Bermuda prides itself on having one of the highest standards of living in the world, our international business generates more money than our tourism for our economy, we have a modern communications system with telephones, fax, cell phones, e-mail and now e-commerce. For those who cannot read, they will be left behind and become wall-sitters, or residents of Westgate. They will not even be able to fill in a job application form! I do agree that the whole community must be involved, but I note that Mr.

Wolffe has not put any blame on the teachers. Surely it is their job to teach our children how to read, to assign books which must be read, followed with an essay to ensure that they understood what they read. We also need to get the parents involved to ensure that their children do read at home and do not spend all of their time in front of the TV.

In the business world, any employee who has a success rate of five percent would be fired at once and this is what the Department of Education must do to those teachers at this middle school. Some teachers are not doing their job at the expense of their students.

A READER Pembroke `X' a serious problem September 13, 1999 Dear Sir, I've always held great respect for the work that Police do and Chief Insp.

Larry Smith is no exception. However, after reading The Royal Gazette's article about the "raid'' on `Escape', and the alleged capturing of `Ecstasy' tablets, followed by Ch. Insp. Smith's description of the drug, its appearance, effects etc. I feel somewhat disappointed. Raymond Hainey, (who wrote the article), Smith, and I believe some doctors were quoted as well, were all totally vague about the drug. I'm no XTC guru but the little info I've gleaned seems to far outstrip anything I've heard in Bermuda so far. `X' or `Doves' or `E' or `Adam' contains `MDMA' (which is really a long chemical name). The primary thing MDMA does is make the brain release Seratonin, which is the body's happy drug. Its primary effect is to make you think the world is a beautiful place filled with beautiful people and you want to celebrate that, usually by dancing. Your ego softens, many fears dissolve, awareness seems heightened and with all of this -- you remain lucid and coherent. That's why to the untrained eye its very difficult to tell if someone is on it.

Some of the tell-tale signs are the fact that someone "loves you man...'', they can develop a lateral eye wiggle, mild jaw clenching, appetite loss and afterwards can develop extreme fatigue, shivering, nausea and tremors. They don't, contrary to what others may say, want to drink a lot of alcohol, they don't need to, they feel happy and want to celebrate life, and its doubtful whether the alcohol would affect them anyway, so most people on `E' aren't interested in it. If anything watch for your regular drinker who's on water all night and is happy about it! The pills come in different colours, sizes and strengths. Usually with cool logos stamped on them like Tweety or Mitsubishi or Doves or The Golden Arches. But be careful before you start throwing out those Flintstone vitamins or your daughter's little yellow birth control pills; talk to the person if you're worried about them and try and find out what's going on, communicate. Most pills are between 100-150 milligrams, take about 30 minutes to kick in, peak in two hours and fade within six.

So far this may have sounded like an avocation for `X'. It's not. Yes the world would be a happier, beautiful place if everybody was on `Doves' all the time, but we'd probably live much shorter lives. `X' does trigger reactions for people with chronic illnesses, it can trigger strokes, heart ailments, diabetes, renal disorders, glaucoma, hypertension, possible outbreaks of rashes or acne and up to ten percent can experience chronic liver problems.

Most `X'ers will tell you to drink lots of water whilst you trip, however I have heard conflicting reports of some people having died in England from their brains over-absorbing water, (a simplification of what happened). but stopping dehydration seems the most accepted route. One of the biggest causes of death and injury in relation to `XTC' in places like the UK has been producers trying to cut corners by putting other drugs or substances in the pills, `X' is amphetamine related so by the time you realise you're tripping on LSD or heroin its too late, and this can cause all kinds of complications.

There has been little research on the physiological effects of `Ecstasy' on humans, so it's not considered safe. In both the US and the UK it is grouped with heroin when being dealt with in legal circles, i.e. possession etc. There are serious possible medical problems to taking this `hug drug' and the Police are correct in warning the public about it, but, let's do it correctly. If anything the vagaries of that article will prompt people to want to try it.

Let's get the Police Service, the hospitals and the public up to speed. It's not difficult, just do a search on the Internet, there are thousands of helpful sites to help fill in the gaps, some of them you might even find funny.

THE JESTER City of Hamilton P.S. In reference to the comments about "Invigorate''. The bodybuilding world, amongst many others, has come up with many legal substances to help them train, most of which can be used improperly for other uses. Trying to ban them might become a battle of farcical proportions.

Labour Day was wonderful September 10, 1999 Dear Sir, Please give me a little space in your paper to congratulate the organisers of this year's Labour Day Festivities at Bernard Park.

The day was filled with speeches, majorettes, gombeys, live bands and a host of stalls with good food, books and fun. Wonderful.

I marched and the water spots were welcome. Thank you to all the workers of the Bermuda Industrial Union. United We Stand -- Divided We Fall. To our seniors, thank you and feel proud for Bermuda is you and Bermuda is me. I will see you next year.

SISTA PAGET