copied to The Royal Gazette .

August 24, 2000 Dear Sir, I write to comment on the Bermuda National parks Protected Areas (No.2) Amendment Notice 2000, which incorporates the lands of the Railway Trail into the National Parks System. The notice appeared in the August 16, 2000 edition of the Bermuda Sun.

I am not sure that the public fully appreciates the significance of this notice, and the total positive effect that it will have on Bermuda. To date Bermuda's National Parks system has secured nearly 900 acres of land (approximately ten percent of the island's total real estate). To now add a further 86 acres in one single event increases this considerably. Many of our National Parks are very small in size; the only park larger then the trail lands is, I believe, South Shore Park comprising some 90 acres.

The Railway lands that are to be added to the National Parks system preserve 19 of the original 21 miles of Railway Lands, varying in width from 40 feet to well over 100 feet in places. They traverse every parish except Pembroke, giving access to beautiful waterside views, arable land, and some lovely examples of Bermudian architecture. They are a haven for joggers, walkers, and horses.

As the technical officer in the Ministry of Works and Engineering at the time of the main transition of the trail (between 1983 -- 1986), I could not be more delighted. I know that many people have worked very hard for a long period of time to see this happen, and I cannot name them all, but I would like to mention some early names, a few of whom are no longer with us; The late Major John Carswell, and Mrs. Zolita Oliver who co-wrote the proposal that resulted in the setting up of the Ad Hoc Railway Right of Way Committee in 1982-3. The late Major Steve Vincett, George Hammond, Archie Minors, and Leon Eve, who served on the Committee for many years.

Hubert Jones and Jeffrey Tiberi formerly of the Parks Department who always took an interest, and the late Dewey Marquardt who was responsible for the major initial clearance in 1983-4.

John Keayes, and Russell Wade in their capacity as Highways Engineers did many improvements with their staff. And lastly, Bill Cook and his staff worked on the more recent proposal to add the Trail to the Parks System, and the Park Rangers always kept an eye on it, as it passes through many existing parklands.

I would like to register my thanks to the Hon Arthur Hodgson JP, MP Minister of the Environment who signed the notice, and to the Hon Alex Scott JP MP Minister of Works and Engineering for supporting the current expensive Southampton Railway Trail repairs. I have just returned to live in Bermuda after several years working overseas, and learning that the Railway Trail was to be added to our Parks system was like a welcome home gift.

PS. I don't know who is responsible for, or is funding the restoration of Clerk's Cottage in Admiralty House Park, but this again is a very positive event and an example of where our heritage is being saved.

VALERIE SHERWOOD-WALLACE, F.R.I.C.S.

Paget Praise the boys in blue The following was sent to Supt. Vic Richmond of the Bermuda Police Service and was copied to The Royal Gazette .

August 23, 2000 Dear Sir, We are writing to thank you and the force for the support given during the evening of August 12, 2000 to our Soca 2000 `Higher Heights' Concert held at St. David's Cricket Club Field. With the backdrop of violence in recent weeks and rumours of intended disruption of the concert by malcontents, our primary concern was the safety of our patrons. Although we had a full contingent of security personnel on hand, we were not equipped to handle a full-blown escalation of violence. We had thus been in contact with you that week, and were expecting limited Police support. However, we were absolutely overwhelmed by the large showing exhibited that evening.

We understand that there was not one but two roadblocks set up that evening to discourage and apprehend anybody that might have been considering disrupting the event that we had been planning for so long.

We also understand that there were many plainclothes officers at the event itself ready to defuse any potential situation. We know that some were detained for marijuana use/possession, but there were announcements made warning folk of the presence of the Police officers and the no-nonsense approach to any infringement of the law. The reports that we have received have, for the most part, been very positive and express appreciation for the tactics used by the Police that evening.

We have also received reports that a cache of weapons had been discovered close to the field. Whether this is true or not, the presence of your men and women served to dispel any thoughts of things getting out of control. The result was an evening that was well spent by those who braved the elements to see the fantastic band `Square One' perform.

While the threats of disruption and violence may have discouraged some potential patrons, in the end all came to naught. The biggest problem that we had was the rain, which did not dampen the enthusiasm of the attendees or the performers that evening.

Given the negativity that has been heaped upon the Police Service in recent times, we commend you and the men and women of the Bermuda Police Service for their responsiveness and support.

JOHN M. LEE Managing Director Sound Concepts Ltd.

The other side of the coin August 24, 2000 Dear Sir, This letter is in response to an article appearing in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday, August 23, entitled `Crime detection rates slump'. The reporter, Karen Smith, takes great pains to interpret the crime figures in the Bermuda Police Service's 1999 Annual Report, but seems to have been terribly rushed.

Apparently, deadline constraints did not allow the reporter to concentrate on any but the worst figures (complete with a chart properly entitled "Selected recorded crime 1999''). There are others, however, which may have taken a bit more time to include but which would surely have given the public a report of substance, rather than blatant bias.

Several examples are immediately apparent. Ms. Smith somehow managed to overlook the fact that, although there were more sexual assaults recorded in 1999 than the previous year, the clearance rate was almost ten percent higher.

Similarly, Police recorded a 12 percent increase over the previous year with respect to solving assaults with bodily harm. These figures were not mentioned. The reporter goes on to say that "one of the Island's biggest problems, cycle thefts, despite being on the increase yet again, showed poor results from the Service''. She failed to mention that, despite a higher number of cycle thefts reported, Police cleared a higher percentage than the previous year. It is for the benefit of Ms Smith and for those interested in capturing an accurate picture of the figures, that we repeat what was readily apparent in the Review of Crime in the Report -- that the significant increases in removed cycles, thefts from vehicles, and counterfeiting offences will have a negative impact on overall clear-up rates. Such crimes are typically more difficult to detect, a fact borne out when comparing the cycle crime detection rates for 1997 and 1998. The reporter insisted that her "selectivity'' was based on those crimes most affecting the community. Yet one is hard pressed to see the sincerity of this, as she nimbly sidesteps categories that are contrary to an obvious `slant'. The recent public outcry and Police crackdown on ground violence speaks volumes about community issues... and yet assaults causing bodily harm is ignored.

None of these points were addressed in the article. In fact, not much of anything positive was addressed until a subsequent article where, after Police protested, the reporter did manage to include some balancing figures. Mr.

Editor, The Royal Gazette article covering your address to the Hamilton Rotarians on August 1 quotes you as saying that you "try to put both sides of an argument.'' You are also reported as saying that it is important for reporters not to make decisions for the readers in the content that they present, as your readers are smart enough to make up their own minds.

Unfortunately, it appears that not all of your staff subscribe to your standards. The fact remains that, once again, the silent majority of satisfied clients are drowned out by the vocal complaints of only a few "armchair'' Police critics. Clearly there is obvious and disturbing bias here, Mr. Editor, which certainly concerns us, and should concern you and members of the public as well.

PUBLIC & MEDIA RELATIONS DEPART MENT Bermuda Police Service Editor's Note: It should be noted that efforts to get comments from Police Media Relations on the original story were unsuccessful. Nonetheless, it would have been fair to include some of the crimes where clearance rates have increased, if only to illustrate the trend that the story was reporting on; that the clear-up rate for crimes had fallen overall from 32 to 26 percent as noted by Supt. Vic Richmond in the report and that in crimes against the person, clear-up rates had dropped in six categories and risen in three.

Confused over award August 24, 2000 Dear Sir, Front page Royal Gazette August 24, 2000 "Island named best in the Caribbean''. How can we be best in the Caribbean when we are not in the Caribbean.

H.F.

Paget Driven around the bend August 25, 2000 Dear Sir, A person who holds an International Drivers Licence is able to drive a larger, more powerful vehicle than permitted on this Island, along motor ways up to six or seven lanes, travelling at speeds of 70 plus miles per hour. However, this same individual is not permitted to purchase and drive a scooter in Bermuda unless they have a form completed by a doctor and pass a written and a practical driving examination. Is all this necessary? Most Bermudians have family or friends living overseas. When they visit Bermuda for any period of time (within the 21 day limit) they are not permitted to drive their family or friends vehicle without going through the same process, only this time immigration must first grant permission. Is all this necessary.

A Bermuda Driver's Licence is accepted in foreign countries.

TRICIA A. SHELTON Devonshire