In reference to Barbara Cuoco's letter "Don't Bite the Hand....'' in January 14th paper. Mrs. Cuoco says how mighty and powerful America is, and how they keep us alive. She also thinks that we should tone it down before we all regret it. This lady goes on thanking Mike Bearden for his letter in the January 12 paper. She says he is patriotic, and thanks him for telling it like it is and for being brave enough to stand up for America (which was stolen from the Indians).

Well Mrs. Cuoco, it's now my turn to tell it like it is. Everything America has accomplished, you all have the slaves to thank. They were the ones who were kidnapped and forced to build your so called `Wonderful'' country. If you knew your country's true history, you wouldn't be so proud. Now that's telling it like it is! T. SELASSIE St. David's Work permit concerns Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to express my concern on the new immigration policy as seen in The Royal Gazette . As a small business operator I find this very distressing. I feel as a Bermudian that the Government is implying that I am being dishonest and that I am not making an effort to hire my fellow Bermudians. Am I right in believing that nearly all businesses are owned and operated by Bermudians. (60/40 ownership). Why would the Government believe that people of our own country would want to hire a foreigner over a Bermudian? I have been in business for the last eight years and have hired many Bermudians. As our business expanded we decided to hire personal trainers to enhance our facility. Over the last four years even with advertising for employees with the very minimum in qualifications we did not even receive one local response.

The cost for a small business to locate someone from abroad who is interested in the job, apply for a permit, pay a permit fee and have to worry over where the employee will live is expensive and very stressful. Do you really think I want this stress? Would it not it be much easier to hire someone locally if they were available and qualified? The Government is now going to penalise me as an employer by making me pay more each year for a work permit because there are no Bermudians interested or available in the fitness field. I know that we are not the only gym that has this ongoing problem.

The Immigration department must know through all the applicants that there is a shortage of available Bermudians in certain fields. Are our college students studying abroad for aerobic or fitness degrees/certifications. Are they interested in working as personal trainers? If the Immigration department is trying to crack down on a certain area where they feel the system may being abused then they should be specific to that field of employment and not generalise. There are many small business's that will be hurt financially if we have to pay more money each year for a permit and if we have to send one trainer back just to be replaced by another trainer from abroad. Personal training is just that -- "personal''. A client builds a rapport with that trainer and it is not easy to switch them to another trainer. We have this problem now with trainer's leaving the Island because they are not happy here. Contrary to popular belief not everyone wants to spend years in Bermuda and most wish to stay two years at the most.

I would be willing to train a Bermudian for the position, however, with personal training most of the qualification is personal experience with weight training plus certification. If the Government is willing to find a person with a background in fitness, pay for their certification, pay their salary and taxes for at least one year then we will be able to take the time to train this person for the position for a year.

I appreciate your taking the time to read my concerns on this subject and appreciate any thought you would give to this matter to help me in my business.

KAREN MAGNUM A walk to remember January 27, 2000 Dear Sir, Because of the participation of so many wonderful people the American Ladies in Bermuda Charity & Social Organization's Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Remembrance Walk, was a great success. To the Honourable Dame Lois Browne-Evans and the Honourable Pamela Gordon, we thank you for spending a Bermudiful Sunday afternoon with us as we renewed our spirit, walking, singing and reconnecting ourselves with the legacy of Dr. King.

To the Bermuda Parks Department, sponsors, participants and pledge givers, we are ever grateful for your time, energy and commitment to this event. Lastly, Deborah McConnaughey-Bruce, Chairperson, the Dr. King Planning Committee and ALIB members, thank you again for your untiring diligence in taking this event to a new level of success.

Next year Bermuda, you are all invited to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as we continue to walk in his memory.

RUBAZEN COOK-TUCKER President American Ladies in Bermuda Who owns Harrington? January 25, 2000 Dear Sir Every evening for the past several years a nice black cat has appeared at Palmetto Bay Hotel to enjoy supper. With construction at Palmetto Bay due to commence soon alternate dining arrangements must be made for `Harrington' the cat -- but before we make any effort to relocate him we definitely need to be sure that he is a stray and not actually someone's pet! Does anyone in the Flatts Hill/Town Hill area own a jet-black cat with very yellow eyes and a most distinguishing feature -- the tip of his pink tongue can always be seen poking out of his mouth? (We already know about the other black cat that lives at Grove). If you have any information please call the Aquarium 293-2727 X138 Judie Clee. Thank you.

JUDIE CLEE Flatts No way to attract talent January 27, 2000 Dear Sir, Minister Cox's speech on proposed work permit policies was chilling. It's not Bermudians in search of better employment who should rejoice, but the chambers of commerce of the Dublin Financial Centre, The Cayman Islands and Hartford, Connecticut.

If we are to continue to run world class businesses here we must have competent motivated employees at all levels of our workforce. Our competition abroad does, so must we. My company and others can be counted on to act in our own financial self interest. We therefore will always prefer an equally competent Bermudian over someone from elsewhere. Bermudians live here. We avoid relocation costs and the risk that the expat as with a move to any new place, may not adjust well to Bermuda. If educated, bright Bermudians with a strong work ethic show up at our doors ready to make their contribution to our businesses, then they will find work and advancement.

A get-out-of-town date on new work permits would prevent us from attracting the best talent in some positions. We would have no choice but to locate those functions somewhere else.

We all came here voluntarily. As owners and managers it is our choice which parts of our business remain on this beautiful Island, if any. We did not come to Bermuda so that Bermudians could have jobs with our companies. Bermudians have jobs with our companies because we came to Bermuda.

It won't be a mass exodus with the airport jammed with refugees in business suits cramming onto the next flight out. It will more likely be a slow attrition, hardly noticed at first. The cumulative effect would be devastating to the very Bermudians who Government claims will benefit.

For the good of the Bermuda that so many of us love and for Bermudians they were elected to serve, the Government has no good choice but to rethink their proposed position on the granting of work permits.

WILLIAM H. WILLIAMS Chief Executive Officer STW Fixed Income Management A former speaker speaks January 28, 2000 Dear Sir, Please allow me space in the Letters to the Editor section of your newspaper to inform your readers that the letter signed by Ernest DeCouto, City of Hamilton ("How do we compete?'') which appeared in your paper on Thursday, January 27, 2000 was not written by the former Speaker of the House of Assembly.

HON. ERNEST D. DECOUTO, CBE,JP Smith's Parish