Allow me if you will to ask the Transport Ministry Dr. E. Brown to stop the madness of taxis being pulled of the road and letters written to taxi owners to take their vehicles to TCD for a smoke emission test only to see 99 percent of taxis passed.

If government was fair about smoke emissions from vehicles they would have to take every public bus off the road and container trucks. Also cruise ships would have to stop coming to Bermuda. Why does government keep picking on the poor taxi drivers. I for one change my oil air filter, transmission oil, fuel filter every two-and-a-half months and still get sneakily reported to TCD for smoke emissions. Of course diesel engines will give off some smoke emission.

Common sense; it's a diesel engine. Even more when AC is on or you have a load. The bottom line: Bermuda has a very low quality of diesel fuel and this causes a great contribution of smoke emission. I'm urging my fellow taxi drivers if they get any more smoke emissions letters not to take your taxi to TCD but until your normal scheduled exam. That is every six months by law. The transport ministry can once order your taxi to TCD upon faulty meter or faulty tires, or any safety defects, upon reading the Taxi Regulations Act of 1952 and also 1989 revised version. I recommend that all taxi owners get a copy of the Taxi Act at Government Archives or Government offices.

A FED UP TAXI DRIVER A challenge to MP Delaey November 22 Dear Sir, I feel compelled to write to you after seeing the story published regarding Mr. Delaey Robinson's stand on the legalisation of soft drugs, and the lack of any denouncing comments from our Government. Is Mr. Robinson therefore speaking on behalf of the Government? Does our Government support his views that legalising soft drugs will help to ease congestion of our court system, and that a crackdown would be harmful to the economy? How can a Government MP say such things? Mr. Robinson's views are utterly ridiculous. I have a hard time believing that by cracking down on drugs we are going to upset our Island's economy.

Mr. Robinson, I feel, needs to put the record straight. I challenge him, as one of his constituents in St. George's North, to publicly state why he sets a double standard on drugs. He first tells us to decriminalise soft drugs, then he tells us that he does not condone drug use. Mr. Robinson is also the only Member of Parliament, that I know of, who has publicly stated that he will not undergo drug testing for MPs. Is Mr. Robinson afraid to show to his constituents that he is drug free? I'm willing to take that test, why are you not? I await your reply Mr. Robinson.

JAMES E. DAVIS St. George's Don't destroy Bermuda November 23, 2000 Dear Sir, This present constitution has served and continues to serve Bermuda, the UBP and the PLP well.

The majority of members of Parliament whom we voted into office should not let the few vindictive, destructive and power crazy members destroy Bermuda.

I voted PLP, but I expected the many balanced members to have the strength to stand by their convictions and not be beaten down by the delirious few who have been power hungry for many years.

We have many ignorant, struggling and discourteous people among us. The few spiteful leaders aim to keep them this way. Time and money should be spent on alleviating these problems instead of spending the time and money to entrench the power of the leaders. There are many angry men and women both young and old. They are without incentive or hope. They roam around and physically attack anyone who may have something they fancy. They mimic the rude power grabbing behaviour of these few leaders. Time and money needs to be spend to eliminate these aspects of Bermudian life.

The first people who need to be taught common courtesy are the civil servants -- the teachers, customs officers, immigration officers, Police officers, TCD employees and most of the employees of government offices. The UBP was not out to destroy Bermuda. They just wanted to "keep us in our place'' -- a subservient place. Therefore they limited our opportunities.

The PLP are like the South African farmers. They are prepared to destroy the Island in order to show who is boss.

You sane members of parliament, both UBP and PLP, had better stand up and stop the destruction and lunacy before it is too late. The minister for tourism can huff and puff and throw as much money as he likes to foreign advertisers who neither know nor care a snap about him or Bermuda. The fact will remain that tourists will not return to a place where the people have been insulting and discourteous.

I will remain anonymous because I do not wish to go through the discomfiture of having to look over my shoulder for the retaliatory attack that will be sure to come in one form or another from the spiteful people in power.

A CONCERNED CITIZEN What an opportunity Dear Sir, "Common-sense people pulling together to keep this Island together.'' Constitutional reform should not be a political issue. It is a people's democratic-survival issue.

Party differences cause heat: not very much light. We need light: understanding. Support the very best Constitutional reforms. The Government deserves the credit: keeping their promise.

Doing everything to produce a solid, sound Constitution does not take anything from Government. It adds to Government's stature. It rightly will add to Government's image and should pull the people together.

I trust Government will listen and will be flexible with it's approach to Constitutional reform and by so doing, will elevate their public image on the world stage to the great advantage of the people of Bermuda: Something past governments never could, or would do! What an opportunity Government has to lift our people both present and future generations! My view is that our Premier, Jennifer Smith has the ability, integrity and love for the Island and it's people to accept this challenge.

Will she take this opportunity? I believe she cares enough. For the sake of us all, I pray that I may be right in this trust.

The gain will be country-wide support and admiration coupled with a continuation and enhancement of our collective future without the risk of loss of our present prosperity and opportunities.

WILLIAM LUSHER Pembroke Allen should be sacked November 24, 2000 Dear Sir, The PLP government say that they cannot afford to have a Constitutional Conference because it will be too expensive. Is it any wonder they can't afford it when I note from the November 20th issue of The Royal Gazette that David Allen has just returned from yet another junket this time, to Jordan to talk about tourism? In the House of Assembly he claimed that a lot of top CEO's and tourism ministers attended from around the world. About the only thing they could teach us is how to throw stones. Most Bermudians will agree that David Allen and the rest of the attendees were a bunch of free loaders taking advantage of free ticket and hospitality.

The same day David Allen addressed the House the Bermuda Sun published the latest tourist arrival figures, indicating of course another fall, which as usual Government attempted to cover up with double speak.

Mr. Allen also attended the World Travel Market in London (along with three other members of his department...more free loading) and told the House of Assembly here that he met with Italian tour operators to discuss a Bermuda/Italy charter flight next summer. He said this market has shown steady growth and has considerable future potential.

Those same Bermuda Sun tourist figures show that travel from Italy to Bermuda was down 44.09 percent for September -- and 21.16 percent for the year.

Incidentally, most of the Italian `tourists' are actually relatives and friends of Italians working on the Island, anyway! How can he get away with such outlandish drivel without being pulled up by either side of the House for the calamity he is overseeing? Sack him.

TAXPAYER Warwick Respect must be earned November 23, 2000 Dear Sir, Last night on ZBM News I saw Dr. Ewart Brown saying something about people learning to respect the office of minister and the minister himself. Respect is given to those who earn it, not to those who request it.

As to a Minister being refused entry to a public event by Policemen. Is a simple solution available? Yes, fire those responsible, I'd bet it won't happen again.

SPANISH POINT VOTER Pembroke