Dear Sir, On Monday, June 21, my husband and I were snorkelling off Church Bay on the South Shore. We have visited the bay frequently snorkelling and swimming in the clear sea. However, on this occasion, whilst 200 feet off shore, I ran into a Portuguese Man of War. The pain was very shocking and intense as it was on my back with tentacles all over my arms, torsos and legs. I was in a total panic and my husband had to knock the creature off my back to free me.

The swim to shore was very difficult and at times I didn't think I'd make it.

Once on shore I screamed that I'd been stung and ran towards two men who were renting snorkel equipment and selling refreshments.

My husband suggested trying them as we had no idea what to do. They were both superb and gently helped to remove the tentacles. They then covered me with vinegar and helped to calm me down. They gave me ice water and a towel to stop me shaking. I can honesty say that without their presence I may have gone into a total shock. Despite the fact that they are just there to run a business and not as lifeguards.

They were prepared to help others and have a large first-aid kit and a large bottle of vinegar in case of emergencies. I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart and I hope their presence continues on Church Bay. I would also like to thank others who offered help and sympathy.

As I was so externally stung I went to the hospital where again, I was grateful to the kind and efficient nurses. I would like to thank all the staff at the Emergency Department who helped me and to remind Bermudians of what an excellent health care system they have.

YVONNE GORDON Paget Don't throw away money June 24, 1999 Dear Sir, So the PLP is considering the purchase of "Chelston'' with a price tag of $15 million. I wonder what the voters think of this latest "expense''. Not satisfied with limousines, first class travel and a personal bodyguard, they are now considering the purchase of one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in Bermuda.

I honestly did not think that the PLP were so self-centred. They did promise to deal with the dreadful housing problem and $15 million would surely provide about 50 low cost housing units. I sincerely hope they will think long and hard about throwing away the tax payers money on this dream. Furthermore, I have heard that "Chelston'' needs another $3 million put into the property to bring it up to a good standard. That would be another unit for people in need.

So Madam Premier, instead of throwing away about $15 million on a dream house, consider instead developing about 60 low cost housing units for the Bermudians who would appreciate a decent home.

STILL HOPING City of Hamilton Record speaks for itself June 27, 1999 Dear Sir, "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a strange and not thine own lips.'' Proverbs 27.2.

In yesterday's edition of The Royal Gazette , in the article entitled. "Half of students drop out of Best Steps programme,'' it was stated, "More than half of the students who enrolled in a preparatory programme at the Bermuda have dropped out.'' The article also confirmed that, "The Best Steps programme was implemented two years ago in an attempt to help students who did not meet the entry requirements to the college to get up to speed.'' Surely, this record must also speak for itself.

DR. MURIEL M. WADE-SMITH Smith's Parish Posing a threat June 24, 1999 Dear Sir, Cellular telephone towers release electromagnetic radiation, a form of energy wave that includes everything from high energy X-rays and cosmic rays through visible light to the low energy electric and magnetic fields released from power lines.

High energy electromagnetic radiation is clearly harmful, and can cause cancer and damage to the body. While there is still controversy over whether low energy electromagnetic radiation is also carcinogenic, a report to the US Congress by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences on possible human health effects of power-line frequency electric and magnetic fields, released this past Tuesday, concludes "the epidemiologic studies demonstrate... a fairly consistent pattern of a small increased risk with increasing exposure that is somewhat weaker for chronic lymphocytic leukemia than for childhood leukemia.'' The report also concludes that animal studies have not resulted in cancer, and no mechanism is known to explain the increased leukemia seen in people exposed to those fields.

Cellular phone towers release electromagnetic radiation that is of higher energy and higher frequency than that form power lines. This form of electromagnetic radiation is usually called "radiofrequency'' (RF), because it includes those frequencies used for radio and television transmission.

Because RF fields have higher energy, they might be expected to be more dangerous than power line fields, but there have been few human health studies. RF waves are basically microwaves, which clearly cause heating if the intensity is great enough. The present debate is over whether or not there are "non-thermal'' effects of RF fields.

Of the human health studies reported to date, some show effects while other do not. Or particular interest is a 1996 study from Australia showing that childhood leukemia was significantly increased in children living close to a TV tower, while a 1997 study from Great Britain showed that adult leukemia was highest close to a TV tower and fell off with distance away from the tower. A study of mice in 1997, also from Australia, showed an increase in lymphoma upon exposure to cellular phone RF frequencies.

Present international standards for exposure to RF fields are based on heating effects, and may not be adequate to protect people from non-thermal effects.

It is premature to conclude that RF fields definitely cause leukemia, but it is also clear that one cannot conclude that they have been proven to be "safe''. Under circumstances of this uncertainty, the wisest approach for both governments and individuals is to reduce human exposure as much as possible within the context of what is realistic.

Upon visiting Bermuda I find that the cell phone tower in Warwick is located in a residential neighbourhood within 30 feet of homes where children live and play. I have never before seen a cell phone tower so close to a residence. In addition the tower is low, which results in an increased RF exposure to local residents. Given the clear indication that RF exposure is associated with an increase in childhood and adult leukemia and possibly also brain and breast cancer, this is very unwise. I am told that other cell phone towers in Bermuda may be even closer to residences. I urge the Government, cell phone industries and the public to work together to find ways of providing cell phone service in such a manner so as not to pose a threat to the health of the citizens of Bermuda.

DAVID O. CARPENTER M.D.

Professor University at Albany Albany, New York Wharfage fees June 24, 1999 Dear Sir, This is in response to the letter in today's Royal Gazette complaining about the recent goods wharfage increase, and his or her allegation of a monopoly arrangement with the stevedoring company presently operating on the docks.

Firstly, with regard to the goods wharfage increase, this was the first increase since the year 1972. The Corporation of Hamilton requires the approval of Parliament for any increases in its goods wharfage fees and despite previous attempts to have smaller increases, this one was approved by Parliament with the support of Government for which the Corporation was most grateful. Incidentally, the actual increase was from 1.01% of the value of goods to 1.11% With regard to a "monopoly arrangement'' the contract to operate Hamilton Docks was, and is, always publicly advertised when it is due for renewal. The present contract was put out to bid in October and November, 1997 and there was only one applicant -- Stevedoring Services Ltd. -- which was awarded the contract.

The Hamilton cargo docks operate in a confined area and with the existing construction boom (there has been a 9 percent increase in volume compared with 1998 which recorded the highest ever volume of cargo passing through the docks) there are congestion problems which can result in delays clearing goods off the docks. Contributing to this problem is the fact that some importers tend to use the cargo docks as a warehouse and do not clear and remove their goods in a timely fashion. It would be most helpful if everyone importing goods would make every effort to remove their goods once they have been cleared.

ROGER J. SHERRATT Secretary Corporation of Hamilton Hodgson and dogs July 2, 1999 Dear Sir, As everyone in Bermuda lives within a few hundred yards of a dangerous dog, most of your readers will not doubt be disappointed to learn that the Environment Minister, Mr. Arthur Hodgson shies away from taking effective measures on dog, safety ( Royal Gazette , June 29).

Legislation requiring killer dogs to be neutered and banning their import was introduced into the United Kingdom, most European countries and North American states and provinces in response to the death and permanent disfigurement of the victims of dog attacks many of whom were young children. The substantial body of evidence on the nature of dangerous dogs, the threat posed by them and the form of legislation utilised by various countries to deal with the threat is readily available to the Government at very minimal cost. One would hope that the Government would avail of experience elsewhere to act before a child is killed in Bermuda rather than being prompted by the revulsion that will follow this tragedy.

Balancing competing freedoms, in this case the right of an individual to own a fierce dog against the right of the public not to be threatened or attacked by these creatures, is a difficult but necessary duty of any government. The abundantly clear nature of the threat posed by dangerous dogs should tip the scales against permitting their ownership in Bermuda as it has done in the rest of the civilised world.

FIDO St. David's Thoughts on racism July 2, 1999 Dear Sir, When I hear the word "Racism'', my mind shifts immediately to a vision of pointed white hats and a struggle for the rights of black people. Hundreds of years of slavery and unjust treatment based on the sheer colour of one's skin must be acknowledged, no question about that. Personally, as a white Bermudian, I can realise the anger that is apparent towards white people because of the horrendous atrocities that occurred historically towards black people. Those who suffered have every right to have their stories told and receive some kind of recognition of their plight. And that goes for all cultures and peoples that have been oppressed. Yet in this time of change in Bermuda, one must ask people where they stand on the issue of race relations.

Are you actively trying to stop racism or are you promoting feelings of animosity that are snowballing into larger issues? Personally, I do not feel it is necessary to judge people based on gender, race, or sexuality because these are things we do not choose. When we are born, are we asked what colour we would like to be? Do we have a choice of the history that we are born into because of our colour, religion or nationality? Last time I checked, it wasn't an option.

Not that it should matter anyway, because when I bleed, I bleed the same colour blood as the person sitting beside me or passing me in the street. We stem from the same biological structure: a heart, lungs, a brain and everything else in between. we are the same biologically. Culturally, yes, everyone is different. We all have had struggles and suffering, but where do we stop blaming people for what they have done to us? Hate begetts hate, and quite frankly, I don't have the time or effort to hate someone because of historical facts.

Which brings me to the other day when I was driving my car home. I had to stop behind a car that had stopped in the middle of the road for no apparent reason. No-one got out of the car, no-one got in. So, I honked my horn. I was mouthed off. Fine, I assumed end of confrontation. In fact, it wasn't. the driver of the car had caught up to me and proceed to shout out of his window, "You f****** white b****.'' OK, so that's what got me. Were you angry because I honked my horn at you? I do apologise. But next time you stop in the middle of the road, have some consideration for other motorists. And why did you find it necessary to yell a racial slur at me? Were you looking for a confrontation? Sorry, I am a pacifist, I fight with a pen, not a sword.

So, if perhaps anyone knows who drives a Mitsubishi Lancer station wagon with tinted windows, please honk your horn.

THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD City of Hamilton Setting record straight June 30, 1999 Dear Sir, I refer to the article published in the June 29 edition of your newspaper under the headlines "Lawsuit filed in US against Centaur'' and "Underwriter faces fraud accusation'' and written in connection with legal proceedings brought in Minnesota by Allianz Life Insurance Co. of America. (This article came to my attention in England, where I am currently on business). There is at least one material inaccuracy and one important omission in the article which must be corrected.

Firstly, a lawsuit has not been brought against Centaur by Allianz in Minnesota or elsewhere. As an examination of the court record will reveal, the defendants to the Minnesota proceedings are Aon Re Inc. of Chicago and three US insurance companies.

Secondly, your article refers to Centaur being named as a defendant in separate proceedings brought by Odyssey Re in New York While it is true that Centaur was, until recently, a defendant in those proceedings, Centaur has now been dropped as a defendant, Odyssey Re having agreed to discontinue the action on a without prejudice basis.

Accordingly, Centaur is not at this time a party to legal proceedings, whether in Bermuda, the United States or elsewhere.

I am sure that you will appreciate the harm that can be caused through inaccuracies and omissions of this nature and I am grateful to you for the opportunity to set the record straight.

JOHN CACKETT President, Centaur Underwriting Management Ltd.

Editor's Note: Our headline "Lawsuit filed in US against Centaur'' was inaccurate and we are pleased to correct it. We were not aware that the action brought by Odyssey Re against Centaur had been dropped and acknowledge that neither Centaur, nor Mr. Cackett, is a party to any legal proceedings in the United States.