I would like to take this opportunity to reply to Michael Burke's letter, and all the other e-mail and telephone input that we have received, on the "new look'' Cablevision Weather Channel format.

For some time now the Bermuda Weather Service, in co-operation with Logic Communications and Cablevision, have been working towards the replacement of the old-fashioned, text-based look of the Weather Channel, with a more modern, graphical appearance afforded by the use of Internet technology.

The revised service was introduced on March 1. Subsequently we have received a considerable number of e-mails, mostly with constructive suggestions for improving the product. These responses have enabled us to gauge the public's perception of the service and have enabled us to make some immediate "tweaks'', such as the larger font sizes. We are also now in a good position to plan and prioritise further information pages. These will be introduced in the near future, and include the gateway cities weather, a synopsis page and weather chart, satellite and radar images, and a hurricane tracker, together with further improvements to the format and readability.

In the meantime, please have patience. Our objective with the new layout is to provide the public with quicker access to more varied information than they received with the old system. However, I would also suggest that the TV channel is primarily intended to give a quick update on the weather for general public use. Those who require more detailed information will be better served by visiting our web site (www.weather.bm) or by listening to the specific 'phone tape, such as the Marine Weather on phone number 9772.

Regarding the musical audio background, this is not the responsibility of BWS.

It is my understanding that there are certain issues here, in that this is a Public Service channel.

Finally, let me reiterate that we welcome all input relating to our products on TV, web site, etc., and will continue to strive towards providing a quality service and accommodating the wishes of the majority, time and technology permitting. Suggestions and ideas should, preferably, be sent by e-mail to bwsmanager yweather.bm.

ROGER WILLIAMS Director Bermuda Weather Service Where's our self-rescpect? March 24, 2001 Dear Sir, Mr. Stuart Hayward needs to be commended for his success in terms of the attendance and financial support that he was able to engender. That in itself suggests that there are sufficient individuals in roles of significance and/or authority to ensure that "codes of conduct'' will be established in a number of areas. Moreover, since "codes of conduct'' are specifically behavioural practices, without regard to inner values, they should have some success.

However, inevitably, the entire process was, for me, a reminder of the inner, or cultural, values which once existed within the black community and which made it a gracious society because of those values, traditions and practices.

It was of interest to me that Sir John Plowman was willing to acknowledge that we are still two separate communities. Age and experience, no doubt, gives one the liberty to be honest. Ms Bassett, vice president of Fire and Marine, reminded us that she was reared in a community with values and traditions which would have made "a code of conduct'' something extra. Realistically, when we were regarded as a gracious community, the white community treated us, as a black community with a "code of conduct'' that was not only disrespectful, but often insulting. Thus, it is the deterioration of the conduct and behaviour within the black community which has created a cause for concern -- even if we find it expedient not to acknowledge that reality. It was 20 years ago, in the 80s, when I first became concerned that the traditions and cultural values of respect within our own community were being eroded and undermined. High-profile decision-making blacks, anxious to be racially "integrated'' were not only turning their backs on both the traditional and cultural values within the black community but also on those older black Bermudians who represented those values. There were overt and unabashed attacks on all older black Bermudians for many reasons. They had never earned "real'' money. They had challenged the established power structure in order to bring about the changes that the younger generation was beginning to enjoy in the 80s. They were condemned and demeaned. As respect for the older generation was being discarded, that for teachers, educators, preachers and Christianity was being eroded for other reasons. Black politicians who were once respected within the black community because they were fighting on behalf of justice for that community were no longer respected as they were seen as betraying their own. The foundation for the deterioration of the black community and therefore for the whole society was laid. With a few of the wealthy and economically powerful from the white community supporting the concept of "codes of conduct'', it will undoubtedly have some success. However, high-profile decision-making blacks have a tremendous influence on the black community. It is far greater than similar whites have on the white community. There are many more whites, often with far more influence in the white community, because of their wealth and status, than mere decision-making whites in politics. It is very different in the black community, where almost all blacks have, historically, been excluded from roles of social significance and decision-making. Therefore, without our high-profile decision making blacks beginning to demonstrate the values and traditions of "respect'' for which I have appealed for the last 20 years, it is likely to be difficult to achieve the desired result throughout the entire community. There are many who will be untouched by those instituting the codes of conduct. Many of those who drink and swear at the various sports events were not represented, nor were many of those who were angry and resentful -- and disrespectful of black politicians -- because they felt that they were not representing the interests of the black community. Perhaps present were a few blacks who are "integrated'' and earning far more than their elders ever could conceive and who have grown contemptuous of the values of older blacks.

They may be inspired to establish "codes of conduct''. However, recalling the comments of Sir John Plowman who recognised the desire for many in the black community to establish their own identity, these blacks might have far wider influence if they were to take pride in their own community and point out that our traditional black cultural values have nothing to do with whether or not we do or do not still fear the white community. We respect ourselves and those values of respect which once made us a gracious community, even while being treated with great disrespect by the same white power structure, or the wider community. While outside factors such as TV and a growing international population may have had an influence, as a community we must take responsibility for what we have done to erode and destroy our own community both by turning our backs on those values and by deciding that our own individual economic security was the only thing that really mattered. The fact that blacks no longer fear whites as they once did may be a relevant factor but it is of far less significance than our loss of our self-respect and our respect for our own community and its values and traditions and our respect for each other. Let us in the black community, who are in a position to do so, establish "codes of conduct'' but let us also demand that those within the black community for whom we worked and voted begin to show far more respect for our community and for those who voted for them simply because they were seen as a part of our community and as representing our community. In our search for our own identity there is much that we have discarded that we can regain from our Bermudian `elders' far more quickly than anything that we may attempt to regain from traditions of the African continent. The first and most important is pride in, and respect for, ourselves and our own community and the traditions and cultural values which once made us a gracious society. If we learn, once again, to respect ourselves and our own, we will have no problem in extending similar respect to the white community, without fear of being seen as subservient since subservience is an outcome from a lack of self-respect.

EVA N. HODGSON Crawl Course is below par March 28, 2001 Dear Sir, I, too, have recently played at the Port Royal Golf Course and found it in terrible shape. There is little grass on the fairways, the sand is rock hard (and I was in it enough to know!) and, even worse, the restaurant and bar have been closed for months. I don't play enough golf to comment on the rest of the situation -- the staff was very friendly and the other `golf related' services were fine.

Having said that, our visitors are being asked to pay about $85 per round and a cart on top of that and they are being offered a very sub-par course and none of the standard amenities (restaurant and bar services) which are standard fare all over the world. No wonder they are beginning to look at Bermuda as a well-worn destination.

I know that the Government will have every excuse for the status quo -- they might even blame the previous Government -- what a novel idea -- but that won't change the condition of the course. If David Allen really wants to improve Bermuda tourism one of the things that has to be top-notch is the product. I cannot believe that it is so difficult to keep grass on a fairway, soft sand in sandtraps, and give people the opportunity to get a sandwich and a beer after a day of golf! My strong suggestion is to get someone in there who knows golf course agronomy and farm out the restaurant and bar to some Bermudian entrepreneur at a fair price (which, I suspect, is the problem)! DOUBLE BOGEY GOLFER Southampton First-class competition March 26, 2001 Dear Sir, I would like to say a hearty congratulations to all of those individuals & companies who were involved in any way in the 16th Annual Quiz Competition.

The students studied hard and represented their schools well. Thank you to the organisers and those businesses who donated many wonderful prizes.

I would also like to say a hearty well done to the public education system who produced the winning team and runner-up team. I would especially like to say congratulations to CedarBridge Academy. Many times over the past few years this school has been criticised and even predicted to fail. Well, they have not failed and the seven students who represented CedarBridge Academy on Saturday evening truly are "Students of Excellence''.

I think that it is of particular interest that these students come from the very first class to graduate Primary School at year six and go all the way through Middle School and on to Senior School. I have heard many people say that the new system would fail. I don't think so, I personally feel that the new system is a resounding success.

To DeLeon, Chardala, Mischa, Shawnette, Jana, Annamarie, and Everard I say, you have made your principal, coaches, teachers, fellow students, parents and, indeed, your country proud. Well done CedarBridge.

CONSTANCE PERRY Proud CedarBridge Parent Paget Just what is going on? March 28, 2001 Dear Sir, I have put off writing this letter for some nine months with the thought that maybe I was being too impatient and hasty in my opinion.

However, with tourism approaching "high'' season again, all sorts of money being spent on promoting Bermuda overseas and cries for the Bermuda plant to be improved, why is it that simple repairs to major sightseeing venues have not been carried out? Two examples: Before last summer the pole fencing on either side of the Queen's View below Gibb's Hill Lighthouse and at the bottom of Lighthouse Road (overlooking Waterlot Inn) had collapsed leaving the area looking very shabby.

In the same Lighthouse area, cabling has been resting on the wall and laying in the road with the surrounding landscaping looking in need of attention.

These are just two examples of what I am noticing in other areas around the Island. Our clean, tidy, well-manicured and well-taken-care-of roadsides have always been a source of wonder for our tourists and a source of pride for its residents. What is going on? V. ROBERTS Southampton Maitre d' responds March 20, 2001 Dear Sir, In reference to the recent submission written by the anonymous `Pro Human Rights' (Southampton), entitled `Hard to swallow' in `Letters to the Editor' (Monday, March 19, 2001), as Maitre d' of Le Figaro, I feel compelled to respond to this person et al and state as clearly as I can that this "seating change'' was not meant to create a politically charged situation.

Instead, on that day, it was my decision alone, given a busy restaurant and a strong desire to please all customers that I felt providing each party some level of privacy was a reasonable thing to do. I was not "instructed'' or "terrorised'' in any way, shape or form by anyone, nor would I be, and if my decision has met with controversy, then I apologise.

Le Figaro is here as Bermuda's only French bistro to serve all customers, whether Bermudian, expat or tourist to a relaxing, fun and very tasty dining experience. All of us at Le Figaro loves Bermuda and do what we can to improve its local and international reputation. We are not political and simply want to serve our customers thoughtfully.

Please come and enjoy! ELLEN SCHMITZ Restaurant Supervisor/(Acting) Maitre d' Le Figaro Car park's just the ticket March 25, 2001 Dear Sir, Thank you for printing the letter showing the retailers' perspective on the parking problems in Hamilton. I heartily agree. The lack of shopper-friendly parking limits the amount of time and money residents, like me, can spend in the city. Since I don't work in the city, I have to drive in and park to do my errands and shopping.

If I am lucky enough to get a space in an off-street lot, I may have two hours to do all my errands in town. More likely I get a one-hour space on the street. Then I have to rush through my duties, with no time to browse or relax. I might choose to have coffee with a friend, with the risk of a $50 parking ticket. Is it any surprise that our local retailers can't compete with the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere at North American malls? A pedestrian zone in the city won't help us local wannabe shoppers if we can't park anywhere nearby. Please fix the lack of parking spaces for shoppers before closing streets to traffic.

PEGGY BISSELL Paget