I would like to comment on the report on the front page of the Royal Gazette , Saturday, March 10, 2001, entitled "PLP backbencher flogged for cruising in Government car''. Nothing new under the sun here I'm sure, with each and every one of us capable of bending or breaking rules. My concern is with the last paragraph, as follows: "UBP MPs enjoyed watching the discomfort the revelation caused Government. Shadow Home Affairs Minister Michael Dunkley said to Mr. Bascome: `Thanks Nelson'.'' I don't know how true a reflection this is of the Opposition's behaviour, but I think of the Bible story, where the Scribes and the Pharisees dragged the woman, who had been caught in adultery, before Jesus. Being caught means somebody is watching and I love the way Jesus turns the whole situation around as He confronts the self-righteous religious, who walk around with heads held high, supposedly shining examples of their faith, who under the scrutiny of the Son of God are forced to leave the scene with downcast eyes and anger in their hearts, having been caught out.

And what happens to the whore? She is forgiven and restored to life, rather than stoned to death before a jeering crowd. Jesus becomes her light and her salvation. No wonder she loves Him so much. We should remember that when we point the finger at someone, three fingers point our way.

I believe our political scene is `dirty' because individual politicians fail to place principles before personalities. It would be wonderful to see a change in this attitude in Bermuda. We could lead with solid, reliable, honest politics that could become the envy and example for others.

To this end I humbly suggest that Matthew 7:1-5 and the `How It Works' chapter on page 58 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous be read by our politicians at the beginning of their day.

`So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.' A. ROBERTS Paget Beautiful Bermuda March 19, 2001 Dear Sir, Thank-you yet again Bermuda for another perfect holiday.

After leaving the grey chill of our northern airport, what a joy it is to step out into the brilliant sunshine, the fresh sea air and all that living green! Most Bermudians quite understandably take this for granted, but in the industrialised parts of North America, the sunlight is dimmed by the soft mist of pollution and the air quality not too good. I'm sure that you play this up in your tourist brochures -- people consider these things when choosing a destination.

I must congratulate you on your superb public transportation system. It's so easy to get around the Island. The buses are clean, run frequently and on schedule and the skill of the drivers as they effortlessly (it appears) manoeuvre these large vehicles through traffic and on narrow roads amazes me.

And they are polite and helpful. The ferry service is similarly good. For the tourist it is a delightful little "sea voyage'' to make the leisurely way from Hamilton via Somerset Bridge to the Dockyard. Here I watched dolphins playing with their "trainers'' and a group of young tourists. My turn next year! And the Aquarium in the Flatt's area is excellent -- beautiful displays, very informative and instructional to children as well -- worth more than one visit.

And of course accommodation is so important. We stayed at Garden House, Somerset Bridge, the guest house of Rosanne Galloway. It is so nice after a days outing on the Island to return to this charming home and its welcoming hostess. If other guest houses have similar standards, then they must play a very important part in your economy.

And lastly, the Bermudian people with whom we had contact had such an easy air of cheerful optimism -- friendly, relaxed and ready to smile -- rather different from the sometimes hyped-up behaviour in our northern cities. That makes Bermuda a specially nice place in which to holiday.

Au Revoir, MARY AGNEW Canada Come on Cablevision March 19, 2001 Dear Sir, Some things never change is the old saying, and with Cablevision the saying is true. We think things are getting better with the introduction of Fox Sports World and other better channels, only to have to watch the Sopranos with a five second delay between the words and the actions...it reminds me of the old great Chinese Kung-fu movies of the 60's and 70's. The only problem is that we are in the year 2001! Isn't it about time Cablevision joined the new Millennium as well...For three weeks I have been told they are trying to fix it. Any chance of a rebate? I am sure not.

JULIAN ROSE Smith's Parish Come clean Cablevision March 19, 2001 The following was sent to Rod Hansen, CEO of Bermuda Cablevision, and copied to The Royal Gazette .

Dear Sir, It is 5.30 p.m. on a Monday and I am sitting in my living room with my baby daughter watching a cricket tournament. Not because we enjoy cricket, but because Sesame Street is not on again. This is due to the very frequent preemption of regular programming on the now only ABC network station. Why this is the case is anybody's guess.

I didn't always watch Sesame Street. I usually watched Oprah at 5 p.m. when I was home. Then WXYZ, the ABC station that does not have daily cricket matches, suddenly disappeared. No warning, no consideration of whether anyone enjoyed it, just gone. Now there is no Martha Stewart, no Entertainment Tonight and no late afternoon Oprah (which was a good time since my husband doesn't like to watch with me when it's on later in the evening). I happened to enjoy the station in case you are interested. Once Oprah disappeared and since my baby enjoys Sesame Street I decided this was a good compromise. This is when I began to watch cricket instead.

Why are these cricket matches on the only ABC station? I want to know why Cablevision cannot accommodate the customers with an ABC station all the time and put the cricket matches elsewhere. Maybe the Community Bulletin Board station? This afternoon, while having coffee with a friend, I began to discuss my frustration over the loss of WXYZ, not to mention KTLA, the regular Nickelodeon which had Nick at Night, Much Music and the biggest loss of all to my generation: VH1. My friend was none too pleased about the station replacements either, namely Speedvision and of course, another sports channel.

They are as exciting to us as the Discovery Channel in Spanish. Then the ladies at the next table, who overheard our conversation, pitched in to offer their discontent about the losses and the new programming. Then our waitress added her displeasure also. It seems a great number of people are not pleased with Cablevision.

I feel I've been tolerant until now when it comes to Cablevision, but I've really had enough about their sudden and seemingly sneaky decisions. The group I was talking to over coffee today was all under the impression that Cablevision must be doing something underhanded and getting caught every time a station disappears. If that is indeed the case and they are not following proper protocol and paying for the right to broadcast these stations, then why are we paying $65 a month? Where is our money going? I would really appreciate an explanation to the following questions: 1) Why are good quality television stations disappearing? 2) How is the decision process about replacement programming being made? 3) Are customer complaints about the programming being taken seriously? 4) If there is a fee to broadcast some of these stations we miss so much that Cablevision has not paid in the past, could they pay and offer customers another tier of optional service for an additional charge? 5) Why does Cablevision regularly preempt a major network with cricket? (Especially during the day when the vast majority of Cricket fans are at work, instead of weekends).

I hope all unhappy Cablevision customers will speak up. Maybe when it is determined how much of their customer base is displeased, they will be forced to give more consideration to programming changes. This is such a good example of the need for competition.

I look forward to a response from Cablevision. If they have nothing to hide and have good reasons for their changes, I expect they will be transparent and forthcoming with this information., K. ROWELL Southampton The great Dame March 26, 2001 Dear Sir, The very great Dame Majorie Bean will always be remembered with much appreciation by my family. I first saw her teaching at Central (Victor Scott) in the late `30s where she was outstanding for her beautiful presence and speech and drive. During the Second World War years she was a teacher at the Berkeley Institute where she taught my wife and myself. We males who wore hats and caps were always reminded by her and others to always tip our head gear to the ladies. The staff consisted, as I remember, of Mr. FS Furbert, Mrs.

Alouise Furbert, Mr. TN Tatem, Mrs. Dorothy Tatem, Ms Majorie Bean, Ms Hilda Roberts, Ms Elizabeth Kawaley, Ms Muriel Richardson, Mrs. Dorothy King and a few American teachers.

My wife and I supported the many cultural functions Dame Majorie was involved in which were quite successful. We became more involved with them after joining the Berkeley Educational Society. When Dr. Bean introduced fund raising for a library to be established at Berkeley the class of `48 held activities to contribute to it.

Once, when I headed one of her committees, I asked her opinion of why the black entrepreneur that I was had to endure so much sustained difficulty even in the mid-1970s. She said, `Ross the more different you are, the more different you will be treated'. Having written a report to submit to the Society, I was like a student of hers all over again as she went over it examining my English before presentation to the body.

Being appointed one of the five governors of Berkeley, I had contact with her in entertaining two of our previous governors. She was principal of Sandys Secondary School during my son Livingston's time there. We had contact with her again when she was chairperson of the Debutants' Ball and my daughter was Queen of the Ball. Dr. Bean was the organiser of that years before. She organised the Business & Professional Women's Association and the Committee of Six.

I was most happy when she was Knighted by the Queen as three years previously I had publicly advocated such. Among the many other organisations she was a member of were the Philosophical Society and the disbanded Bermuda Democratic Party.

She always thanked me for any praise I had given her in her columns.

ROSS TUZO Warwick