I wish to take this opportunity to share with you a positive story about BTC Limited.

On March 16, both telephone lines in my home were completely dead. I immediately reported the situation to the BTC repair, fully expecting a lengthy and frustrating wait for my phone lines to be repaired. My actual experience was quite the opposite.

That evening, a BTC employee arrived at my home at 7.00 pm and informed me that the line was `dead all the way out' and was probably due to a cable fault. He assured me that BTC employees would get to work on the problem immediately. Sure enough, three yellow trucks spent most of Friday working on the lines.

Unfortunately, by the end of Friday my phones were still dead. I was again assured that BTC would continue working on the problem throughout the weekend if necessary. Was I a little skeptical? Absolutely.

Nevertheless, BTC employees were indeed hard at work by 8 a.m., not only on Saturday but on Sunday as well. By lunchtime on Sunday both telephones were working perfectly. On Monday, a BTC employee called to check that all was still well.

I cannot help but be impressed by the level of service I received. Hats off to Ms Lightbourne, Carlington and all the men who worked on the lines -- not to mention the lady who took my initial call and showed admirable patience with this cranky customer.

Most of the Letters to the Editor regarding BTC are letters of complaint. I just wanted to take the opportunity to give credit where credit is due. There are friendly faces behind BTC and I got to meet some of the best.

C. WINEINGER City of Hamilton 100 days and waiting March 21, 2000 Dear Sir, Prior to the general election of November 9, 1998, Mr. David Allen repeatedly told the people of Bermuda "Give me 100 days and I will turn tourism around.'' Well, we have given him 500 days and he has turned it the wrong way. Does he have to kill it altogether before he is removed? Move him and put someone in who will tell the people of Bermuda the truth.

BERMUDIAN Paget Calling `black' activists March 6, 2000 Dear Sir, I remember your paper's contributor, Mr. Earl Outerbridge from the Wilderness Farm in Smith's Parish -- we called him the voice from the Wilderness.

As your most prolific Letter-to-the Editor writer -- at least one who signs his name -- I often feel I am casting pearls before swine. No one writes to say that I am a lunatic or explains why or does their constuctive best to give an alternative.

In fact, beside your ghost columnist Hester -- who still has not called me -- and Mr. James Collins who wrote to tell me that tabloid's a newspaper size (as opposed to broadsheet) and I stand corrected, no-one responds to my provocative letters -- and they are intentionally provocative -- I am trying to provoke a dialogue.

So here goes another provocation. I will offer a prize to the first black activist who will write a public letter and sign his name on the issue of out-of-wedlock children on the social fabric of Bermuda.

The prize will be the community's recognition of the achievement of intellect over emotion.

Almost exactly 50 percent of Bermudians born every year are born out of wedlock. The sociological implications are obvious. These children are at best inadequately parented and inadequately educated to command jobs in our International Business sector -- which must be competitive with the world -- not some artificial quota system implemented by a well meaning Mr. Terry Lister in his Ministry.

What parent of this 50 percent is black -- who knows, who cares -- but probably 95 percent. Who knows, who cares, because once they are born and improperly parented, they are at very high risk of creating social problems for all the community -- not just the black or white community.

In fact, even though we should all be brothers, we are definitely all neighbours. Anti-social behaviour towards our visitors have definitely had a serious impact on the product.

The hostility inculcated in the minds of the disenchanted has had a further negative impact -- we are too materialistic, too rude and too angry to serve our tourist guests -- and too expensive.

Who qualifies as a black activist -- any black Bermudian who "activates' on black issues only -- a single issue activist in other words. A community activist, like myself, would not qualify for the prize -- then again that person would already be able to "see the forest through the trees'', and would have commented already.

SANDERS FRITH BROWN Warwick Wheel in my shoes March 27, 2000 Dear Sir, I am pleased for the opportunity to put pen to paper to comment on a situation that has caused much frustration over the last number of years.

I have a daughter who uses a wheelchair as her only means of getting around. I would like to commend Lindo's in Warwick for providing a wheelchair parking space at their store -- perhaps other retail outlets would care to follow suit and become even better corporate citizens? Last Saturday we went to Lindos and found the wheelchair space occupied. I looked to see if they had a wheelchair sticker, licence plate or any other sign that the person needs to use this space.

I couldn't find anything. I decided to wait and see who owned the vehicle.

Imagine my surprise when the owner of the car came out of the store and ably got into her white wagon. When I pointed out to her that the spot was for physically disabled persons she proceeded to launch into a litany of unknown phrases although I am pretty sure she wasn't wishing me a Bermudaful day.

I thought it might be helpful to give the public a mini-quiz on the use of these spots: Question: Someone up the street from me is physically disabled. Does this allow me to park in the wheelchair space? Answer: No Question: I broke my wrist last year. Can I park in the spot? Answer: No.

Question: I am really tired from last night and don't feel like walking. Can I park in this special spot? Answer: No Question: My grandmother has a special sticker form the Corporation. She isn't with me but I am getting something for her from the store. Can I park in the spot? Answer: No.

Question: It is raining and I won't be long. Can I park in the space? Answer: No.

If you answered No to all of the questions -- congratulations, you are a good person.

If you answered yes to any of the above please feel free to spend a day with me and I will take you to the various parking lots and show you how difficult it is when people don't think.

I have always wanted to sign "`Steamed in Smiths'' but unfortunately I am not brave enough so my real name will have to do. CATHERINE JAMES-MCKENNA The Diversity difference March 22, 2000 Dear Sir, In your editorial, "The Racial Divide'' (March 3, 2000), reference was made in part to The Diversity Institute of Bermuda. I am now completing the advanced Diversity Training Programme at The Bermuda College and wish to respond to a few of your comments.

You communicated that groups such as The Diversity Institute often only preach to the converted. This would suggest that conversion is absolutely attainable.

In a true sense it is not.

The ability to appreciate and value differences is more of an evolutionary process, than an isolated epiphany. Diversity training is a valuable tool in the quest. The whole idea of conversion assumes that each will view differences in the same way, and carry a duplicate message. The original 91 graduates of diversity training were most assuredly not all on the same page.

Our training would have been sorely lacking in real life experience if we had been carbon copies.

Further, you opined that The Diversity Institute has "become a place for the endless rehashing of grievances.'' The essence of diversity training is experiential learning -- we learn best by doing.

The imaginative designs used in the training, including entertaining and revealing games, enables participants to draw personal insights into behaviours, attitudes and motives.

Though consensus is frequently reached during brainstorming, team building and feedback sessions, it is not the sole metre of success.

You note diversity training has value and is "making a difference for many, albeit one person at a time.'' The programmes created by our NTL facilitators evoke such excitement and meaning; that the ripple effect from each of us is probably now passing beyond our galaxy. Family, friends and co-workers were fodder for our enthusiasm.

We must resist underestimating the power of a one man band; human history is riddled with them.

Among other voices in Bermuda, you have called for a "national dialogue in which all people can feel safe to come forward and speak honestly in an atmosphere of tolerance and acceptance.'' As a result of diversity training, Bermuda has facilitators and consultants already in the field, working with big and small business, government, organisations and community, assisting in a widening popular conversation.

BONNIE CRITCHLEY Devonshire Don't lecture, learn March 27, 2000 Dear Sir, Your frontpage article in Wednesday's Royal Gazette concerning the UK's desire for a global tax information exchange ended with the comment that "Bermuda has already updated a Proceeds of Crime Act which meets international standards on eliminating money laundering and white collar crime.'' This statement, although true, is not completely accurate. The fact is Bermuda's standards far exceed international standards including those in place in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Bermuda's laws place substantial responsibility on banks, investment brokers, lawyers, accountants and other intermediaries to report any suspected criminal activity including tax evasion by their clients.

Neither the US nor the UK have the same requirements for reporting suspected tax evasion in other countries. In other words, banks and other financial institutions in the US and the UK knowingly and willingly accept funds from suspected tax evasion sources from outside of their country.

One of the largest tax evasion and money laundering operations was discovered last year at the Bank of New York involving multi-billions of dollars of tax evading funds from Russia.

We haven't heard much about this case perhaps because it is such an embarrassment to the US authorities. In addition, I would conservatively guess that more than 50 percent of the funds received into banks in Miami from South American clients are due to tax evasion in their home countries -- yet the US does nothing about it.

The fact is, if the US tried to put into place the same laws that Bermuda has enacted already, there would be howls from financial institutions and lawyers that would be heard from here to eternity. In fact it is doubtful that such legislation could pass.

Bermuda is a relatively clean jurisdiction. We aren't perfect but we are cleaner than New York, London and Miami and we are certainly cleaner than those islands to our South.

If the US and the UK want to do something meaningful about money laundering and tax evasion they should follow in our footsteps and focus on their own "backyard'' -- for it is full of problems.

Rather than lecturing us they should perhaps learn from us.

FAITH HOPE AND CHARITY City of Hamilton Truth and empire March 12, 2000 Dear Sir, There was once a great leader in China during the Sung and Tang Dynasties.

Our leader T'ai Tsu had a reputation for using authority fairly, for which people looked to him for guidance during the disturbed state of the new empire.

To reunify the war-torn nation, he placed the police under strong control and insisted on the use of a diplomatic process instead of blatant conflict. Since he selected his officials, he impressed on them the need for study.

Since Tai Tsu was very frugal by nature, he forbid excessive luxury in his government, declaring the empire was a great trust that he held.

At that time the corrupt Sui Dynasty came to power, it exacted a great toll on the Chinese people in the form of high taxes and forced labour, though eventually its unpopularity weakened its stability.

As founder of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Kao Tsu brought about reforms to expose and neutralise the political corruption of the Sui. He redistributed the land holdings among the Chinese people and instituted an "In-kind'' system of taxation, whereby people could pay in goods or foods. Thus weakening the powers of the moneyed classes. Under his leadership China was pacified and united.

(In my view, a truly great leader doesn't rule but guides, resolves disputes, promotes social harmony and encourages intellectual development.) Truth; "By using a mirror of glass you may see to adjust your hat. By using history as a mirror you may learn to foresee the rise and fall of empires''.

(Tai Tsung) GERMAINE (RICO) SMITH Pembroke