The photograph on the front page of the June 1 Royal Gazette , showing some 23 plus pre-school children standing in the middle of a busy highway and supervised by what appears to be three adults, is an example of crass stupidity.

How can any responsible adult allow such young children, who could very easily take one step onto the road and be killed? Thank God, nothing like that happened! I trust the Police will ensure that this will not happen again and issue cautionary advice to those who are putting the lives of young children at risk.

If adults care to stand and distract the commuters and they get injured, well that is their own fault, but those children should never have been allowed on the central island of the busiest intersection in Bermuda.

ANTONY SIESE A fine collaboration Dear Sir, I am writing to thank and congratulate Nancy Acton and Tony Cordeiro on their beautifully written and photographed feature, `Constant Companions', about eight-year-old Kelly McKenna and her Labrador dog, Loredo.

Besides being in a wheelchair all her young life, Kelly is a superior student at Warwick Academy. Loredo is with her constantly and contributes so much to helping her have a happy childhood. The strength and depth of this loving partnership must be a revelation to many.

Readers of The Royal Gazette , of course, recognise that Nancy and Tony have collaborated on features for your splendid newspaper for many years. The article touched an especially poignant chord with me. My oldest grandson, tragically, was born with muscular dystrophy, which, like Kelly's handicap, is incurable.

Confined to a wheel chair since a very small child, Jason will never be able to walk. Yet, at age 19 and now a university student, he shares with Kelly the priceless advantage of a loving family that includes two younger sisters and pets.

Jason is of Mexican descent on his mother's side and has always had Chihuahuas. To an extent they have done for him what Loredo does for Kelly.

Recently I saw on TV a programme showing how companion dogs are trained. The dog featured in the documentary, like Loredo, responds to no fewer than 54 commands. It is all a tribute to love and patience.

Nancy and Tony, thanks for your greatly appreciated professional writing and photographic skills in presenting such an interesting and wonderful story.

T.C. AITCHISON Pembroke Keep on driving June 5, 2000 Dear Sir, When shopping around for a new motor vehicle, I have found it worthwhile to have a look at the service department of the various vendors.

As I am looking for a new car, I recently visited the service department of one of the larger dealers. Over the reception area, a professional sign promised high-quality service and attention to the needs of the customer and their vehicle.

However, the staff attitude towards the daily intake of customers appeared to be very casual and laid-back. Far more revealing was a photocopied sign pasted against the wall by the service counter. It read: "I can only please one person per day and today I'm going to please myself.

Today is not your day.

Tomorrow doesn't look too good either.'' With this warning so clearly displayed, I have to ask myself why would anyone purchase a vehicle from this dealer? DRIVING ELSEWHERE City of Hamilton MPs failed St. David's May 30, 2000 Dear Sir, Please allow me the opportunity to clarify a few points which have been raised during the recent controversy concerning the proposed High Density Development on Texas Road: 1: All St. David's islanders want is the high density project spread around and not all of it placed on Texas Road.

2: The issue put forward was that area MPs failed their constituents, especially those on Texas Road, by not looking out for their interest on this issue.

3: That the absence of prior consultation with area residents and handing them a fait a compli, has placed the St. Davids islanders as the villains whilst their MPs left their constituents to defend themselves against varying aspirations and name calling.

4: That we support the building of 100 homes but would have spread the burden around the avoid overcrowding on Texas Road.

Mr. Editor, it is unfortunate that the Member of Parliament from St. Georges South has chosen to launch a personal attack against me in defence of his inaction in the Texas Road high density development.

The issue of housing is indeed a personal one that effects every man, woman and child in this country. The principles of development dictate that Bermuda consider its sociological viewpoint and to determine the demands these neighbourhoods will place on surrounding areas.

Unfortunately, unless the Government has a rethink and spreads the development around, an opportunity to practice sustainable development will have been missed.

Hence, I will continue, in spite of the name calling, to represent the concerns of the people to the best of my ability.

SEN. H. KIM E. SWAN St. George's She ain't heavy, she's... June 5, 2000 Dear Sir, I have always had the greatest respect and admiration for the men and women of the Bermuda Fire Service, and I am aware of how fit they are. They are also very well equipped, but I must express some surprise that, despite all their expertise, they must still rely upon a form of brute strength at times.

At least, that is my assumption, as according to your front page, Monday June 5, they employed `a heavy wench' to pull a truck out of the waters of Harrington Sound.

STUART G. GALLOWAY Sandys Parish Weaklings need not apply June 5, 2000 Dear Sir, Are we to understand that a minimum weight limit now applies to female applicants for our Fire Service? Your story on Page 1 of today's Royal Gazette (`Rain results in rash of road accidents') informs readers that: "The Fire Service was called to help pull the truck out of the water with a heavy wench.'' Presumably, 98 pound weaklings need not apply.

JOHN INSTONE An insult to my culture June 8, 2000 Dear Sir, In response to Phil Cracknell, for me to accept a Rhodes Scholarship would have been considered an insult to my culture and an act that would have only dishonoured my ancestors.

As to his allegation of a `crisis', the only crises that I can identify is the crises of the Western mind. A crises so evident in Cracknell's writings.

However, I must commend him for refusing to hide behind the veil of anonymity unlike so many of my adversaries. It has been interesting, but alas, it must come to an end, for I have bigger fish to fry! ROLFE PATTON COMMISSIONG Devonshire `Ugly' debate shocks June 12, 2000 Dear Sir, I am writing to voice my amazement and shock after hearing Friday's debate in Parliament on the radio.

First, I must say the debate was over a very trivial issue... the size of cars allowed onto the Island, but that is not where my concern lies. It is in fact the manner of which the debate was conducted which shocked me.

Not only throughout the entire debate were members shouting out of line and simply being loud and abrasive, but when giving speeches they were to each other blatantly "ugly'' in their tone.

At one point, a speaker even told the other speaker that he needed to "take his medication'' because he hadn't heard him properly. The debate reminded me of children who have neither the vocabulary nor the civility to reply in a dignified manner -- thus having to resort to cruel insults.

This is not the first time I have been shocked by the conduct during these debates. I have been debating for seven years and have seen more etiquette and poise in competitions between students than I have ever witnessed during a debate in Bermuda Parliament.

I, as well as many of my fellow students, have been taught that above all in a speech or debate politeness comes first. If there is even a hint of disrespect from a speaker, he or she will be penalised. Where does this decorum go after our years in school? It is quite evident that it is not located in Bermuda Parliament.

Lately I have been thinking about career options for the future and one on the top of my list is a career in politics, but after hearing this debate I am disgusted beyond belief.

Are these to be my role models whom I look up and aspire to? If that be the case, then I am definitely going to reconsider a life in politics or at least reconsider one in Bermuda.

What shocks me further are the speakers' lack of concern for their abrasive and abrupt manners of speech. I know that if I were to act in such an indecent manner I would be extremely embarrassed and would do everything in my power to prevent the debate from being aired on national radio.

Everyday Bermuda faces more problems which need to be dealt with quickly yet sensibly, and so I must then ask the question, how can our government control Bermuda when they cannot even control themselves? MIA FINSNESS (STUDENT) Warwick ,