There is currently a lot of discussion and concern over our aging population and rightly so because contrary to popular belief, everyone over the age of 65 is not eligible to receive a pension and there are quite a number of seniors 65 years and over who receive no pension - some through their neglect to follow up on the change over from the monthly pension stamp book to those who choose to work for the small time journeyman contractor who did not bother with the paperwork involved in the Pension, H.I.P. and Payroll tax scheme.

When the change over from stamping your own pension book came about, Government was supposed to have informed all self-employed people on a monthly basis as to when the contributory pension payment was due. Some received the notice and many others did not, so consequently many became delinquent on their pension payments to the point where catching up on the back payments was financially impossible for many including this writer who offers no excuse for being one of the delinquents and who is not looking for any hand out as I am still in a reasonable state of good health and able to do a fair day's work.

(But there are no guarantees) There are quite a few non-pension receivers who are not as fortunate so I count my blessings everyday.

What are we, who live in this affluent society, to do about this dilemma? My suggestions: 1. There is a need to establish a work programme for the over 65 year old non-pension receiver who is financially strapped but still physically able to give a fair days work.

2. If your pension payments over the years falls short of the eligibility for receiving a monthly pension check, ask Government for a full refund of what you have paid into it.

3. Do your best to stay as reasonably healthy as possible. Do some cardiovascular and moderate strength maintaining exercise 3-4 times weekly. 4.

Get a complete physical once a year which should be free to all seniors who cannot afford to pay.

5. Eat moderately and healthily.

6. If you are single 65 and over, `Don't Stop Courting'. There are lots of beautiful ladies and handsome men out there in their, 50's, 60's and 70's just waiting to be courted, Remember `Age is just a number'.

In closing, "keep up you H.I.P. payments''. If you can't meet them, ask you children (if you have any) to pay for you. I'm assuming that you have a good relationship with them and that they continue to love and respect you.

OVER 65 NON-PENSION RECEIVER City of Hamilton Where are we going? Dear Sir, I really don't know what this world is coming too. Time ago Bermuda was once a Christian community, but now it seems everything is falling apart. Too many people are taking Christianity the wrong way. They think because they go to church every Sunday, that's it. But being a Christian is much more than that.

We must be willing to help people in the time of need. Instead of turning our lips up at people, who are poor, who are in need of help. In the bible God has told us that our riches are in heaven and the riches on earth are of no use to us. How many of your Christians are willing to give up your earthly riches, like Jesus asked the rich man to do? Many of you would refuse just like that rich man did. Instead of helping and loving one another, we are out here worrying about how much riches we car gather while we are on this earth. Many of you are out there working two to three jobs trying to get things that you don't need. God don't want us to be out there killing ourselves with work. He wants us to enjoy like, and for us to be satisfied with what he has given us.

Our main overtime work should be for the Lord. How many of us take that special time to visit someone in need? Don't get me wrong, I am not referring to everyone. We as Christians, must be more loving with everyone, mainly our families. We should be proud of our families, we should be thankful to the lord for our families. I am very proud of my family, my wife and my daughter, I love them both very much, I'll do anything in my power to support and to take care of my family. I've dedicated my life to them both and as husband and wife, you don't go around and put pressure on each other, trying to get things you both don't need. Be happy with what you've got. I was once told that the best thing that came out of my marriage was my daughter. At first that statement hurt me, but now I feel proud, because in a marriage the children you have, are the blessing of a marriage, and not all the riches you have. My children are the riches of my life, and I am very proud of them. As Christians it is time to get back to the basics and stop forgetting out teaching from Bible. Too often the worker for Christ fails to realise his personal responsibility. He is in danger of shifting his burden upon organisations, instead of relying upon Christ who is the source of all strength. It is a great mistake to trust in human wisdom. When you trust in the lord, human wisdom is dead. In closing I would like for you all to read Isa. chapter 58 verse 7 to 10, also, Mark chapter 16 verse 15. Thanks.

CONCERNED PERSON Pembroke What a waste of time August 22, 2000 Dear Sir, Thank goodness we have reached the end of one of the least productive sessions of Parliament in memory. Whilst the break will be short all of Bermuda hopes that it will be sufficient to establish some value and reason to return for the fall session. Hopefully we will hear less of why Ministers need big houses and more of the Governments policy on housing our growing homeless population.

Hopefully we will read less of why we should legalise soft drugs and more on the dangers and contamination to the fabric of our society caused by illegal drug use -- hard or soft. Hopefully we will witness the leadership of the individual members in serving the country and not just more of `jobs for the boys' practice. Surely if we can spend two sessions on the dogs Act we can spend some meaningful time on the people.

Much speculation has surrounded our Premier's chances of reelection as her party's leader. I don't believe that we should be losing sleep over this one.

The changing of leaders at this time, even in the most liberal of quarters, is agreed to be tantamount to political suicide. What we should be asking is what price is Bermuda paying to secure the Leader's position. Is the price buried in the OECD agreement yet to be released; the 60/40 regulation changes yet to be proposed; Constitutional changes hurried to meet the Party Conference; and or the Green Paper on Long Term Residents dramatic change from what was promised when the PLP was `in waiting'.

The proposed Constitutional changes and the Green Paper can be agreed by all to hold significant consequences not only for the here and now but for many generations into the future. Given that fact and given the disdain that the Premier and the Government hold for the media, in particular your paper, why would the Government rely on you to report to the people the contents of these documents? Has all the money been spent on the 500-day report or did we not anticipate the need for good old political bombast for the upcoming PLP Party Conference? DAVID J. SULLIVAN Somerset In need of a good home August 24, 2000 Dear Sir, My reason for writing this letter to the Editor is to hopefully convince a family to adopt a pitbull from the SPCA. I read in The Royal Gazette how overcrowded and unbreakable the Government Kennels are for dogs and how the SPCA does not have enough runs for all the dogs, apparently mostly pitbulls that they have in their care. I do not wish to hear that euthanasia has to become a method of solving this overcrowding. However, living in a cage offers no quality of life for any breed of dog.

People are frightened of pit bulls and I understood why. Nasty, uncontrollable and bred for fighting seems to be all that is ever heard about this breed of dog. These particular pitbulls are not available for adoption. Without rough, neglectful treatment that makes them attack they are lovely family pets.

Two half years ago I adopted a pitbull X from the SPCA. A year later I adopted a buddy for him, another pitbull. Both dogs are wonderful and get along great together. There is not a nasty side to either of these dogs. They are a great source of entertainment. They love attention and are a lot of fun. I am lucky that both my dogs are easy going, sleep inside or out as they wish. Not fussy eaters, so no need to purchase special brands of food.

Pitbull fighting is a horrible way to make money. I sincerely hope that every effort is being made to end the pathetic way dogs are being treated in Bermuda. In the mean time, there are innocent dogs found by the wardens that have not yet received this terrible treatment and they need good homes.

TRICIA A. SHELTON Devonshire