Business, visitors and local residents have been complaining about the proliferation of beggars on the streets of Hamilton, a problem that continues unabated.

A few months ago I was walking at the top end of Reid Street, when I noticed one of the City's more aggressive beggars strong-arming every passerby. Then, "lo-and-behold'' there approached a senior Parliamentarian in the current administration who waved him off with a brusque "leave me along, get a job!'' At the time I did not think too much about it except to respond in a similar manner.

Sometime later, I was on the same street, with the same beggar going through the same routine, when "lo-and-behold'' there approached a senior ex-Parliamentarian from a previous administration; guess what? He reached into his pocket and gave the beggar a dollar coin, a handshake and a pat on the back. From this I surmise the bum was a Paget East voter.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

DOUGLAS C. ROBERTS Sandys Open sites at all hours January 6, 2001 Dear Sir, I was walking the Railway Trial this morning and came upon a couple peering up through the ditch at Fort Scaur. I greeted them and asked if I could help them in any way. To my delight I discovered that they were visitors and had taken the ferry from Hamilton in order to walk the trail, do a little sightseeing and "mingle with the locals''. I was so pleased to see two visitors that I immediately offered to take them up to the Fort myself and give them a guided tour.

I took them back to the Scaur footpath and as we climbed I pointed out points of interest and those estates of the rich and not so famous. They were intrigued and as I gave them a brief history of Cromwells' folly we huffed and puffed our way to the top where I assured them they would enjoy an even more spectacular view from the ramparts. At that point the sun came out from behind a threatening sky and I smiled to myself at the drama of it all. But alas my euphoria was short lived. When we walked them through the Sally Port and up to the entrance we were faced with a "Welcome to Fort Scaur'' sign and a massive chain wrapped around the closed gate. I apologised and explained that I had been away, in California, for four years and was so used to public parks being opened 7 days a week from sun up to sundown that I had forgotten how user-friendly Bermuda's Forts were.

Having lived next to Fort Hamilton for eight years I should have known better but the memory starts to fade a bit at 65.

So as we skirted the condoms littering the parking lot and took another path back down to the Railway Trail I offered my disappointed new found friends another chance if they would like to return on Monday morning. No. They were leaving on Sunday. So I bid them farewell, pointed them towards Bob's Valley Road and suggested a trip to Dockyard with lunch at The Frog & Onion. Little did I know that an hour later we would get one of those winter hurricanes we Bermudians call "`brief squalls'' so I hope they didn't get water logged and wind blown too badly.

I would thusly appeal to you, Mr. Editor, to use what limited influence you may have by way of the power of the pen and all that good stuff -- to convince the PLP powers that be to open our historic Fort sites on weekends from sun up to sundown. And you know what? I'll bet that even might encourage more local folks who work Monday to Friday...to visit them. Wow, what a concept! JOHN H. WHITE Let's talk about the dollar January 5, 2001 Dear Sir, I have seen the words devaluation of the Bermuda dollar mentioned in your newspaper more than once in recent months, the latest was one of Sir John Swans (I hope not wishes) for the new year.

For the sake of all average middle class Bermudians that perhaps do not fully understand monetary policy, or the implications of a devalued dollar on their standard of living, could either yourself or someone reading this letter elaborate on this subject ie, the catalyst behind such a move, the possibility of it becoming reality and any other information that can be printed.

I find it very interesting that this topic has been mentioned in this newspaper by Government backbenchers and Sir John Swan and nobody has questioned it. I suspect there are people in high places that are talking about this and are keeping it behind closed doors so as to avoid causing a panic situation. If this should be the case, the unfortunate thing is that those who are privy to such discussions are automatically in a position to take steps to protect their assets and should a devaluation of our currency become a reality, the average middle class citizen will be left holding the bag.

Just a thought, but can you just imagine how Bermuda would smell because we have to pass on buying a bar of soap at $10 -- 15 because it was to expensive to buy the bread to feed our children and the soap to keep them clean.

To use a metaphor, I am trying to read the road signs but my vision is blurred. Can someone please give me a pair of spectacles.

Jeffrey Shaw Pembroke What year is it? January 1, 2001 Dear Sir, What year is it? Are we in Two Thousand and One, Twenty O One, or Twenty Hundred and One? MRS. TRELLIS Too much gas January 8, 2001 Dear Sir, Quinton Edness has asked us to protest the proposed gas station on Ferry Reach. I agree.

I live in St. George's and from Town Square to Hamilton there are six gas stations, seven if you include the Esso station on South Shore Road, and not including any in the city of Hamilton. St. David's had one within its area and then five including the Esso station on South Shore Road. All this in a ten mile journey -- just a little under one station per mile.

There can be no justification in building another station, particularly as it will be within striking range of the airport flight path and present a serious environmental risk to Ferry Reach itself.

PHIL CRACKNELL City of Hamilton