Thank you for allowing me to use this venue to provide the public with additional information on the Road Safety Council's "Safe roads now ten-point compliance programme'', unveiled by the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Dr. Ewart Brown last Monday. The Compliance programme consists of a prioritised listing of safety precautions which the Council believes will make a difference towards improving the present climate on Bermuda's roads. Anyone can comply either by adopting one, a few, or all of the points. Most precautions are easy to adopt and once adhered to, readily become a part of the road user's repertoire.

The strength of this programme rests within the community. The Road Safety Council needs the help of all road users to create a safe and pleasant road atmosphere. We invite schools, religious organisations, industries, businesses, sporting organisations and special interest groups to support this programme by actively participating and advocating for road safety in Bermuda.

We would appreciate hearing from members of the motoring public, with comments on the ten-point programme and/or about road safety in general.

The Road Safety Council takes this opportunity to thank all parties who have already pledged their support of the programme. We also thank all of the model road users who make their way on and about our roads in the spirit of caution and courtesy, but yet oftentimes go unnoticed.

DELCINA R. BEAN-BURROWS Chairman Road Safety Council Plenty to be proud of April 21, 1999 Dear Sir, A long overdue culling of my files reminded me that many of my visits to Bermuda over the decades have been followed by letters to the Editor of The Royal Gazette recording my concern over some aspect of my experience. So I thought that this time a few (somewhat random) bouquets might be in order.

First, the change in government. I know I'm treading on dangerous ground here, and I hasten to add that I'm not taking political sides; I'm far too out of touch with Bermudian politics nowadays to do so. But for one party to hold office as long as did the UBP is not the mark of a healthy democracy.

Second, as I am "in the business'', it's not surprising that to a great extent my previous complaints dealt with issues of land use and planning (or the apparent absence thereof), including the protection of open space, including farm land, and areas of special natural quality. Well, while it still saddens me to see so much of the island built up at suburban and even urban densities, there is clear evidence that some action has been taken on these matters. (I'd like to think that perhaps my letters can take some of the credit, but probably not.) Next, public transportation: efficient, punctual, courteous and clean (when I was a boy, I don't think "punctual'' was in the Bermudian vocabulary).

Perhaps apart from liquor, a seven-day transportation pass is the best (only?) bargain a visitor to Bermuda can get.

Next, the Railway Trail. I would like to think (perhaps optimistically) that there is a continuing programme to maintain the trail, open up new sections where there are gaps, improve signs (not always easy to find) and improve certain sections of the trail itself (at least one stretch threatens a sprained ankle). The trail is more of an asset to Bermuda than perhaps most Bermudians realise.

And finally, a little anecdote. Shortly after my companion and I started out on the trail from the Somerset end, she started to feel unwell. During the few minutes we were standing at a corner discussing what to do, two different drivers stopped to ask if they could help us. We decided to return to Somerset for a bus, but if either of the two people concerned happen to read this, I'd like them to know of our appreciation. I don't think there are a lot of places in the world where such a thing would happen (and we would feel no concerns about our safety), but it was an episode which somehow seems to fit a country that would erect a statue, not to a military hero or political bigwig, but to a Johnny Barnes.

There is quite a lot I could add to this list (the Bermuda National Trust certainly deserves a mention), and on the other hand I know very well that Bermuda is far from being the flawless Eden that the Department of Tourism would like potential visitors to imagine. But on balance I came away feeling that Bermudians have a good deal to be proud of -- including some things to which they may give little thought.

NIGEL H. RICHARDSON Toronto, Ontario God created marijuana April 20, 1999 Dear Sir, "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb-bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in that which is fruit of a tree-yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.'' Now I'm going to be honest with you Mr. Editor, I don't know for sure that God actually said those words.

I'm only quoting the self-pronouncing edition of the Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, translated out of the original tongues and with the former translations diligently compared and revised, authorised King James Version, the First Book of Moses called Genesis, Chapter 1, verse 29! Now I don't care how you interpret it Mr. Editor, and I don't care if we go by the above version or by one of the 125 other versions Mr. Editor, marijuana was created by God for man. It don't get much clearer than that! In other words, Mr. Editor, no human being has the right to ban another human being from partaking of cannabis, hemp, marijuana. In other words Mr. Editor, no human being has the right to overrule God and penalise another human being, for obeying God! DR. CLARK GODWIN City of Hamilton No sympathy here April 26, 1999 Dear Sir, I laughed out loud when I read Raymond Russell's letter to the Editor, as printed in The Royal Gazette on April 21.

I recognise that Mr. Russell has enormous experience working in the hotel industry. However, I cannot believe that he actually blames the hotel managers for the dreadful state of the hotel industry in Bermuda. Has he forgotten May, 1981, when the entire Island, (along with all the hotels) virtually closed down after the BIU forced everyone to go on strike? Has he forgotten when the BIU took over the Sonesta Beach dining room and the Union organisers sang their "we shall overcome'' song, forcing the owner of Sonesta Beach (who was in the dining room at the time) to ask all the tourists there to leave the dining room, to avoid this unpleasant confrontation? Was Mr. Russell in the dining room at the time and did he consider this behaviour good for our tourist product? I could go on and on naming numerous examples of how the BIU has done irreparable damage to the hotel industry in this Island. Indeed, Bermuda is known by all of our wholesalers and North American travel agents to have a volatile union who -- at a whim -- will force the closure of hotels.

I forecast (in a previous letter to the Editor) that Marriott's would close after the PLP victory last November. I am therefore not surprised at the closure news; it was very difficult operating a hotel in Bermuda under a UBP Government but it will be well nigh impossible under a PLP Government, with their stringent Immigration policies. It is unfortunate that the PLP Government has not decided to treat the hotel industry with the same respect that they treat the exempt companies here. Tony Brannon got it right when he said how badly non-Bermuda hotel managers are treated here. If there is not a major shift by the Department of Immigration towards our declining tourist industry, more hotels and/or guest houses will be forced to close.

Sorry Mr. Russell, but you get no sympathy from me as I believe you are a strong union supporter, which organisation has done untold damage to the hotels here.

TIME WILL TELL Devonshire Recalling Dr. Robinson April 27, 1999 Dear Sir, This is a story that I think your readers may find interesting and amusing. I had just given up my job as a teacher at Central School. I told my good friend Kenneth Robinson that if he became the principal of a school, I would help him as a teacher.

It was a good experience for me. The school is on a hill overlooking the cool blue water of Harrington Sound. I liked it very much. One day as we were riding our cycles along the road near Devonshire Dock, he surprised me when he said I am going to take a nap and he closed his eyes and fell asleep and he was riding his cycle while asleep. He said look out for me. When he rode on the wrong side of the road, I called out to him and he woke up. We rode together as far as my house without his sleeping. He never did that dangerous thing again.

RUSSELL DISMONT Calle Flores, Puerto Rico Legalise marijuana! April 22, 1999 Dear Sir, What is man? One grain of sand on the seashore, a vapour, a moment in time. So who gives man the right to deny a member of creation its rightful place on earth. Now that we agree that man does not have that right, let's talk about Cannabis Sativa.

The Holy Book Revelation 22:2, scientists and doctors say that it is good while some business, money making men say it is a dangerous drug. The earth, animals and people with health conditions say that it's good while the principalities and powers in high places say it brings destruction. If I'm not mistaken these same businessmen and authorities' for parents were the same to come up with the outright falsehoods to make slavery OK and legal.

For them to succeed in enslaving people and changing their religion, lying to them about a plant would be like taking candy from a baby. Some of the lies were that cannabis would make you jump off a cliff, kills brain cells, lowers sperm count, makes males grow breasts and so on...The truth is that Cannabis Sativa can assist and benefit man in every aspect of life, if only used! Let the truth guide politics. Legalise it! JAHKEY Warwick