It would appear Government ministers want more respect from the public, but I guess they will have to get it the old-fashioned way -- EARN IT! SEEING IT AS IT IS Pembroke Bermuda was there November 27, 2000 Dear Sir, I refer to the letter from Concerned Bermudian Abroad in today's newspaper lamenting the lack of a Bermuda wreath at the Remembrance Day service in London on Sunday, November 12.

I happened to listen to the BBC World Service live radio broadcast from the Cenotaph on that day and had particularly noted that a wreath was laid on behalf of the few remaining Overseas Territories and Colonies, after the British wreaths and immediately prior to those laid by the Commonwealth countries' representatives.

The commentator did not say who laid `our' wreath but all the countries were named while it was laid, so we were represented, albeit not as an individual country. It was unfortunate the TV commentator for the broadcast was not as well briefed as the BBC radio commentator.

ANGELA KENDALL Smith's Parish Sobering observations November 30, 2000 Dear Sir, Well it's all over but the shouting.

Having now survived five public meetings on constitutional change, some sobering observations come to mind. Firstly, congratulations must be given to the Opposition for acting, swiftly, upon the Premier's invitation to hold public meetings.

Clearly without the leadership shown by the UBP, the Government would not have been so swift to react and respond by holding its own meeting(s). This hurried reaction is borne out by the content of the three meetings organised by Government.

Each of the meetings contained a most interesting and certainly selective version of history related by one of Bermuda best storytellers. Sadly only one of the meetings had a presentation on the reasons for each of the proposed amendments.

Sadly, only one of the Government meetings had a panel of diverse views for public consumption.

Each of the meetings was well-attended by Bermudians and other concerned residents. Despite the sensitivities expressed to the public in responding to their questions the public kept asking.

Surely if the organisers will concede anything it will be that public meetings are a worthwhile exercise. It would be important to note the contribution of the electronic media here as well.

I am sure many that were unable to physically attend these meetings enjoyed and appreciated the coverage of these most important events. One has to wonder how many revelations would have been forthcoming had these meetings not been held, which of course was the original plan.

I really don't think that the public galley of the House of Assembly would have been able to accommodate the more than 2,000 people who attended the meetings as well as the thousands of people who heard or viewed it.

Our Premier, concerning these issues, has made certainly many additional commitments and promises. One hopes that the pressure of speaking directly with the people did not invoke a `tell them what they want to hear' commitment.

We all will wait for the fulfilment of those promises. As for the shouting... well leave that to the House, they are the experts.

DAVID SULLIVAN Sandys Cat's out of the bag November 2000 Dear Sir, Regarding the Bermuda Feline Assistance Bureau and the SPCA, I understand and appreciate the aims and sentiments of these organisations, I even support them financially. But, from my own experience, I question how effective these groups are.

For almost a year now I have been struggling with feral cats in my neighbourhood. I have made numerous calls and visits for help to both organisations, with little result. Promises were made with no follow-through.

In my case, a year ago there was one mother cat and two kittens, now I count 13! Thanks to Bermuda Pest Control, who loaned me a cage, I have managed to catch four cats. These, I took to a veterinarian who, with growing resistance, agreed to extend the usual neutering services afforded to BFAB and SPCA. That is, except for the last cat I'd caught which they refused.

It seems to me that the problem with feral cats continues to grow despite the efforts of the above organisations. People like me are willing to do our bit with the trapping, etc. but it is clear that no cages are made available.

Could a more practical programme be instituted, please? Why not make cages available upon payment of a reasonable, refundable deposit? CAT'S BEST FRIEND Bermuda cop-out November 30, 2000 Dear Sir, Former Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson raised an interesting point while blasting the police recently.

He called for community policing with officers living in districts and getting to know all the people in each postal code area to build mutual confidence and trust.

While this makes good sense, it conflicts seemingly with Minister Paula Cox's policy of turning over overseas policemen every three years.

I feel it would take that long to assimilate to the extent required. Perhaps if overseas policemen were only doing traffic duty or desk work this may work, however to develop a really skilled detective which we badly need, would in my opinion take many years of experience, plus integration, as results are dependent on the full co-operation of the public at large.

I am not sure what quality of officer would be attracted to Bermuda under the prevailing circumstances as we know there is a shortage of Police in the UK and would anyone with real talent come to what is now, and has for some time, been a hostile environment where their best efforts are met with contempt and disregard.

Can we honestly expect these Police to put their heads in front of machetes, crowbars, and guns for a populace that treats them with disrespect and for salary of $21.50 per hour? I do not think I would, even though it is a lot more than the 85 cents per hour I was paid for my first contract in Bermuda.

We will have to attract more Bermudians obviously, but we are victims of our own success, as jobs are plentiful in less stressful and better paying occupations.

Unquestionably we need to re-build the Police service as most of the senior officers are gone now.

Discipline is paramount and needs a leader with the resolve of steel and the gift of diplomacy as it is a very tough and demanding job.

W.P. COOK Hamilton Parish Kudos for MP Burgess November 28, 2000 Dear Sir, May I please use your columns to publicly express my sincere thanks to my Member of Parliament, Mr. Derrick Burgess.

As a resident of his constituency in Hamilton Parish, the phone line my wife and I share was plagued with problems since October. So, too, was it for a group of neighbours, including senior citizens with serious health problems and others disabled and with a history of three strokes and a heart attack.

To all of us who share a telegraph pole and and a neighbouring telephone apparatus, telephones are more than luxuries, they are absolute necessities as life-savers.

If an ambulance had to be summoned in an emergency, a life or death situation where time is of the essence would have meant a death. Other neighbours with phones not affected are much further away.

Time and time again, I called the telephone company because phone lines and computers were cut off without warning at least eight times a day. Our overcalls virtually doubled in some cases, without valid reason and very unfairly.

A BTC inspector came to see the problem recently and said it was an underground cable problem. He reported it, I know, and was kind and concerned enough to note the special additional areas of concern and why.

But I really believe it was because of Mr. Burgess on Monday, November 27, that BTC came to repair the problem temporarily on November 28 and more permanently on November 29. When I called Mr. Burgess at the Bermuda Industrial Union, he made a point of calling me back, listened to my concerns and expressed his own. He said he would do his best to get BTC to fix it as soon as possible and he kept his word.

Mr. Burgess, thank you very, very much indeed. I really appreciate your interest and action. I know my neighbours join me too.

KEITH A. FORBES Hamilton Parish Prejudice and bigotry November 29, 2000 Dear Sir, Now, if ever I saw a prime example of prejudice and bigotry, it was the letter in Monday's Royal Gazette -- framed no less -- from M. Sellick.

Presumably this ex-visitor to Bermuda would feel more at home in Majorca or the Costa Brava, where he or she may need to bunker themselves in on the beach to avoid injury from the stampeding, working class, and usually drunk and disorderly thugs, who probably hail from their own home town! Queuing, that uniquely British institution, is generally not part of the other, less boring cultures of the world. With any luck, the new fights from Germany may bring some decent bread, beer and wine to this country! SANTE City of Hamilton World-class paramedics November 24, 2000 Dear Sir, While visiting Bermuda on October 28, I was involved in an accident on my scooter on Harbour Road.

I write to thank your emergency services for their very prompt, kind and capable help. My injuries were painful but the paramedics gathered me up and the Emergency Room and X-ray staff did all that was necessary to get me moving again.

What a pity to visit Bermuda and be involved in an accident -- but what a blessing that the emergency services are so good.

MICHAEL WOODS England