This is the year 2000 - and lucky for some people that it is. Years ago, people did not have freedom of speech and remarks like we have heard recently would have earned the cry of "Traitor'' - with all its attendant punishments.

I refer to Ms Webb and her remarks that she will not be happy until the British flag is torn down and replaced by our own Bermuda flag. This comes from a woman who has enjoyed so many of the amenities of Bermuda life - even to having the means and ability to be able to go and study abroad in France. I was sorry to hear that when she came home she was ashamed of us. Things could not have been, nor can they be, all that bad in Bermuda when Renee had the opportunity to go abroad to study, to learn and broaden her experience. At one time this was only possible for a small number of young people and we are very fortunate that many today can do just that. It is so necessary in this global village we live in.

As to respect for the exalted position of an MP and Minister, I can respect the positions and am prepared to do so. I do however feel that such respect for individuals in those positions must be earned as those positions carry responsibilities as well as privileges. Those who learn to curb their "attitudes'' and direct them in mature and constructive ways accomplish so much good.

I am getting very tired of hearing the current theme song of the PLP - "you had until November 9, 1998 to do something'' - and the unspoken but implied "and now shut up''. I am tired of the recital of past history of the way the UBP did things -- all of them wrong.... with nothing included of some of the tactics used by the now esteemed ruling MPs. I can remember hearing, first hand, remarks being broadcast over loud-speakers and amplified throughout the neighbourhood -- loud and clear for all to hear was the injunction from the then-Leader of the Opposition to the people to increase their numbers - "go out and fornicate in the bushes if you have to'' was the advice given.

Fortunately the speaker of that day has turned to more civilized measures and I can now respect her for what she has become. She does not use those tactics anymore, but she would be wise to remember that members of the former Opposition were not the pure and oppressed people she would have us believe they were. They put up a formidable front as the Opposition of their day and have as much to answer for with past mistakes as anyone else.

I am also of the opinion that the PLP party was not so much voted into power as the UBP was voted out. Hopefully we are all learning from past mistakes and I for one shall no longer be content to sit back, live my own life, and let the politicians get on with their jobs. There is no longer any room for complacency.

I was pleased to hear at the meeting on Thursday (23rd) that the PLP are finally getting the message that the people are not so much opposed to the changes being proposed, as they are to the process of making those changes. As Ms Webb tells us they are the first of many changes, it heightens my fear of what will be the next proposals over which we will have no control. Every club and every organisation that I know of has a constitution and they only make changes to that document upon consultation with a majority of their members.

If we do not adhere to a time-honoured way of making changes -- i.e. by way of conference rather than just legislation -- then we open the door and set precedence for all kinds of things to happen, no matter what assurances are being given today. As Mr. John Barritt Sr. said at the meeting held in Devonshire, we may not always have people with integrity as we have now.

We would be well-advised to listen more to people such as the young 37-year-old who spoke at the last meeting in St. George's and to the reply given to him by the Chairman of that meeting. These are the kind of remarks that should be reported in full. They need to be heard loud and clear by everyone. I'm sorry I cannot quote them verbatim but hope that perhaps the Editor will see fit to see them published in his paper.

I do not bring up incidences from the past to cast slurs on the parties concerned, but to show that we have all said and done things in the past which we may now regret. None of us are immune. Some of us have learned from past mistakes and moved past them, others have not. It is to be hoped that we will all start to look forward with wisdom gained from the past. It cannot be changed but the whole of our future is ahead and we are in a position to make it the best that it can possibly be.

It is time we put aside these remembrances of past mistakes and supposed `wrongs'. It is time we started to work together instead of being torn apart by having to listen to radical, racist and traitorous remarks being sent our way by those who we are supposed to respect as our leaders. It is time we considered those kinds of statements unacceptable and divisive. It is time to remember that we have always adhered to Godly principles and it is time to find that mutual respect that will be a prime healing factor in our future relationships.

DOROTHY E. KUHN Warwick In defence of the Police November 21, 2000 Dear Sir, As I have just retired from the local constabulary after some 34 years of generally very enjoyable service, it was with more than passing interest that I read the letter about "The Thin Blue Line'' in this column of Thursday, November 16. I would like to commend the individual who submitted it, and I have only one comment to make about the original article from the late Trooper Mitchell Brown of Virginia: Absolutely spot on! I think the only item he missed out was: "No matter what colour I am, I'm only picking on you because you're the colour you are!'' You know, I cannot think offhand of any other profession in the world (although there may well be one) that is so reviled by the general public yet is so essential, and, while I fully realise that all Police officers are not angels in blue, I would have to say that at least 99 percent of them are basic decent human beings, who are simply trying to make a decent living while serving the community in which they live. Look at how many of them, male and female, black and white, officers and other ranks, voluntarily give up their time to help the Island's youngsters on the sports scene in football, cricket, tennis, hockey, rugby and many other sporting activities, and that's only one example.

As a matter of interest, how many of you remember the "executions of summer '93'', when two dozen trained Policemen had their contracts summarily not renewed in a UBP cost-cutting exercise just before the election of that year? It may not be generally known (but it certainly should be) that about half of them, Brits and West Indians alike, subsequently accepted offers of re-employment with the Bermuda Police, after having previously been cast aside like so many old shoes. If that's not dedication to this community, I don't know what is! It might be interesting to know just how many of the letter-writing (or, for that matter, talk show-talking) Police-bashers have actually had a genuine cause to be so inclined, and how many of them just weren't man (or woman) enough to admit that they just might have been in the wrong from the start! DAVIE KERR Devonshire An insult to women November 21, 2000 Dear Sir, Yesterday morning I came across my four-year-old son's birth certificate and noticed that while there was information about his father's occupation there was nothing about mine; not even a line provided for it. In an age when women are often raising families single-handedly this has to be by far one of the most appalling insults.

I guess that means if our Premier had a child her occupation is not considered important and therefore would not be included on such a valuable document.

I assume by the continuation of this archaic practice that the masculine consensus in Bermuda is that we, as insignificant women, should still be so grateful that we've been given the ability to vote.

LIBBY COOK Paget Excellence was ignored November 22, 2000 Dear Sir, Imagine how proud I was when my mother was nominated and won her category in the Visitor Industry Partnership Excellence Awards held on Sunday night at the Fairmont Southampton Princess. Then imagine how annoyed I was when I practically missed the anticipated related article in the daily paper not, understandably, the next day, but two days later. A rather small group photo on Page 3 may be considered top billing but I am certain that most people would agree that an event of this nature and of this importance to the overall well being of our country, deserves and article and photo on the front page.

There were 500 people in attendance, for goodness sake. What does it take to make a headline? Sex? Scandal? Murder? Money? Well there you have it -- money! The winner of `Best of the Best Award, waiter Wyman William Lindsay, won a $20,000 money market fund from the Bank of Butterfield. Wouldn't even the simplest of the headlines: `Man Wins $20,000' sell papers? Come on, papers sell anyway.

The headline on that day told of a review that called for a leaner Regiment.

Well, put them on a diet! A topic that is important to some, no doubt, but in a time where tourism could use a boost (and the paper never fails to chronicles its ailments) we all could use some good news once in a while! We're talking about a once revered industry, one that put Bermuda on the international map long before international business arrived. This is the industry that is the second most major contributor to our economy. Heralding the accomplishments awarded on Sunday night may encourage young locals to look at tourism as a career choice. To see a young Bermudian receive that amount of money would be great incentive.

I think this was a huge social oversight on the part of the Gazette. Perhaps one of your feature journalists would consider highlighting these VIP winners in your Lifestyle section.

ROBIN SHEPPARD Paget