from some fathers who have fallen behind in court child payments but let's look at the other side of the coin.

Since when did a father produce a child by himself or why some mothers wait for years to act and request payment. This list of concerns goes on and on e.g. fathers paying mothers direct or purchasing some goods on their own. Yes there are some fathers who just don't care but what is the judge's point in locking up fathers. One goes to prison for owing $2,000. It cost the tax payer $500 a week to house a father owing that amount even if the prisoner is on work release. We the people have to look at ways such as detachment of earning if they have employers or monitor the situation if they are self-employed. The former Magistrate Hon. Arthur Hodgson M.P. J.P. always stated that a child is not made by a man alone and therefore it must be a fair support of the child.

Mr. Greaves is a newcomer to our Family Court and has a lock-up mentality of our men mostly 99% black. Magistrate dating back to the 80s Mag. Wor. Cox, Mag. Georges both felt mothers take too long to act or are very unfair of receiving payment and or goods outside court and taking care of themselves and not the child.

We the people must feel safer by the courts and put criminals in jail and make Bermuda safer and not fill up our jails with people owing money for bills and sometimes child support. It must be thoroughly screened for children to not have to see their fathers jailed and they the children know their fathers do take care of matters and know they don't get the funds for their welfare and again, yes, some fathers are just hopeless. But the average Bermudian father is caring.

Thank you, Mr. Editor, I know I will get some negative feedback but I have worked in HM Prisons and heard inmates true situations from them and their kids.

Thanks again for allowing me to state and bring another side of the coins issues or child support issues.

FORMER PRISON OFFICER OF 20 YEARS Casemates not the answer June 21, 2000 Dear Sir, Regarding the article by Wayne Perinchief in The Royal Gazette June 19th I would agree in principle that there is a need for a separate location for hard core criminals.

Casemates however is not as viable as one may think because of the cost of conversion, in fact it never was ideal even for the original conversion.

I was present at the opening and was asked by the then-Warden of Prisons how secure I felt the new Prison was.

I proceeded to point out many areas of vulnerability which were to be expected in an old building never intended to be used as a prison.

Perhaps some thought could be given to using Casemates for less serious offenders and improving Westgate for hardened recidivists, who are very unlikely to be rehabilated after all these years.

Before anything is done the entire Prison System should be overhauled as it would appear to be in a shambles, and also seems to have no accountability to anyone. We have experienced numerous very embarrassing escapes by murderers and also dangerous sex offenders, allowed amazingly to roam about unsupervised, one in fact killed a German tourist. I feel a totally independent body should be set up to investigate discipline and security at Westgate and all other Prisons as the Public has little faith in the Prison Administration at this point in time.

Wayne Perinchief should, however, be congratulated in taking a strong stand and also for having the courage to state that there was a perception that it was less difficult to get away with crime under the new government which I think was probably true and Mr. Perinchief may have taken some stick for saying that but we collectively should be grateful that he put the country's welfare above party politics.

EX PRISON OFFICER Treated like a dog June 20, 2000 Dear Sir, It makes me literally sick to my stomach when I read of the appalling state of the government dog kennels and the resultant cruelty inflicted on the hapless animals who are forced to remain there, while at the same time Government Ministers are flaunting bigger cars and first-class travel abroad.

There is no reason on earth that the Government cannot provide additional funding for an upgrade of the dog facility, nor is there any reason why the penalties for cruelty to animals cannot be made deservedly severe. You got those cars through in a hurry, didn't you? There is also no reason for not hiring more staff to exercise these poor creatures who are victims not only of Government's personal greed, but also of the courts' obvious lackadaisical attitude towards animal cruelty cases. (And please, spare me the usual `it's the UBP's fault' excuses.) Your readers should be aware, but are apparently not, that the SPCA is a charity. It is not supported by any Government funding, but depends on the generosity of the general public to care for the animals in its shelter. It would be a wonderful gesture if all those who care about God's creatures make a donation to the SPCA so that they can continue the caring work which they do.

This ball is squarely in the Government's court, and so far I have heard absolutely nothing that might indicate that they have taken note of this horrendous situation or that they intend to do anything about it.

Incidentally, the so-called changes to the Dog Laws are useless, particularly since those who drafted them didn't even bother to get the input of those who know what should be done: i.e. Our veterinarians and the SPCA. Take note, Mr.

Hodgson, Dr. Brown, etc.: We Bermudians are not as stupid as you apparently think we are, and, to coin an old expression: Murder will out.

SUNKEN SHIP Pembroke Top of the class June 19, 2000 Dear Sir, On June 13 and 14, 2000, I had the distinct pleasure of providing mentor training to a distinguished group of teachers who serve as mentors to beginning teachers in the Bermuda Teacher Induction Programme. The programme is directed by Ms Maureen Nusum, Education Officer for Staff Development, Ministry of Education. Several other education officers also attended the training session.

As a specialist in induction programmes for beginning teachers for 13 years, I encourage Bermudians to recognize their own Bermuda Teacher Induction Programme as standing among the finest programmes of its type in the world.

The challenges faced by new teachers in Bermuda, as elsewhere in the world, are daunting, to be sure. At the same time, the fine assistance provided by their mentors makes the transition from "student of teaching'' to "teachers of students'' a smooth one, admirably serving the best interests not only of beginning teachers but also of their pupils.

As a visitor from abroad, I was amazed at the great pride shown by Bermudians in the celebrations surrounding the Queen's birthday and the visit by the tall ships. I respectfully submit that their sense of pride should be equally great regarding the Bermuda Teacher Induction Programme, a quiet but sure force working to assure Bermudians that their teachers are well-positioned to educate the nation's children to meet the challenges they are certain to face in the new millennium.

TOM GANSER, Ph.D.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater Wisconsin USA Waking up to reality June 20, 2000 Dear Sir, After 36 years as a taxi operator who has kept quiet and gone about my business trying to make a living and never written a letter to your paper or called talk radio I now feel the need to speak out before I go down and you can make book on it -- we will go down.

Leading up to the last election I was taken in by the likes of the "Taxi Man'' who led the campaign against the UBP among the taxi operators and I will say he did a good job, he has a greater understanding of our industry then any person I have had the pleasure of listening to. His message to us was that under a PLP Government we can expect them to listen and act on the concerns and frustration of the last eighteen years of the taxi operator and we can expect to be a part of the decision-making process when it comes to transportation and no longer will we be threatened with the financial viability of our business. We can expect and will get justice and fair play.

At one point of the campaign I heard Dr. Brown and big El James say the same and I was taken in again, convinced hook line and sinker. Well I'm here to tell all taxi operators lies, not so, not so.

After some 18 months of a PLP Government the taxi industry has come under assault by the Government led by Dr. Brown along with El James and Larry Jacobs, enemies one, two and three of the taxi industry, we are worse off now then we were with the UBP and under this Government and the trio named earlier things will get worse. I wonder what the "Taxi Man'' has to say. Now it is my understanding he is so frustrated with the Transport Ministry than ever before so much so that a rumour is going around he is planning to sell out and leave the Island and that he is so disillusioned with the PLP Government, I can understand why "we expect so much'' and they can't deliver.

To a group who was a great help to them winning the last Election (and you know why they can't deliver because they will not listen) and taxi operators are not part of the decision making process. They may be on a few boards, but not part of the policy-making and are being by passed. Sounds to me very much like the old government with one difference we now do not have a taxi advisory board which did a great job until Dr. Brown, El James and Larry Jacobs came along. Like the UBP the PLP has failed to listen and accept the recommendations from the taxi organization.

November 9 "Make It Happen'' vote PLP slogan worked, but it was a mistake we will have to reverse that and place a person or persons in parliament who will represent our interests.

I can't vote for Dr. Brown or El James but I sure can vote against Dale Butler and Alex Scott.

WAKING UP Warwick