How can David Allen and the PLP be planning a party in 2003? A party should be the furthest thing from their minds. Considering that the tourism figures are down when the United States has been enjoying a prolonged financial boom, our leaders obviously have got a big problem with their priorities. If you can't get people to come to Bermuda now, what do you think will happen when the US economy normalizes? Of course! All other things being equal, tourism will worsen.

Forget the parties and the travelling around the world (all of you) and get to work improving your product which will attract visitors to come and enjoy and return. Bermuda has all of the natural assets that every visitor will enjoy.

Let's work on some solutions to our exorbitant prices. Let's return to hospitality and friendliness. Let's improve our security so that our tourists and their possessions are safe. We used to be there. It will be a tough job getting back; not as much fun as travelling and partying, but it will help to ensure a prosperous future.

JOE LINDO Wilmington, Delaware Appalled by attack October 13, 2000 Dear Sir, After reading the article in the paper today about a pitbull terrier named `Max' who was brutally beaten and stabbed on Wednesday morning I have to say that I am truly appalled and disgusted that anyone could be capable of such acts.

Whomever is responsible for this, whether it is one person or a group of persons, they are all a disgusting excuse for human beings!! I would even venture to say that they themselves do not even deserve to enjoy the privilege of life.

For anyone, who could attack someone or something that is obviously defenceless is nothing but a sick monster! That poor animal did nothing to them, he is just one of God's creatures and he deserves love just as much as anyone else does. I can't help but wonder what goes through a person's mind when they take it upon themselves to do something like this? I wonder if they would enjoy being beaten, stabbed and mutilated with nothing to defend themselves with and no where to run! Although it would never be tolerated in the justice system and it calls to mind that two wrongs don't make a right -- I would love for them to be caught, tied to rope, and then beaten and mutilated just as they did that poor dog. That is how much revulsion I harbour for these culprits. As for other people in the area, I cannot believe that everyone was so self absorbed, and so selfish that they didn't even go to investigate or try to help! What happened to people with guts here in Bermuda? What happened to compassionate decent people? If I had been in the area I would not have cared if I thought I was going to have to face a gang of people, I would have done something, anything! I would have at least tried.

Unfortunately Max's situation is one of the more drastic ones that has occurred, but there is cruelty to animals here in Bermuda on a daily basis.

People need to realize that a pet is a privilege, not a right! It's almost as if we need to start having a complete screening process for anyone who wishes to own a pet. This is not a random act, this was a planned malicious act with a reason behind it. That said though I really and truly hope that once Max has completed his long painful road to recovery, that the SPCA does not place him back in the hands of Mr. Hayward. Although I am only one person, I too plead with the general public for someone to come forward and tell the officials anything they know. As for the culprits of this heinous crime, my only wish for you is that one day someone causes the same type of pain and misery in your life as you did in the life of this animal. It is going to be a very hard road back to recovery for Max, and chances are that it will be very hard for him to trust people again. I ask everyone to pray for this poor animal in his recovery and hopefully when he is ready he will finally get a loving home, I know that if he needed it I would provide it. Finally I would like to commend the SPCA and the veterinarian for their prompt action in aiding Max and for their ongoing efforts in the prevention of cruelty to animals.

JENNIFER A. STERVINOU Paget An unsolved mystery October 6, 2000 Dear Sir, This letter is addressed to the Bermuda Police. Without going into too much detail, I would just like to say how dissatisfied I am with the lack of help I have received from them.

I reported my car as being stolen in February of this year. I was first working with two individuals from CID, then I was to be passed on to another individual, this time a Sergeant. Basically since then I have been playing phone tag, and have accomplished little.

Since I felt I was getting no help from this person, I decided to do some research myself. I then made some phone calls of my own, and found that a great mystery surrounds my car. I have an eye witness who saw a W&E truck pick my car up. So, I called W&E to find out more information and was told my car was not on file as being picked up. As soon as I was told this I called this Sergeant again to inform him of this new information.

After waiting for his call day after day, I had to leave the island. Now, after doing basically all the Police's work as far as I'm concerned, is it too hard to pick up a phone and just check out my findings? My frustrations lie not in the process but, in the last nine months the lack of cooperation from the Police to find my car. Also my insurance has told me that nothing can be done as far as my claim until they have a statement from the Police. so, I still have a loan to be paid off on a car that I don't even have, and the Police have no idea where it is.

Thank you for putting this letter in as it's of most importance to me.

PATIENCE WEARING THIN Miami, Florida Let's have some answers October 10, 2000 Dear Sir, I have some questions for the Premier. Would you kindly print this letter in the event that others might also find my questions of interest.

What is the hurry? You have at least three more years in Government. Was it politically astute timing that you brought these extraordinarily important issues of constitutional changes to the last session of the House? Did you suddenly need to deal with the long term residents' issue during the summer session -- more than two thousand have been here for more than 20 years or was this an attempt to raise the emotions of your supporters? If you have nothing to hide and what you propose to change will benefit the vast majority, why not have a constitutional conference and then a national referendum? Is there any connection with the possible challenge to your leadership and the timing of the above events? These questions are actually rhetorical as I know you will not answer me, but these are the questions that dozens ask me.

So Madame Premier, in the full sunshine of public scrutiny, tell the what's the hurry? SANDERS FRITH-BROWN Warwick P.S. Could all those others concerned Bermudians also write to the Editor and ask for a conference and referendum -- and sign your name! We must learn to forgive Dear Sir, I couldn't help but notice Rolfe Commissiong's letter dated October 11th where he demanded the exposure of individuals who write to the Royal Gazette under a pen-name, in particular, when discussing socially sensitive matters close to everyone's heart. How utterly foolish of them! Perhaps they should print their numbers and addresses too, just to show their good faith! Perhaps the reason can be found in some of the labels Mr. Commissiong applied to them in letters (In general, of course!). Let's see; "CRAZY'' and "WHITE RACISTS'', pretty strong stuff! The trouble is with labels, there are just so many to choose from. For instance, to name a few, there's "Autocratic'', "Divisive'', "Vindictive'', "Power-hungry'', "Prima Donna'' and one that's been popping up quite a lot recently, "Xenophobic''. Perhaps we can all start making new labels up and amuse ourselves with a little game of: "Pin the tail on the public personality''.

The real big problem with labels is that they're so hard to wash off once applied. To prove the point, let's just pretend, Mr. Commissiong, that long ago, you did something really stupid in your life and victimised some of your fellow citizens. Now, let's say that you made amends, regretted your misdeeds in your heart and in public and tried to live a productive life. All well and good, Now, let's pretend that some of your former victims decided to make it a lifetime policy of "never forgive, never forget''. They would remind you publicly of your past moral failings eve day of your life.

Label: The leopard never changes its spots.

This would be passed on to your children, by their children and so on due to the assumption.

Label: Fruit never falls far from the tree.

You would watch helplessly as some of your descendants took on these assumptions only to be labelled again.

I would never have written this letter at all but apart from the inviolable right of freedom of speech which always requires defending, there has been a particular individual who, as of late, has been very busy pinning labels upon my fellow Portuguese Bermudians. People who too were once victims but as a whole learnt the art of forgiveness early on.

GLEN LIMA Warwick