I am replying to the excellent letter from "Looking for Moral Leadership, Paget'' regarding the outrageous front page photograph in The Royal Gazette on December 16, 1998.

I, too, was shocked and dismayed that people could actually cheer when one of their compatriots walked free from our Bermuda Courts. It is as if that lovely Canadian girl's life meant nothing to them -- indeed this is the only conclusion one can draw from such outrageous behaviour. In case "Looking for Moral Leadership'' does not know, the men outside of the Courts were raising their hands in a Black Power salute and I might mention that some of the PLP officers and some PLP MPs were founders of this group; indeed they may still be members. Back in the 1960s, I had occasion to read some of the Black Power literature; it was so full of hate and viciousness that I really wonder what type of people are now running this country.

In fact, we have heard more rhetoric from the PLP about "their'' holiday on January 4, than about this shocking murder trial.

SAD FOR BERMUDA Warwick Tags aid children's home January 12, 1999 Dear Sir, The Sunshine League Children's Home would like to extend a most sincere "thank you'' to all those who assisted in any way with our annual tag days held on Friday, December 4, 1998 and Saturday, December 5, 1998.

We especially wish to thank the taggers, many of whom braved physical challenges, for making time in their busy schedules and the members of the public who responded to them so generously with contributions totalling $18,495.

Thank you also to the managers/operators of the many businesses who permitted our taggers to use their premises and to the business operators/managers who, for many years, have provided refreshments for our taggers.

A very special "thank you'' to Mrs. Joan White, who for many years has organised and been responsible for the banking of the Friday and some of the Saturday Collection.

May you all be blessed and prospered during the ensuing year.

BETTY HOWES Chairperson Sunshine League Tag Day Committee Caption was misleading January 14, 1999 Dear Sir, Please allow me to correct an error, which appeared on the front page of your paper on Thursday, January 14, 1999. The photograph of the Maasai Ilmoran, captioned sounding the drum is misleading because he is in possession of a shield and club. Drums in Maasai engang (settlement) are as rare as chicken or fish in their diet. Accuracy is important when reporting a culture.

LLOYD WEBBE City of Hamilton Making our roads safer January 14, 1999 Dear Sir, If the Road Safety Council is really thinking of pushing for legislation to make seatbelts mandatory, there are two other issues which they need to address at the same time, probably more important.

(1) To prohibit driving and talking on mobile telephones at the same time. If a call needs to be made from an automobile, the driver should pull over and make the call while the car is stationary. I have seen some very distracted drivers wobbling over the line with one hand pressing a telephone to their ear and most of their attention on the telephone call. Driving and making telephone calls should carry a heavy fine -- as it does in most of the 50 US states.

(2) To control the number of persons riding in a moving car. The other day I saw a car backing out from the Paget Post Office, into the traffic on Middle Road, with no less than 13 small children (plus the driver) in a mid-size sedan car.

The only thing that will really help make our roads safer is to have very visible Police presence. If drivers know they are likely to be caught they will adjust their driving speeds to save losing their licence. Now you see many Police one day, and then not again for months and months, or when there is another death or public outcry. If Police were on the roads every day you would see better driving in Bermuda.

PATCHIT Paget Setting bad example January 8, 1999 Dear Sir, Over the past few days there have been calls by leaders of all the parties to act on the increasing dangers on Bermuda roads. Calls for seatbelts, more Police involvement, etc. I believe seatbelts being mandatory is a beginning.

However, I also think that the people caught speeding or causing accidents due to recklessness or clear negligence should not only be fined, licences being lost for a period of time but especially with the youth there should be a mandatory three month driving training school that they would have to attend and then retake the driving tests before they are granted their licences back.

The offenders would also be responsible for paying for the costs to attend the driving school, etc.

On another note, what surprised me was the example our own Government displayed on January 4. The party members and even our Premier was seen by all in attendance and later on the news broadcasts that day sitting on top of the back seats of the open convertibles in which they were being driven along our roads. This was a dangerous action by all involved and what was even more incomprehensible was that Lois Browne-Evans allowed the child accompanying her in the vehicle to also sit precariously on the edge of the back of the vehicle. If for some reason one of these vehicles had been involved in an accident (even a minor bump) this could have easily led to someone toppling out of the vehicle and being seriously injured. All those concerned should remember they are now our Government and that people are looking to them for setting good examples.

If this had been me on any other day I am most certain that the Police would have stopped my vehicle and charged me with negligence of some sort. Come on let's all be safe, sensible and set good examples for the youth of today.

CONCERNED OBSERVER Warwick A system in crisis January 15, 1999 Dear Sir, It has concerned me that since I left school in 1987, Bermuda's primary and secondary schools have been churning out students who have not made the grade.

Why did the previous government and the so-called senior educators in their Government offices allow the academic standards to fall as such? Recent information from a school-wide (Island-wide, world-wide) examination has left me with a feeling of embarrassment. I was appalled to see the grades of our young people. Are we failing them? They should in no way be in a year (grade level) if they are academically or mentally three grade levels behind. There are so many factors in our society that could be blamed for this atrocity but we will leave that alone for now. Maybe our previous Government knew of this crisis in our education system. No wonder their children were dragged off to private schools.

At the present time it is not necessary to lay blame. It is time to put solutions into action. The time is now! We can no longer accept what is happening with the children of this country.

Parents, wake up and take hold of what is going on in our houses. You are the ones who need to be on top of what your children are doing at all times! How do you expect you children to care if you do not show them that YOU care. Do not allow your children to listen to that vulgar music. Take away the TV's and computer games, let your children use these things in moderation. These things should be rewards for good grades, good behaviour and respect. If you need to punish your kids take away the things that they love to do. Put some constraints on the things you allow your children to do. Parents, I implore you, spend time with your children. Read to them, let them read to you. Go visit a book store. I personally know of a great book store in Dockyard! Do interesting things with your children that will educate them. Teach them history about themselves and their country. Do not allow your children to become nobodies in this society and in the world. Leave the wall sitting to the birds! The opportunities are there for those who want to take them.

Parents, you are the original educators. Do not just leave it to the teachers alone to fight for the education of our youth. Now that we have a new Government only good things can happen.

Our new Bermuda is a promise. We can make promises to our children that they can and will have a promising future. I know our Bermuda can make it happen.

We have to believe and take action.

DESIREE (DESIRE) YOUNG Southampton Too many letters January 12, 1999 Dear Sir, I had rather hoped that on taking over the editor's chair at The Royal Gazette you would have reconsidered the previous Editor's policy of allowing a certain Dr. Clark Godwin daily space in your readers' letters column.

Perhaps the paper now finds itself bound by this decision. But surely if The Royal Gazette wishes not to deny publication of any of Godwin's letters (surely he does not write additional ones to those that appear in print) why doesn't the Editor consider giving him a weekly column in another section of the paper wherein he can ask and answer those rhetorical, unanswerable questions that he now submits on a daily basis.

Godwin should not feel hard done by if the publication of his letters is restricted. He will know that in many jurisdictions getting a letter published in the readers' column of a newspaper is a triumph in itself. The London Times -- perhaps the ultimate case -- has during its long life rarely published more than two letters from any one reader. Hundreds, nay thousands, of writers of letters to the Times spend a lifetime trying without success to catch the eye of the editor.

In closing, Mr. Editor: George Carlin poses the question, "Where does the dentist go when he leaves you alone in the chair?'' In the case of Dr. Clark Godwin I would suggest the answer is, "In the next room to write a letter to The Royal Gazette ''.

PETER J. WILLCOCKS Smith's Parish