Anyone who had the unfortunate experience of visiting Nassau 12 years or so ago would have been struck by the sight of the number of government-owned chauffeured limousines for cabinet ministers choking traffic in Rawson Square while the poor of the country couldn't afford even second-hand cars. Since November 1998, local trends have not been hard to foretell. Look to the south.

However recent coverage and criticism in your journal indicates to me that Bermudians don't know when they are ahead of the game.

I move that Bermuda's Commissioner of Police be empowered to unabashedly tear up all traffic tickets issued to PLP Cabinet Ministers to ensure they retain their driving licences. With luck the abused voters and taxpayers of this island may be spared a little longer a few of the excesses of arrogance and extravagance which were visited on the people of the Bahamas under that regime.

PINDLING'S GHOST STALKS BERMUDA Warwick Outraged at changes The following was sent to Baroness Scotland at the Foreign and Commonwealth office and copied to The Royal Gazette .

November 6, 2000 Dear Baroness Scotland, As registered Bermuda voters, we are outraged that the present Bermuda Government intends to amend the Bermuda Constitution without explaining in detail what they propose, or allowing the public to participate in fundamental decisions regarding the Constitution.

We are in agreement that the present voting districts are unbalanced numerically, and should be brought closer to equality, but without gerrymandering artificial boundaries calculated to favour one political party at the expense of others, which will be the inevitable result if the Progressive Labour Party, with their present majority in the House of Assembly, are allowed to eviscerate the Constitution.

Widespread public input to any constitutional change is essential, if we are to preserve our proud democratic traditions. Before any changes are made, we, the public, have a right to know how many seats are proposed for the House of Assembly, the boundaries of new voting districts, whether elections are to be based on "first past the post'' or on proportional representation and what method is proposed for any future constitutional amendments.

We urge that you intervene in the process at this time by calling for a constitutional convention or some other means by which all three political parties can be represented, to draft a proposed new Constitution which can then be submitted to a referendum for approval by the voting public.

ROBERT N. TUCKER ANNE H. TUCKER Paget Ramrod approach wrong November 9, 2000 The following was sent to Baroness Scotland of Asthal, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London and copied to The Royal Gazette .

Dear Baroness Scotland, As a citizen of Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory and a registered voter, I have become increasingly concerned about the proposed "Amendments to the Constitution'' as set forth by the Progressive Labour Party Government of this Island.

Their ramrod approach to these very important issues by the use of Administrative Orders after only one public debate to be held tonight, November 9, is a travesty. There should be several public debates, a constitutional conference followed by a referendum on the proposed constitutional changes.

I would respectfully request that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office allay the justifiable fears of the Bermuda voters by insisting that our present Government (PLP) respect the rights of the voters via a constitutional conference and referendum.

DONALD A. MANUEL Devonshire Let's have more MPs November 9, 2000 Dear Sir, Some are shocked by the casual way the Progressive Labour Party decided to change the Constitution. The PLP presumes that its mandate gives it extraordinary powers to change the very structure that put it in power.

Therefore, the logic goes, public discussion is practically irrelevant.

You would be wrong to think that this notion of the PLP's comes from their inexperience. They learned it from the United Bermuda Party. That party's magisterial arrogance cultivated a whole culture of Bermuda politics, strains of which the PLP picked up. I call it political custody. The party in power likes to think that their opinion, whenever they think it, must, by mystical democratic theory, be the direct expression of popular will. If they don't actually believe in this cosmic connection to the public, it is politically convenient to behave as if they did. The UBP didn't want to listen to anyone on the issue of education. Their history in this, the most onerous and crucial area, was grim and long; a slow motion catastrophe. Now the PLP exercises the public's will, in the matter of constitutional reform, without consulting it.

How is it that less representation is actually more representation? We are said to be over-represented. If such a thing could be possible I suppose there is some standard. The United States perhaps will serve. 535 people represent the 250 million people of the United States. At that ratio, 60,000 people will be wildly over-represented by one-fifth of a member of Parliament, his or her mouth one would imagine; a sort of ultra palegic autocrat.

The purpose of this absurd reduction is to point out that democratic countries of whatever size tend to be governed by enough voices to represent all opinions, not one rep for every ten, 1,000 or million.

If we are to be ruled by eight or whatever smaller number, we can say goodbye to all the outside people who said what many constituents were really thinking. No more Dale Butler, no more Harry Viera turning out the lights. I say it isn't representation that is over the standard. Its political arrogance. The PLP knew this once and many of them remember, I hope.

Bermuda was governed once by a very small group of people. They were called the Executive Council. Perhaps the PLP thinks that was a good system...and then again maybe not.

I say, let's bury the bad old habits and have even more representation. If there is a proposition for seatbelt laws, let's have a referendum. Let's use referenda much more for all kinds of issues. That way we don't get the preposterous moralising on Fridays and we empower ourselves. We are a small community. Its feasible for us to bring issues right down to the bottom of the political hierarchy: the voter.

JOHN ZUILL Pembroke There is still time October 28, 2000 Dear Sir, "We will ensure a Public Service which is responsive to the public whom it is their duty to serve, and respected by all members of a Government who are also the servants of the Bermudian people.

A new Bermuda: Where the Government serves all of the people; Where Government operates in the sunshine of public scrutiny.'' PLP Platform 1998 With reference to the proposed constitutional changes as very briefly outlined in the PLP platform of 1998 and again in the current Throne Speech, I would ask that the Government to: Clearly state the rationale for each and every change proposed; Give specifics on how the Government envisage the results of these changes; Release the Civil Service Review so as to allow the electorate to be fully informed of all its findings and recommendations; Give the electorate a realistic time-frame to read, comprehend and appreciate the ramifications of the proposed changes; Organise public meetings in a variety of areas to ensure that the electorate is able to clarify any points, express their opinions and make any suggestions; Listen courteously and without disparagement to everyone's concerns.

It would seem to me that with at least three years still to go, the Government has ample opportunity to allow all of us to be fully and clearly informed in a timely, calm, truly open and transparent manner, thus reflecting the 1963 statement that the PLP is founded on the principles of justice and equity for Bermudians regardless of race, colour or creed.

J. FLOOD Pembroke Back to the books, Hester November 10, 2000 Dear Sir, May I suggest that Hester join the Island's teachers for the proposed refresher course in grammar ( Royal Gazette , November 2, 2000). She might then learn the difference between "stationery'' -- a noun meaning "writing materials'' and "stationary'' -- an adjective meaning "at a stand-still''.

I have not seen the hi-tech calculator notice at the Bermuda College, but it seems to me that if the keys of any calculator are marked with letters rather than numbers then that calculator is inoperable. In other words, you can't use it -- unless, of course, you happen to be a high-powered code breaker.

MARY GRAY Paget Brussels has taken over November 8, 2000 Dear Sir, It should be noted that today is the day that our elected Government gave up the authority to charge Customs duties as it sees right and proper for the economic well-being of our Island.

This power has been transferred to Brussels. (Bermuda Customs Tariff 2000, viz. Page 26, and consider adult clothing which is now dutiable at 6.5 percent as is required by Brussels, and not ten percent as legislated previously by our own elected representatives in Bermuda).

Is this the beginning of a new form of Colonialism? EURO-SCEPTIC Flatts Village