Promises, promises. That's what we get from the Tourism Minister as he continues to travel and visitor figures continue to fall.

The things said about tourism (your lead Page 1 story, May 8) are not new.

These are regurgitated statements designed to make it look as if something is happening in tourism when it is not.

Mr. David Allen did a great deal of criticising of the last Government, boasted a good deal, talked endlessly and promised much. After 500 days we are still slipping and sliding along as he flies hither and yon.

All hope for a new operation at Club Med fades; Belmont feels badly done by; talk of condos at Sonesta; Morgan's Point is a mess -- literally and figuratively. In the end I would bet Castle Harbour will be only town houses and condos -- no hotel -- five star or otherwise.

The US economy is booming. Historically that has been great for Bermuda's tourism. It's not so this time! Why? Because we killed the golden goose and David Allen has only rotten eggs.

WATCHING Paget Question of perspective May 8, 2000 Dear Sir, In response to the letter writer "Willie Sutton'' who in turn responded to my comments about Cecil Rhodes, I can only humbly offer the following: (1:) Much like -- I presume -- our shared hero Nelson Mandela, I too condemn tyranny and tyrants no matter what their stripe.

(2:) Having said that, it is no secret that Idi Amin who you choose to serve up as a rebuke to me, was actively supported during much of his reign by English commercial, military and political interests. Some observers contend that without that support it is doubtful whether Amin could have succeeded in gaining and then consolidating his power in Uganda.

One point of interest. While there is no dispute that Amin was a despot, it has since been determined that claims that he ate his victims and or fed them to the crocodiles were patently false. In other words these claims were fanciful propaganda which you have appeared to swallow wholesale.

(3:) All things being equal, Idi Amin's well-publicised "acts against humanity'' still pale in comparison to those committed by your hero Cecil Rhodes who was often lionised by the then-English establishment and media, such as it existed.

Indeed the western powers' role during the so-called colonisation of Africa amounts to nothing more than a holocaust. The effects of which are still being felt to this day.

(4) As to the population increase in Zimbabwe that has occurred over the last 20 years I fail to see the relevance, however I can only reply with an answer that I am sure you will relish: Undoubtedly this increase occurred as a consequence of all the "fornicating'' taking place in the bushes.

ROLFE PATTON COMMISSIONG Devonshire P.S. While the Willie Sutton reference was cute, I would have thought that Josef Stalin would have been far more appropriate. After all it is widely known that I admire him greatly. Just joking! Only colour has changed May 5, 2000 Dear Sir, Ralph Patton Commissiong's sanctimonious denigration of English morality strongly indicates he supports the despotic rule and ideology of Robert Mugabe, clearly a man without any morals or decency either to the majority black people who voted for him or the minority white people who he now has ordered his war veterans to murder.

Mr. Commissiong, you obviously did not see or want to see the article in The Daily Telegraph of some six weeks ago reporting on the developing crisis in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe, in his quest for a fairer distribution of the best arable land, compulsorily purchased (for probably a pittance) and then redistributed almost 1,120,000 acres of prime farmland to 400 people, including his political allies and a number of his cronies and favourites (47 of whom were given almost 200,000 acres between them, an area 14 times larger than Bermuda).

To put that in perspective for you, that means every three and a half of the chosen persons could be allocated an area the size of Bermuda! The 1,120,000 acres would support nearly 4.8 million people in Bermuda population terms.

The total population of Zimbabwe is 11.2 million (1999 est.), 98 percent of whom are African. That means enough land has been given to 400 people that would support more than one third of the population. Hardly what you could describe as a fairer distribution, and definitely not one that benefited the majority of the people of Zimbabwe.

As one Charles Malabo is quoted as saying "This is the new colonialism. A few rich whites have been replaced by a few rich blacks. Only the colour has changed.'' None of us living today has responsibility for what happened before our time but we are responsible for what happens now and in the future.

You seem to me, Mr. Commissiong, to have the moral shoe very much on the wrong foot. Or are your morals the same as the English colonialist and "only the colour has changed''. A Rhodes Scholarship may have helped you with your crisis.

PHIL CRACKNELL St. George's Good Friday cacophony May 4, 2000 Dear Sir, I am writing in reply to a letter that appeared in your column on Tuesday, May 2 from one of the organisers of the Ord Road community day that was held on Good Friday at Paget Primary school field.

It is all well and good for the writer to say that she appreciates the support of the community, but she does not seem to realise that this "party'' upset a lot of the neighbours who live in the immediate vicinity of the school grounds. I live within one minute of the school and I can tell your that day was less than enjoyable! I was out most of the day but when I returned home around 6 p.m., the noise was deafening. I was suffering from a debilitating migraine and the last thing I needed was a constant thumping bass line. After sleeping for about an hour, I got up and much to my dismay and my still throbbing headache, the noise was still as loud as ever.

I called the Police and was told that they had received numerous calls from neighbours who were complaining and just wanted them to turn the music down.

The Policewoman I spoke to said that she would send an officer over to talk to me when they were available.

I managed to go back to sleep to get rid of the migraine and when I woke, around 9 p.m., with less of a thumping head, but with the music still thundering outside, I went outside to find two Policemen talking to my neighbours. They took statements and said with their statements, the organisers would be prosecuted.

To cut a long story short, the music was finally turned off at 10 p.m. which was a huge relief to all.

I have one suggestion for the organisers of this celebration. Next year please visit all the households around the school (there are not that many) and let us know your plans.

Please have the music turned off at a reasonable hour -- like 8 p.m. (I know there is a time set by law that the music should not be heard within one hundred feet from the originating point, but I am not sure what time it is).

There are some elderly people and small children who live in the area who really should not be subjected to the racket that we had to put up with all day long.

VIRGINIA STEPHENS Paget Pay-up, then prosper May 8, 2000 Dear Sir, At a recent meeting of CURE, Mr. Terry Lister outlined a suggestion that he would make sure black-owned Bermuda companies would get more government contracts.

I wonder if this will also include those black-owned companies that do not pay their payroll tax, pension dues and many other debts.

I am aware of a company which at present holds more than six government contracts and at the same time owes the Bermuda Government more than $200,000 in payroll tax, hospital levy and pension, as well as other debts.

It is also well known that staff are paid by cheque and frequently these cheques bounce. On top of this, the owner of the business has a flashy new boat and makes frequent trips off the Island at least every few months.

Companies that owe any kind of Government debt should not be allowed to bid on any government projects whether they are black- or white-owned. A level playing field is required by all.

Read what Mr. Larry Dennis had to say about unpaid taxes. The names of people or companies that owe our government more than $10,000 for over six months should not be allowed to leave the Island until all debts are paid and likewise not be able to bid government contracts.

DEBT COLLECTOR City of Hamilton