Mr. Robert Stewart's letter which appeared on April 21, 2001 is so misleading, so filled with errors and theoretical in its thrust, that I must request the privilege of responding to it with some real practicalities of Bermuda.

It is necessary for me to point out initially, that I hold no brief for the PLP, Ms Webb or Mr. Commissiong, the targets of Mr. Stewart's letter. Ms Webb's penchant for making rash unsubstantiated statements like that in which she accused the Police of corruption speaks for itself, in view of the fact that she is a Member of Parliament and thereby had a duty to bring such matters to the attention of her colleagues.

As far as I am aware, Ms Webb has never provided through the same media which carried her allegations one shred of evidence of this corruption.

Additionally, the PLP's apparent endorsement of one of its Senator's wayward if not hostile, inflammatory comments that, in essence, the PLP do not care about those who voted against it at the last Election shows that the party is in dire need of leadership.

However, this does not provide any underlying basis for the fictitious or imaginary historical account represented in Mr. Stewart's letter.

Mr. Stewart's contention regarding the "great legal innovation of the past 1,000 years of equality before the law'' would be funny had the consequence of this lack of equality not been with us today, albeit slightly reduced and manifested in different forms.

One could assume that Mr. Stewart was referring to the relatively recent CURE regulations or the Human Rights Act, but that would be a bit pedantic. Mr.

Stewart is/was a politician having run for the UBP in the past and it is unlikely he was endorsing the PLP's legislation.

I would like to ask Mr. Stewart if this realisation of equality was prior to or after a black person was considered to be a fraction of a human being or if it preceded the large sums of money European governments paid to former slave owners when those owners lost their precious human capital.

To suggest that some legal innovation created or attempted to create equality of the races is an affront to history. The unyielding fact of the black struggle from time immemorial is that, notwithstanding legal devices, almost all of the rights with which others were endowed had to be fought for by blacks.

Mr. Stewart's later argument that property, economic power and opportunity should flow from this equality rather than `membership in some politically favoured group' is surely meant for a laugh.

However, those black Bermudians, whose mortgages were threatened and/or determined for not supporting the status quo and those persons who were kept out of gainful employment, denied Government contracts and employment, all under the UBP government, would not find this so funny. In fact, they may think it is quite cruel to make such a statement.

The truth of the matter is that to this day in Bermuda, the unspoken policy of some establishments is to discriminate against blacks and unconnected persons in this country. Discrimination runs the whole spectrum -- from housing to jobs.

There is no doubt that some policies have brought about a healthy change against rampant discrimination, but the problem has not been eradicated.

Any black person in this country would tell Mr. Stewart that their lot is not equal to that of their white counterparts. And if you are from the Caribbean, you are categorised much lower down the totem pole.

Ask any teacher or Police officer from the Caribbean. The good thing about Bermuda is that because it is so small and there is a need for like-minded people to meet and talk, all of these harmful shenanigans come to light eventually. Some sooner than others. Indeed, with some employers, the art of discrimination is so refined that human resources officers are empowered to act in such a manner without reference to anyone senior to them.

Whether and how the PLP go about tackling the problem is a more difficult question. My personal view is that the PLP should concentrate on doing justice in all cases, but this does not mean that advocating black economic empowerment should be discouraged.

But advocating this concept has no relationship to the realities of present-day Bermuda. Discrimination continues. That is why it is essential for necessary legislation to be in place to act as a deterrent. But I am sure the likes of Mr. Stewart would not support more stringent legislation against racial discrimination.

Unfortunately, there is no legislation in place that is likely to deter discrimination in any form. Furthermore, the sad fact is that there is no evidence that the PLP has any interest in dealing with this menace.

In fact, it seems to me that the PLP is following exactly in the footsteps of its predecessor, hence a common response to almost every issue is that it was like that under the previous Government. The top priority of the PLP now seems to be consolidation of power instead of dealing with issues that affect the majority of Bermudians.

Two issues, one recent and the other in the recent past, have caused me some concern regarding the movers and shakers of the PLP. The first is the Bill brought by the late Dr. Stubbs that had the aim of decriminalising homosexual acts. This was supported by some members of the PLP under the rubric of human rights.

It was clear at the time that most Bermudians, particularly the PLP supporters did not support this Bill. It became the law anyway thanks in part to the PLP.

But in the second instance, the PLP, having gained political power, was in no mood to acknowledge the same human rights or any other rights where Long-Term Residents were concerned.

A simple analysis of the situation by the most simple-minded among us would have led to the conclusion that anyone who has lived in this country for 30 to 35 years and was unsuccessful after applying for Bermuda Status, is someone who did not fit the UBP criteria of race and/or overt political support. Yet the PLP has methodically set about to alienate the Long-Term Residents and their children (who in time will become Bermudians), with a series of meetings last year that would have caused shame among the most xenophobic in this country.

Now there is talk about several different colours of papers to discuss this relatively simple issue. This brings me to one issue with which I happen to agree with Mr. Stewart, that is, that the PLP do not fully understand economics. My reason for believing this is that there seems to be a hidden belief in the PLP that if the Long-Term Residents leave Bermuda, it would be good economically for the country.

There was ample room for Mr. Stewart to criticise the PLP and Ms Webb, but to suggest that black economic empowerment, whether advocated by Ms Webb or whomever, is intrinsically contrary to some abstract legal doctrine is nothing short of an outrage compounded by folly. It is like saying that since there is so much food in the world, there is no hunger.

I did not hear Mr. Stewart's voice when his Party was foisting UBP empowerment. The fact that a few blacks benefited is little joy for the majority who were left out. This process was indeed even more harmful than discrimination against blacks and nonconformists as an entire group because it also had the effect of serving as punishment and a warning to others.

It was no surprise that a former Premier and a Senator of the UBP were heard to complain when their own system turned against them. The former with some amusement stated that when he left his political post, no one gave him a job and the Senator complained bitterly about discrimination, obviously forgetting that with some irreverence, he had castigated many blacks previously for complaining about the same thing.

This, to my mind, was an admission that they both knew that party affiliation and support was a precondition to economic opportunity. How easily Mr. Stewart has forgotten these recent events! Until I see a greater appreciation of justice and rights in this country, I will continue to hold my US citizenship.

EVERETT DILL Warwick Just a suggestion May 1st, 2001 Dear Sir, To the Premier and to Mr. Jan Spiering, I know of an excellent candidate to assume the role of President of the Bermuda College. His name: Dr. Donald Peters.

ROLFE PATTON COMMISSIONG City of Hamilton Noisy college students May 1, 2001 Dear Sir, I cannot retain my silence any longer. The noise level at the Bermuda College coming from the students on campus and in the library has become unbearable for any good person to go there to study. The talking is so loud that you can actually hear it penetrating through the windows straight into the library.

I don't see much of the security guards patrolling the campus grounds. There should be a least two security guards positioned in the library and more guards patrolling the grounds. What exactly is their job description? I feel that it is not the responsibility of the library staff to have to try and control the students from loud talking. They refuse to show little or no respect for others that wish to go there and study.

We also need a library in Somerset and in St. George's.

CONCERNED Smith's Parish Gombey magic May 2, 2001 Dear Sir, As a kid living on Ewing Street, Hamilton, quite close to the home of Shaggy Smith, one of the long-ago Gombey troup leaders, I have to say the joy of hearing the sound of the drum was the signal that they were getting ready to dance the streets. It was magical, exciting. What a happy feeling it was.

There were times I would follow them for most of the day. The food that I ate was the joy of just watching them dance. Many times it was licks on returning home for running away.

Wednesday night I was in Hamilton and had the pleasure of watching the Gombeys of today in their full cry. Not only did it turn back the clock to give me a most happy feeling, it was much more than that. This was the final act of the Bermuda night Variety Show, their dancing was just fantastic. They had a very professional, exciting routine that was in harmony, so very colourful, and truly far more advanced then the groups of long ago. I had my granddaughter with me who loves the Gombeys as well as my family and we were fortunate to meet a few of the dancers after their show, what really impressed me the most was to speak with the dancers. They were very young, clean-cut well spoken so nice to talk to. My granddaughter was just thrilled beyond words to be so close and talk to them. It turned the clock back for me too.

Just to know that they carry on the tradition brings a real feeling of happiness to my heart, so in closing I say may the Gombey Troupes go on forever and bring Joy and Happiness to everyone.

STAN SEYMOUR "Lord Necktie'' Warwick Common sense on roads May 1, 2001 Dear Sir, In reference to "Make driving test harder'' (Wednesday, May 2), I would like to add that many people learn by example. However, some of our own Police and other emergency drivers are horrendous examples. I came across a situation which I believe was last Wednesday evening (April 25th) on North Shore Road near Terceira's Gas Station where there was an ambulance, fire truck, police car, etc.

Anyway, as I proceeded eastward approaching a blind corner near Bethel AME Church, there facing my car head-on, going westward (probably to the above location), appears a police car who had to swerve approximately five feet in front of me to avoid hitting me while overtaking another car, and get this -- without a siren, just a flasher, and once again, on a blind corner.

Prior to that incident, there was a police car double parked outside Kentucky Fried Chicken while his partner was picking up "dinner''. I stated that "if that was one of us, we would be ticketed''. I've dropped off in that same spot before and, lo and behold, here comes a police car signalling for me to move with the use of his/her siren.

Seems as though when the police should be using their sirens, the Police (and other emergency vehicles) should make theirs harder as well along with a common sense test, because one day, as this has happened on more than one occasion, something disastrous may happen, and it could be someone's child crossing the street.

So people, including police, ambulance and fire vehicle drivers, please use your common sense. It is never safe to overtake on a blind corner, especially without a siren. One cannot see a flashing siren coming around a blind corner.

IRRITATED St. David's Thanks from BUEI May 3, 2001 Dear Sir, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people and organisations that assisted in making our recent "Scuba For Kids'' diving experience a great success.

The Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute has several education initiatives planned this year. Clearly, the after-school programme has been an immediate hit with students and parents. An exciting extension to this programme has been the "Bubble Maker'' diving experience, which has been put on by several volunteers.

Nearly 40 children between the ages of eight to 12 have successfully completed the one-hour diving experience, which included a 30-minute video and talk followed by 30 minutes in a pool. Parents and students have admitted that the children may have never had such an experience had it not been made possible by volunteer help.

On behalf of the trustees and family at BUEI, I would like to thank Mike Burke of Blue Water Divers, Dave and Emma of Nautilus Diving, Deputy Governor Tim Gurney and Annie Glasspool, who were the instructors, and the Hamilton Fairmont Princess who made their pool facilities available to us.

They say it takes a community; certainly this programme could not have happened without the help of so many people.

Thanks again to everyone.

RALPH E. RICHARDSON Director Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute I'm not that Elka May 1, 2001 Dear Sir, I am writing to you concerning the letter in today's newspaper signed with the pen name "ELKA''. I would appreciate your publishing this letter to make it clear that I am not the "ELKA'' from Pembroke in order to clear up any confusion on this matter.

MRS. ELKA I. GIBBONS Smith's Parish