Dear Sir, Today, during the morning rush hour, a car stalled on South Road blocking traffic on Rural Hill.

The driver immediately starting pushing the car up the steep incline. Within seconds, two others stopped to help -- one was black, one was white.

And the driver's race? It simply didn't matter. It was a Bermuda snapshot to hold dear! PAGET PASSERBY Watch for rent hikes July 7, 1999 The following is the text of a letter to be sent to a tenant. It is unfortunate that the "New Bermuda'' PLP government haven't the foggiest idea what they are doing or the effect it will have on the community in general.

Dear Sir, Following the publication of the revised annual rental values by the new PLP Government, I regret to advise that the rent on your unit will be increased from $1,200 per month to $5,200 per month with immediate effect.

It should be noted that this increase directly reflects the rental value placed upon the unit by Government.

If you feel that you are unable to pay this revised rate, please consider this letter as notice to quit the premises.

GREEDY LANDLORD City of Hamilton Playing the race card July 5, 1999 Dear Sir, The genie is out of the bottle. The PLP was successful in the last election not only due the arrogance of the UBP, but primarily because it opened the bottle that had successfully contained the latent emotions related to racism.

I, like many others, hoped the race card was utilised as a one-time tactical weapon for the PLP to secure the government. (But now) it is becoming increasingly clear that the PLP intends to include the race issue as a plank in its strategic platform or that it finds itself unable to reign-in the race card to be bottled once again. Either way, the future of the country is at stake.

As Bermudians, we have a choice to make. We can either allow the emotions of history to consume us or we can lock arms and move into the future as partners with the good of the country and our children in mind.

The behaviour exhibited by certain members of the Government in last Friday's session cannot be allowed to continue as it not only sets a poor example for our youth, but it destabilises the foundation for productive dialogue and government.

The Government must abandon its "pay-back'' policy and focus on issues that are material to the future well-being of our country, namely a tourism industry on life support, international reviews of our tax system and the UK White Paper.

If the government is successful in tackling these issues it will find itself in an extremely favourable position as having a proven track record of thoughtful governance.

On the other hand, if Government's attention is diverted from these issues while it continues to antagonise race relations we will find that each and every one of us has paid an extremely high price for letting the genie out of the bottle.

ROBIN HAMILL Hamilton Parish `A territory of ingrates' June 29, 1999 Dear Sir, I am as cross as a bear with a sore head.

The reason for this pathos concerns The Royal Gazette's front page headline of November 20, 1998, informing Bermudians that at least four Police recruits were on the job despite failing grades.

A perusal of all your periodicals published since that date will reveal that not one letter has been mailed to The Royal Gazette expressing any form of gratitude to our Police Commissioner, Jean Jacques Lemay.

This letter therefore, is directed as a rebuke to all residents of Bermuda, including myself, for not having had the good grace to extend one word of thanks to Mr. Lemay for this super session, despite the fact that there were only ten applications for training.

I am therefore querulous regarding the following: Are we in fact a territory of ingrates either unable or unwilling to recognise the fact that at last we have a Chief Executive who is making do with, and dedicated to improving, the personnel under his command rather than trying to bamboozle the taxpayer and plunder the Government Treasury? Let me therefore be the first to extend gratitude to Mr. Lemay for this sterling quality and more. I authored the October 26, 1998, letter published on November 17, 1998, under the non de plume "Wondering'' and as per the second paragraph within -- days if not hours before the Statute of Limitations expiration -- a ruffian of the stamp described in Scared's letter appeared in Plea Court where he was arraigned for trial in Magistrate's court within the first month of 1999.'' Once again, my sincere thanks to Mr. Lemay on behalf of every law-abiding Bermudian taxpayer. Under the command of the present Commissioner, the four recruits mentioned in paragraph one will or have been taught that performing their duties involve treading a narrow line or tightrope with the law of the land on one side and the safety and well-being of Bermudians on the other.

The mere ability to walk erect and have five-digital extensions will not suffice towards the issue of a Police warrant card.

William A. Woods Hamilton Parish Road to ruin March 25, 1999 Dear Sir, My proposal is to be a source of enlightenment, as they say, "to the New Bermuda''.

What is the point of a Board of Inquiry, if it is impossible to penetrate the stone walls that remain, although I don't blame the powers that be protecting their interest, but not at the exploitation of the taxi.

Just maybe with the change of Government and a correct professional approach, the taxi industry will finally service Bermuda and receive it just due from the economy of the Island. Can you imagine from the taxi (industry's) inception and fifty years on, the exploitation remains.

Examples: 1. Refusal to accept an official body to represent the taxi industry; 2. Refusal to accept dispatch of the taxi at the airport; 3. Radio Dispatch Services provided with legislation that should be under the control of taxis only; 4. Sir, can you imagine yourself classified as self employed, without any power or control in law to safeguard and manage your own business? All of the above mentioned can be substantiated I might add.

If it were possible for every taxi throughout the world to stop a moment simultaneously, the repercussions in my estimation are far beyond any ones comprehension. Bermuda's future success can be accomplished by simply providing a level playing field, in all areas, for all.

Sir, your example of an open door can be set by simply not allowing letters published without signature, their name known by you from a press point of view is one thing, intimidation on behalf of readers another.

In the best interest of Bermuda no longer applies to a select few, to our new Government it means in the best interest of all Bermudians, including the select few.

Hiding behind closed doors out of fear or whatever, accept it is as a thing of the past, no longer is one alone, instead consider oneself a part of the whole. Try to bear in mind that one of the greatest influences happens to be third party representation.

Looking back into our past, Bermuda handled its problems in such a manner, we were looked upon as an example to the rest of the world.

R. WILSON City of Hamilton Search's on for cabbie June 18, 1999 Dear Sir, I hope through your pages to locate a part-time taxi driver who drove two Canadian visitors to the airport on Tuesday, June 8, from Church Bay to catch the Toronto Air Canada flight.

While paying their fare, they discovered that they still had the keys from their rented apartment. The taxi driver offered to return the keys to the owners as soon as possible.

They did not hesitate as they know about Bermuda's friendly reputation.

Unfortunately they did not get the driver's name or his taxi number. The only information they have is that he was dispatched from Radio Cabs, his taxi was a white van model, he lives in a purple house on the South Shore in Paget and he works as a fireman (part-time/full-time?) Efforts have been made since, through Radio Cabs and the Bermuda Fire Department, to try and locate the driver but with no success. There is a tag attached to the keys with a post box address for returning in case of loss or taken in error by a guest.

The visitors have called three times from Canada and are quite distressed that the driver has not carried out the offer which he had volunteered to do. This is an appeal to the taxi driver to please drop the keys in the nearest mailbox or to contact the owners at 238-1137 or 295-5300. It has now become a matter of some concern as well as inconvenience.

SOUTHAMPTON