I note in today's Royal Gazette April 8, there is a picture of Mr. Calvin Smith and his "Easter Theme'' decorated car. I agree his creation was kind of fun, but I have to wonder how he is allowed to constantly decorate his car year round when TCD are so restrictive when one has to have their car examined. On the examination day, one has to have a perfect car without any decals or else they fail the test and are sent away to have it fixed.

Are there not two standards? One, which lasts a total of approximately one hour in the entire year and the other, such as Mr. Smith's creations, which seemingly are OK as long as it isn't decorated during the examination hour.

Why have all these tough policies and aggravation when creations such as Mr.

Smith's can go on without reprimand from TCD? KAL St. David's Car was repaired April 12, 1999 Dear Sir, Thank you for allowing me the space to print my letter in your newspaper dated April 7, 1999. My letter was in reference to my Toyota Corolla car being damaged without anyone saying.

To those of you who were concerned, the person who damaged my car owned up to it the same day the letter was printed. To date my car has been repaired and financed.

To you the reader, have A Blessed Day.

JULIE-KAY DARRELL City of Hamilton Shopping overseas April 5, 1999 Dear Sir, On the front page of your paper on Monday, April 5, 1999 was an article "Overseas spending hits $31.3 million''. In this article one of the local retailers was quoted as saying: "Bermudians increasingly will not accept a price difference between here and the US. They do not understand why they should pay $60 for what is recognised as a $50 item.'' This retailer obviously does not understand why people shop overseas. People don't mind paying $60 for a $50 item; this is not the problem. Unfortunately, too many stores on the Island are looking at gouging the customer. On far too many occasions I have found exactly the same item in the States for less than half of what was available in Bermuda.

Additionally, much of the staff locally feels that they are doing you a favour to wait on you. They continue to carry on personal conversations when they should be attending to the customer's needs. And when they finally get around to waiting on you, they move so slowly that you are convinced they must be half-asleep. Until the pricing and service changes dramatically, I will continue to shop overseas.

TREAT ME LIKE A CUSTOMER Devonshire A worthwhile cause March 31, 1999 Dear Sir, Names and terminology are sometimes loosely thrown about in Bermuda, and I would like to clarify the words "Art in the Park'' which were used in one of your photo captions regarding an art event staged by the Masterworks Foundation in St. George's.

The Masterworks group along with the Bank of Butterfield sponsored an event called "Community Art Day'' on Ordinance Island, St. George's, Saturday, March 28. To encourage all round exposure and participation of the arts rather than a concentration on the two dimensional aspect, this was the first time that Masterworks kindly invited the Bermudian craftspeople to join them. These craftspeople came under the umbrella of an entirely different organisation called "Art in the Park'' and encompassed many skills ranging from jewellery designing, ceramics, sewing, hand made dolls, hand painted gourds, etc.

Art in the Park was first launched and successfully staged in November 1998 at the Kindley Field Park and will continue to hold its own events under that name throughout the summer. Art in the Park will also be joining up with Masterworks again for the Festival by the Sea to be held in Hamilton on May 16th and we are encouraging all working craftspeople to come out and make this a spectacular day for the arts.

The term "Art in the Park'', as mere words, cannot be covered by copyright, but the concept of a collective group of artisans creating a particular function on a regular basis can be registered. "Art in the Park'' is not plagiarism on the words "Concert in the Park'' created by the Bank of Butterfield, for the idea was conceived by exposure to a similar event called "Art in the Park'' which is held annually in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The charity extension of "Art in the Park'' is called SPIN -- meaning Stewardship for People in Need. The "Art in the Park'' functions will always be produced by SPIN and will tie in as a fundraiser to promote worthy causes.

I would like to personally thank the Masterworks Foundation and the Bank of Butterfield for inviting the hard working craftspeople of Bermuda to participate in their wonderful promotions of the arts on our Island.

JOAN K. ASPINALL on behalf of Art in the Park and SPIN Valuable lessons learned April 11, 1999 Dear Sir, Several months ago a report in The Royal Gazette of a near drowning at Admiralty Cove which was prevented by a person qualified in first aid encouraged me to complete a Bermuda Red Cross first aid course. I organised a group from my workplace, the Department of Planning, to undertake the course.

The Director of Planning, Brian Rowlinson, was extremely supportive in that he allowed the group, which contained representatives from all sections of his Department to do the course during working hours.

Little did I know how crucial this training would be for me. This weekend my four-year-old daughter was playing with my two-year-old son in the kitchen as I baked. The children were playing a game where they would give each other something in return for something else from their Easter baskets -- like pencils and chocolate kisses. I was somewhat preoccupied with my cookies when I noticed my two-year-old standing in the middle of the floor with a bright red face attempting to cough. From my daughter's reaction I deduced that she had inadvertently given her little brother a hard candy. He partially coughed once but was obviously unable to breathe or cough. His eyes were popping out and his face getting redder and redder.

Without a thought I immediately started first aid procedures as taught by my very able instructors, Craig Burt and Jamie Pedro. As he is a relatively small two-year-old I was able to do infant choking first aid on him as I also called 911. It was almost as if I was reliving one of the videos we were shown on the course. He lost the contents of his stomach but unfortunately the obstruction remained. As I continued the Heimlich Manoeuvres he went limp in my arms but then thankfully after a relatively short time the offending obstruction -- ironically a lifesaver candy -- came flying out across the floor. Almost immediately my son gave a strong cry and started breathing again. At this stage I was able to tell the 911 operator not to dispatch the ambulance.

Both of us were very shocked by the incident but I was so proud and pleased with my reactions at the time, which undoubtedly reflects the training I was given. I have no doubt in my mind that I did a life saving procedure on my son. He was a bit dazed and a odd colour for a few minutes with the only lasting effects being a slightly sore throat and a few broken capillaries around his eyes and cheeks. I only hope that my experience motivates others, especially parents and caregivers to take a course in first aid.

In retelling my story to friends and acquaintances over the weekend the standard reply was "I wouldn't know what to do if it was me''. I am just so grateful to all those involved that I was adequately prepared for this incident.

ANNA L. EATHERLEY City of Hamilton Shame on BTC April 12, 1999 The following letter was sent to the Bermuda Telephone Company and was copied to The Royal Gazette .

*** Dear Sir, Our telephones and therefore our Internet access have been out of service since Saturday night, April 10. I was advised on Sunday morning that there was no available telephone repair line to call until Monday 12, today. I called BTC and was told that your computers were down and that our problem would go on the "list''. I was told that it would be at least three to four days before a crew might attend to investigate and repair.

This is disgraceful for a country that depends on international communications for economic well-being. Not to have a 24 hour emergency service should result in the loss of your monopoly. To add insult to injury, this week we received notice of your latest increase in the cost of your "service''.

TIMOTHY FELLOWES Hamilton Parish SOS on EMF April 5, 1999 Dear Sir, It is interesting that Bermuda Digital Communications, Mr. M. Beardon and Mr.

A. Gauntlett in their promotion of the safety of cellular phone Radio Frequency EMF have all extensively quoted a Dr. John Moulder. This would have to be a coincidence if, as they imply, all sensible mainstream researchers have the same view. It is strange that they have not independently found different scientists to quote.

Dr. John Moulder has testified in court many times on behalf of EMF emitting industries. He is the blue-eyed boy of these industries. While these circumstances have drawn fire by activists, to be fair it can only be said that the opinions of Dr. Moulder are very well suited to the causes of BDC, Mr. Beardon and Mr. Gauntlett.

In the face of new indisputable evidence of the biological effects of Radio Frequency EMF, as agreed in the October, 1998 "Vienna EMF Resolution'', there are very few knowledgeable, reputable scientists who will deny the possibility that in the long-term these biological effects will manifest themselves as health effects.

UNREPENTANTLY CAUTIOUS City of Hamilton Political maturity needed April 6, 1999 Dear Sir, With talk of Independence for Bermuda once again coming from the back to the front burner it is essential that Bermudians demonstrate their political maturity by having a Parliament in which the political parties are racially well integrated. At present this is not the case with 30 black and ten white MPs and nine black and two white Senators.

Bermuda has one of the world's most buoyant economies with a resulting stability and standard of living seemed to none. However there is always room for improvement and one area is in the political arena where the feeling of some within it is that black people best sense the interests of black people and that white people best sense the interests of white people. This feeling should disappear before we seriously discuss Independence. We are all Bermudians and must work together regardless of race, colour or creed. What better place to start to make this come about than in Bermuda's Parliament, the public voice of our country.

JOHN T. GILBERT Paget Terror on the roads March 30, 1999 Dear Sir, Pedestrians are now an increasingly endangered species! We are unsafe as follows: 1. On, in and out of sidewalks; 2. On zebra crossings; 3. On inside of narrow get-on, get-off bus stops already hugging hedge or wall; 4. At traffic lights.

The most dangerous zebra crossing is known as Cenotaph by Cabinet Gate. I have been endangered there three times. First, when a man crossed in front of me when nearly half way over. I do not know whether or not he was an unknowing or unthinking tourist. Second, when God told me to stand still on the crossing and the student zoomed around me. Third, and certainly worst was when a taxi driver absolutely refused to let me continue my few footsteps to the sidewalk.

I was so busy dubbing him an idiot that I failed to get his number. There were three bus stop incidents. One at King Street by Dismont-Robinson between bus and sidewalk, motor not running, then by-passing the stop sign. Another, the earliest, was at City Hall light, a big student towing another nearly knocking me down and considering it something to laugh at. Yet again, this time only threatened by the biker to come through by the wall when I challenged him. The very narrowest bus stop sign I have encountered is on the main road immediately west of the turning into Sousa Estate where even when one was smashed against the wall, even when there was only one passing car the space was minimal. There is one other -- Corkscrew Hill when nearly all, including the Police, at least in the past claim unnecessary space.

CECILE MUSSON SMITH Devonshire