Hasn't anyone heard of rent control? What we have are greedy landlords charging exorbitant rents so that they may live comfortably in the luxury houses at their tenants' expense.

Granted, they worked hard for such comfort and amenities, but lest they forget, they rented at one time or another, when I am sure rents were far more reasonable.

Landlords, look at your apartments and honestly gauge what you think they are worth, not based on the going rents for other apartments.

This is a vicious circle perpetuated by the growing international businesses! Why? Because these landlords know that they can get these rents. Someone is going to pay and pay dearly. Some have no choice. If it means having a decent roof over your head, you will find the money. You have people working two and three jobs. Fathers under stress because the onus is on them to provide.

Single/married mothers becoming full-time working women whilst trying to be the matriarchs of the family unit.

And you wonder what's happening to our children?! Please! You can't read to your child at midnight when you get home from your second job, but if you didn't have that second job there would be no books to read! Landlords are sucking us dry and all we can do is complain as we dig into our pockets and sell a bit of our souls.

If landlords cannot be reasonable, (protesting falls on deaf ears), then we need to set up some sort of commission that surveys these apartments, gauges their rental value and list/enforces them (starting from a lower middle line, than we have presently reached).

The landlord will not then be able to charge above the stated rental value (rent control, people). Of course he may be able to have the rent reevaluated should he make significant renovations, but again the control is dispersed.

We've seen that control in one person's hands is tantamount to personal gain and greed. Shouldn't we all be working together to alleviate the problems in our society? Government is the plain wrapping on the parcel. The people are what make the gift real. If we sit back and do nothing, we are going to have all the expats with their housing allowances, in the nice apartments, reading to their children in the back-garden, while Bermudians (the true fabric of our society) live in below-average complexes.

In New York City they call it "The Projects''. You may not see it now, but do we really have to wait until it smacks us in the face? FIONA ROBERTS Paget A warning to dog owners November 19, 1999 Dear Sir, Since arriving on the Island almost two months ago, my husband and I have become a familiar sight to many Bermudians as we walk our three very fuzzy Keeshond dogs along Pitts Bay Road to Barr's Bay Park each evening.

We have never encountered anything but friendly comments and interested questions, and lots of pleasure from tourists who were missing their own dogs back home.

We keep our dogs on leashes, in respect for the law of the country. Although used to running free in Canada, they have adapted quickly to the new restrictions here, and are happy to be walked on their extendible flexi-leads.

We thought everything was going well until last night. As we reached Barr's Bay Park and began to go down the ramp we spotted two youths and two dogs on the grass near the water. Our dogs were on their flexi-leads - their dogs were off-leash.

The loose dogs were Pit Bull Terriers, or Pit Bull crosses. Seeing this we immediately turned to leave, but before we could do so, one of the dogs had shot like a guided missile towards our dogs, and had seized one by the throat, holding him in a vice-like grip, and refusing to let go.

Despite the strenuous efforts of the owner and my husband to force the jaws of the monster dog apart, he was finally only dragged off by pulling out a mouthful of hair and skin from our dog's throat. We were lucky that our dog suffered only minor injuries, and that my husband wasn't bitten - only scratched - in the process.

The attack was totally unprovoked. Anyone who has known a Keeshond will vouch for the fact that these dogs have the sweetest possible nature.

We were fifty yards away and retreating when the Pit Bull attacked. To compound the situation, the boys did not immediately put their dogs on their leashes, and continued to behave most irresponsibly by walking close by us as they began to leave the park.

The noise generated by the episode brought two police officers from the nearby Police Station, who then proceeded to take all our names and addresses. Of course, the boys had their dogs leashed by then, and claimed that it was our dogs who had initiated the fight.

There was a lady present who witnessed the whole scene, and who strongly took our side, but the Police told her to be quiet and go away -- which she naturally enough did, without leaving her name. Without a witness we have no redress against the law: as the Police said, it would be our word against theirs.

We are therefore writing this letter for two reasons. Firstly, to register our utmost outrage and anger at what could have been a fatal attack, and what was most certainly a wholly unnecessary incident due only to the stupidity of the Pit Bull's owners -- and the inherent viciousness of such dogs when bred for fighting. Secondly, to warn innocent newcomers of the dangers their dogs may be exposed to on this island.

We are angry and outraged because we don't have the answers to the questions: 1. Why did the boys have their dogs off-leash? It is against the law everywhere on the Island, and everyone - even newcomers - know it is against the law.

2. Why are Pit Bulls and Pit Bull crosses not required by law to be muzzled, when it is known from tragic incidents worldwide that they are potentially dangerous dogs? 3. Why are people allowed to breed and own these dangerous dogs, when it is also well known that there are dog-fighting rings on the island? 4. Why did the Police not want to take the witness' statement, but instead told her to be quiet and go away? Pit Bulls are extremely dangerous dogs: in some countries it is illegal to own or breed them, in others it is a legal requirement to have them muzzled at all times.

We were warned within days of arriving by a Bermudian friend that there are dog-fighting rings on the Island. He told us that people steal dogs to fight with, and that Rottweilers and Pit Bulls are bred here for fighting.

When discussing this episode with my friends I learned of two other incidents -- one of a Labrador being attacked by a vicious dog within a week of arriving on the island, and a second of the unexplained loss of an English Bulldog from someone's back yard. We feel that newcomers who arrive with dogs need to be made aware of the danger their dogs might be in, should they leave them outside their property, or dare to risk walking their dog in public.

In addition, my husband and I would like to encourage the Bermudian authorities to consider introducing regulations to control the ownership of dangerous dogs, which are no doubt sometimes used for the purposes of fighting, and are always a danger to the public.

It could have been a child's face in the jaws of that dog, and the result would have been far worse than the loss of a lump of fur and skin from our dog's throat.

DIANE AND MAGDY ANTONE Pembroke Showing compassion November 5, 1999 Dear Sir, I would be grateful if you would allow me to express to the community the gratitude of The Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association for the generous support given to our recent annual Tag Day.

The public and business community contributed a total of $15,102.33 on Friday and Saturday. I wish to express the thanks of the Association to the many volunteers, members, friends, service organisations and students who contributed their time and energy to making the Tag Day a success.

Thank you Bermuda for your wholehearted support.

MRS. DENISE J. ASTWOOD Chairperson -- Tag Day The Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association Keep up the good work November 30, 1999 Dear Sir, This is an open letter to Mrs. Rosemary Pedro. Dear Mrs. Pedro.

First of all I wish to say thank you for trying to make the housing problem public. However we need to have more people like yourself on our side. I am one of the families in need of affordable housing. I am prepared to assist you in your will to change these conditions -- all you have to do is say the word.

You can reach me at home 296-1712. I urgently need to talk to you.

It is very unfortunate that we the people of Bermuda can't help our own. Also there are many families just like Ms Burgess and myself who would welcome the chance to move ASAP.

Most of the time potential landlords say the following: My rent will be $1,800 per month and I want a deposit as well. Or they don't want children. I think that they have had a bad deal before so all potential tenants are classed as been a bad risk.

I say to these landlords: Not all potential tenants are bad so please give us a chance.

LAVITA WILLIAMS Pembroke Well done Mr. Moniz November 24, 1999 Dear Sir, The editorial named `Without Favour' which appeared in The Royal Gazette November 2, is a profound analysis of the way Bermuda could be. It really brings into focus in a meaningful way what Mr. Trevor Moniz is trying to achieve. The events of those past few weeks have caused me to give support for a Register of Interests for Parliamentarians. I would hope that Mr. Moniz would withdraw the proposal for Legislators' spouses' Interests to be declared.

In closing I would like to congratulate Mr. Moniz in his continued efforts, and wish him well in his prolonged, but just, cause to safeguard all Bermudians (without favour). In my opinion, he has been well presented by our new and still learning Editor of The Royal Gazette .

RAYMOND RUSSELL Pembroke