Dear Sir, Don't you sense that balance would be gained -- between the "resurrected'' St. George's in the East and Dockyard in the West, if Toppy's hopes for Flatts Village, were adopted to address our badly needed mid-Island tourist attractions? For despite our chuckles at Woolcock's `Cowen' bridge...surely a more modest structure -- even pro tem, could enhance our Minister of tourism's attempts to restore our declining tourist figures.

Particularly if 15,000 vehicles, per day were funnelled to by-pass a resurrected and tourist friendly Flatts Village.

Or as reported; is the "Cowen'' bridge destined to remain a wish -- as the Minister for works has "earmarked'' his funds for other developments. So that Bermuda's need for a "done over'' Flatts village with Boardwalks and waterfront cafes... won't proceed? I hope not, Mr. Editor. Particularly when our Minister for Environment pledged his support. Perhaps if Arthur Hodgson and our Tourism "guru'' David Allen can start matters moving; then the upgrades we badly need -- will not only enhance our environment, but will `spark' the much desired boost to tourism and our economy.

WILLIAM SCOTT Smith's Parish `Gay trend' surfacing March 12, 1999 Dear Sir, There have been numerous incidents within your "Letters'' column, which have confused me, excited me, and sometimes even amused me. But when I read a letter submitted on April 12 by a Mr. Michael Stubbs, on the subject of gay citizens, in spite of all of the ongoing, public, private, and international disputes by just about everyone "gay'' and straight, I am compelled to finally respond in writing.

On these matters, society in general seems to be avoiding any effort to give a "straight up'' approach to the "gay trend'' which seems to be surfacing more and more of late. Now, aside from all political and religious views on being gay, I would like to point out to all homosexuals that if their lifestyle was the right one, then it should be suitable for everyone. But on the other hand if everyone had homosexual sex, how on earth would there continue to be people? This is a matter of "common sense''! In keeping up with modern political trends, one could take the view of being "liberal''. But to be liberal and not bigoted, hypocritical or biased towards character trends, as many gays speak out against repeatedly, one would be forced to be "liberal'' and repeal laws against murderers, rapists and other criminals on the same grounds of this being their nature and personality traits with which they too were born! I dare say very few people (even gays) would be willing to comply! On the subject of sexual preference, I say to each his own. Personally I love females, but that is a matter for private life; nothing to do with citizenship at all! I wonder if Mr. Stubbs would think it to be all right if a group of heterosexuals campaigned for the right to parade their sexual preference in public, seeing as sexual preference is the only area where this issue makes a difference!! You sir, have a right to be "gay'', but when you make that right public, then the public has a right to choose if they like it or not! What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. so please tell me why you should be "gay by law'' and other people who do things in the privacy of their own home between consenting adults, such as marijuana smokers, prostitutes, and people who engage in adultery, go to trial? Please note that the church condemns these too, as well as politics and society. Live life and keep your sex life to yourself, then others cannot and will not shun you.

CARLTON C. SMITH City of Hamilton P.s. If being "Gay'' is so natural, then why does one party portray a feminine role and the other take the male role as if they were heterosexual anyway? Bigger worries than gays April 13, 1999 Dear Sir, I have just read the letter from Mr. Michael Stubbs in The Royal Gazette dated the April 12, 1999. I too am taken aback with the statement of the `decline of the moral fibre of Bermudian society' by so called educated Bermudians...

If ever there was a hypocritical statement this century that has got to be it... Moral fibre. What a laugh! You have couples two-timing each other, women visiting married men, men visiting married women, females producing children from different fathers they neither want nor can afford, grandparents giving up their hard earned money in their twilight years taking care of grandchildren produced by their irresponsible children, overage men picking up under age females, incest amongst families, drugs bought and sold in the open, knife wielding drop-outs robbing Bermudians and Tourists, aggressive speeds that maim and kill... And you lot wish to make an issue of consenting males or females in the privacy of their home... Give me a huge break.

ARE YOU FOR REAL Pembroke No `gay gene' found April 3, 1999 Dear Sir, A vigorous debate continues surrounding homosexuality with no apparent end in sight. It seem that television and popular media are giving more credence to the acceptance of homosexuality as an alternate way of life instead of concentrating on developing racial harmony and morality. Let us try to unveil the mask that surrounds homosexuality and its negative impact on society.

I contend that homosexuality is an unnatural act which is fuelled by the flames of sexism and aggression, therefore it should be treated as an illness.

The litmus test to validate or dismiss homosexuality is to place it in the ideal environment where all the members of a society are homosexuals. This society would ultimately die because there would be no procreation, since men would only be having sexual encounters with men and vice versa.

Furthermore, our marvellous bodies are a symbiosis of harmony and balance.

Some proponents of homosexuality defend this act by professing that some people are born gay, scientists have tried desperately for years to find a homosexuality gene, but to the dismay of some, none have been found. Let us speculate that such a freaky gene is found, then the victim should be treated for this illness, as are persons who were born with AIDS, mental illness, Down Syndrome etc. We must take an active stance against the unnatural act of homosexuality and find an immediate solution to this menacing problem.

AMEN RA Southampton Wrong message sent April 14, 1999 Dear Sir, I just finished reading about the case of Lorin Smith in the April 13 issue of The Royal Gazette newspaper. He received a nine month sentence for stabbing another person 36 times. This was called unlawful wounding. I would have thought that stabbing someone that many times PLUS hitting them with a hammer was something worse than unlawful wounding -- what about attempted murder? The Magistrate decided not to pass this case onto the Supreme Court where a heavier sentence could have been slapped upon the defendant. Somehow a nine month sentence does not seem just in this instance. It seems like the court system is sending the message that it is OK to stab someone. With the recent rise in violence and serious attacks on others, I do not think that this is a message that the courts should be sending.

BAFFLED Smith's Parish