I am writing in concern over an article that was published in the Royal Gazette on Monday November 15th, 1999, (page 2). The article is titled: Death driver has sentence increased. This article is in reference to one, Selwyn Berkeley who was originally sentenced for 12 months imprisonment for causing death by dangerous driving of his passenger/friend, Ashanti Smith back on May 2nd, 1998. He was also banned three years off the road. However, the article states that Berkeley will not serve three years for causing the death of Smith as well as injuring two others.

I want to go back in time, just a couple of years. On Saturday June 7th, 1997, a 16-year old schoolgirl named Zeita Matthew was riding her motor bike along South Road, Paget. She has a pillion passenger at the time. At the same time, Lerone Ming who was also riding a motor bike and towing a pillion passenger was travelling in the opposite direction. From what I gather, Ming was overtaking a number of cars at a manner which was dangerous. Ming was in Matthew's lane when both cycles collided head-on in Matthew's lane. The result was that Zeita Matthew sustained serious head injuries and died two weeks later. Ming and the other two pillion passengers were also injured and required treatment. Later it was also revealed that Ming was a disqualified driver on Bermuda roads.

In January of this year, Lerone Ming pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and disqualified driving. In one of the articles, Ming deeply regretted the tragedy. I am sure Mr. Berkeley deeply regrets the tragedy in regards to his situation. In February of this year, Ming was sentenced to one year imprisonment for the death and one month for disqualified driving. Ming was also banned three (3) years instead of the five (5) year ban.

In the middle of last month, Ming was seen in the city. This means that Ming has done a sentence of no more than eight (8) months.

I look at these two individuals: Selwyn Berkeley and Lerone Ming. Both men are in their 20's (around the same age). I understand that Berkeley is a father and Ming is not. I am just using this as an example.

The point I am trying to say is that if the justice system or courts sentence one person one way (Berkeley's three year sentence) to Ming's 13 month sentence (really an eight (8) month sentence), then all persons who commit the offence of causing death by dangerous driving should be sentenced all the same. I mean both men pleaded guilty to their respective offences so you can count that reason out. The question that should be really asked is: 1) Why is Selwyn Berkeley's case so different to Lerone Ming or other causing death by dangerous driving cases that he out right deserves a three year sentence? The previous few cases involving this particular offence, the person responsible have received a sentence of no more than two (2) years. At this time, I do not have any faith in the justice system here in Bermuda and I am sure other people agree with me.

FED UP!! Sandys Parish Blooming marvellous November 28, 1999 Dear Sir, Thank you for your very nice article announcing the Garden Club of Bermuda's project for the year 2000, Bermuda in Bloom.

The articles gave good guidance on how to enter this garden competition and we hope that we receive many entries.

We would, however, like to stress the support that the Garden Club of Bermuda has received from the Bermuda Government's Millennium committee, headed by Mr.

Jay Bluck. With their sponsorship we have been able to offer very substantial monetary awards to the winners.

We in the Garden Club are very appreciative of our Bermuda in Bloom Committee's hard work in organising the project, and are very grateful to the Government's Millennium Committee for their support.

JOYCE ZUILL President, The Garden Club of Bermuda For the record 28 November, 1999 Dear Sir I feel obliged to write to you in an attempt to correctly inform the public, and perhaps some within the Regiment, about recent promotions and to outline the process for selection of commanding officers.

The Promotions Board recently interviewed a number of officers eligible for promotion and subsequently made recommendations to the Governor via the Commanding Officer for promotions on the basis of our collective opinions after each interview. I might add that in all cases our opinions were unanimous.

No officer recommended for promotion leapfrogged any other officer. All officers recommended for promotion were eligible for promotion to the next rank. There is absolutely no requirement that a person eligible for substantive promotion has to first be promoted to an acting rank for a probationary period. Acting rank promotions are made as temporary measures for a number of reasons. A person given an acting promotion may be returned to the substantive lower rank if the appointment for a specific purpose ends.

For anyone to suggest short cuts have been taken is misleading and erroneous.

With respect to the recommendation to promote Maj. Lamb who is currently serving as the adjutant to substantive major no short cut was taken and his promotion did not leapfrog him over anyone. The Board felt that given the limited human resources available to the Regiment a person ought not be held back from a promotion recommendation by virtue of a time limited posting as adjutant. To do so would only serve to discourage others from considering taking a turn at Adjutant. The Board remains unaware of any part of the Defence Act that prevents a sitting adjutant from being considered for promotion. There are precedents.

The question of seniority and leapfrogging may arise by virtue of confusion over the traditional treatment of the post of Adjutant. The Adjutant who is traditionally appointed as a Captain is nominally made the senior captain. The reasons for this relate to job responsibilities. Senior captain gives the adjutant the appropriate level of authority to efficiently perform the duties associated with the post. This is similar to the ADC appointment. However there is no reason why a major could not be adjutant just as a major has been ADC. There is no requirement to make a major who acts as adjutant the senior major. There is no leapfrogging at the rank of major by virtue of a staff appointment.

The process for selection of Commanding Officer and appointment of Second in Command is very clearly spelled out in Governor's Orders. It is unfortunate if individuals are now putting their own spin on the recent promotions and have started to speculate on future succession. All substantive majors are eligible for consideration to command. The process for final selection will involve careful scrutiny of all candidates on a level playing field. The aim is to select the best person to command and to be second in command from the pool of eligible officers. There are many factors that go into the determination of who is regarded the best candidate. While seniority is a consideration, ultimately who is deemed to have the most suitable qualities overall for the position of Commanding Officer is what counts.

All officers whether eligible for command or at lower ranks should do their jobs to the utmost of their ability. The promotion and selection process is a long-term assessment that gives the candidate ample opportunity to shine.Inevitably some will shine and some will not. The selection process has sufficient checks and balances so that no one has special consideration.

To conclude no one has been superseded in seniority so the supposed row within the Officers Mess is without merit. Furthermore seniority is not as important as ability for selection to command. Secondly there is no reason we could see why a person should be hindered from promotion simply because the person is filling a staff appointment for a specified period.

Finally on behalf of the Promotions Board I would like to comment that on an overall basis we were very impressed with the junior and senior officers that we interviewed. There is a great deal of potential leadership talent developing within the Regiment every year that needs to be publicly supported, and nurtured along to mature into future commanders or other leadership roles in our community.

Yours sincerely, ALLAN RANCE Chairman, Promotions Board Judges out of touch November 24, 1999 Dear Sir, 1975 was the "International Year of Women.'' Then came the "Decade for Women'' which ended in 1985. During these years, women worked hard in order that they would, in the future, be treated as human beings, and not as "things''. Moya Boyd and a small band of women, focused on treatment of both rape victims and the rapists. They were successful in having the relevant legislation amended.

Recently, statements made by some members of the judiciary, have taken women back 30 years and more.

Mr. Editor, a young girl who is molested or raped, is affected psychologically for the rest of her life. It is bad enough that we have to be ill-treated by the rapist, but to be ridiculed by the judge as well makes this ordeal even worse.

I wonder what was in the mind of the judge last week, when he sentenced Mr.

Tait. Imagine giving one year off for using a condom. I think the judge missed the point completely. Mr. Tait was not protecting the woman. Mr. Tait more than likely was hoping that in using a condom, he could not easily be identified.

It is my hope that in future the members of the judiciary will remember that the statements made in the courtroom will affect all women, not just those in that court room.

YVETTE V. A. SWAN Warwick A real team effort November 11, 1999 Dear Sir, "Toddlerfest'' was a major success and this would not have happened if it had not been for the conscientious, and diligent volunteers. Not only did we raise $2,425.00 for PALS but also 200 children, and parents, had a fun-filled afternoon at The Surf Club.

All of the following people gave up their valuable time and volunteered their time in aid of PALS. Jimmy Keys delighted his younger audience, as well as the odd joke for the adults; Dottie the Clown and Mr Bozzo, as always gave a great show with Freddy, plus animal balloons, and face painting; Mike Bishop "The Magician'' dazzled and amazed the children (the head of VSB TV has many hidden talents); Jean Castle and Barney whom the kids loved as always; Butterfield and Vallis for the free Kool Aid; The Surf Club, in particular Wee the Manager and his efficient and friendly staff; Rob Wyatt and Bob Martyn for their endless patience and puff to produce animal balloons; Pam Emerson for the artistic face painting and the talented mums too! Last but by no means least I would like to thank the 30 or so Mama volunteers who helped out, plus the ten Contact Mums who sold tickets for the event, and a heartfelt thankyou to the four other Toddlerfest Committee members which without their help "Toddlerfest'' would not have happened: Sarah Wyatt, Catherine Kennedy, Susie Hall and Debbie Folk.

Finally thank you to the 200 children and the 200 adults for the making the afternoon a great afternoon and donating to a worthwhile charity -- PALS.

SARAH LORIMER-TURNER President Meet-a-Mum Association Advice for the future November 9, 1999 Dear Sir, I am a young Bermudian student who goes away to school in New Hampshire, USA.

It is small school, yet somehow the boys seem to be above the girls. I can remember from one of my classes we were giving presentations and the boys realised that the girls had a better presentation then what they had and they started to get loud and obnoxious and being very disrespectful.

As a young woman who in a couple of years will be entering the work place, I must think about my options and as a woman where I would be most accepted. I someday hope to break the glass ceiling, which divides women and men in the work place.

I am proud to say that women are becoming more successful and have more leadership in the work place, and that the women of my generation will be owning more of their own businesses.

One issue that I hope will stop very soon is the lack of respect that men have for women in the work place. Men are afraid that women are going to be more successful then they are and they try to degrade us by putting us down and not giving us the same opportunity that a man might get. It has been proven that in some companies women get paid less than men, and men get promoted more frequently as well.

In conclusion I just want to say that women have the same qualifications as any man has and is capable to do any job. The problem is, is that we as women have to step out more and stop letting the men dominate the work force and start making it even and letting people see that women can do it and that it is possible to break that glass ceiling.

SABRINA DI MEGLIO Dublin School New Hampshire Strange but true November 23, 1999 Dear Sir, Gambling in Bermuda is illegal, yet almost every bar on the Island has computerised gambling machines and claim that they cannot survive without them.

HOW BIZARRE City of Hamilton