There is a saying, "if you don't go forward, you go backwards. To those who feel things are able to remain the same need to think again! Change is continuous. We can influence change by ensuring it is positive or we can try and prevent change from happening and cause things to degenerate.

Our society has tended to socialise its people to perceive change as negative rather than a natural occurrence that is inevitable in all things. It is normal to fear change, but we must learn to embrace it so that our community is able to respond positively to the problems that arise from time to time.

Take the United Bermuda Party as an example. The UBP has not been gracious in its demoted status to opposition. It is most disturbing that the UBP chooses to attempt to ruin Bermuda in order to satisfy its own selfish and shortsighted agenda. It has, not surprisingly, gained the media's support in its efforts along with the support of those individuals and organisations that have lost privileges because of the UBP's November 1998 defeat. It brings to mind another saying, "`if I can't have it, then no-one will have it.'' Although this group has lost political power, it still possesses economic power. In light of this one must ask why they fear policies that will assist in ushering in fair employment practices. It also makes one curious as to why they find the continuance of unfairness palatable and attempts to establish fair employment practices cumbersome and onerous.

The struggle against racism is another example where some people are staunchly against positive change. Racism is not only an individual matter, it is a fight against deeply entrenched practices, policies and procedures that permeate throughout our economic, social and political institutions.

Unfortunately these habits, attitudes and practices have been around for so long that they are perceived as being the norm.

However, racism can be defeated and attempts to do so will, undoubtedly, encounter resistance from those segments in our community who have benefited from the continued existence of inequities. If Bermuda is to go forward this negative social aspect of our community must be eliminated. We can not afford to continue to travel the circular route, with a few receiving handouts from those who have appointed themselves as the chosen ones.

In the course of any country's history, there is evidence that people often fail to learn from their mistakes. This often results because of our reluctance to try something different or controversial. Problems do not disintegrate if we choose not to address them. Instead, they fester and later erupt. It is only a matter of time before boiling water lifts the lid and spills over the sides of the pot. Positive action can be taken before events reach such an explosive level, much like reducing the heat under the pot or removing it from the burner.

The ills in our community can be addressed before we reach the point of eruption. Let's learn from our past mistakes and deal positively with issues before we reach the boiling point. We will not always agree entirely with what has to be done but the long term good of the community must take priority. In the end we all will benefit from the implementation of positive initiatives.

FAIR PLAY Sandys Parish Businesses should pay May 11, 2000 Dear Sir, Is anyone actually keeping score in the "tinted windows'' fiasco? Because if not, I'm afraid the general public is missing a very important component -- business! Who do we think made all the money installing the illegal tints in the first place? Who do we think is now making all the money removing those illegally installed tints? And who do we think is going to make even more money re-installing those tints if they are successful in their lobby to have them made legal? Surely there should be some kind of penalty for installing something that's illegal. Isn't that tantamount to taking money under false pretences? Once again, in the interest of financial gain, individual rights are put ahead of majority values. Are we all really so weak? The law is the law-period.

THE WARY TRANSGRESSOR Warwick Advice for Mr. Allen May 3, 2000 Dear Sir, We have just returned from a delightful visit to your beautiful Island after an absence of many years. The high point of our stay was a wonderful tour by Tim Rogers who is thoroughly versed in the history and culture of the island.

Your Department of Tourism would do well to promote the kind of tours offered by this informative guide. For those who want more than great shopping, fine dining and lovely beaches, we highly recommend a tour by this expert guide.

VIRGINIA AND WILL CORI Exeter, New Hampshire A worthy cause Dear Sir, The National Association for the Prevention of Starvation (N.A.P.S.) is a non profit, volunteer, Christian organization in Huntsville, Alabama located at Oakwood College that goes to different places around the world doing good for many human beings.

This group has been to Haiti, South Sudan, Los Angles, The Mississippi, and other locations spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his soon coming.

N.A.P.S. is currently now in Costa Rica where they will be for one month where they are teaching, preaching, baptising, evangelising, given crusades and bible studies, feeding children, having workshops, and visiting various communities all in godly love.

I am hoping that by me writing this letter it would encourage others to donate money, clothes, and food to this particular Christian organisation and help them out. Oakwood College is an institution that many of our Bermudians attend, and N.A.P.S. is involved in. so it is very fundamental that people in Bermuda try to help and support N.A.P.S. in every possible way. If you are interested in donating to N.A.P.S. you can contact them at the following address, telephone number, or fax: The National Association, Box 196 Oakwood College, Huntsville, Alabama 35896, U.S.A.

KENNETH MINORS Paget Not a satisfied customer Dear Sir, Please allow me some space to express some frustration in regard to Minister Ewart Brown's comments on May 4 and 5 editorial.

Yes, I am a victim of nit picking. My husband and myself took a day off together to go to TCD and get the car licensed. Thinking that this would take about three hours, we planned other activities.

We arrived at TCD at 8.30 a.m. and waited our turn for the car to get examined. We were getting excited because we thought that the process was moving along nicely. Unfortunately, the examiner came out after about an hour and stated that our license plates were faded. Okay then! We decide to leave to get the plates fixed. We returned about 50 minutes later and had to wait another hour to get the car re-examined. The gentleman returned and stated `I'm sorry, but one light is brighter then the other.' Off we go to get new bulbs, we were able to find someone to remove the covers without damaging them. At this point we are frustrated hungry and really beginning to resent the employees at TCD. On returning, we pulled a number again, it was now after lunch. While waiting we both thought that we would surely strangle someone if our car failed the exam. Alas...the examiner approached us with slip in hand, of course we saw the dreaded red stamp! This time the car was lop-sided! What is this? Have the people of TCD lost their minds?! We've only been driving the car for a year! Again we leave, where do we find a garage that will align a car and have supplies on hand? As we drive up to the garage the operator approaches us. We tell him our problems and he offers his help. `No the car is not lopsided', this is his synopsis. Back to TCD. 3.45, we got another ticket and waited about ten minutes to tell the examiner how we felt. He reexamined the car, returned to us and said (and I quote) `It must have been where it was sitting.' If this is not nit-picking TCD customers then what is? My entire day was ruined, my husband's birthday luncheon down the drain, it was time to collect the kids and at least they had a good day! Dr. Brown I agree, let those heads roll!!! From now on I'll pay someone to get the car tested and wait in those lines.

NO MORE EXCUSES Southampton Failing to learn a lesson April 23, 2000 Dear Sir, I am writing you today because of the recent events where the Government has asked for and wants to know employees race, how much they are paid, and who controls the senior positions.

If we were in the United States, this would be against the law. It is not one's business but the employers of the people.

If they are going to say there has to be an equally racial work force then a lot of people will go out of business because there are not enough qualified people to fill the positions.

In my opinion this is not a good thing to do. It is unfair to judge people based on the colour of their skin.

This is something I have been taught since kindergarten.

FROSTY Enforce the law May 11, 2000 Dear Sir, It is certainly good to hear that the law is finally being enforced regarding blacked out windows on cars. When some idiot overtakes me at high speed on a bend, I would really like to get a good look at the driver, and as a lot of drivers fail to signal when making a left or right turn it is important to see that drivers face to get some indication what he or she is about to do. The only criticism being that dark tint on windows has been illegal since day one, so why has it taken so long to enforce? -- and why haven't the businesses who have been paid to darken windows been cautioned that they are breaking the law? It's the same with loud BoomBoom music coming from cars, and double parking in Hamilton, both are supposed to be against the law yet it goes on every day of the week and no-one is ever ticketed.

Consequently when these laws are finally enforced there is a public outcry that they have been doing it for years, and the Police should be doing something more important. In any event, I see there are still a number of vehicles out there with blacked out windows, so I hope the Police will not start getting soft!! SEEING IT AS IT IS Pembroke