Gazette .

To Whom It May Concern: I am currently a resident here in Bermuda working on a temporary assignment which began in January 1999. On January 6, I had the pleasure and great fortune to meet Leroy (Poker) Augustus (Car L9, Taxi 1653) when I hired him to take me from downtown Hamilton to my apartment at Sea Cliffs on South Shore in Warwick.

Since that first meeting, I have become very well acquainted with Poker, using his services for both business and leisure. On many occasions, Poker has been tireless in his endeavour to serve me, my co-workers, friends and family. On a weekly basis, Poker co-ordinates his schedule with my co-workers and me, in order to provide reliable and professional pre-arranged transportation to and from Bermuda Airport. In addition, he has also made himself available very early in the mornings and very late in the evenings to facilitate transportation to and from work, home and area restaurants. On one occasion, Poker arranged at the last minute to facilitate travel for our group at 1 a.m., using an additional taxi driver, to ensure that we all arrived home safely after a long evening at work. Poker has also been extremely helpful in recommending local area restaurants and other establishments to assist us in familiarising ourselves with your wonderful island. On a personal note, Poker has extended himself beyond that of the role of a taxi driver, providing personalised service to my mother and girlfriend. On several occasions, he has met them at the Airport due to my demanding schedule. He has also acted in the capacity of our tour guide, offering to drive us to the many remote and less advertised areas of the island. Poker is very proud and excited about what Bermuda has to offer and is quick to share in his love for the many cultural aspects of his community.

On a personal note, I consider Poker to be a close friend. Through our friendship, I have also had the pleasure of meeting his wife Blanche and sharing in many pleasant conversations with her. On my mother's visit to the Island, Poker and his wife blessed us with their presence for dinner at Caliban's restaurant located at the Ariel Sands resort in Devonshire.

I cannot say enough about the care, good humour and willingness to help of Mr.

Leroy (Poker) Augustus. Because of my experiences with Poker, I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay here in Bermuda. His thoughtfulness, dedication and attention to detail have allowed us the opportunity to experience the island in a way that my friends, co-workers, family and I might not have otherwise been able. I look forward to his continued courteous and professional service.

Please keep this letter on file should there be an opportunity by your department to recognise and reward a particular taxi driver for his or her service to the Tourism industry in Bermuda.

MICHAEL A. LANTERI Warwick Come clean on transport September 4, 1999 Dear Sir, It appears to me that it is about time the PLP Government in general, and Dr.

Ewart Brown in particular, "comes clean'' and gives the public their agenda for the Transport Ministry. The way things are going, there appears to be a hidden agenda which is for the benefit of a chosen few, for example: Government pushed through a law allowing funeral homes (or is it funeral home?) to bring in limousines. It should be noted that the vast majority of the funeral homes do not wish this law and did not lobby for it.

The Police have eased up on issuing people speeding tickets. The reason given was to ease up the Courts' work load, but if people did not speed there would not be the long lines at our Courts but now they can speed and know that they will not get a ticket.

Government has been considering increasing the allowable size of our cars.

Once again the majority of the car dealers do not wish this change and indeed cars have been shortened for years with no problems. It should be noted that there are already numerous car models and makes available and thus no need to increase the length or width.

Now Dr. Brown wants to increase the size of the engines on mopeds! Once again there are many motorbikes available to choose from and indeed our current 100cc bikes can exceed the speed limit and cause the most accidents on our roads.

As stated above it appears that these changes and proposed changes are not the wish of the majority, but appears to be to appease one or two dealers/funeral homes.

What is our transportation agenda, Dr. Brown? A CONCERNED ROAD USER Pembroke Likes even ex-pats September 4, 1999 Dear Sir, I am Bermudian and naturally very friendly even to ex-pats and never has anyone ever said that I had an attitude, because I don't and never have done.

But now I find myself in the land where everybody is an expat, so to speak, and I went to Buckingham Palace to say Hello to Queen Elizabeth, like. I had met her when she and the Duke of Edinburgh were in Bermuda a few years ago, and I thought we could catch up.

Anyway, when I approached the gate at Buckingham Palace after walking up the whole driveway first, which was a long one, I was greeted by a tall iron gate and fence and soldiers dressed up in red uniforms, which I thought from my training at Warwick Camp would offer these troops no camouflage in the field at all if they were to go into battle, God forbid.

Anyway, I asked one of the soldiers the time and when the best way to see Queen Elizabeth would be, and he did not even look at me, never mind answer my question. And this was after I had said "Good afternoon,'' too. He didn't even say "Good afternoon,'' either. So I asked him if he had troubles with his hearing lately, or whether he just had an attitude. And still he just kept on looking straight ahead, like as though I was not even there. But I fatchin well was, sir.

So for the next few days of holiday here I am going to approach various figures in authority, like Tony Blair for example; he is the Premier over here, and I will see what can be done to teach these soldiers a lesson in manners and attitudes. After all they are representing the Queen and country, and they got tourists coming to see them from Bermuda and all over the world.

A BERMUDIAN ABROAD What about `new Bda.' September 10, 1999 Dear Sir, After almost a year of the "new Bermuda'', perhaps it is time that we did at least a partial stock taking of what has been gained. In reality it is not much and there must be many voters who are beginning to wonder when electoral promises will be made good.

Perhaps, on the basis that if it ain't broke, don't fix it, the promises may never be made good now that there must be some realisation that success breeds success. So, what has been going on? 1. In the early days there was a distinct softening in relationships between the various sectors of the community. Unfortunately, possibly for the "reality'' stated above, this is now less obvious.

2. Some necessary "financial services'' legislation has been passed, based on preparation by the previous Government and, in the case of fiscal offence legislation, with very direct guidance from the Shadow Minister of Finance.

3. The confirmation of the National Pension Scheme that was ill conceived under the previous Government and is little improved to the extent that it will cripple many small businesses.

4. The passing of infamous legislation giving middle management the ability to dictate to business owners.

5. Extensive travel by Government Ministers and Civil Servants at the taxpayers expense, ostensibly to let the rest of the world know that we are "the greatest'' -- which everyone knows anyway! We hear that some seventeen Ministers and Civil Servants are to fly to the United States for a meeting with Bermudian hotel owners. If true, how can that be justified? 6. A massive increase in ARV/Land Tax levels, affecting many more Bermudians than was apparently the intention.

7. A new Immigration policy that apparently:- a) requires an annual renewal of work permits b) gives "foreign owned'' companies the ability to obtain a permit within a matter of days, whilst leaving local companies languishing for weeks, often ending in an adverse decision.

8. The politicising of the Attorney General's office, procrastination over the appointment of a Director of Public Prosecutions and a refusal to accept the Canadian Government's appointee as Consul General.

9. Some encouraging talk about improving education though no indication that anything is to be done about the vast bureaucracy that deals with this most important part of the Island's life. One also has to wonder why it is that the Minister has not been taken to task for his suggestion that the independent members of the Senate should be removed.

None of the above is very impressive and the report card will have to say "must do better''. It is of course possible that, bubbling away in the corridors of power under the watchful gaze of "der Kolonel'', are some of the following: a) Dealing in a positive way with the White Paper on the right of abode in the UK and Europe. Most Bermudians, particularly the young ones, are in favour and everyone seems to be at pains to say that there are no "strings'' attached.

b) The dismissal of independence. This makes no financial or practical sense.

c) The realisation by Government that Bermuda is -- and always has been -- a trading nation and that we have the opportunity, with e-commerce particularly, to improve our position.

d) The maintenance, by the Government, of an environment in which everyone, of whatever race and persuasion, can live in peace and harmony and where crime and drugs are suitably and justly punished.

e) Utopia you may say -- let's try it.

COPPER KNICKERS