The article which appeared on page 3 regarding the education in March 28's edition refers.

I wish to thank the Mandersons, through the medium of your columns, for reminding me to give honour to Mrs. Stoneham and her excellent team for the fine work they have been doing at the Purvis Primary School. I wish to encourge them in their endeavours as they assist in the development of our young people. My child has certainly benefited from her experience there as, I am sure, others have.

CORDELL RILEY Warwick Concerned about school March 28, 2000 Dear Sir, I have just read "School will Survive'' in today's paper and was outraged at what the author has failed to understand. First off he/she says that when they attended the school, there was a year 7 class. This no longer exists. I do understand why, but the fact still remains that there are now fewer students attending the school, does it not? Second off, he/she says that the only Year One class consisted of 30 students and that the school was still able to run well, and so now the school will survive. I feel that it is ridiculous that someone could argue or even have a say in something that they don't even know all the facts! St. George's Prep was told by Government that they needed to run more of a one-on-one system, which is understandable. So what they did was they divided their class of 30 into two classes of 15. Now Government says that we should not be allowed our second class of fifteen.

What confuses me, is that if I, a 12 year-old, can tell the long-term consequences of this, then why can't this person (or any other adult who agrees with this person) see this? The long-term consequences of this is that it will eventually cut all classes down to 15 students. This will literally cut the number of students in half. St. George's Prep is an aided school, meaning that it has to find its own money to provide certain books and equipment such as desks, chairs, sports equipment and library books. If the school does not have as many students and supporters, it will not be able to come up with the money and in time will be forced to shut down.

This year, eight of the students that applied for the school were younger siblings of St. George's Prep, meaning that the school could only select seven other students to start school in September. In order to do this they had to get a map, and on it they had to plot the houses and measure the distance to the millimetre. The seven closest homes were the ones that were accepted into the school. There were students that lived only five minutes walking distance from the school that were turned down.

I am also a St. David's resident, but as I have already finished St. George's Prep, when my little sister, who is now 19 months, reaches the age level to be able to attend the school, if the school is still around, what chances would she stand? My entire family was privileged to attend St. George' Prep, formally known as St. George's Grammar School, wouldn't it be a shame if she could not share that experience? JANITA BRAGA St. David's Change is needed March 24, 2000 Dear Sir, "Concerned'' of Paget prophesies major economic disaster to follow CURE's policies ( The Royal Gazette , March 24). He closes by commenting that "all this chaos in just 15 months. That's incredible.'' What is really incredible is that his faith and hope that these terrible things will happen is so great that he sees them as having already happened in the last 15 months! No doubt his faith is based on his/her hope that the call of William Williams in the same issue (Page 2, March 24) to both Bermudians and non-Bermudians will be effective. Those who know this Williams' relationship with his own country will not be surprised that the happy face he is displaying in his call to destroy Bermuda might be anticipated. He seems to be desperate in his realisation that as he leaves, others are coming. The very fact that someone like him perceived Bermuda as his "home'' indicates how very much we have needed change.

EVA N. HODGSON Crawl We do need Mr. Williams March 27, 2000 Dear Sir, After hearing one of our Ministers on the radio this morning "making off'' in Parliament about Mr. Williams and his attitude towards the CURE legislation, I am sure we are doomed with this government.

She did exactly what Mr. Williams wanted, rose to the bait just like a big tuna rising to a fresh anchovy and took it and ran with it hook and line.

"We don't need those kind of people here,'' she was yelling. Mr. Williams controls $10 billion (do you know how many zeros that is?) and is very respected in the business world, so the real message that was sent was probably "We don't need any of you powerful business people.'' Then she goes on "We will bring other people in.'' Who would want to come? I feel there are many more people who feel like Mr. Williams, but are afraid of retributions if they speak out, which is probably true considering the way this Minister was yelling. Thank goodness for Mr. Williams who is speaking out.

Maybe it would have been better for the Minister to remain silent and let Mr.

Williams go on his way. Then everyone might forget the huge mistake that was made in loosing him, his business, his opportunities for Bermudians and his large contribution to our hospital and other charities.

WATCHING OUR LIFE SLIP AWAY Paget Cut taxes on retail sector March 27, 2000 Dear Sir, Bermuda's retailers face a difficult situation: Their small home market is being lured away as Bermudians travel more and shop on the Internet, while the tourism market has virtually dried up. And how does Government respond? It raises taxes on the retailers.

Compare this with New York City, which -- despite its huge market -- was seeing a dramatic fall in retail sales. Concerned over the effect this would have on the job market and overall NY experience, the city experimentally dropped its 8.25 percent sales tax on clothing and footwear four years ago.

The result, retail sales have grown by as much as 77 percent, adding about 13,200 jobs and boosting the city's economy by $910 million (according to the New York City Mayor's Office). The city has now eliminated the tax permanently. Other governments, such as in Maryland and the District of Columbia, are also considering the rollback of retail taxes to make their jurisdictions more competitive.

The 40 thieves are dead (or at least got out of retailing a long time ago).

Margins in retail are razor thin -- to maintain this critical part of our local economy, the Bermuda Government must assist retailers with tax incentives, work permit availability, and staff training. And soon...

BUY BERMUDIAN Warwick Stories treated differently March 28, 2000 Dear Sir, It both saddened and disturbed me to read the leading story in your newspaper on Friday, March 24, 2000 titled "Students suspended after drinks scandal''.

What disturbed me was the prominence this article was given. While I do not condone what these students did and agree wholeheartedly with the manner in which the school's administration has chosen to handle this situation, I find it totally inappropriate for the report to have been plastered on the front page of the newspaper.

I have had to question the motives of your newspaper especially after recalling that a similar incident involving Mount Saint Agnes pupils was found on page five of The Royal Gazette a week earlier. One has to now wonder why that wasn't the leading story of the day, particularly as that incident involved both alcohol and marijuana usage.

Mr. Editor, I am asking that your establishment be less hasty in highlighting the negative actions of a few and instead seek the many positive examples our young people provide us. I am sure you will still sell your newspapers.

ADVOCATE FOR BERMUDA'S YOUTH Somerset Missing Nick at night March 23, 2000 Dear Sir, In response to the letter of March 23rd, 2000, entitled "I want my Nick back'', I'm not a child and I too want "Nick Back''.

FRUSTRATED WITH CABLEVISION Devonshire Tree helped people March 23, 2000 Dear Sir, May we, through your column, sincerely thank all those who kindly left donations at P.A.L.S. Memorial Trees in the Washington Mall and Bank of Butterfield. Though there was no charge to leave a message, over 2,300 people visited our trees, wrote moving messages in memory of loved ones and left donations amounting to over $10,000. Everyone was so generous and we hope they felt comforted by expressing their love and sentiments in this special way.

The trees of Remembrance were not only the most beautiful, they were to all who stopped to gaze and admire, the most thoughtful.

We would also like to thank all those P.A.L.S. Volunteers and friends who gave their time to man the trees during December, thus making meaningful experience possible for us all.

Each of you has contributed to our organisation whose mission is to care for and comfort any cancer patient at home requiring the skilled services of our five nurses as well as help from our volunteers. You have upheld our motto "Support for P.A.L.S. is Support for Cancer Care in Bermuda''.

JANICE BELL BERNICE LEMA JOANNE ARMSTRONG P.A.L.S. Memorial Christmas Tree Committee