Asthal and copied to The Royal Gazette .

November 5, 2000 Dear Madame Premier and Baroness Scotland, I am writing both of you today to ask you each of you a separate question.

Madame Premier, If you are so in favour of `one man/woman, one vote', then why are you not willing to take the proposed constitutional changes to the people? I am very much in favour of `one man/woman, one vote', but I am not in favour of any government changing a constitution without direct feedback from the electorate. A Constitution is the body of law that guides a society's democratic process. To change it, you must by definition ask the people how they would like it changed. By not doing that, you fundamentally are not conducting the matters of society in a democratic way. I fully admit that the current voting system that determines the make-up of Parliament does not adequately represent the voting public as you know so well. The PLP holds a substantial majority in Parliament while the popular vote was only 53 percent to 47 percent or thereabouts. I strongly urge you to take this issue to the people and let them decide how they want to be governed and represented. No Government should change any part of a constitution. The Constitution belongs to the people and it should only be changed with the people's consent.

For the record, the following system is what I believe Bermuda should adopt when it comes to voting and representation.

All boundaries should be eliminated.

The number of MPs should be reduced to between 20 and 30.

Each party puts forth a number of candidates equal to the new number of MPs.

All voters get to cast a number of votes equal to the total new number of MPs.

The party that wins the most number of seats, forms the government. If that isn't the purest `one man/woman, one vote' system, then I must be on a different planet than anyone else. Bermuda is way too small a place to break the island up into different voting districts. We are one community and we should vote like we are one community. Anything less than that does not achieve the `one man/woman, one vote' objective you are so adamantly and publicly pursuing.

Baroness Scotland, As one of Bermuda's representatives to the UK, you must surely have concerns with the way the PLP is attempting to change the Constitution? Are you in favour of due process and democracy? If so, I strongly urge you to make sure that Bermuda does not disregard a tenent that the UK so firmly believes in. At the very least, Britain should make sure the democratic process is the one thing that remains firmly entrenched in all its territories.

GEORGE F. HUTCHINGS Devonshire We need a referendum October 30, 2000 Dear Sir, I ask all Bermudians that do not understand anything about these constitution changes to ask someone who does know to explain it to them and will understand in the future why they will not have the freedom but a dictatorship.

Do not let it slide and think it will not affect you, you would be surprised where this one is going, it will effect every man, woman and child black and white. So many people say they do not know enough to write letters to the Editor. If you can write friend, you can write a letters to the editor just a simple `I object' to Constitutional change. You to do not have to put your name on a letter, just give it to the Editor for his records. People seem to sit back and let other people do it. The future of this Island is at stake, democratic or dictatorship. For the sake of your children's grandchildren, as an elderly women in her 80's can write, you can! We need a Referendum on this as in all fairness to everyone.

BORN BERMUDIAN An abuse of power October 29, 2000 Dear Sir, The word "power'' keeps running around in my head. The word power in itself is an exceptionally strong word. To have power -- to feel power -- to use power -- to flaunt power. Power has been used in so many ways and, unfortunately, power in many instances in the past, has been unconscionably, abused.

On Thursday night at the meeting sponsored by the UBP regarding the constitutional changes proposed by the PLP, I saw and heard fear due to the lack of power. I saw where power had been taken away. I saw people who were always used to having the power now feeling a sense of hopelessness because their power is no longer. Many people have been in that predicament since time began, and what a miserable, sickening, feeling that must be! There are people in this world who have never had power, and will never know the luxury of power. There are those who have recently gained power and can use it for good; they can use it for evil. Throughout history some have used their power for their own selfish gain. To rob others of their country -- their land -- their people and their treasures, to satisfy their own greed -- to build their castles and call themselves great. Some have used their power to destroy others, to bring down nations and to create wars. Then, there are some who have used their power to build nations for the good of the people.

When it comes to wielding power that has been bestowed upon us, we have to be very careful how we used this power. I say this because there is only one "All Powerful'' and that is the Almighty! So don't forget, He Giveth and He Taketh Away! Nothing is forever! In these politically trying times, let us hope that the thirst for ultimate power is quenched with common sense and integrity. That the wrongs which were perpetrated in the past will be righted with diplomacy as two wrongs do not make a right! PAT FERGUSON Warwick Moving the goalposts October 31, 2000 Dear Sir, I do not know of any game or sport that does not have a book of rules to govern and control how they are played. Further, these rules cannot be altered at the whim of a player or team to their advantage. Any changes that do take place come about after lengthy meetings and consultations with the sporting bodies concerned.

The `Constitution of Bermuda' is the book of rules that deals with our governance and come into being after many meetings and much input by various bodies, institutions and persons from various walks of life. When all agreed to the rules the `Constitution' was unanimously adopted.

We now have a team that wants to ram through rule changes to the `Constitution' to suit its own ends. Today, they change the constituencies, cut the number of members of parliament to cement their hold on power.

Tomorrow, they muzzle the press.

Next, they axe the opposition party. We now have a one party state. Next to go will be the small "back bench'' leaving an elite cabinet of eight to rule and make any and all decisions they deem best for the country.

Now comes the clincher. Money funnelled into secret accounts to enrich themselves at the expense of tax payers and to be ready when the day of reckoning comes -- and that will come.

This scenario has been played around the world over and over. Reckoning day arrives. The people will not take it anymore. They rebel. The elite dictatorship flees the country and live grandly off what they have salted away in safe places.

We, however are left with chaos and huge debts.

Come on `PLP' supporters! Come on `UBP' supporters! Come on `Bermuda'! Let us stop this from taking place. If we don't we will deserve what we get.

CHARLES A. ROSA Devonshire More Letters to the Editor appear on Page 8