Dear Sir, Yesterday, while driving behind a Bermuda Telephone Company truck on Front Street, I noticed the following sign which was posted in the truck's back window: "I can only please one person a day. Today is not your day.

Tomorrow's not looking good either.'' I guess that pretty much says it all, doesn't it? Yes, I know it was meant as a joke, but ironically it's also seen by many customers as indicative of the general attitude of BTC workers to customer service.

It seems that having successfully warded off competition in the local telephone arena, BTC, or at least the rank and file, have dropped back into `monopoly mode.' I almost feel sorry for BTC's public relations team. There's little point spending thousands of dollars in image enhancement advertising when your own workers obviously haven't bought into your efforts to change your company's image and reputation.

`We hear you' -- I don't think so.

PR PROFESSIONAL Devonshire Building barriers June 23, 1999 Dear Sir, There have been several viewpoints expressed recently from Government ministers that almost leave me speechless. Here are a few and I am sure in due time there will be more.

Listening to the television news on Sunday evening and the Hon. Terry Lister's view on how future work permit holders should be selected gave an interesting slant to racism.

The majority of Bermuda's population is made up of a percentage of black and white people. The Hon. Lister's view is that work permit holders should reflect this mix. His concerns are that now the employer is only hiring qualified white people. He would like to see more black people hired with the same qualifications.

I am not sure how the hiring process works for the exempted companies but it would not make good business sense in this day and age to hire a person because of their race, rather than the best person for the job.

Is he suggesting that recruitment advertisements will now read "only black people need to apply as we need to reflect our racial mix''? I would ask the honourable gentleman to also reflect if the racial mix of Bermuda should also apply to political parties.

I am sure the PLP have records showing the race of each member. If this mix is not proportionate to Bermuda's, will we expect to see advertisements asking for those of a certain race apply for membership? This philosophy, if implemented for local businesses, should present an interesting challenge to Bermudian companies. Take for example a family owned business, which happens to be all black. Will they only be able to hire white people in order to achieve the right mix? I would suggest that the Hon. Mr. Lister consider ethnic backgrounds as a further aid to achieve the true makeup of our population.

He then should take into consideration male and female gender to ensure that if there are more black women working they will have to give up their jobs to a black man in order to keep the mix correct.

A little while ago a Government Minister was said to have expressed his view that it was a good thing for Bermuda to have larger hotels close down in order to get rid of the expatriate worker and give jobs to Bermudians.

I believe this Minister can also be associated with the point of view that local businesses should hire new Government MPs as they have taken a salary cut in order to serve the Country.

Comments like this remind me of the ostrich who believes if he hides his head in the sand he will remain unseen. Fortunately summer is here and this honourable gentlemen can enjoy the beach where there is plenty of sand.

In due course I am sure he will find some large hotel that has closed down, in order for Bermudians to get jobs, and he will use this hotel's beach often, as it will be empty.

Would someone in Government enlighten me on the Progressive Labour Party's view on us being under British rule.

My impression is they want us to become independent and do not like interference from the UK. Why then does a stalwart member of the PLP accept a title of Dame from the Queen? This title she has earned through her hard work for the country, however I am confused as to the ideological consequences of her accepting this honour. A bit of "do as I say and not what I do''.

I shudder to think of the cost to the Bermudian people if there is any truth in the buying Chelston in Paget. According to The Royal Gazette today the United States should not pressure Government with a time frame to match or better a present bid.

Are we so important that we dictate to world powers as the US and Canada? In the real world we all have to get along and that is done by the art of negotiation and sometimes compromising on our objectives.

Remember a tree that does not bend breaks and dies in a storm. If the present ruling party continues to show this inflexibility in their running of this country someone better help us all.

Maybe Senator Lt. Col Burch will use this property to practice his body guard techniques and train a highly effective secret service team to accompany the Premier on overseas trips. All we need now is a plane called Bermuda Force One to fly this distinguished party.

Bermuda may be the envy of other countries due to our Island's beauty, lifestyle and its leadership in exempted company business.

This will change in a very short time if we continue to give the message that exempt company business is only welcome on our terms. Bermuda is not the only place where they can do business.

I am not a political person and would agree that the United Bermuda Party have done some very questionable things during their rule.

However, I never saw where race or issues that will be detrimental to our future being handled with such lack of foresight or experience.

C. BRUCE ROBINSON Paget