Dear Baroness, As a British subject, registered voter and long-term resident of Bermuda, I would like to express my considerable alarm at the seemingly complete lack of regard to the Constitution of Bermuda, by our current Government.

The Premier's secrecy in these matters is a complete breach of trust empowered in her by the people of Bermuda. One wonders to what extent ignorance or a deliberate disregard of the law is to blame.

I would like to seek the intervention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ensure that the rights and opinions of all Bermuda's voters should be sought via a constitutional conference and referendum.

Thanking you for your consideration in these matters.

Yours sincerely, FRANCIS J. CARTER Smith's Let views be known November 1, 2000 Dear Sir, It seems that members of our now not-so-new Government do not approve of people who write under pseudonyms. I wonder how many of them have, over the years, also hidden their names behind the veil of anonymity? Let him/her who casts the first stone....

Have those who sneer at pseudonyms ever considered that each such letter contains a direct message -- of encouragement or criticism -- that should at least be noted? Have they considered responding to those messages? Have they realised that to ignore those messages may mean that they are ignoring matters of substance? Or at the end of the day could they care less? "Care less'' about the views of others seems to be the order of the day and yet was it not part of the new Government's platform in the run up to the so-called landslide victory that it would be open and transparent with the voters? 1. Have they been honest in what we have been told about financial service regulations to be imposed by, for example, the OECD? 2. Are they really going to give us the opportunity to have full and frank discussion on changes in our electoral boundaries and our Constitution? 3. Are we, as some people suggest, heading for a dictatorship? 4. If we really want to become a third world country is that not what generally happens to dictatorships? 5. Are we really hell-bent on undoing all the good that has been done internationally by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (recently commended for its role in the regulatory field) and the previous Government? If your answers to questions 1 and 2 are "no'' and 3-5 "yes'' perhaps we are already beyond redemption, but do not give up, be vocal, write letters, let us know what you think. We are looking at the survival of Bermuda as we know it with the aid of the UK Government (in spite of views to the contrary) which is working assiduously towards the grant of some form of UK citizenship and, therefore, the right to reside, work, etc., etc. in Europe, giving enormous opportunities especially for our children and grandchildren.

But then are we already too far down the slippery slope with Ministers who get a slapped wrist (minor at that) for speeding at double the limit? I remember well, when General Manager of the BMA, being caught for doing 69 kph on my way to meet at the airport the Minister of Finance and Head of the Monetary Authority of Mauritius -- I was late! I was off the road for 12 months and fined $350 and had I been travelling at 70 kph I would have been off the road for three years. Obviously speeding is not as heinous a crime as it was -- although even members of the British Royal Family have been punished for such transgressions. Evidently there are senior people in our community who are already above the law -- or at least perceive themselves to be so.

Come, Madam Premier, tell us what is going on, not just what your legislative programme is, what you want for social welfare, education, tourism etc. (we know all that) but what your strategy is for the preservation of Bermuda as one of the wealthiest places in the world. Wealth creates wealth when properly used -- sharing wealth (excessive socialism) -- does not work. So let us use what we have to the full and stop trying to divide what is not divisible -- we may all be surprised at how fast divisiveness (especially racial) can scare people away.

Real Bermudians have always worked for the success of the Island and, it is to be hoped, will always do so. Why not, therefore, give us some encouragement to continue as we always have -- and with "us'' I include long-term residents.

You may not all agree with what I have said -- I would be very surprised if you did! -- so let us hear from you. If we are to become a Banana Republic let us at least go down fighting.

ANTHONY GOODFELLOW Paget Withholding information October 28, 2000 Dear Sir, It is with grave concern for our Island that I write this letter concerning the PLP's proposed plan for a new Constitution.

What bothers me so much is that the Government is just not giving us Bermudians sufficient information to really understand what they are trying to do and what they are trying to accomplish without our knowledge. In withholding this information it makes one suspicious as to why they are holding it and trying to push it so quickly through Parliament.

Our Constitution is one of the most important documents to all people of Bermuda. Consequently, we have the right to have our say in this document as not only does it concern us but our children and our children's children. Why is it being pushed through in such a hurry when it it so important? My understanding with the proposed changes is that it reduces the number of Parliamentarians and, therefore, reduces OUR representation in the House. That means we will not have the voice or power that we presently have. Because of the reduced number this then increases the power of whomever is our Premier.

This possibly is no problem at the moment but in the years to come it could be a very frightening problem. After all none of us know who our future Premiers may be, their strengths, their weaknesses or their lust for power. Once in they will be difficult to ever remove. Just look around and see what has happened to so many other countries to the south of us and elsewhere when too much power was granted.

I am very, very against the current proposed changes as they stand at the moment. However, changes are necessary but not these and far more discussion and open meetings by the present Government are essential when it concerns our future.

MRS. JOHN PHILLIPS, M.B.E., J.P.

Pembroke Who will be my voice? October 29, 2000 Dear Sir, Brothers and Sisters! When the House of Assembly seats are cut to 20 who will be my voice? So few people cannot represent the whole country.

The PLP backbencher is important in checking Government's policy and acts -- we saw that under the UBP -- but at least they had a voice! Will we lose a Derrick to express concerns -- with the Government coming down on, the Prison officers and dock workers? Will we lose Alex Scott who has handled himself well and has lived family values? Who will be out? Cutting the people's voice is not modernisation -- it's Stalinism, not Socialism.

Pam Gordon's constitutional conference opens it up to the people deciding what the number of MPs is and we get another look.

We too are being railroaded! Question to Pam Gordon -- how do I sign your Petition without coming to you? Can't you have a stand at lunchtime in town and Somerset and St. George's so we can back your stand on this issue which is right? PLP SUPPORTER Pembroke Smith's not listening October 28, 2000 (The following was sent to Premier Jennifer Smith and copied to The Royal Gazette ) Dear Premier Smith, Yesterday I was one of a very small group of Bermudians who bothered to attend the Opening of Parliament. I was most distressed by the Throne Speech. Why have you not listened to the people of Bermuda? While I applaud the fact that you are now planning a public meeting on constitutional reform I must say, in no uncertain terms, I believe you are making a terrible mistake in not calling for a full constitutional conference.

Following the opening ceremonies you said publicly that the UBP showed great disrespect to Her Majesty the Queen for their boycott of the Throne Speech.

What of the disrespect that you and your party have shown to the people of Bermuda by seeking to change our Constitution without our input? In your letter to me, October 18, 2000, you say "In conclusion each and every step in the process will be debated in the House of Assembly''. Well I am sorry but this issue is bigger than that! You have the majority of seats in the House. How can we possibly trust that the will of the people will be fully heard in such an atmosphere? The UBP hold just 14 seats in the House but they represent nearly half the voting population of Bermuda. Furthermore, it has become very clear as a result of the recent public meeting, hosted by the UBP, that there is a significant number of your own PLP supporters that are just as outraged at how these changes to our Constitution are taking place. You must listen to us! You must convene a constitutional conference.

If you and your party are successful in this folly, what will you tell the children of Bermuda when they are old enough to understand that democracy was dealt a mortal blow at the start of the new millennium? KEVIN PANTRY City of Hamilton Concerned by the method October 31, 2000 Dear Sir, I am very concerned about the method in which it is said that we, the people of Bermuda, will change or amend the Constitution of Bermuda. Books of Parliamentary Procedures, tell us that in order to amend such a document, there must be a Specially called Meeting, or an Annual General Meeting. At any such meeting, the amendment will be read, and there must be a majority vote of two-thirds of the membership. Nowhere does it say that a simple majority is accepted.

Sir, as a citizen of Bermuda, I feel the only way to amend the Constitution, is by way of a constitutional conference, at which I am represented by a person or persons of my choice. This should also be ratified by a referendum.

It is unfortunate that although we, the people of Bermuda are so well educated, we are not expected to have any input in such an important topic.

This reminds me of stories I heard of what took place behind the Iron Curtain, when it existed.

Sincerely, Yvette V. A. Swan Considering a march October 17, 2000 Dear Sir, The chaos in Supreme Court -- and lack of action by Government -- is blamed on the Civil Service Review, which took place over a year ago.

While they have not addressed this critical situation, Lois Browne and her colleagues have found plenty of time to work on such matters as making major constitutional changes, without the electorate's knowledge.

If they keep this nonsense up a march on Parliament (and similar pressures, such as they have used in the past) will be worthy of serious consideration.

DISGUSTED VOTER Plea to Baroness November 5, 2000 (Sent to Baroness Scotland of Asthal and copied to The Royal Gazette ) Dear Baroness Scotland, As you may be aware, the Government of Bermuda is proposing to amend the voting of Bermuda citizens without a constitutional debate or a referendum.

I beg you to intervene and assure the citizens of Bermuda that they will have public debates...followed by a constitutional conference and a referendum.

We feel that this is the path to a democratic solution to the problem and will avoid the very real threat of a dictatorship.

Please give this your most urgent attention.

DEFOREST TRIMINGHAM, CBE Former member of Parliament and former Minister of Tourism Right to know the facts October 26, 2000 Dear Sir, Every Bermudian has the right to know all the facts about the proposed changes to their Constitution. Transparency please, and soon.

ADRIANNA ZUILL GOODFELLOW Paget Wake up Bermuda! November 1, 2000 Dear Sir, Once a political party gains power it is natural that they want to keep this power. In Bermuda one hopes that the party will remain in power because of the positive changes and affluence the government has brought about, not through subterfuge. The PLP's proposed changes to the electoral boundaries and constitutional seats are gerrymandering and a major threat to our democratic system. Indeed democracy will be gone and dictatorship will rule supreme. If the United Bermuda Party had proposed these changes in the 80s or early 90s without a constitutional conference or a referendum the `hot-heads' in the opposition would have been rioting in the streets. Fortunately for the PLP the vast majority of Bermudians are complacent and would never resort to this type of reaction. But to a foreign observer Bermuda appears to be accepting the proposed boundary and electoral changes and there is no crisis in paradise.

Wake up Bermuda! Let us prove that the pen is mightier than the sword. Flood the Premier, news media and your MP with letters demonstrating that there are enough people opposing these changes that a conference or referendum must be called. A few years ago we thought that independence was important enough for a referendum. This is far more important. It doesn't break ties with England; it breaks ties with democracy.

TRITON Southampton