I am writing concerning the lack of sports programming on any of the local television channels.

A good example is the complete lack of coverage of football matches. No local stations aired the English FA Cup for the second year in a row, and more importantly no matches from Euro 2000 are being aired.

This is very surprising in light of all the fuss being made at the moment over Shaun Goater getting into the English Premier League with Manchester City.

For an Island that is supposed to enjoy the game of football you would think at least one of the local channels would consider putting up the money to get the rights to important matches and competitions.

ANDREW PEARCE St. George's Critic's sour note June 1, 2000 Dear Sir, I was shocked at how your critic, Cathy Stovell, introduced her review of Peter Carpenter's concert at the City Hall ( The Royal Gazette May 31).

It begins -- "What's so great about Awagadin Pratt? That question nags at me after experiencing my first Peter Carpenter concert.'' (Incidentally, his name is misspelled. It should be Awadagin Pratt).

"Mr. Pratt, a favourite choice of Bermuda Festival organisers tends to choose pieces that jar my sensibilities and his style is one of banging the keyboard, so that I usually leave the auditorium agitated.'' Well, poor girl, your distress with Mr. Pratt seems to be entirely self-generated.

Don't blame the internationally acclaimed musician who won the 1992 Naumberg International Piano Competition, the Avery Fisher Career Grant in 1994 and was the first student to receive diplomas in three performances -- piano, violin and conducting -- from the Peabody Conservatory.

Perhaps such information may convey to you what is great about Awadagin Pratt.

It is lamentable that you recognise him only as the cause of your indisposition at his playing.

I would suggest that you write artistic reviews with greater discretion and discard your poison pen until you are better informed.

Undoubtedly Peter Carpenter will reach his own star without stepping on the stars of others.

DOROTHY C. PACKWOOD St. George's The divine way forward June 15, 2000 Dear Sir, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.'' The June 9 edition of the Bermuda Sun carried an article entitled, "Smith critics suggest her days are numbered -- Others say Premier will survive any attempts to dethrone her.'' How should we really view the leadership of the Progressive Labour Party? Have we forgotten November 9, 1998 so quickly? Remember it was the second Emancipation! Remember it was a God of Freedom, a God of Justice and a God of Equality that intervened and caused the Progressive Labour Party to take the reins of government for the first time in the history of this country.

Bermuda's problems are first and foremost spiritual problems. Consequently they need a spiritual solution. It is my firm belief that the same God of Freedom, God of Justice and God of Equality will preside over the forthcoming conference of the Progressive Labour Party and will appoint or re-appoint and further equip the person He sees fit to guide us through the mammoth and formidable task of restructuring, rebuilding, renewing and reviving our Island home in a New Bermuda.

Will the mantle fall on the shoulders of our present Premier, the Hon Jennifer M. Smith, J.P., M.P. again? Or, will God see fit for the mantle to be placed on the shoulders of someone else in the party? Our hearts will say Amen to whomever God choose to fulfill this awesome responsibility.

One of the most significant tasks that our leader will have to accomplish in the next term is to move our country to the level of nationhood. It is my firm beliefs that until we know `who we really are' we will not be able to accomplish the over-whelming task that is at hand.

Who are we? Are we Bermudians? Are we Caribbean-Bermudians? Are we Afro-Caribbean- Bermudians? Are we British Dependent Territories Citizens? Or are we Africans? Just recently, I fulfilled a life long ambition. I visited Motherland Africa.

Dr. Petry, the Director of TELED International, told me that my life would never be the same.

How right he was! I was a workshop presenter at the third Annual Ghana Christian Schools Conference and the 11th Annual Africa Christian Schools Conference.

There was something distinctly unique and different about the children I visited in Nigeria. They walked, talked and performed with a whole presence that clearly declared, "I KNOW WHO I AM AND I KNOWN WHERE I AM GOING.'' This was the spirit that touched my life. It was this "spirit of freedom'' that conveyed to me that they possessed a real sense of knowing destiny.

Consequently, until we, the inhabitants of this Island face the truth ourselves; we will never rise to fulfil the creative, unique spark of genius that we have inherited from our ancestors in Motherland Africa.

Therefore, regardless of who emerges as the leader of the Progressive Labour Party, the onus is upon that leader to take the people of this country to the level of national identity, that level that makes us to know that we are descendants of the great African Diaspora.

This, it behooves us to pray earnestly and diligently that God's will regarding the leadership of the party be done.

I close with this libation statement found in the book, `The Seven Days of Kwanzaa' written by Angela Shelf Medearis. It is: For the Motherland cradle of civilisation.

For the ancestors and their indomitable spirit.

For the elders from whom we can learn such.

For our youth who represent the promise for tomorrow.

For our people the original people.

For our struggle and in remembrance of those who have struggled on our behalf.

For umoja the principle of unity, which should guide us in all that we do.

For the creator who provides all things great and small.

Strength in quietness and confidence.

MURIEL M. WADE-SMITH, PH.D.

Smith's Parish Africa's weary woes Dear Sir, The problems in Africa are not racism. They are starvation and AIDS and of course ongoing wars.

We are talking about hundreds and hundreds of millions and compare this with the loss of life due to colonialism is sheer nonsense, particularly in mentioning Cecil Rhodes at this time.

`The English' is a sweeping term as they are not a monolithic entity but a diverse collection of individual people and I must remind you that some of the words greatest humanitarians were English.

It does get a little tiresome listening and also reading letters by undereducated or ill informed xenophobic crack -- pots who bore us to death with their anti-white sentiment. Stupid? yes, but also destructive as their real agenda is hatred and divisiveness.

A more positive and morally uplifting experience was us reading Page 23 May 9 edition of The Royal Gazette with the story of Dawn and Ivan Broadbelt who put their time and money where their hearts are.

A wonderful and inspiring couple Bermuda should be proud of and support.

WILLIE SUTTON Paget Ps Rolfe, I am wary of `Heroes' Per-se'. But two in Bermuda come to mind Sir William Stephenson (intrepid) and Vernon Jackson (Paradise Found).

Playing the race card June 15, 2000 Dear Sir, Well it is refreshing to finally hear some honest answers from Government benches. It is just unfortunate that it was the long awaited announcement that Government purchasing policies are based on race.

Ms Webb, you don't need to use racism to shift the economic wealth. Income taxes would do the same thing. Oh, and you could include a loophole where Government parliamentarians would be exempt from said income taxes.

You `Gummint people' have already put one over (actually two MPs) on my St.

David's friends, I can't wait to see electioneering start in St. David's again.

Many of the PLP MPs remind me of that Richard Pryor line, "who you gonna believe, me or your living eyes?'' SPANISH POINT VOTER P.S. Ms Webb, you are not going to like me after you officially change me into a `second-class citizen.' Fight for the animals June 22, 2000 Dear Sir, I would like to congratulate the Commissioner and the other agencies for putting together such a united front to combat animal issues.

I was appalled to see the condition of the young dog in the paper. Thank goodness we now have a group of individuals working together to help the animals who can not speak for themselves.

I hope people who treat animals cruelly will get harsh sentences.

DOG OWNER Smith's Parish