I give you full credit for letting Keith Caesar work on the tremendous project `Aids in Bermuda'.

This disease will affect every family in Bermuda, let no one kid you.

Bermudians have to wake up and smell the coffee.

Teenagers need to pay serious attention to what's being presented to them. I think `Keith Caesar' and other students working on projects concerning `Bermuda' need special commendation.

CONCERNED FOR BERMUDA'S YOUTH Warwick On rented time July 25, 2000 Dear Sir, Kindly allow me the opportunity to express my great concern; it relates to the country that Bermuda has become.

Today, I reflect on the news and reflect on what is important to those who matter -- the MPs, the talk-radio caller, and so one. What I do not hear is solutions to the situation many Bermudians -- including myself -- find ourselves in. Working hard but unable to afford living standards set by society.

I have been employed diligently in respectable work for twenty-four years. I have rented housing for more than half of those years and have excellent references for paying rent on time as well as leaving the premises in good order -- or better than when I moved in.

There is no comparison with the average Bermudians' travel to my own -- however, my credit is excellent where many of my fellow countrymen pale. My problem is that I mind my own business and know no one who can `set me up' or `give me deeds'. I am basically told that for my family size, it's either live in the dumps if I choose to buy because that's what my salary dictates or people laugh at what I am offering for rent.

However, my salary supersedes the conditions to be assisted by Housing Allowance Services, BHC, or Legal Aid.

You see, I need affordable accommodations -- the owners want to move into their home. Agents tell me they can't put me out if I have nowhere to go; other resources say they only help if you've been through the courts (my jobs does not allow me this extra time and neither does my pocketbook).

This really is encouraging to homeowners isn't it. Others laugh harder and say that what I managed to save will only cover the lawyers. What irritates me is that many of these people have what they own because someone else left it to them or they `knew somebody' or got it `creatively'.

They even brag in your face about it and then tell you, "No more deals like that today''.

A letter to the Editor will no way allow me the fuller details. However, I hope that through this media, those who are serious about creating affordable, respectable neighbourhoods or homes will move quickly in the future to achieve it.

Maybe those who qualify for the homes should be put on the committee rather than those who have or will benefit financially from the project. Otherwise expect to see a mass exodus of young, hardworking Bermudians to other countries.

X-BERMUDIAN 2B Hamilton Parish It's about discipline Dear Sir, A while back, US president Bill Clinton made a statement during his 1992 presidential campaign -- `it's about the economy stupid!' which became famous for its direct simplicity in addressing the issue that was most prominent in the minds of the American people at the time.

He went on to win the election and he addressed the issue and now America is in its greatest period of prosperity in recent times. Someone needs to stand on the floor of (Bermuda's) Parliament and yell out `It's about Discipline Stupid!' The issue is the quality of education our children are receiving in our public school system. I work for Government as a youth counsellor and as a substitute teacher in the primary and middle schools.

As such, I am keenly aware of the problems that our youth bring to "the system'' both as students and as young offenders.

The problem can easily be narrowed down to one main issue, a lack of discipline. While there are major problems that must be addressed within the system, none of these problems are as systemic as the lack of discipline that is taking place within the homes.

Discipline is the role and responsibility of parents. To insure that this parenting takes place is the responsibility or role of the community.

Herein lies the problem. Parents are not properly disciplining their children and the community is not holding the parents accountable for this lack of training. As a result, our children are coming to school undisciplined, thereby creating an atmosphere in the classroom that is not conducive to learning.

These same undisciplined children become young offenders and a burden on the society. The arena for the display of their shortcomings just continuously broadens, thereby creating a greater effect on the community as it unfolds.

Having defined the problem, what then is the solution? The solution is that the responsibility of disciplining children must be legislated, just as the right to an education was legislated. Discipline is a necessary aspect of education and should be legislated.

There are certain clauses in legislation that are referred to as `grandfather clauses' that more or less piggyback on other more fundamental acts of legislation as a necessary aspect of that act. I believe that discipline can and should fall into that category.

Education is a right recognised by government and the society at large. It is a necessary right of every individual within the society and an obligation on the society to provide.

The right to an education is legislated by government and made incumbent upon itself to provide it to every member of the society. The responsibility of seeing to it that every member of the society receives an education is also legislated by government.

Government holds each and every parent liable and responsible for seeing to it that their children attend schools that are either provided by government or by the parent privately. Hence, education is legislated as a right and a responsibility incumbent upon parents and government alike.

My issue is, does providing a building and teachers and the necessary materials for instruction -- along with mandating attendance in said schools -- fulfil the obligation of the society to provide an education?'' If we are to look at the test results by which we measure a students acquisition of education we would have to say no. There is something missing in this equation and I suggest that it is discipline.

Our children are not disciplined enough to be taught or educated. Just as we legislate attendance in school we need to legislate the standard of discipline that a child must bring to the classroom as well as the standard of discipline that a classroom must maintain in order to insure that our children have an adequate opportunity to acquire an education.

Just as parents can no longer choose to keep a child at home uneducated, perhaps the time has come for parents to be obliged to train their children to a certain level of discipline.

To send a child to school without a certain level of disciplinary training is tantamount to sending them without proper materials or a proper uniform -- neither of which is an acceptable practice.

If a quality education is my right, then all that is necessary for that to take place becomes obligatory upon the society. If it is necessary to establish a code of discipline within the school system to insure that a quality of education can be maintained, then it becomes necessary to insure that the established code of discipline is followed by all participating parties to the educational process. This includes parents.

Parents should be held lawfully accountable for seeing to it that their children come to school adequately trained in the social graces necessary to follow the established code of discipline.

I believe that a code of discipline should be grandfathered into our present legislation on education to reflect the priority and importance that it deserves.

Just as we have truant officers who insure attendance in school, I propose that we institute disciplinary officers that would serve as aids to parents and teachers alike to insure that adequate levels of disciplinary training is adhered to by all parties of the educational process.

Please take under advisement.

A SERVANT Trashing St. David's August 22, 2000 Dear Sir, Something short and to the point! The trash surrounding the number one gate bus shelter at Kindley Field Road and the roundabout area is atrocious and unsightly! We, as humans, do not live in a pigpen. I welcome the new ice cream establishment to provide the necessary trash receptacles to deal with the problem.

These receptacles need to be emptied on a regular basis to prevent the overloaded paper plates, cups and napkins from finding their way on the countryside.

A reminder for all, it is an offence under the Summary Offences Act, 1927, to throw litter on the ground. Please keep Bermuda beautiful, especially St.

David's.

FRANKIE FOGGO St. David's What was really said August 18, 2000 Dear Sir, You published today (August 18) a letter from Uncommon Sense of Hamilton Parish which took you to task for use of the word "renumeration'' in your report of remarks made by former Attorney General Saul Froomkin to the Commission on Serious Crimes currently sitting.

Uncommon Sense's criticisms should properly have been directed at Mr. Froomkin himself who in fact used the word twice. I know. I heard him. All you did was report him accurately.

LISTENING CAREFULLY Hamilton Parish