Thanks to Ira Philip's column in last weekend's Mid-Ocean News , we learned that the Speaker of the House invited his two children, their mother, and all but two of his ten sisters and brothers to the Speaker's Dinner.

They are the wind beneath his wings, but showing appreciation should be personal and not at the expense of the taxpayers.

It is his prerogative to invite whomever, but if this is not an abuse of power, then I don't know what is.

KEEN OBSERVER Talk the talk November 1, 1999 Dear Sir, Hiding under a pseudonym, your columnist `Hester' has made commentary about my interview with "the Sunshine tabloid''. Not very brave, really.

The sensational headlining used too often by your paper smacks more of "tabloid'' then the Bermuda Sun. Remember the headline extracted from my wife's letter on parenting issues in Bermuda -- "castrate sex offenders'' -- need I say more.

But in my own defence, I am not modest -- I have nothing much to be modest about unlike Clement Atlee -- but I am willing to search for solutions and expose to all my intellectual shortcomings.

Remember, better to say nothing and be thought a fool.

The most important part of my commentary was however "that I am not the only gifted person in Bermuda''. The problem is that too many "gifted'' people don't have the nerve or the freedom to speak -- they are burying their talent in the biblical, proverbial sense.

They blindly back one party or the other -- if Members of Parliament, they vote the party line. How bold, how visionary.

What was not included in the Sun interview was that if I were elected Premier, I would make some changes and then ban the position -- why have a democrate election and then let the winning team (often winning by two seats only) choose a King/Queen who than chooses a Cabinet, who are then in turn beholden.

To demonstrate my own self-effacing sense of myself, I suggested to Alex Barclay, the (Sun's) interviewer, to title the profile "lunatic or visionary''. They chose "eccentric or visionary''. I have no problem with anyone calling me anything -- but, be so bold as to offer your solutions to the public.

Dr. David Saul was and could have been the best Premier we ever had -- he is a bright, competent man. Could I walk in his shoes, who knows.

But look at the games that were being played by the UBP. Did they choose a black female to counter Jennifer Smith? Can I blame David Saul for standing down. He was censured for Sir. John Swan's and Grant Gibbon's stupidity. I don't think David Saul needed the nonsense of party politics, but he will understand my mantra from Rudyard Kipling's `If'': "If you can keep you head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you.

"If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you and make allowances for the doubting too.

"If you can see the truth you've spoken twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools''.

I will not quote the other lines but suggest that Hester reads them. And Hester, if you are big enough, give me a call at 236-2502 at anytime -maybe our shared vision will strengthen both our intellects.

You see, Mr. Editor, if I can see so far it is because I, as did Sir Issac Newton, have stood on the shoulders of giants. I am trying to provoke a race dialogue and sometimes, tongue in cheek perhaps, I go over the top.

For all of those who won't speak or who do in pseudonym -- get some vision.

SANDERS FRITH BROWN Warwick There's no comparison November 9, 1999 Dear Sir, Please afford me space in your column for publication of the following -- "Don't know much about Jamaica.'' Hester's views and observations appearing in The Royal Gazette of November 4, demonstrate a lack of understanding concerning the visit of Jamaica's Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson to Bermuda, and a lack of knowledge about the country that Mr. Patterson is Prime Minister of.

Firstly, "P.J.'' came to Bermuda by invitation to be the keynote speaker of the PLP's banquet, (where his message was global), and not to be envious of your "good life''.

Secondly, while he has frozen all compensation packages above US $75,000 paid to members of the public sector, pending the investigation and recommendations of a special committee chaired by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Carlton Davis, under no circumstances do any public officials in Jamaica, the "biggest of shots'' included, earn annual compensation packages of up to US $1.8 million.

And finally, trying to compare the economies of Jamaica and Bermuda in simplistic terms further illustrates how little Hester understands about the two societies.

Jamaica, which evolved out of the most severe form of plantation slavery, has a population of approximately 2.5 million people dispersed over 4,000-plus square miles of land space. Inclusive of some of the most geographically challenging terrain imaginable, (it) is one of the most complex of environments, politically, socially and economically.

Bermuda on the other hand, evolved out of a domestic slave society and offshore financing, is 22-square miles in area and has a population of approximately 60,000 people.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure our that linear comparison between the two territories in the area of minimum wage, per capita income, and unemployment percentages is illogical and meaningless.

Hester, next time do your homework! THE JAMAICA ASSOCIATION Cleansweep conspiracy? November 9, 1999 Dear Sir, In response to a letter by HPE voter, dated November 9, he is correct in his belief that Operation Cleansweep was political.

It was designed to glorify former Commissioner, Colin Coxall, and to generate approval from the community, which would then turn into votes for the UBP.

Remember the "supposed'' recession that the Island suffered before Coxall arrived on the Island? What I find interesting was that 35 Police officers were axed at the same time.

My information might be wrong, but I do not believe the Fire Department or Customs lost anyone. It was only the Police service.

It is common knowledge that during a recession there is ultimately a rise in drug use, domestic violence and crime which is spawned by frustration from those who are out of work. Of all people, who has ever heard of making Police officers redundant during a recession? Crime is up, Police presence is down. The public now demands the Government to do something. The stage is now set for the arrival of a political hero riding a white horse.

He (Coxall) makes sweeping reforms. He takes a few officers out of the office and puts them on the street, almost all of the officers who are axed before he arrived are amazingly re-hired.

Somerset Police get a new station, and Drug Enforcement Agents take time out of their busy schedule to help nab petty street dealers in Bermuda. His report card by way of crime statistics reveal that crime is now down. WOW, WATTA GUY!! Now that his work is done, create a phony drug investigation, send him home a hero and listen to the public lavish him with praise. The UBP wins votes, they stay in power and everyone lives happily ever after.

Yeah right, as if no one was capable of doing what Coxall did. No capable Bermudians I suppose? One was fired unlawfully and another lost his top rank for what reason(s) only God knows.

Is this about good government for the people? No, just about power and money and the worship of both.

This must sound impossible. But Bermuda almost fell for it. At least the UBP voters did.

STAY TUNED