Dear Sir, For some time now I have been very puzzled about just how we are trying to attract visitors to Bermuda with one hand and just how we are antagonising these same visitors with the other hand.

I have two friends who have been travelling to Bermuda since the early 50s. At one time this couple bought a home here and loved life here and enjoyed all the wonderful things they found here and contributed enormously to our lifestyle. As they grew older, they sold their home and rented accommodation here. Still they did the same things here: Volunteer work, made friends and added a great deal to the economy. Friends and relatives would visit them here, they were already hooked on Bermuda and Mr. Allen did not have to lift a finger to encourage them to spend their money here.

Recently their travel arrangements were such that they had to request permission to stay a few extra days over the allotted time our Government had given them to be visitors here. They were told, to stay over, they would have to pay Government, money for each extra day! This, on top of what they would be paying anyway just to live for a few extra days. My mind boggles! What can our Government be thinking of? To ask people who have been contributing generously to our income for years and years to actually pay money to stay the few extra days. If Mr. Allen has done any good at all, it has been completely undone by this incredible request of Government's. Don't you agree, Mr.

Editor? I hope you will see fit to publish my letter.

JANUS Think before you buy May 22, 2000 Dear Sir, How disappointed I was to discover that the purse size hairbrush I bought to support the Women's Resource Centre was made in China, a country guilty of so many human rights violations. It seems ironic to me that a group that does so much good in our community would support a country that puts so little value on human life. I'm sure this was an oversight on their part, but I would hope in the future that they, and others, stop and think before purchasing goods from countries that have these appalling human rights records.

J.C. SIMPSON Baileys Bay What a ferry bad idea! May 25, 2000 Dear Sir, I think the idea of investing in new high-speed ferries is a very bad idea.

There is way too much boating activity in Hamilton Harbour to allow vessels of the size contemplated to operate safely inside of Two Rock Passage and there are already enough near misses and close calls in the Great Sound.

To spend all of this money for boats just to go a little faster outside of Two Rock, where the longest leg is probably about a mile, is ridiculous.

For commuters using the ferries, their time to commute is made up of a big portion of travelling to and from the ferry terminates on land, and finding parking etc. To go to all of this expense to go faster for such a short trip on the water is crazy.

BIG PICTURE Hamilton Stop blaming others May 25, 2000 Dear Sir, Please allow me space in your column once again to voice my opinion.

Two weeks ago on the popular news magazine "Sixty Minutes'', one of the articles featured was an interview with the Hon. Louis Farrakhan and the oldest daughter of the late Malcolm X.

Mike Wallace conducted the interview and there were times during the interview that made me feel very angry. At one point Louis Farrakhan said in response to comments from Miss Shabazz that there is no doubt that there was a conspiracy by the US Government to silence Malcolm X and that the Hon. Elijah Mohammad said to all Muslims to "Leave Malcolm X alone''.

What annoys and hurts me as a black man, Mr. Editor, is that I wish and hope for the day when black people would stop blaming the Government, the white man, society and all other segments of a community for our shortcomings and failures. Just like Farrakhan tried to blame the US Government for the assassination of Malcolm X.

My hat is off to Miss Shabazz for saying what she said. "It is not the Government who emptied their guns into the chest of Malcolm X but three black men between the ages of 21-40 not the US Government.'' Mr. Editor, I am not a Muslim nor do I belong to any religious faith but I do RESPECT all religions and faiths.

I see the opportunities that abound in this country and I encourage all people to have patience and keep trying. Nothing worth having is easy.

So to my fellow Bermudians, especially the black Bermudians, please stop blaming society and start BELIEVING IN YOURSELF.

RAMADHIN `RAMMY' SMITH A question of division May 22, 2000 Dear Sir, The enumerator has just been and done her task with efficiency and courtesy.

Once again I have been asked what "race'' I belong to -- a concept which really does not belong to Bermuda. We are too inter-related to belong to "races'' -- our problems arise from skin colour.

Happily both political parties wish to eliminate "racism'' from Bermuda. I have helped this process (as I did at the last census) by saying that I am a Bermudian, and belong to the human race. As there is no legal definition of "race'' I don't see that I can define myself. So I have been put down as "not stated'', which is a considerable advance on the previous census when I was put down as "other''.

The present debate over the CURE regulations shows the bad side of these Government questioning about "race'', for the debate tends to be divisive, as will the actual questionings -- quite apart from the non-productive time spent in dealing with yet another Government requirement.

I was surprised many years ago that the UBP did not remove these "racial'' questions from the census when they first came to power. The PLP does not seem likely to do it -- perhaps the UBP will do so when the voters decide their turn has come again.

Looking forward to a better future.

W.S.ZUILL Promoting a decline? May 25, 2000 Dear Sir, Have you noticed that every time Tourism Minister David Allen, the gombeys, and assorted sycophants, embark on a promotional tour there is an immediate decline in tourism arrivals? The March tourist figures were released last week and confirm what was already obvious (that March was another disastrous month for arrivals). One would be hard pressed to know that, however, in reading the "spin'' which accompanied the statistics.

Tourism is in free-fall. Replace these amateurs with professionals and start looking at the product before it is too late. Smoke and mirrors can only work for so long... ROCKFISH Price leaves a bitter taste May 30, 2000 Dear Sir, I enclose the top from a box of Brooke Bond teabags (80 Pyramid) which boldly advertises in large print "Great value at 1.35.'' At the current rate of exchange this is equivalent to $2.00. A month or so ago and for quite a while previously the rate was around $1.60 to the pound sterling at which time 1.35 translated to about $2.15.

Now Mr. Editor, what we the people would like to know is how come this item retails locally for upwards of $7.28 -- I repeat, seven dollars and 28 cents.

I say "upwards'' because although I haven't researched the matter I would bet my bottom dollar that my favourite supermart sells it cheaper than its competitors does.

Perhaps you could get some joy from those who handle this particular product; and maybe this letter will elicit a comment or two from your readers.

A teabag pyramid scheme? At least it will make an apt headline.

PETER J. WILLCOCKS