Well-known Bermudians from all walks of life have come together to wish for peace and prosperity in the new Millennium.

In a series of messages, figures in the business, technological, sport, environmental and the political world have expressed their hopes and desires for the new year.

Speaker of the House of Assembly Stanley Lowe wished everyone a "very happy and prosperous new year'' and said he hoped "we continue to appreciate this beautiful place''.

"I would like to see people do less whining and start enjoying Bermuda as they should do,'' he said.

"Everyone needs to take a little time out.'' Artist Michael Swan said he thought Bermudians should look at life in a more "positive'' way.

"I had a pretty good 1999 and I hope that 2000 will be even better,'' he said.

"But I think it's up to each individual to make things happen for themselves.

That's what I plan to do.'' Laura Gorham , director of the National Gallery, hoped that "our artists will have the courage to express what is in their souls and that our children will have the courage to all be artists in their own way.'' She also appealed to Bermudians to try to make Bermuda a better place "in their own small way''.

Architect Sjur Linberg , partner at Barker & Linberg, agreed that residents should take a more "upbeat'' approach towards life and also insisted that the Island start finding ways of doing things differently.

He noted the Immigration Department as an area that needed to be "looked at'' and added that Bermuda needed to keep tabs on what was going on in the wider world.

"If we miss out on all of the new business opportunities in today's world, it will be a big detriment,'' he said. "We need to study how things are done elsewhere and come back with a different attitude to things.'' Penny Dill , chairperson of the Women's Resource Centre, hoped "we will improve the rights of the victim and support for the victims of crime. And that the word domestic is removed from domestic violence as people often viewed such violence less seriously than other crimes''.

Dr. Eva Hodgson "would like to see Bermudians at all levels of society place less emphasis on evaluating people on how much money they have and return to the more caring values of the past''.

Cellular One chief operations officer Michael Leverock looked forward to "seeing the competition flourish'' in the telecommunications industry and said: "It will be good for Bermuda with everything becoming so global.

"There are a lot of economic barriers coming down and it's essential that we position Bermuda to take advantage of that.

"It will also be good to see a lot of social issues be given the proper attention and the implementation of some practical solutions.'' He added: "I'm always optimistic and I think this cross-over into the new Millennium could act as the impetus for a lot of opportunities for healing and new sorts of innovations in all areas.'' Cable & Wireless general manager Eddie Saints said: "With the incredibly rapid growth in e-commerce, co-operation between local and international business and Government is vital to the country remaining at the forefront of telecommunications development into the Millennium.'' Bermuda Investment Advisory Services CEO Robert Pires jokingly said: "I'm just hoping that my clients will be wealthier at the end of 2000 than they were in 1999.'' "More seriously,'' he continued, "I would like to wish peace and prosperity to everyone and also would like to see more done in educating people about good business ethics.

"A lot of people think when you do business you have to do someone else in.

But that really gets my goat because I think it's more about win-win relationships in which everyone prospers.'' Lines Overseas Management, managing director, Scott Lines said: "I hope Bermuda and the world economy will improve and that Bermuda will manage the technological and social changes in the Millennium.'' Former Independent MP Stuart Hayward said: "I would like to see people at every level of society take a more personal responsibility for the health of Bermuda's environment and by extension the health of the global environment.

"This would include acting personally to reduce consumption, waste and pollution.'' Clyde Best , technical director of the Bermuda Football Association, said he hoped that "all Bermudians get on together, love one another, work towards the same goals and make it a safer and better place to live''.

Coalition for the Protection of Children chairperson Sheelagh Cooper hoped the new Millennium would present an opportunity to "open our hearts to each other'' and "embrace one another, recognising our own interconnectedness, celebrating our differences and discover the joy of working together in a spirit of collaboration''.

"If we take up this challenge,'' she said, "the turn of the century can be a fresh start and we will find that the problems we thought were so difficult to resolve become much less challenging.'' Bermuda's faithful morning greeter Johnny Barnes said he "would like to see all people love each other'' and "learn how to be more courteous, kind and respectful'' towards each other in the new year.

"What a beautiful, little island Bermuda would be if we all did that,'' he added.

Mr. Barnes also asked that people "pray for the Government to do the right things'' and "take time out in the new year to read God's love letter to the world''.

"Why not try to live happily and joyously to make this a better Bermuda for everyone?'' he asked. "We have a beautiful island here and although I'm very happy here, I'm not happy with the way some people act towards each other.'' Stanley Lowe Dr. Eva Hodgson Clyde Best Michael Leverock Johnny Barnes