wrangle which has kept her from seeing her youngest daughter for almost four years.

Mrs. Anita Sousa yesterday sent a letter to acting Premier the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto asking her to appeal to the Governor of Massachusetts where her 10-year-old daughter, Candi, has been living since the summer of 1988.

In her letter she urges: "I am appealing to you from one mother to another.'' Mrs. Sousa lost custody of Candi after a 1988 Supreme Court battle with her ex-husband Allan, who now lives in Boston.

She said her visiting rights and any contact with Candi have been denied by her ex-husband.

Mr. Sousa has refused to send the girl back for a visit. Chief Justice the Hon. Sir James Astwood has ordered a warrant for his arrest if he ever returns to the Island.

Bermuda, however, has no jurisdiction to force Mr. Sousa to return.

Mrs. Sousa also accused her ex-husband of bribing and brainwashing two of her teenage daughters, Jackie and Wendy, who were nine and 11 respectively at the time, to join him.

The claim was repeated by the girls, 14-year-old Wendy and 16-year-old Jackie, who moved back to Bermuda last November and are now living legally with their mother.

Showing a gold ring, Jackie told The Royal Gazette this was given her by her father "as a bribe''.

Both girls claim they were physically and emotionally abused by their father and his wife, Nancy.

And they said they worry about the safety of their younger sister whom they have unsuccessfully tried to contact since returning to Bermuda.

"I think Candi should be brought back right now,'' said Wendy who at 13 considered suicide and ran away from her home in Boston.

Wendy said she fears for her younger sister, who she claims has not been doing well in school in Boston.

"I don't want what happened to me happen to Candi. I'm strong.'' Wendy added: "She has been through enough at her age. She doesn't need these worries.'' Jackie agreed, adding her sister would have a better life with her mother and step father Mr. Richard Powell.

Mrs. Sousa and her fiance, Mr. Powell, said Mr. Sousa had repeatedly avoided a Supreme Court summons for him to appear in court in Bermuda. "Allan is now attempting to start a court case in Boston,'' Mr. Powell said, explaining that Allan is trying to make sure Candi never returns to Bermuda or her mother.

"If this gets into court in Massachusetts, it can get tied up for years,'' Mr. Powell said. "Who's going to pay for it? The system in Bermuda allowed this to happen so the system in Bermuda should fix it.'' Mrs. Sousa was served a notice on Wednesday by the Probate and Family Court Department in Massachusetts ordering her to appear on April 23.

"It is cheaper for him to be tried here, where he has family and free lodging,'' Mr. Powell said.

Mr. Sousa, in an affidavit dated March 16, 1992, to the Probate Court Department, denies Candi is unhappy with him.

He also said he suspects that his ex-wife is trying to take Candi from him against her will.

"The defendant has succeeded in removing two other children from this jurisdiction with the help of an unknown confederate,'' he stated. "Those children appear to have gone willingly and appear to be under the influence of their mother, the defendant.

"The plaintiff did not bring any action as it relates to these children for their actions were volatile and they are of an age which supports their decision, age 13 and 15.

"I believe my ex-wife, her boyfriend and the boyfriend's son and an unknown confederate in Massachusetts will attempt to remove my youngest daughter against her will. I have alerted the United States Immigration authorities and the Massachusetts State Police to my fears.

"Presently my oldest child, Jada, is staying with my parents in Bermuda recuperating from a leg injury sustained this last summer in Bermuda.

"Candi is a well adjusted child who fits in with the second family. She is strongly opposed to returning to her mother's home in Bermuda.

"She is afraid that she will find herself being involuntarily returned to Bermuda, which I believe is not in her best interest.'' CANDI COME HOME -- Ms Anita Sousa flanked by her daughters Jackie (left) and Wendy. At the back is their stepfather Mr. Richard Powell.