This morning, your acute correspondent, Square-Bashing Bermudian, highlighted the striking similarity between a recommendation for better communication by the Astwood inquiry into the Bermuda Regiment of ten years ago and a recommendation for better communication made by the latest inquiry. In my experience, people start talking about `better communication' when they don't want to have to look the truth in the eye. How many times have we heard management faulted for `poor communications' in situations where there has been some trouble with employees, Elbow Beach, Sonesta, the Hamilton docks...it can become a long list very quickly. It is really a way of saying `the employees of this firm are so childish they need to be spanked, but it wouldn't be politically correct even to think about that.' The difficulty this year at Warwick Camp is the same as it was last year, ten years ago and ten years before that; most of the people who work there are so childish they very badly need to be spanked. They believe there is nothing in the world more important than their comfort and welfare, and are prepared to go to any lengths to make thins easier or more comfortable for themselves.

Whenever they think they have found an angle on more pay, faster promotion or whatever it happens to be, they pull out a little list of grievances and publicly stamp their feet until someone is sufficiently impressed to give them what they want.

As with so many workers, in companies up and down the country, the group at Warwick Camp has years of experience with politicians (both in and out of politics), who have taught them that there is no trick too dirty to play in the cause of getting where they want to go.

Too bad. But it won't stop as long as people parrot this flabby nonsense about `better communication' instead of facing up to the truth.... and there certainly is a lot that needs facing up to at Warwick Camp at the moment.

PIDDOCK City of Hamilton Not asking enough September 9, 1999 Dear Sir, If the comments attributed to Government Ministers, as reported in the media, are accurate, it seems that they need to be reminded that they, like their UBP counterparts, were elected democratically to serve Bermuda. Whichever party forms the Government, H.M. loyal Opposition has the right -indeed the duty -- to ask its Cabinet Ministers questions on behalf of the electorate. Their recent non-answers and snide comments smack of authoritarianism, which does not sit well with many Bermudians.

The Opposition MPs are not asking too many questions. They are not asking enough! Every Government needs to be held accountable to the people it serves, otherwise it becomes authoritarian -- demanding absolute, unquestioning obedience.

Past experience shows that Bermudians reject political leadership which they perceive (rightly or wrongly) is not respecting their opinions.

LINDA DE DESILVA City of Hamilton September 10, 1999 C&W defends itself September 10, 1999 Dear Sir, I would like to respond to your correspondent Fair Play's criticism of Cable & Wireless (September 2nd 1999). C&W has been able to reduce its international call rates three times in 1999 as a result of several factors, not the least of which has been the significant reduction in the interconnect fee charged by the Bermuda Telephone Company to the island's two licenced international carriers. This fee has been reduced from 27 cents per minute (outgoing) and 24 cents per minute (incoming) to 10 cents per minute each way. Cable & Wireless immediately moved to pass on these savings to customers in the form of reduced international rates. In addition, negotiations with corresponding international carriers, internal cost reductions and increased efficiency have enabled us to reduce rates even further. As a matter of fact, `Fair Play' hasn't been paying us $1.20 per minute for UK calls for quite some time. It's also a matter of record that Cable & Wireless Bermuda has never increased its rates. There can be few companies operating in Bermuda that can make that claim.

The question of whether an Internet Service Provider should be permitted to offer a voice product is one solely for the Minister of Telecommunications to decide, having due regard to the terms of that company's licence. Contrary to Fair Play's assumption, Cable & Wireless has not exerted any pressure on the Minister or the Commission to reach a decision favourable to us. Indeed, it is insulting to the Minister to suggest that she might be swayed by any such pressure. Cable & Wireless' position on the subject is the same as that of our competitor TeleBermuda International, in that we are the only two companies in Bermuda licenced to provide international telephony. Which statement of course also corrects Fair Play's mistaken assertion that C&W is a monopoly in Bermuda.

Cable & Wireless' latest offering called 20/20 which enables customers to save 20 percent on their overseas calls is simply an extension of our existing service and is another way in which we are passing on cost savings to our customers. It is designed to appeal to those who regularly spend in excess of $100 per month on international calls.

I am sorry Fair Play doesn't feel able to take advantage of our 20/20 service but chooses to pay higher rates simply on principle. Your choice, Fair Play.

JOHN INSTONE Marketing Communications Manager Cable & Wireless Bermuda Disappointed at DAB September 10, 1999 Dear Sir, We all watched, and basked in the glory of M.J. Tumbridge and her wonderful gold medal. Yet as she rides off into the future, we the Bermuda horse community have to live with the reality of the DAB decisions to refuse the applications to expand Vesey Street, and most recently the refusal to all the erection of floodlights.

It would appear that the daunting fences that M.J. and Bermuda Gold have before them, are no less daunting than the obstacles before the Bermuda Equestrian Federation in its efforts to provide decent riding, and racing facilities to the youth of Bermuda.

It appears clear to most people that the powers that be, both past and present, are quite prepared to stand before the media and bask in the glory.

However, when it comes to making a decision that will benefit the youth of this community, they ounce again shrink into the undergrowth. The message is clear, represent your country, but go abroad at your own expense to do it! Obviously Mr. Wingate thinks that it is important for insects, and owls to be protected from floodlights. The question really is, where does Mr. Wingate place the youth of Bermuda in his ladder of protection? The National Trust was ecstatic at the initial decision to refuse the expansion of Vesey Street.

Perhaps they have some bright ideas as to where an equestrian centre should be located. Maybe they have a wall at a street corner that might fit the bill! This issue is not just about horse facilities. It is the same for many other sporting organisations, the lack of facilities, and the public's unwillingness to have any kind of facility on it's doorstep. Well wake up Bermuda, it is not the sports facility that you will have to worry about next, it's the group of drug pushers, and out of control youngsters that will be invading your neighbourhood.

I applaud the never-ending efforts of the sports organisers in this community to point our children in the right direction. To help them understand responsibility, dedication and work ethic. Perhaps it is time for our leaders to make decisions based on these same principles.

STEVEN GIBBONS City of Hamilton Marathoners say thanks September 8, 1999 Dear Sir, The management of Body Focus would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the generous support received from persons of all walks of life in the Bermuda community who contributed, either financially and/or participated in the 18-hour aerobics marathon charitable benefit held recently to assist with the continuing medical expenses for Quadriplegic Ventilator Dependent mother of two, Maria DaSilva.

Also, due to the assistance of the following: The Bermuda Regiment, Computer Designs, DeFontes Broadcasting Company, John Barritt & Sons Ltd. Market Place Supermarkets, Metro Mineral Water Company, Ms. Paulette Peets and Bermuda Waterworks, all proceeds collected were donated to Mrs. DaSilva.

Once again, I reiterate my indebtedness to the Bermuda community for your support.

MARILYN L. STEEDE Owner/Operator Body Focus Driving test insane September 11, 1999 Dear Sir, I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Burns' letter in your September 10th edition regarding the existing driving test given to senior citizens at TCD. I am not yet a senior citizen and, therefore, do not have to go through this insane driving test which, I am told, greatly unnerves many seniors and, in fact, I have known a few people to give up their cars because of it. With the traffic the way it is today it would make more sense to give a short driving test on the road and especially in the City of Hamilton. I, too, have been driving for a number of years and have never had to back up in a way that is expected of you at TCD. If this test for some reason needs to continue why not give the individual an option of either the existing test or driving on the road. Come on TCD, thing of the seniors for a change.

CAROL A. BELL Pembroke Upset by crime September 8, 1999 Dear Sir, If you were to print an itemised list of all the crime from petty theft to the most serious of crimes that has taken place in Bermuda since the start of 1999, that list would be unbelievably long, especially for a small Island like this, and it would be interesting to know how many offenders have been incarcerated? How many have got off with a slap on the wrist? and how many have never been caught? Crime would appear to be one major problem, and yet the government is conspicuous in its silence on the matter. We get an occasional, "Tut, tut, this can't go on'', comment, especially when it involves a tourist, but one would think that a concerted effort would be made by all politicians along with the police to stamp out this problem once and for all. Stiffer sentences seem to be in order, with hard labour in some cases. When you read about the slap on the wrist some offenders get one would believe that Crime Does Pay! Regardless of what we read in today's paper, anyone who breaks the law should have their names printed on the front page, whatever age, and there should also be more photos printed, so we can see who we are dealing with. This problem is obviously escalating and if it is not brought down to a minimum, nobody will want to come here, will want to live here, and we could very well end up a Third World Country.

During the Labour Day speeches we heard the words "Fairness'' and "The Seniors who helped to build this country,'' so if this People's Government want to be fair, they should exempt the Seniors from all Land Tax.

SEEING IT AS IT IS Pembroke