copied to The Royal Gazette .

Dear Ms Smith, As a `born and bred' Bermudian, I must say that I am extremely concerned with the direction that the workforce in Bermuda has taken.

Sometimes I wonder if I am still residing in my Island home. As I walk down the street, I am bombarded with accents and languages foreign to my ear.

Why is it so difficult for a young Bermudian with a degree to find a decent job, yet a foreigner with the same qualifications (or in most cases, less qualifications) will receive a higher or better position? Why are our educated Bermudians working as bank tellers and taxi drivers, while their foreign counterparts are hired as executives in exempted companies? Are we so afraid of losing the exempt companies, that we cannot employ laws and enforce them that limit the influx of foreign workers? Are the immigration laws so lax that anyone can come here and benefit from our tax-free, laid-back life? The population of native Bermudians seems to be on the decline and it would not surprise me at all if we comprise only about fifty percent. So many of our young people are forced to struggle in the United States in order to obtain experience so that they may `one day' return home to look for employment.

Why do so many on this Island look down on their own people? Are we not proud of whom we are? I have seen foreigners possessing only a high school diploma, promoted over a degreed Bermudian (or appointed to a position instead of a Bermudian), and then sent off for training.

Also, do these companies think that they are `slick' by advertising a job in a foreign newspaper with the requirements being almost nil, then the same job appears in The Royal Gazette looking for `SUPER-BERMUDIAN'.

How can a job, when employing a foreigner, need only an associate degree and a few months of experience, but anyone born in Bermuda must have a Masters degree, accompanied by fifteen years of experience and skills that very few humans possess? Why has this double standard been allowed to happen? This influx of foreigners has also affected the atmosphere of the country and, inadvertently, tourism. Almost extinct are the friendly smiles and hellos of `passerbys' on the street that made Bermuda such a wonderful place to live and visit. What are they replaced with? Condescending looks of superiority from people who, for the majority of the time, feel that they are better than you -- when they are `guests' in our country. The atmosphere here is becoming more and more like New York City where people will bump you in the street and won't separate their lips to utter two easy words, `I'm sorry'.

This said phenomenon, along with the decline in the government school system, seems to be a ploy to undermine Bermuda's youth (particularly young blacks.).

When we send them through an horrific school system (such as the one that has currently been inflicted involuntarily on the people of Bermuda) then hinder their efforts from receiving employment in their field(s) of expertise, we send them a message that they are not welcome in the country which is their own.

Is this government `for the people', going to continue to ignore the outcry of her oppressed? Is a reform underway that I am unaware of? I hope that this is the case.

This letter is meant to serve as a formal complaint, which I hope will not be ignored. If it is, I pray that as a result, Bermuda is not turned into a haven for criminals and an escape for underpaid foreigners.

AN OUTRAGED CITIZEN Time to clean house December 21, 1999 Dear Sir, In response to "Frontline Soldier'' the Letter to the Editor, I would like to say that I am in total agreement with his views and opinion. I too, was a first time voter for the PLP, (no I was not a UBP voter either). Prior to the NLP I saw no one in Government who represented me and elected not to vote. For the first time in my 52 years I voted PLP.

If an election were to be held today I would again "stay away from the polls''. When I drive home from work via Court Street to Hamilton Parish, I am dismayed that the new Government has done nothing to clean up their `own back yard'.

Do they have blinders on, or are they oblivious to the drug situation there. I voiced this concern to a PLP MP sometime ago and no resolution has come forth as yet.

I would have thought that the ruling PLP would have sent a clear message to the Court Street Gang, serving notice that the New Government takes crime seriously, and that we are going to start in Court Street.

This notice could have been handed out via a `flier or a banner handed along Court Street, or some other innovative means, but nothing, absolutely has been done.

Instead, we have an influx of black men hanging around an entire block on Court Street, and at the minimum 200 or more men there on Fridays after 5 p.m.

It is pathetic. Their presence only serves as a reminder that regardless of who is in power, nothing will change unless the ruling party has some backbone and starts doing something.

It is a slap in the face of a black government. It would appear that since the PLP are in it has become worse, as if to say now that the PLP are now in power and it is okay to commit crime, right under the noses, and nothing will be done.

When I think that the headquarters of the ruling party are a mere 100 or less yards of illegal crime, I literally get upset over their inaction.

I do not expect the PLP to make sweeping changes because it took 30 years for the UBP to get us where we are today (including the good and the bad).

It will take the PLP more than a year to clean up the mess left behind. What I do expect of this Government is to lead by example by starting on Court Street. If they want to `throw away money' then try throwing it at some of the urgent issues we have in Bermuda, not on overseas jaunts. It is time now to start action! It makes one wonder what is going on with this Island. I've spoken to MPs about housing and using the Club Med Staff Quarters as housing for single people. I am told that there is absebetos there. Well can't that be fixed? Their facilities were used for several years by staff. They are purpose-built accommodation and I am sure that they can be made livable with minimum expense.

I want this government to know that like myself, other voters are watching and patiently waiting to see if and when the ruling party will adequately deal with the following issues.

1. Drug Abuse (including dealers, pushers, victims and families -- not just small time users).

2. Housing (and I mean affordable housing -- below $1000.00 a month for families with small children), so they can eat and clothe their families.

3. Education -- (results are being seen) 4. Expatriate workers vs local labour (legitimate screening).

5. Social assistance (reform is needed).

6. Traffic congestion on this Island (urgent).

7. Accountability for Government spending.

8. To uphold the pledge in its election platform.

Just in case your readers have a misconception that I am an irate writer, I am not. I own my own business, work a full-time job, a home owner and worked all my life.

I am divorced, raised my children, sent them to school, one to college and have never asked Government for any help. I am a woman. What is wrong with this island! Thank you Mr. Editor.

HAMILTON PARISH VOTER P.S. Mr. Maxwell Burgess and Mr. Wayne Furbert, thanks for the Christmas Card.

It's nice to know you are still thinking of the constituents. Like the phrase goes, "you never know what it might lead to''.

Party's worth fixing December 24, 1999 Dear Sir, I read the letter by St. Stephen in The Royal Gazette of Tuesday, December 7.

St. Stephan states he did not vote as he was unhappy with the UBP -- who I presume he may have voted for had he been happy with them.

Of course he, in fact, did vote if he abstained -- presuming he would have voted for the UBP as this would have increased the position of the PLP and so he is responsible to that degree for the performance of the PLP.

In my opinion, it is a little immature to sit on the sidelines, in a fit of pique as it were.

I have probably got a great deal more reason not to vote for the UBP than he has, but I do not vote for the UBP because I like the people in it -- rather I vote for them because I like Bermuda and all its people and feel that I would rather work to fix the party, as my worst fears for not voting for the PLP have come to pass now they are in power.

Rather than free us of racial overtones, I find this has increased dramatically. The singular greatest failure of the PLP is its inability to unite the races; indeed many feel that it fosters racial division to retain political power. If you -- like me -- feel that Bermuda is too small to be divided about 50/50 you will agree this is damaging.

Regarding fiscal responsibility, name me one PLP member who has a track record of success in their personal business. I'd say that is their second biggest drawback.

In its last few years, the UBP made bad decisions as they were hoping to appeal to the black voter; however, prior to that they did a pretty good job of running the country for many years and deserve credit for that.

Whilst Sir John Swan must accept his share of blame, nevertheless he too did much good. In my opinion he did more to unite blacks and whites than any other politician before or since.

He had this unique gift, since I remember him as President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce over 36 years ago. Other than that, I think many of your points are well taken and I agree with most of them.

It is past time for the UBP to attract more young people -- both black and white -- that would more accurately reflect the racial make-up of the Island.

There is no good reason why young blacks cannot be given responsible positions, based on their abilities rather than window dressing to some degree.

I feel the party is coming to realise this and I certainly hope so, as there is no way the PLP will ever attract any white members to any meaningful extent. One has to have a better reason that being disenchanted with the UBP to join the PLP.

In closing I feel it is not quite fair to blame Pam Gordon for the present situation, as she came on board at a time when the mess was created, so it is easy to play Solomon after the event. She has learned a lot and is the wiser for it -- just as we all should be -- and remember the country is bigger than any of us.

I too was disenchanted with the UBP but was inspired by the example of my friend Madeleine Joell, who was already in a successful career and well respected.

When I questioned her as to why she would enter politics and especially as a UBP candidate and added that "you know they will try to destroy your character and attack you in every way which will make your life stressful and you really don't need this''.

At this time she was sitting in my living room and she looked me straight in the eye and said (and I quote:) "I feel I could make a difference and I am absolutely determined to try''. Madeleine -- although a very sensitive person -- was also very strong and, had she lived, would have achieved great things.

She had a wonderful charismatic effect on people with her enthusiasm. Her service in the Cathedral was packed with an equal number of black and white mourners for the first time ever in my experience. I will help to keep her dream alive and hope you will be moved to do likewise.

LIBRA Paget Reform education, now December 27, 1999 The following was sent to The Premier, The Honourable Jennifer Smith, and copied to The Royal Gazette .

Dear Ms Smith, I have recently returned to Bermuda after an extended period and I am appalled at the direction that the public school system has taken.

My only question is if Bermuda is supposed to be a democracy, why were the people of Bermuda not given the option to vote on the changes in our educational system? Could we not have simply improved upon the system that we had, instead of investing millions of dollars on a system that will force our young people into a life of ignorance? The level at which our future leaders are operating is atrocious. Our `high-school' students are solving the same problems that I solved at Victor Scott Primary School.

And has homework become obsolete? The reading level at which our children are at also leaves a lot to be desired. When a 15-year-old can't even sound out elementary words, not to mention the meaning of them, there is a serious problem.

And since when are mathematics and English optional subjects? Do we really want our young people to grow up and run the country when they can barely read and complete simple math problems (or is the intention to bring in foreign help under the premise that there are no qualified Bermudians?) The other academic subjects such as biology, physics, chemistry, foreign languages, etc. seem to have taken a flying leap right out of the school system.

I used to believe that Bermuda's public school system was one of the best, but now we'll be lucky if we're not one of the worst. How could this have been allowed to happen, when even the country whose school system we tried to imitate warned us not to follow in their footsteps.

Must the parents of Bermuda's youth spend thousands of dollars to educate their children when a free education should also be a good education? No wonder the crime rate in Bermuda is escalating. What does one expect when education is absent? Let's remember the old saying, `An idle mind is the Devil's playground.' When we educate our youth, we prepare them for the future. Do we expect these young people to be able to enter universities and colleges, or are we trying to suppress their many talents and gifts? Now that we have a new government, I pray that a reform is evident. I do hope that this government `for the people' will step back and take a look at the state of the public school system and implement major changes.

What can we as citizens do? Let us know and I'm sure that we'll all pull together for the benefit of our future. I am lodging a formal complaint, that I am sure is expressed by many of my fellow Bermudians, and I do hope that it is not ignored.

As a final note, was this educational catastrophe a deliberate ploy to stagnate the growth of our youth or an honest mistake in judgment? I pray that it is the later and not the former.

KIMBERLEY MENSAH Pembroke