Atlantic to the UK and then back to the Island again this year, the Postmaster General announced yesterday.

In a brief statement released yesterday morning, Clevelyn Crichlow reported: "The Bermuda Post Office wishes to advise the general public that the US Post Office has informed us that as of December 1, 2000, all mail from the United States to Bermuda will be `routed via London LGW (Gatwick) on BA (British Airways flight) 2233, days two, four, six'.'' The move has occurred in the past and has contributed to delays in Island residents receiving their holiday mail, a fact not lost on the man in charge of Bermuda's post.

Mr. Crichlow said: "This means that there may be some slight delays in overseas mail delivery for the Christmas period.

"It should be noted that this occurs every year at this time as the airlines decrease their load capacities for the Bermuda route.'' And the Postmaster General pointed out that neither he nor his counterparts in the US could stop the rerouting.

He said: "The Bermuda Post Office has no control over the airlines and neither, it would appear, does the US Post Office who contracts with them to deliver the mail to Bermuda.'' Mr. Crichlow added that postal staff would be endeavouring to be extra diligent and minimise any delays that resulted from the move.

The Post Office has experienced problems with backlogged US mail in the past.

In April of this year, delivery problems at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport left the Island high and dry for a while before it was suddenly swamped requiring staff to work weekends and nights in a bid to clear the huge pile of post.

CONSTITUTIOANL MEETING GVT Constitutional meeting Government's third public meeting on constitutional change will take place tonight at St. James' Church Hall in Somerset at 7.30 p.m.

The meeting will give West End residents an opportunity to attend and participate in the discussion of this important subject.

Premier Jennifer Smith will present details of the proposed changes as delivered in the House of Assembly in August.

She will be joined by Dame Lois Browne Evans, Attorney General, Alex Scott, Minister of Works and Engineering, Eugene Cox, Minister of Finance, Dennis Lister, Minister of Youth, Sport and Recreation, and Paula Cox, Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety.

The audience will be invited to ask questions of any member of the panel and the moderator will be the Rev. Dr. Goodwin Smith.

Copies of the proposed amendments are available at Post Offices, Transport Control Department and Government Information Services.