A Government Minister yesterday visited CedarBridge Academy to respond to student concerns about unfair negative publicity.

"I work for you. Your parents pay my salary. I have a responsibility to respond to you,'' Transport Minister Ewart Brown told an assembly of fifth-year students.

Last month the fifth-year civics class submitted a letter to the Editor of The Royal Gazette in which they questioned why "alleged negativity'' associated with CedarBridge's involvement with the Project Ride programme was highlighted on the front page.

"It is unfair for Mr. (Donald) Dane (Director of the Transport Control Department) and the media to target the majority of CedarBridge students because of a few individuals who have problems coping with the rules,'' wrote the students.

But yesterday Dr. Brown, flanked by Kevin Monkman, Donald Dane, Road Safety Officer Roxanne Christopher, and deputy chairman of the Road Safety Council Fred Tucker, said he was impressed by the letter.

"In Bermuda when you are the target of unfair reporting by The Royal Gazette , you are in a special group of people,'' he told the students.

Dr. Brown said E.F. Gordon, Roosevelt Brown, Lois Browne Evans, Eva Hodgson and "scores of other Bermudians'' had also been treated unfairly by The Royal Gazette .

"But don't worry about that,'' Dr. Brown continued. "That means that you are special and that you have unusual talent.

"`To be attacked or unfairly reported on by The Royal Gazette is by no means a serious setback so don't consider yourselves victims of anything special.

"You know the New York Times has a saying... `all the news that's fit to print'.

"But some newspapers turn that around and say, `we print all the news that fits'.'' Dr. Brown also described Mr. Dane as "broad shouldered'' enough to recognise the students' concerns were not a personal attack.

And he commended the teenagers for using an effective method of communication.

"Our role in the Ministry of Transport is to work in a way with our people to make it easy and smooth,'' he said.

"And if you as students of CedarBridge find that process cumbersome or unfriendly then you have a duty, you have an obligation to speak up.'' Several students then raised questions about the increasing price of licences, the lack of testing for tourist moped riders, and the Project Ride Programme.

The Minister explained licensing costs were a source of revenue for Government and that tourist auxiliary cycles were part of Bermuda's vacation appeal.

Ewart Brown: Transport Minister addressed student concerns about negative publicity at CedarBridge.