DEAR EDITOR: As citizens begin to prepare to celebrate Carnival let us be mindful of the nature of the festival, throwing caution to the wind, “freeing up” yourself, letting down your hair, indulging in excessive alcohol consumption, engaging in lewd and provocative actions, gyrating the waist, and body (flexing). Carnival can be used by citizens as a time to display negative and uncontrollable behaviour.

Our children who are left in our charge emulate parents and teachers, so if they witness the adults engaging in loose manner they too will copy what they see. Let us be mindful that the children's eyes are on us adults.

The ingenuity and creativity of Carnival is so evident, the beauty, the splendour, the colour is so brilliant, even in our children's mas and competitions.

Every year calls have been made by religious and government leaders to keep the festival clean.

As citizens we can do our part to ensure the festival is kept clean and incident free. Let us show the world we can enjoy ourselves in a clean and healthy manner, also we can show the world of our peaceful and harmonious existence side by side.

Wishing all citizens a peaceful and incident-free Carnival 2006.

Ken Smith, Woodbrook

DEAR EDITOR: I write in reply to the writings of Fr Henry Charles on the Apostles Creed. It is good to learn of the internal magisterium , and the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

The sad fact is that the non-believing and non-Christians outnumber those who belong to the Church.

People do not believe in God for a number of reasons; they may think that God does not prove himself, How are they to go about this? “ Be not conformed to the world but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the acceptable and perfect will of God ” (Romans 12:2).

Kathleen Radellant, Port of Spain

DEAR EDITOR: I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that Lloyd Cartar, my deceased husband, would have been deeply touched at such a large turnout of family, friends, faithful staff, clients, bankers, business associates, music and school friends of our children, Maria Regina staff, Fatima College staff, Providence staff, neighbours, parishioners, and well wishers, at his recent funeral at St Finbar's RC Church.

My family and I have been deeply moved by such a tremendous out- pouring of support, not only at Lloyd's funeral, but during his illness as well. Your prayers, your calls, your cards of sympathy, your offerings of Holy Mass in Trinidad and overseas, and your visits have been a balm for us.

We would also like to thank Frs Lawson, Seignoret (Herbert, not Eustace as I inadvertently said in the programme), Cockburn and Augustine for their beautiful concelebrated Mass, not to mention the choirs for lending their beautiful voices. Thank you too, Sisters of Cluny for your faithful presence and the Sisters of Rosary Monastery for their constant prayers.

To the DPP and members of the legal profession, thank you for coming to say adieu to Lloyd. To those members of the media who were able to come, thank you sincerely.

To Clark and Battoo Limited, thank you for your professional services.

May we also take this opportunity to thank all the doctors who attended to him during his illness, especially Michael Moses, Maria Bartholomew, Harold Chang and Thivy Kuruvilla and to those who were unable to attend Lloyd's funeral.

This letter of appreciation would be incomplete if we did not include Martin G Daly SC for his memorable eulogy, Percy Farrell for being helpful and the members of the T&T Visioneers whose attendance was inspiring.

To those who were immersed in their own grief and stopped to console us, we are grateful.

To our loving and almighty God, thank you for Lloyd, for his great strength, his loving devotion and his faithfulness.

Our prayers go with each and every one of you, and may God bless and keep you.

Yvette Cartar