Naked ambition

September 20, 2003

Dear Sir,

How is anyone supposed to identify the yellow-hooded bandit when his "naughty bits" have been covered, boxed out and just plain censored, perhaps someone will recognise his chest hairs!

How about some equal time here? Is there a female exhibitionist out there who is willing to wear a pink hood and go prancing through the bushes of Southampton? My camera is at the ready. I just hope I can hold it steady.

GRAHAM BURGESS

Devonshire

Alternative energy

September 18, 2003

Dear Sir,

I was at first amused by the 'Powerful Lines' contributed by DJCT, dated on September 17, referring to the almighty power of Belco, but how many other people are concerned that this is our only source of energy for daily living?

Thanks must go, in spades, to the hardworking and dedicated folks who got out as soon as the wind abated and began the clean-up process. Many thanks too to the organisations who donated or brought to the Island the extra tarpaulins and generators and so on. However, I am sure we are aware that those generators are really noisy, very expensive to feed and can contribute to air and water pollution. Clearly they are suitable only for emergency use.

As an isolated community we need to be looking at the long-term viability of residential energy independence. Burying the cables after Emily would have helped, but we need an alternative source that we can really depend on whose price will not increase!

The present residential rate, including the fuel surcharge and after deducting the prompt payment discount, has crept up to $0.2388 per kwh. This is dramatically higher than most other parts of the world, due in large part to the need to import diesel fuel across the ocean to generate electricity.

Solar energy is a silent, clean and constantly renewable resource, which should be readily available to everyone, not a luxury to be enjoyed only by the fortunate few who can afford the initial investment in solar collectors and the related component parts of the system.

There needs to be a lobby to Government for abolition of import duty on any components of solar collection equipment, whether it is for solar hot water generation or for generation of solar electricity. There are a number of component parts to this equipment and at present they are all dutiable with the exception of the actual solar collectors.

You may not be aware that Belco have so far resisted any suggestion that the community might be encouraged to generate solar energy on roof tops and from small wind generators which could be fed into the grid during the day, with a system of reverse metering, allowing use of grid electricity at night at a reduced rate.

A grid linked system can be set up to enable the householder to store a reserve in an array of batteries with an inverter, use what he needs during sunlight hours and feed the grid with the surplus, or contribute the whole output, through the inverter, to the grid. This is common in parts of the US.

The environmental benefit of diminishing the level of demand upon commercially generated electricity would be a noticeable reduction in greenhouse gases and less cost to Belco in that there would be less urgency to build ever bigger and more powerful generating plants.

Wind generation has come a long way too, so that the residential size wind generators are virtually inaudible. The initial investment has been made greater by the need to purchase batteries for storage. If grid connection were made possible then the initial investment would be less daunting and the Island could be cleaner, and, in emergencies, quieter!

My purpose in writing to you is to endeavour to bring together a meeting of influential minds to help resolve the energy problem in Bermuda before the next hurricane hits, or some other crisis occurs, like a worldwide shortage of diesel fuel for example. (World politics is fragile, conflicts generate shortages overnight.)

I do not know to what extent the failure of the electricity supply has contributed to the insurance losses generated by Fabian, but it would be wonderful if the Government, banks and insurance companies could find a way to come up with a programme of loan assistance to needy home owners with families who would benefit from the security of energy independence.

I do not believe I am alone in this project, please if you agree with the ideas expressed here, clip the letter, mark it up and send it to your MP, or whoever you feel will be influential in helping us prevent another crisis like the one we are struggling out of now.

For those who would like more information I can be reached at 236-9953.

MARGARET DYER-FORSTER

City of Hamilton

BIU action was 'repulsive'

September 20, 2003

Dear Sir,

I am a Bermudian studying abroad in Canada. After Fabian I have been making extra effort to keep in close contact with my family, keeping up to date on how they and Bermuda are recovering.

Until last night I was incredibly proud of my Island home, which had weathered this terrible storm and come through it with the loss of only four precious lives. Even though there was an incredible amount of damage to the Island itself, Bermudians were not going to allow it to cripple them.

The Regiment were working hard to get the Causeway functional, Belco was working hard to get the power back on, the construction workers were working hard to replace roofs. I was proud because Bermuda was pulling itself together and working hard to get back on its feet after Fabian.

Like most Bermudians who were not home at the time of the storm I made sure to collect information where I could, I read the newspapers on the Internet and I saw the pictures of what Bermudians had been through and survived. Yes I was proud, until last night. Last night I called home and I found out that at a time when Bermuda as a whole was limping after the blow it had received, when the economy was staggering under the loss of tourists and the bleak forecast for the rest of the tourism season, the Island's public transport decided to go on strike. In doing so they have managed to shoot Bermuda's economy in the foot, an injury we cannot afford. Bermuda's reputation is its lifeline, especially when the cruise ships have made the effort to keep the visitors coming and maintain as much as possible our economy, such as it was.

For the entire Island's bus, and ferry systems, not to mention the dockworkers, to be shut down by a strike can only be described as repulsive. The short-sightedness of the key players in this decision boggles the mind. I have read the articles describing the alleged reason for this action, and while the CableVision employee may have cause to contest his treatment by his employer, an Island-wide wildcat strike, freezing the recovery efforts of thousands of people, leaving thousands without transportation and halting the repairs to hundreds of roofs is a ridiculous course of action.

The only possible explanation that I can think of is that someone, and I won't speculate on who, had some kind of ulterior motives. If you have issues with the way you were treated by an employer you take it up with their superior, or if necessary, call a lawyer. But for the union to, without warning, halt the recovery of the entire Island? And not only that, but to ruin the vacations of thousands of tourists who came, in good faith, to support Bermuda at this time. Now thousands of voices will spread a negative opinion of Bermuda in their countries of origin and threaten the income of a large percentage of Bermuda's population for next year's season.

To all of the Bermudians whose lives are being made even more difficult, to all of the tourists who spent money to come on vacation and are regretting their choice, to all of these people I apologise for the actions of an unthinking few. To all of the union members who voted for this strike and all the others who went ahead with it, even if they disagreed perhaps seeing the damage it would cause, to these people all I can think to say is that I hope you are proud of yourselves, because I'm certainly not any more.

ASHAMED

Ottawa, Ontario

No time to strike

September 19, 2003

Dear Sir,

I have travelled extensively throughout the Caribbean, the US and Bermuda, which I've visited six times, staying at Newstead, Waterloo House, Glencoe (twice), Palm Reef, and The Reefs. Bermuda is our favourite Island to visit.

My son had given us a weekend at the Sonesta Hotel as part of our 35th wedding anniversary celebration. Unfortunately, your recent hurricane will prevent us from experiencing that trip.

I am writing for two reasons. The first is to wish you well in your attempts to recover from your recent losses (especially for those who lost loved ones on the Causeway; they are in our prayers). The second reason is to suggest your government employees consider the impact of their actions in this time of your special needs. This is not the time to strike; it is the time to reconstruct your magnificent Island. They can strike in the future. Do they think the public safety personnel in New York City would've been on strike after 9/11?

I believe you owe it to yourselves and to your visitors, who pay more to visit you than any other island, to consider the possible negative impact this strike will have on your Island. Perhaps, some will try other island's and find they are also nice (and less expensive).

I am taking my entire family on a cruise to Bermuda next September and look forward to seeing the progress you've made. Good luck in your recovery efforts.

BOB CHISHOLM

North Falmouth, Massachusetts

'Convenient' principles

September 20, 2003

Dear Sir,

It is interesting that the BIU called upon workers to do two things: (1) strike and (2) return their CableVision set-top boxes in protest. Yet, while hundreds choose to strike, only ten choose to return their set-tops.

It seems that their principles extended only to taking the day off work.

What message are we sending to our children about principles if we only uphold them where it is convenient?

JONATHAN YOUNG

Smith's Parish