Fixing CableVision

October 1, 2003

Dear Sir,

I would like to say to CableVision that any month in which an individual who pays cable monthly and still doesn't have cable should be credited until he does have cable. I don't know if this makes sense to you but it makes sense to me since I still don't have cable. Nothing against the young women who work for CableVision (even the one with short hair, wears glasses and looks nice in her grey cardigan sweater - take this as a compliment please).

The guys who drive the vans are the ones who are supposed to be fixing the lines so that people can get cable so that you people at CableVision can get paid. They're also the ones people's complaints to CableVision should be directed to. All those women basically seem to know is how to handle when you pay the bill as well as giving you a receipt. Unfortunately, they don't seem to know when a cable worker will be in the area to fix the cable. Sad but true. Oh, well, that's CableVision for you.

NORTH SHORE RESIDENT

Pembroke

Safety for everyone

October 2, 2003

Dear Sir,

In hearing the speech made by our new Premier, Mr. Alex Scott, just prior to the arrival of Hurricane Fabian, I was bemused by a statement that Mr. Scott made. Our Premier emphatically expressed how he hoped that all Bermudians stay safe through the hurricane. Not once, but twice. all Bermudians stay safe.

While I appreciate Mr. Scott's concern for me as a Bermudian, I must ask - what of the safety of our expatriates, not to mention our tourists? Perhaps, in future, speeches being made to an Island-wide audience should be addressed to all "residents and visitors of Bermuda?" Just a thought.

BERMUDIAN WITH A BEEF

City of Hamilton

We need school buses

October 1, 2003

Dear Sir,

It is 7.45 a.m. on any weekday morning and I sit at the junction of Keith Hall Road and Harbour Road looking at the traffic that snakes back as far as the eye can see towards Belmont, hoping some nice soul in a car that is creeping along will let me in. What could have caused such a traffic jam you ask, a broken down car, an accident - no, it's the strange phenomenon - school's back in!

No need for costly Government surveys of why the traffic problem is bad. Anyone who travels to work on a daily basis can tell you that the morning traffic triples when the schools are back in session. I once read a letter to the editor where someone wanted the Government to ban any single expatriate worker from owning a car, somehow I don't think that is the problem. Many cars can be seen with mom/dad/nanny, who would not normally be in morning traffic, driving their special cargo to different schools around the Island (normally just one or two children). Isn't it about time that the Government introduces school buses - I'm sure much of this traffic would disappear - especially if parents were required to use the service and it was part of their school expenses.

An added bonus would be that it would be safer for the children. Most countries use a specially designed school bus with flashing lights that indicate a child is crossing the street and traffic cannot pass. The children could be picked up from specific locations along main roads and deposited directly at their schools (and vice-versa at the end of the day).

Of course I know the number one argument against this would be the cost. Another possible solution that would not cost anything would be to stagger the starting times of the schools. This would ease up the traffic as not everyone would be trying to get around at the same time. Action needs to be taken, think about it people.

R. POWELL

Warwick

Althea deserved better

September 30, 2003

Dear Sir,

Flattery will get you nowhere....

Althea Gibson, a renowned sports barrier breaker... first tennis then the WPGA, etc. A heroine no denying.

The point I'm attempting to make is, had it not been for those "pace setters" as Althea Gibson we today wouldn't be revelling in the accomplishments of other "people of colour" - the Williams' sisters, Serena and Venus, etc. have much today that Althea fought for, but hadn't received payment - such tribulation she had endured...

I was upset hearing on the evening news that she'd passed on, but more so, I am disturbed by the statement that she had nothing or next to nothing. Sad if true. This brings me to inject a little something, why haven't those who've become wealthy through the torments of other people - Althea Gibson among others haven't been or aren't rewarded by those who today make millions of dollars.

No one of colour who from sports today can honestly believe that they, themselves, made the road to riches alone. People like Althea Gibson (pacesetters) paved the road, I would like to see a portion of all successful athletes donate to a fund for the benefit of those people such as Althea Gibson - and possibly families of such 'pace setters'.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

St. George's

The $250m question

October 1, 2003

Dear Sir,

I was somewhat surprised at the unbalanced editorial in today's paper. Mr. Madeiros of Belco puts out a figure of $250 million to totally re-rewire Bermuda in the underground mode. As far as I know there are from 225-250 miles of paved road in Bermuda which equates to $1 million per mile and at this inflated price no country on earth could afford to trench. (I would like that contract with modern equipment).

I am not sure anyone wants all of Bermuda underground as he suggests rather that main trunks be underground. They are ugly and expensive in the grand picture when they go down from hurricanes.

You allude to problems in St. George's despite underground wires and in a contrary fashion, there are areas such as Sea Wall in Dockyard, Landmark in Southampton, Turtle Bay in Southampton who have underground systems and were with power from the first day post-Fabian. Millions lost power in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, etc., but you can guess that the areas with underground systems suffered less... A panacea does not exist for Mother Nature, and I doubt if a reasonable person would seek such. Amelioration and lessening the burden can and does exist for these ravages.

A balanced report would include the economic cost of all the man-hours of the Belco lineman, the crew from the West Indies, replacement materials, economic losses of businesses. The economic losses of the average citizen who disposed of untold quantities of foods, equipment etc. There is no price to be put on the suffering of the entire population from the hurricane itself and the three to four weeks of restoration.

The question is how much could have been ameliorated if Belco, Telco and Cable or whomever had formed a consortium decades ago to get most utilities underground in major or trunk areas. I would like to see the total cost for loss of electricity for all major hurricanes over the past two decades, to get a balanced picture.

There is something inherently wrong with the figure of $250 million. It is probably that you can run an undersea cable from Bermuda to Cape Horn for that price... (accuracy unreliable, stated to make a point).

Please consider doing an article on the REAL cost in terms of economic loss, business loss, income loss, health, social, spiritual, psychological and well being loss and any other relevant loss due to such massive power outages. And how much can be ameliorated.

I doubt seriously that a monopoly would present the real picture, as their job is to make money for their shareholders, (nothings wrong with that), Perhaps Government can take a proper look at real overall costs of this and other natural phenomena, and how best to solve it.

POWERLESS

Southampton

Blair scores with speech

September 30, 2003

Dear Sir,

After listening to the British Prime Minister's speech to his party conference in Bournemouth on BBC World this morning, I can only hope that at least a majority of the local Labour Party membership watched and paid attention to his speech, since it had a lot to say to those of a left wing conviction in this (or any other) area of the world.

Speeches at most political party conferences tend to be somewhat boring, sometimes repetitive, overly long and often bombastic, but Blair apparently had the audience firmly in his grasp as the frequently long stretches of enthusiastic applause seemed to indicate.

I admit that this may seem a somewhat invidious comparison but the quality of the politicians on this small Island does, more often than not, make one laugh (or occasionally, cry!).

TALKINGSENSE

Smith's