We need this special day

October 7, 2003

Dear Sir,

Please allow me a little space in your newspaper to commend Premier Alex Scott and the Government for their decision to hold a national day of thanks in the aftermath of Hurricane Fabian. Although some appear to see this event rather disparagingly as no more than an opportunity for the Island to "give itself a pat on the back" many people of faith in this community view it in a far different light. Because not only will it allow us an opportunity to thank those who assisted in the recovery effort but more importantly to thank God for sparing this Island even greater loss. With Minister of Youth and Sport Dale Butler at the helm many of us are anticipating an occasion of "historical significance".

On another note Minister Butler has recently come under fire for doing what many perceive to be an about turn on the Cuban issue. Like Mr. Butler I personally have reservations about our involvement with that island but I accept his explanation regarding his duty as a Minister and the whole notion of collective responsibility. To expect him to resign his Cabinet seat over this matter as a few have suggested would I believe deprive this country of an individual who has the ability to make a great contribution to his community as a Cabinet Minister.

RECMAN

Devonshire

Beware of speed demons

Dear Sir,

It is all right that the letters to the editor are focusing on CableVision, BIU, Belco and Hurricane Fabian and the Causeway but when will people recognise another problem: speed and the ones who do it?

I think this is a topic that needs to be addressed as well since there seem to be a lot of suicide riders - youths who speed up/down on their bikes, weave through traffic and most likely would strike a pedestrian while riding.

Car/bike pack racers - pretty obvious what these people do.

Speed demons - these are so-called drivers who seem to want to speed every day of the week. One is a woman who speeds (I would have said drives but what this girl does isn't exactly driving). She has so far avoided getting caught on North Shore Road by hiding around West Pembroke School.

'Distractors' - this is what I would call drivers who speed while talking on a cell phone. They're so busy in a conversation that they become unaware of what's on the road (that's how Tyaisha Cox was killed).

These are the people Bermudians, who are trying to better their lives, need to watch out for because these idiots are not helping out Bermudians on the road but trying to end theirs or someone else's life.

THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED

Pembroke

CedarBridge style

October 4, 2003

Dear Sir,

I like how CedarBridge has turned out, sending out most of the unruly students and the achievements they've made and stuff.

Two questions remain, though, what made you guys want to use cranberry instead of red and why have all the students wear pullover sweaters (including the girls)? I would've figured the girls would be allowed to wear school cardigans to school instead of long sleeved pullovers (just a thought).

EX-DEVONSHIRE ACADEMY STUDENT

Pembroke

The hurricane rerun

October 5, 2003

Dear Sir,

Why is it that each hurricane or other disaster which strikes this Island appears, to all intents and purposes, as an almost identical rerun of its predecessors? It would seems that the board of every affected facility on this Island is interested only in the profits of the organisation and has no regard for the long-suffering public. In addition, the employees of these organisations would appear more like a bunch of saboteurs than an employed workforce. Most of the labours which they perform seem to be handled in a fashion which has little regard for the consumer, only for the immediate benefit of the members of the shop floor staff.

The worst of the organisations is undoubtedly CableVision, having what appears to be the most appalling workforce/management relations in the western world. They appear to be ignorant of what to do with regards to breakdowns, but worse, they seem to have little knowledge when work is attempted or how to perform it!

Also, I have heard that Belco, under pressure, considered placing its cables entirely underground some years back but rejected the concept in that it would be too expensive for the shareholders. So it would seem only fair that the cost of repairing the lines after such an event as Fabian be borne entirely by the shareholders.

As for Government, they don't and never have known even vaguely what to do or which way is up, but the voting public have to be held responsible for that.

IRATE CUSTOMER

Pembroke