September 24, 2002

Dear Sir:

Now that CableVision is back on the air, maybe we can move on to “less important issues like the war on drugs, or the way we allow some of our young people to disrespect our beautiful Islands”. I refer to September 20 headline in the Mid-Ocean News. “$15,000 cocaine deal on the rocks”. I refer to September 24, Page 2 of The Royal Gazette “Teenage gang took law into their own hands”.

Sir, have we all become gutless trembling cowards? Will history reveal to our grandchildren, how we allowed a handful of young traitors to destroy this wonderful place while we fought tooth and nail on the talk shows about who was responsible for the blacking out of our cable! Now I know why we call the TV the idiot box.

Will our grandchildren read about how we stood by and watched in silence as a few young and not so young, selfish, greedy parasites, turned Bermuda into a dirty stinking whore that we used to call paradise!

If we are not bitterly disappointed and angry about the legacy we are about to pass on to our future generations, then shame, shame, shame on us all and God help us all.

GEORGE W. SMITH

Pembroke West

September 24, 2002

Dear Sir,

OK, enough is enough! I have just finished reading an entire page of “CableVision bashing,” and again I have to say enough is enough! I would be the first to admit that CableVision's service has not been the best, and at times far from even satisfactory but in all fairness to the company, let's see things for what they are.

The current management of CableVision have only been here for two years. When they inherited the company they inherited all of the problems with it and just like our new Government want us to remember, it is going to take more than two years to clean up the mess that was left behind.

And it will certainly take more than a one year license to motivate CableVision to commit to making the necessary improvements.

I have heard the complaint about not getting a refund when cable is off, and to that I ask, “When have you ever received a refund from BTC when your phone is out of service?” By the way BTC is an essential service CableVision is not.

I know from experience that after a rainy weekend my phone was out of service for four weeks and I still received my monthly bill, for a phone that I was unable to use, for equipment rental and all of the features on my line. The most hilarious part was when I did not pay the bill, they sent me a “reminder” and a little note that my phone would be disconnected and there would be a preconnection fee of $30, hmm... a preconnection fee for a phone that was already out of service.

If you take a moment to reflect o n what improvements have been made, and the commitment of $10 million to invest into the betterment of CableVision and give them a half a chance, you may realise that right not, CableVision have a better track record then our “new Government”.

No, they have not introduced fast ferries, personalised license plates and a mandatory seat belt law, but I think four years from now, we will have more pleased with the strides CableVision have made then that of the Government of the day.

So unless we are going to start handing out one year licenses to every company we are not satisfied with and every governing party who are not deemed to be satisfying the people, I say enough is enough!!!

HAD ENOUGH

Southampton

September 24, 2002

Dear Sir,

I was incredulous to learn that the Human Rights Commission okayed the advertisement put in The Royal Gazette by a Muslim family. There appears to be one rule for one and another rule for others.

I would like the Human Rights Commission to reply (via this newspaper) to let me know if they would approve the following advertisement: Wanted - Housekeeper with special qualifications:

The preferential candidate should be someone who can speak Celtic and Gaelic. The successful applicant must be able to dance the highland fling. Knowledge of Celtic folklore and history would be a distinct advantage, especially if it involves St. Patrick.

I look forward to learning IF our Human Rights Commission in Bermuda consider the above “suggested” advertisement” to be discriminatory.

NOT HOLDING MY BREATH FOR A REPLY

Smith's Parish

September 25, 2002

Dear Sir,

Has anyone noticed that the butchery department of Works & Engineering has been at it again?

I was horrified to see what had been done from the junction of Paynters Road and Harrington Sound Road going towards the airport.

Also has anyone noticed the yellow line in the middle of the road - again on Harrington Sound Road coming up to the junction of Wilkinson Avenue. Perhaps it was the machine's fault that the line isn't quite what it should be.

While I'm writing I might as well ask the question - will “Letters to the Editor” be swamped with letters from people trying to get their refunds from CableVision? Earlier in the year it seemed the only way to get any service from CableVison was to ensure that your letter got printed... (I'll be honest I did get my letter printed and they were round the next day!)

AN OBSERVER

August 29, 2002

This letter was addressed to Mr. Dan Simmons at PTB and copied to The Royal Gazette

Dear Sir,

We write on behalf of our father and grandfather who was so shoddily treated by one of your supervisors on August 28, 2002 at the Hamilton Bus Terminal at approximately 5 p.m.

My father, a senior citizen, yesterday lost his wallet which contained the Senior Citizen Bus Pass issued to him by your Department, over two years ago, however, he did have a photo I.D., which stated his age, this he explained to the bus driver of the No.1 Route bus. Whom in turn, directed him to a supervisor, whom flatly denied his request to ride the bus.

My father explained that he had no money as his wallet and contents thereof had been lost that day. Another bus driver, having more compassion was willing to take my father on the bus, however, the supervisor intervened and did not allow my father access to the bus.

My father, because he lost his wallet did not have any money on him. My father is lame and was in excruciating pain yesterday afternoon and merely wanted to get home. I am outraged at this lack of compassion and human understanding.

I fully understand the policies and procedures that are in place regarding travel via passes, etc., but for goodness sake, if a situation arises of circumstance, cannot some decent common sense be used and each case treated on its own merit?

It is obvious to all that my father is indeed a senior citizen, and further, he has a physical disability. To deny one access under the circumstances cited, is outrageous, ridiculous and borders on evil. It amounts to a blatant display of abject and sick abuse of power and control by your supervisor.

We know nothing will be done about this incident; not even as much as an acknowledgement of this letter and we are sure we will be told, that policy and procedure has to prevail, and to which we are telling you is a lot of unfounded nonsense!

Albeit, but for our own consolation, we want the records to show what type of people are in control and operating the public transportation service in Bermuda, and service which the public are encouraged to the point of bombardment, to utilise.

As for me and my family, we will have no part of the public transportation system and the supervisors and drivers with their nasty and dogmatic attitudes. I have seen them act atrociously to the young, old and local passengers alike. Oh, not to mention the tourist whom they treat like dog-dirt. Their responses to simple questions asked by our visitors is so venomous and unkind. The majority of the supervisors and drivers are awful people, from the top to the bottom.

The public transportation system needs not just a revamping of vehicles, but a major revamping of supervisors, drivers, and those in high places... Pick the bones out of this one, science has proven that all decay starts from the top.

WALIA MING

For and on behalf of the Ming Family

Flatts>