Power at just about every home on the Island has now been restored following the destruction caused by Hurricane Fabian - and Belco will this week begin fixing street lights.

Belco spokeswoman Linda Smith said Belco was at the end of its restoration process, as it related to those who originally lost power during the hurricane three weeks ago.

“The remainder are customers who may have had building damage that requires preparatory work on the part of their contractor before electricity supply can be restored, and in all cases we have made arrangements to return to them,” said Ms Smith.

“We are also responding to calls regarding subsequent problems, given that many of the repairs made since the hurricane were temporary and will need to be made more permanent.”

She said as of Friday afternoon, Belco had about 20 trouble calls, which included returning to customers who had supply restored after Fabian but were still having problems, such as partial current.

The spokeswoman said technicians were responding to the calls as they came in.

“Where we can, we are shoring up temporary repairs which may be most critical, and next week will begin moving on a rehabilitation programme to strengthen the system.”

Ms Smith said now the majority of homes had power, Belco would begin to concentrate on restoring power to streets that were still in darkness. She said troubleshooters were out at night looking at where problems existed and they would begin working on the most serious areas first.

Ban on dangerous dog breeds still in effect

The dog ban that went into effect in July is still in place as the current Environment Ministry and the private dog sector work together to review a new plan.

Dog groups, claimed that the Government had failed to discuss their plans to ban specific breeds from coming to the Island and being bred and they are now working with the present Ministry to push ahead proposals.

“There are lots of ideas but putting them into practice is the difficult part,” Government veterinarian Dr. Jonathan Nisbett said.

Mr. Nisbett said what happened to respected member of the dog community and veterinarian Dr. Maureen Ware-Cieters, who was mauled by a cross-mastiff, was horrible.

Several of the Mastiff breeds including Cane Corso, Presa Canario, Japanese Tosa, Boerboel, Argentine Mastiff (Dogo), Brazillian Mastiff (Fila) were listed on the ban as well as Australian Dingo, Akita, Pit Bull terrier and Staffordshire terriers .

But Dr. Ware-Cieters said in an article in The Royal Gazette that she wanted a ban on training dogs to attack, as she believed that training is what spurned the dog to attack in the first place.

“The former Minister was interested in preventing injury before it occurred,” Dr. Nesbitt said.

“We're looking at not having a ban or stopping people from breeding the dogs but rather controlling the breed. It makes it more complex and subject to loopholes though.”

The ban is still existing and will be until a new plan is in place but Dr. Nesbitt said getting rid of the ban means it is harder to control what is done with the dogs that are brought in.

“We're finding a better degree of public safety and we're still in discussion with dog groups and stakeholders.”

Red Cross looking for volunteers

The Bermuda Red Cross is asking Bermudians to help support its Hurricane Fabin Relief Fund appeal to assist those in the community affected by the devastation created by the worst storm to hit the Island in 50 years.

The Red Cross has been working with the National Office for Seniors and Physically Challenged and the Salvation Army to collect funds for those in need.

The funds will help to provide water, food, clothing, prescriptions, specialised needs and home repairs.

Anyone who can help man the hotline a the National Office for Seniors and Physically Challenged should contact 236 8253 to donate their time while anyone who wishes to make a donation can do so by mail to Bermuda Red Cross, Hurricane Fabian Relief Fund, Charleswood, 9 Berry Hill Road, Paget. DV 03.

Thieves busy over the weekend

A camera, radio and CableVision box were stolen from a house in Rambling Lane, Pembroke, over the weekend.

The complainant said that her home was broken into some time between 6a.m. and 6p.m. on Friday.

An unknown quantity of cash was stolen from gaming machines at a property on Woodlands Road, Pembroke, between 2.30 a.m. and 3 a.m. yesterday morning.

Anyone with any information should contact Police headquarters on 295 0011 or the confidential Crimestoppers hotline on 1 (800) 623 8477.

Bus service update issued

Government has announced that resumption of full night service for buses between Dockyard and Hamilton and Hamilton to Grotto Bay. The routes end at midnight.

But the 7 a.m. St. George's emergency tender service has been cancelled effective today and there is now only one catamaran ferry running the St. George's-Marginal Wharf-Hamilton route.

Meanwhile, the Marine and Ports Department is advising the public of changes to the ferry system, also effective from today.

The St. George's 7 a.m. Bermudian service will be cancelled, although the remainder of its schedule will remain the same.

And there will only be one fast ferry servicing the St. George's, Marginal Wharf and Hamilton route, due to a decrease in passenger loads. The fast ferry service will return in a limited capacity to Rockaway in Southampton - leaving Hamilton at 6.55 a.m., 7.55 a.m., 5.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.

All other trips along the Rockaway route will be serviced by one of the Somerset ferry boats.

And the West End ferry service will return in a limited capacity with Dockyard, Somerset, Hamilton routes being serviced at 7.30 a.m., 9.45 a.m., 11.45 a.m., 1.45 p.m., 5.30 p.m. and 7.15 p.m., Monday to Friday. For further information, call the Hamilton ferry terminal on 295-4506.

Bloomberg, Berlusconi meet in New York

Tucker's Town neighbours Sylvio Berlusconi and Michael Bloomberg agree on one thing - they don't much like the media, even though both have made fortunes from it.

New York newspaper Newsday reported yesterday that Mr. Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, and Mr. Bloomberg, the Mayor of New York, met at New York City Hall on Wednesday.

“What do two media moguls who parlayed their billions into political careers talk about when they get together?” the newspaper asked. “How much they hate the media.”

Newsday said when Mr. Bloomberg greeted Mr. Berlusconi on the steps of City Hall, they were swarmed by Italian and American reporters who craned to hear their utterances.

“I put up with this every day - I'm sure you have the same thing,” Bloomberg, estimated to be worth $4.9 billion, said after hugging Berlusconi, who is supposed to be worth twice as much, the newspaper said.

Speaking in Italian, Berlusconi said of the mayor: “I urged him not to enter politics, but he hasn't given me the reason why he decided to do so.”

The newspaper said the two millionaire-politicians had crossed paths many times.

The two became business partners in 1997, when Bloomberg LP partnered with a Berlusconi-owned company on ‘Bloomberg Italy', an Italian-language business broadcast.