Disappointing announcement

November 10, 2009

Dear Sir,

Like every other ferry commuter from St. George's I was very disappointed to hear about the suspension of service effective November 23. We have all come to rely on that ferry as an alternative to the frustrating traffic pile-ups in and out of Hamilton (which Government has failed to address). What is even more frustrating, and almost laughable, is that it is being defended as a cost-cutting initiative. According to the 2009-2010 Budget Statement the ferry service falls under "Cabinet Office Departments", which has a total estimated budget of $131,539,000. Most would agree that two trips between St. George's and Hamilton, five days a week, is a drop in the bucket compared to the overall Cabinet budget. It becomes even more insignificant when compared to the overall Government budget of $966,888,000.

If Government wants to get serious about lowering costs let's look at some of the bigger ticket items; cruise ship terminal at Dockyard ($25,000,000 over budget), the interest on our current national debt (interest estimated to be $30,000,000) and Government's use of consultants (estimated to be $96,900,000). To defend this suspension of service as a cost-cutting initiative is an insult to the taxpayers' intelligence. If anything it is an example of Government's inability to encourage residents to use the public transportation system more effectively.

K. SMITH

St. George's

Where was security?

November 10, 2009

Dear Sir,

After a thoroughly enjoyable evening at the Rugby Classic on Monday night, I left to walk back to my car which was parked at CedarBridge (for a charge of $5). When I parked, there were attendants to take my money and direct me down around the back of the school to the only available spaces that were left – the very last parking lot on the premises; I had no issue with this at the time. What I do take issue with, is the fact that when returning to my car at about 11.45 p.m., there were no attendants or security anywhere in sight at CedarBridge.

Luckily, my boyfriend was there to escort me to my car, but if I had been travelling alone it would have been a very long, dark and lonely walk; and we both agreed that it was not a safe situation for a woman to be in. If CedarBridge, and the Rugby Classic, are going to offer parking for guests of the event, then I believe they have a duty to ensure there is visible security on the premises until all people have left the event (there were clearly still hundreds at the tent following the game).

If late night security is not an option, then a shuttle to take people back and forth from the main gate to their vehicles would be an excellent solution for ensuring our safety.

JENNIFER LAPSLEY

Pembroke

Practice what you preach

November 18, 2009

Dear Sir,

Through this letter, can I ask the Post Office to practice what they preach. Since you recently returned a heavy and expensive piece of equipment of mine to the USA, simply because the only error in the whole address was that the postcode had one letter wrong, can I ask that you desist from filling my mailbox with material addressed "To The Occupier". No name, no address, no postcode – nothing. I will be returning the offending material to my nearest Post Office.

SMITH'S

Time to call Whitehall

November 10, 2009

Dear Sir,

Earlier this year, the Premier suggested bringing a SWAT Team to the Island. This seemed quite an extreme measure at the time but is now beginning to make sense. But why not use the people who train SWAT Teams? The gang problem could be solved very quickly by the Premier if he simply asked his good friend the Governor to make a call to the powers that be in Whitehall. All that is needed is one or two SAS officers in Bermuda for a week and the gangs and their guns would be neutralised, the drug network severely compromised and nobody would have a clue what was going on. Law-abiding citizens need to be given some sense of hope.

WHO'S KIDDING WHO

Warwick