Senator was mistaken

October 14, 2003

Dear Sir,

I have been waiting for someone to correct Senator Walter Roban that joining Caricom had nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with linesmen coming here from the Caribbean to assist Belco with repairs after Hurricane Fabian.

Mr. Patrick Bean, interviewing Sen. Roban in the Bermuda Sun on October 8, should have known that Belco has been a member of the Caribbean Electric Association for 15 years and, according to their spokesperson, Mrs. Smith-Wilson, Belco have on occasions in the past even sent crews to the Caribbean (your paper of September 8 refers). He should also have known that linesmen came to help after Hurricane Emily. All of this long before association with Caricom.

KEEN OBSERVER

City of Hamilton

Positives and negatives

October 22, 2003

Dear Sir,

Now that the Island is virtually back to normal after the onslaught of Hurricane Fabian some seven weeks ago, I think the following deserve praiseworthy mention (and I apologise in advance if I miss any out!): The Police, as always in times of trouble of whatever sort; and my deepest sympathy to the families of Stephen Symons, Gladys Saunders and Nicole O'Connor.

The Reserve Police, especially those who had to man the Causeway in all weathers before things settled down.

The Bermuda Regiment (at least, those who showed up to answer the call!), who put in some sterling hard labour clearing fallen trees etc.

Belco, who must have been stretched to the limit over the past couple of months.

Telco, likewise.

Parks Department, who must have had a horrendous job cleaning up public parks and beach areas.

Works & Engineering staff, Island Construction and D&J, who did a marvellous job on the Causeway at all hours of the day and night.

And, despite the negative publicity they've had over the past couple of months, CableVision.

However, for every plus there is a minus, and I have to question the reasoning behind the strike, work stoppage, go-slow, industrial action, or whatever else one wants to call it that threw the Island for a loop the very week after Fabian had given us one of the worst batterings in living memory. Whoever was the brains behind that should (to paraphrase 'Monopoly') "go straight to St. Brendan's, do not pass GO, and do not collect $200"! I have not so far heard one word of support for the BIU in that instance, and, while I do think that CableVision should be getting its house in order very very quickly, I also think that that particular industrial action should have been settled "in house" rather than screwing up the whole Island, especially so soon after Fabian.

Anyway, enough on that matter.

DAVIE KERR

St. George's

Show some backbone

October 22, 2003

Dear Sir,

It's time the Government showed some backbone regarding this Bermuda CableVision fiasco.

CableVision has announced that people who have been without any cable service since Hurricane Fabian will be getting ten days credit when they have had no service for seven weeks! How absurd is that? How dare CableVision send out bills for October to be paid in advance when they knew very well most of the people who were billed had no service!

CableVision received payment in advance for September, but only gave four and a half days service in September because CableVision service went off at noon on September 5. It's the same as going into a store and paying for items that remain in the store while you go away empty handed! Come on, Telecommunications Ministry, please do something about this!

STILL NO CABLE TV

Warwick

Asthma management

October 23, 2003

Dear Sir,

According to the report of Steven (Pepe) Dill's inquest, death was found to be due to lack of medical attention for an acute asthma attack at the Prison Farm almost two years ago. I should like to express my sincere condolences to his family and can understand their anger and their reasons for planning to sue the Prison Service. I should like to suggest that this most unfortunate event may be turned into a positive one and for us to join hands and tackle this chronic disease as a community.

Open Airways, a Bermuda Registered Charity, has been working hard for the past six years educating health care professionals (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and pharmacists) working in the KEMH, doctor's offices, the community, schools, pharmacies and also the Prison Service. One hundred and twenty health care professionals have completed a six-month diploma in Asthma Care. We have also held workshops for teachers, firemen, businesses, PTAs, church groups, inmates at Westgate and many more.

With modern asthma medications and education asthmatics should be leading normal, healthy, unrestricted lives. An asthma attack is a failure of asthma management. In the past seven years admissions to KEMH for asthma have dropped by over 60 percent. This clearly demonstrates that we are making progress but I sincerely hope that Steven (Pepe) Dill's tragic death will encourage not only those working in the prisons and other Government Departments but also every asthmatic; every school, church group, office and business to take this disabling, life-threatening disease seriously. We can make a difference.

LIZ BODEN

Founder of Open Airways

Dangerous dogs

October 22, 2003

Dear Sir,

Much attention is now focused on the issue of dangerous dogs. This is not a new issue in Bermuda, and indeed shortly after I returned home in the early 1980s, I was horrified to discover that what I shall term ' attack training' classes were being conducted in a corner of Bernard Park. A variety of unsuitable breeds would be assembled on a regular basis, including Akitas, while a self appointed expert proceeded to 'teach' the assembled owners how to make their dogs bite onto a sleeved arm. This was and is a very far cry indeed from detention training as forming part of the advanced Sch?tzen trials involving detention of a suspect.

I sincerely believed back then that those in a position to make a difference would share my concern. Full of youthful enthusiasm to 'do the right thing' I made an appointment to see the Commissioner of Police to voice my worries, and share with him the knowledge and experience I had gained by training at the Hannover Veterinary University, the Veterinary University of Vienna and subsequently working as a veterinary surgeon in Germany and Austria and the UK. Such naivete ...

Here we are in 2003 still dealing with the same problem, except that it is exacerbated by 20 years of inaction.

1) There is still no licensing procedure for someone wanting to present themselves to the public as a 'guard dog trainer'. Off they go, usually to the US, take part in a ten-day course somewhere, returning home with a computer-generated 'diploma'. Presto, the 'expert' starts charging for the privilege of turning John Smith's Rottweiler, Mastiff or any other suitably intimidating canine into a 'security' (!) dog.

2) There is still no requirement for a dog which has thus been trained to wear an unmistakable and highly visible collar or harness indicating its training.

3) There is still no special screening of owners engaging in this 'security' activity and no special licensing registration of either owner or dog.

In theory, and in a stable, self-regulating society, I would be against breed specific legislation. Obviously it is scientific nonsense to suggest that phenotype always reflects a genetically coded temperament, a point, which has been made in extended testimonials from concerned dog owners in your Letters to the Editor columns. However, there is nothing like an indescribably painful experience such as mine to bring everything into very sharp focus.

I now believe that our society is simply not mature enough to deal with the responsibility of blanket ownership rights of any citizen to own large and demanding dogs (demanding in terms of food, exercise, containment, housing, training and health care). As long as the criminal element in Bermuda views certain dogs as an alternative to owning a lethal weapon - a legal and highly intimidating weapon, then the rest of us have no choice, but to accept the consequences of being part of this society.

Unfortunately there is little alternative but to surrender this privilege, along with the right to train our canines in the art of detention work, where this involves any physical contact of dog and suspect. Only in this way can the problem be contained: anyone teaching or promoting bite work would be committing an illegal act, and enforcement is simple provided the will is there.

However in light of a recent calculated violation by a former dog warden and 'trainer' of existing legislation with respect to 13 illegally bred Mastiff-Rottweiler cross puppies, and the fact that this person has been able to obtain an injunction to prevent their euthanasia, one can be forgiven for becoming an entrenched sceptic.

I think it high time for the public to demand consistent, unpartisan application of laws designed to protect us all. This is not a sentimental, a political or trivial issue. This is not an issue that non-dog owners can afford to ignore. It is an issue of human safety and animal welfare. Until Bermudians learn that once they have kidnapped a canine from its own social group and placed it in their human family, it better be a functional one! One that understands the very real social, emotional and physical needs of this sensitive animal. Those who can only control their dogs by inflicting pain (pinch collars, electric collars, ingrown collars, water and food deprivation, etc etc etc.) have failed, and have generated a potentially dangerous dog, in which case size and power of the jaws does become a critical factor.

DR. A. M. WARE-CIETERS

Pembroke