Government's GPS PR campaign to top $40,000

Government is going all out to persuade the public to accept GPS and computerised dispatching.

It has already spent close to $23,000 on advertisements for the controversial GPS and digital computerised dispatching system, Transport Minister Ewart Brown told the House of Assembly yesterday, and another $17,000 will be spent in the two months.

He was responding in writing to questions submitted by his shadow Jamahl Simmons, who had asked for a breakdown in spending since 1999 on print and broadcast ads, and also wanted to know future spending plans.

Dr. Brown said that $8,322.50 had been spent on the design and production of 18 print ads and $5,015 on the design and production of 112 radio ads. Placement costs had come to $7,224.58 for print, and $2,226 for radio.

Spending for June and July were projected to come to $8,522.76 for placement of the print ads and $2,797.78 for placement of radio ads ? with an additional $5,333.75 to be spent to produce and distribution flyers through the Bermuda Sun.

Premier announces cash for needy Hispaniola

Government has made a $25,000 donation to the Red Cross for aid to the flood ravaged island of Hispaniola.

And, said Premier Alex Scott in a statement to the House of Assembly yesterday, Government will match up to $50,000 funds raised by the local Red Cross.

"It is sometimes easy for us in Bermuda to forget how blessed we are by the beauty of our country and its economic success," the Premier said. "But I am sure all members of this Honourable House will agree with me that our good fortune also places a responsibility on us to assist those less fortunate than ourselves."

Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the island of Hispaniola which was hit by massive and devastating floods last month.

"Early estimates of casualties indicate that this was a disaster of almost biblical proportions," the Premier continued.

"Over 1,500 people have lost their lives, many are still missing, and tens of thousands have been left homeless and struggling to exist without clothing, food and even the most basic human needs. The torrential rains and resultant floods have destroyed crops, homes and livestock. The water distribution system has been severely damaged, bringing with it the very real risk of water-borne diseases."

He added: "It is clear that those who are experiencing such pain and strife are in need of immediate assistance and it is likely that further help will be required for many months, and possibly years, to come."

Prepare for this season's hurricanes

The Minister for Public Safety, Randolph Horton MP urged Bermudians not to relax after Fabian but had a warning for everyone: to prepare their homes and families for hurricane season.

In his statement yesterday in the House of Assembly, Mr. Horton said that he had recently signed into effect the Emergency Measures Organisation for 2004.

He called it an "extremely important document" that was produced by Police and updated every year.

"It forms the basic response plan that we adopt when storms threaten. However like any good plan it is subject to change. Consequently, it has been modified significantly to reflect and encompass the many lessons learned during and after Hurricane Fabian", he said.

The extra vigilance was caused by the US based, National Hurricane Centre's prediction of an above average amount of storm activity this year. He said that residents "must make sure that our shutters can be fastened tightly, that our outdoor furniture can be quickly secured and that basic emergency materials like batteries, candles, propane cylinders and tarpaulin are on hand..."

He reminded people who live in areas susceptible to flooding to know how to get to higher ground. Hurricane season began on June 1 and lasts until November 30.

Surveyors to be registered

Professional surveyors will soon be able to put an official stamp on their work. Legislators passed the Professional Surveyors Registration Amendment bill over some Opposition concerns that the profession has not been consulted over the changes.

But Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield, who introduced the measure, said that the Council of Registered Surveyors had approached her with the recommended changes and she had agreed.

Led by Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simons, the United Bermuda Party also expressed concern that the stamp would impose a personal liability burden on newly minted surveyors.

Mr. Simons argued that the stamp should carry the name of the company, not the individual surveyor.

"A newly minted 23-year-old surveyor has to go out and buy himself professional liability insurance," he said.

His colleague, Maxwell Burgess, broke ranks with that argument saying that professionals once fully qualified should accept full responsibility for their work.

"I've never met anybody whose fees are less whether they are 23 or 103," Mr. Burgess said.

He added that many people and institutions relied on the work of surveyors and that it is "incumbent on professionals once they seek a designation to live up to their responsibilities".

Finance Minister Paula Cox defended the bill as "looking out for the little man" and recalled a story about a family of four who were killed when a bridge with faulty underpinnings collapsed.

"It's about accountability and it's about making people responsible for the consequences of their actions."