Horrified by dog picture

August 28, 2001

Dear Sir,

I was horrified at the picture on the front page of your paper today. Well done your Editorial.

I have a suggestion as this is not the first time this has happened, dogs and horses, who knows what will be next?

Place electrical observation surveillance poles all around the Pembroke Dump; this kind of surveillance is being used very successfully all over the world to combat crime and assist identification.

DIANA WILLIAMS

Pembroke

Crack down on breeders

August 29, 2001

Dear Sir,

Yet another horrific Pitbull story on the front page of today's Royal Gazette. I wonder when someone in authority is going to have the courage to do something constructive about these so-called pets. Time and time again we get the reports in the daily paper and yet no action is taken. Are we waiting until a child becomes a victim of an attack? Or are we going to bite the bullet now and put some legislation through the House to ban these animals once and for all.

Is Pitbull breeding against the law as it stands today in Bermuda? If not, the law needs changing fast, to include the banning of the importation of these animals as well.

Fines should be made to really hurt and I am not talking $1,000 to $2,000. Increase the penalties to $10,000 or even more. I am sure we are aware of the vast amounts of money being made from breeding and fighting these animals.

I would say that 99 percent of the population of this Island agree with me on this score, so come on you MPs, get something going on this subject and win some votes. It will be on your heads if someone gets seriously hurt or even killed by one of these so-called pets.

PLEADING PET OWNER

Paget

Cablevision will improve

August 30, 2001

Dear Sir,

I would like to address some misperceptions about Cablevision mentioned in recent media stories or in letters to the Editor.

The first issue that I would like to clarify for your readers relates to our converter boxes. We are currently in the process of rebuilding the entire cable TV plant, to make Bermuda Cablevision a state-of-the art system. The converter boxes are simply a part of that upgrade, which also includes installation of a new fibre backbone for the island, as well as replacing all the electronics that were previously deployed. The rebuild will allow Cablevision to provide better picture quality, more channels and new services to customers.

The converter boxes we are providing represent the latest technology in analogue converters. They are currently installed in millions of homes in the US and throughout the world. The boxes are rated to the highest safety standards and are UL and FCC approved. Contrary to what some readers of your newspapers have suggested, they have no capability whatsoever to invade

Anyone's privacy, nor can they record information or images about customers, or what they may be watching. Their only purpose is to bring the signal to our customers and allow them to access a number of new services Cablevision is providing in conjunction with the enhanced cable system.

These converters allow our customers to experience improved picture quality and enjoy a number of new services including premier pay-per-view channels and a built-in interactive programme guide. They also allow customers to make changes to their service without having to wait for a service technician. In addition, the boxes provide parental control and an auto-clock recording feature, as well as other capabilities that will allow us to introduce additional services over time. For example, customers will be able to order pay-per-view movies without calling Cablevision, once we complete our upgrade.

As for the issue of scrambling, it is the industry-accepted method used by cable TV companies around the world to protect themselves from loss of revenue. Just as people lock their homes and businesses to protect their valuables, we scramble signals to prevent unauthorised use of our services.

To facilitate customer transition to the new converter boxes, Cablevision has created a dedicated channel and provided a video to show customers how to install the converter. These boxes are as easy to hook up as a VCR, so they require no service visit. We have also reminded customers that the boxes revert to "sleep" mode if they are left unplugged for more than six days. If the box "falls asleep," it can be "awakened" simply by plugging it back in and leaving it overnight. All in all, use of the box is a simple procedure, and one that is well worth the effort in terms of the many benefits provided.

We hope that our customers will understand the "growing pains" associated with the upgrades to the cable system, which also included installation of a new phone system. It is unfortunate that over a brief period of time, a number of calls to our offices were missed, for which we apologise. We have increased our service team and office staff in order to better serve our customers.

The other issue I would like to address concerns the lawsuit filed against Cablevision in New York, which raises nothing new as far as we are concerned. For more than a decade, Cablevision has been engaged in an effort to get Bermuda recognised as a legitimate market for the distribution of the movie channels and other programming that these companies are offering the rest of the world.

In 1989, Cablevision made a decision to make the substantial investment of building a cable TV system for Bermuda. We made this decision based on the contract we had at that time with MPEAA that entitled us to broadcasting rights for programming. However, since that time, the MPEAA has breached this contract by not putting in place the licensing arrangements they were to provide. Without this, there is no mechanism whereby we can pay them, though we have repeatedly attempted to do so.

If the issue were as simple as just paying up what may ultimately be due, Cablevision would have settled this lawsuit a long time ago. However, until Bermuda is recognised by the suppliers as a legitimate market, it is impossible to know what precise amounts are due and to whom. There are numerous entities involved including the MPEAA and the motion picture companies in addition to program suppliers not represented in this litigation. Some are claiming conflicting amounts are owed them. Others are vastly exaggerated and make little sense. Since these entities refuse to acknowledge Bermuda as a bona fide market in the first place, it is difficult to understand the basis upon which they can legitimately put forward a quantifiable claim.

Cablevision wants to see these matters dealt with in an equitable way, and we are hopeful that a negotiated settlement can eventually be reached. In the meantime, we think it is important for the public to be aware of these facts.

With this letter, we hope that your readers will gain a greater appreciation of the depth of our commitment to the Bermuda market and to our customers. We look forward to serving you for many years to come.

JEREMY ELMAS

General Manager

Bermuda Cablevision Ltd.

Gays do not have rights

August 24, 2001

Dear Sir,

I refer to the article which appeared in The Royal Gazette on August 24, 2001 headlines "Gays should 'come together' to get equality on agenda".

Duane Santucci's comments on the human rights issue, which are quoted in the article, show a woeful ignorance of Bermudian law. Mr. Santucci states that homosexuals are already protected by laws that have been in place for years. This is simply untrue. Homosexuals are not protected from discrimination under the Human Rights Act at all, whereas Christians are. There is no need for Christians to seek special rights, as Mr. Santucci urges, because discrimination on the grounds of religion is already unlawful under the Human Rights Act. Homosexuals are not looking for special rights, as Mr. Santucci suggests, but for the same rights to protection from discrimination which most other people in Bermuda (including even convicted criminals) enjoy.

Mr. Santucci's view on what is or is not moral is irrelevant to the human rights issue which is not a matter of religious belief, but of law.

KEHINDE A L. GEORGE

Warwick