Like smoking, open burning poses many dangers. There are many definitions to open burning among which are: Burning in the open, outdoor fire, burning in barrels, burning in incinerators etc.

I am writing to express my disgust at my neighbours who practice open burning almost every single day.

We, as a family, tend to get irritated and choked as the smoke easily slips in to the house through every nook and cranny.

Not only that, my sister has a 6month old daughter who needs special care. Small children are vulnerable to illness and diseases at their vicinity even smoke.

Before practising open burning, one has to choose alternatives such as to recycle paper products whenever possible, dispose of waste at your local landfill rather than burn it, yard debris, including grass, leaves and branches can be composted or mulched, reuse old lumber whenever possible.

However there are situations where open burning is allowed:

(i) Recreational fires and ceremonial fires where a fire is appropriate and is not used for disposal purposes.

(ii) The operation of barbecue equipment.

(iii) Fires set or permitted by a public agency for official duties associated with weed abatement, prevention or elimination of a fire hazard, a

hazard to public health or safety or the instruction of employees in the methods of fire fighting etc.

So my suggestion is that we burn smart, that is, use good burning practices to promote efficient burning and prevent excessive smoke:

(i) Assure that all combustible material is dried to the extent practicable. This includes covering the combustible material when practicable to protect the material from moisture including precipitation or dew.

(ii) Loosely stack or windrow the combustible material to eliminate dirt, rocks or other noncombustible material and to promote an adequate air supply to the burning pile.

(iii) Periodically restack or feed the burning pile to ensure that combustion is robust and completed efficiently.

Having mentioned the above, one has to think again whether burning is really necessary or not. Remember that, open burning pollutes the air and poses a fire hazard.

The air pollution created by open burning can irritate eyes and lungs, obscure visibility, soil nearby surfaces, create annoying odours, and is a danger to those with respiratory conditions. In conclusion, there should be a harsh penalty for this ignorance.

- Anti-Smoke

The Land Transport Department appreciates the opinion offered by "Awang Upgrade" referenced BB 09 March 2005 on the issue "Call to change the tinted glass rule".

We wish, however, to furnish dear readers especially "Awang Upgrade" that efforts have been made to introduce new rules and regulations as well as upgrade old ones as and when necessary; from time to time.

In 2003/2004 itself, through the formation of laws and regulation review team comprising relevant government agencies including the Ministry of Communications, the Attorney General, Ministry of Law, the Police Department, Public Work Department and a few others certain milestone have been reached in the amendment of existing laws, rules and regulations.

Although the effort is continuous, certain laws, rules and regulation are still considered valid to date such as that raised by "Awang Upgrade".

In the case of "tinted glass rule", if not related to the skin cancer cases in the country, it is still considered a safety and security related matter.

Further explanations on the matter can be obtained by contacting directly our Public Relation Office during office hours.

With regard to skin cancer statistic, we kindly appreciate "Awang Upgrade" to refer the matter to the right agency as it is not within LTD's purview.

Further, LTD would like to remind dear readers that laws, rules and regulations are introduced with good intentions. In the context of Land Transport Department, the many laws, rules and regulations introduced are intended for the proper reason(s) amongst others.

It is the duty of the Land Transport Department along with other Government enforcement agencies to regulate and ensure that all vehicles are safe to be used on Brunei roads.

Therefore, the LTD has been continually making checks and surveillance to ensure that all vehicles comply with Road Traffic Act, and Regulation on Construction and Use of Vehicles.

- Any modification or alteration from the original specification or type approved vehicles would be considered illegal, thus is subject to scrutiny by relevant enforcement agencies.

- LTD provides technical advice and services pertaining to any issues related to Road Traffic Acts, and Regulation on Construction and Use of Vehicles. The general public may contact our Technical Service Section during office hours at LTD in Beribi for further advice and assistance.

We hope the above clarifies LTD's position with regards to the matter.

- Public Relation Division
  Land Transport Department 
  Ministry of Communications

Forestry Department, don't spoil Bukit Shahbandar's natural trail!

I am a regular user of the Bukit Shahbandar forestry trail and find it hard to believe that the forestry dept is actually going ahead with concreting the natural walkways within the park.

Much of the natural beauty of the park will be lost because of this unnecessary work.

I refer to the complaint of one reader some weeks ago who claimed that the hills are "dangerous".

I would suggest that he find an alternative venue for his exercise and that the forestry department leave the unspoiled trail to the absolute majority of all Bukit Shahbandar lovers.

- Bukit Shahbandar Fan, BSB

In response to the Borneo Bulletin newspaper article by "Online Us" dated March 12, 2005, HSBC is pleased to inform readers of the Borneo Bulletin that through our Personal Internet Banking service, customers are already able to pay their bills to DST Communications Sdn Bhd and Krystal-Astro Sdn Bhd online.

HSBC has arrangements with a growing list of companies to allow you to perform the following transactions online at your convenience 24 hours a day , 7 days a week.

. Transfer money or make payments within Brunei and overseas

. Transfer money within your own HSBC accounts and make payments to third parties

. Pay your bills

. Buy, sell or swap unit trusts

. Order a demand draft

. Order a new cheque book

. Set up a future payment

. Set up an appointment to apply for a loan, credit cards or banking services

. Update your personal details

. Send and receive secure messages to or from the Bank

. Receive real-time information on your account balance and transaction history

. View e-statements for banking accounts and credit card accounts for upto 12 months

. Register your credit card with Verified by Visa and MasterCard Securecode online and make secure online Internet payments.

Register for this service and enjoy the convenience and security of Internet banking. Find out more about this service on www.hsbc.com.bn or contact Call Centre at 2 252252 for more information.

- Channel Management Department,
   HSBC Brunei

Referring to the profound 'Amazed Mother's' opinion on BB dated March 19, I was rather flabbergasted by her remark regarding the 'Growing Up Gotti' show.

I am positive that you are not compelled to watch the show.

Surprisingly, you have an option, whether to watch it or not. I personally think that other viewers including I have the liberty to watch the show since the bills aren't being paid by you.

Speaking of convicted criminal, I admit that quite a number of the Gottis who lived way back from 20-30 years ago are tagged as convicts due to their ill repute. But that was in the past, let bygones be bygones though you may find it hard to digest the fact. I am positive that Gotti's bloodline did not have convicts, otherwise they won't be living freely in America and, moreover, the 'Growing Up Gotti' wouldn't even exist. Anyway, you should be aware that 'Growing Up Gotti' is a reality TV show where raw issues of life are aired.

But we need to be guided by our conscience on how we accept the show.

- Annoyed Viewer

On behalf of ex-participants for the Basic Accounting Course, held last December 2004 in Temburong, I would like to say thank you and that I very much appreciate how the BINA Director and his official conducted the course for 10 days (once a week).

It seems that the course was important for the 'Koperasi' itself and at least we know how to prepare the books of accounts and the final account.

We learned more and gained new knowledge. Moreover, BINA Officials who conducted the course were very experienced and knowledgeable. They answered all questions very well.

Thanks to our teacher Cikgu Masri bin Haji Durahim, BINA officer and his assistant Awg Abd Rahiman bin Hj Kamis. Also thanks to Koperasi Pengangkutan Bersatu Temburong for giving us the cooperation, the venue for the course and officials from BINA, Temburong branch.

In future please conduct other cooperative courses such as Management and Administration, The Leadership course, The Sales Assistant Course and the continuation course for the Intermediate Accounting course in Temburong. Lastly thanks again to BINA Director and to Cikgu Masri and his assistant. Congratulations and keep it up.

We'll never forget you BINA, MIPR.

- Satisfied, Pekan Bangar

Referring to a letter on Saturday March 19, 2005. The Sinaut Agricultural Centre was established in 1964/65 by Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. Sdn. Bhd. as an agricultural small holdings enterprise in Kg Sinaut, Tutong.

In 1974, the centre was operated as a joint venture between Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. Sdn. Bhd. and His Majesty's Government as the Sinaut Agricultural Training Centre (SATC). It was handed over to His Majesty's Government under the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources on October 16, 1987.

As a training centre in agriculture, its first students were enrolled under the Young Farmer Resettlement Scheme in 1976.

The programme was then progressively expanded through the years to include a one year Rice Technician Course, a one-year Livestock Technician Course, a two year Agricultural Technician Course and finally since 1983, the Brunei National Diploma in Agriculture (BNDA) programmes.

On May 2, 1996, His Majesty, the Sultan and Yang DiPertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam consented to the transfer of the BNDA courses to the Ministry of Education and the transformation of SATC as the Resource Centre in the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

After 1996, it took 10 years for Ministry of Education to revive the certificate courses with the intended opening of the Wasan Vocational School in January 2006. It may take another few more years to revive the diploma courses.

Please take note 10 years is not recent (as implied in the letter) but a decade and nearly a generation has passed before the agricultural courses are being revived.

- Agri-Wise