It is good to see that more Bruneians have included themselves in their way of healthy lifestyles. But there is a downside of it for other motorists on the road.

Cyclists sometimes chose peak hours to ride their bikes on the main roads.

This is dangerous as the roads are busy and everyone is in a hurry.

Even more so, some of the cyclist daringly cycle on the white line itself and take up some area of the car lane. This holds up traffic.

Cars have to at most times slow down and follow the cyclist's pace and only overtake them when there are no cars on the opposite lane.

Then there are some cases instead of slowing down, ignorant motorists just maintain their speed and suddenly go over the opposite lane to avoid colliding with the cyclist.

But in order to do that, they are actually endangering themselves and other cars by risking colliding with the upcoming cars from the opposite lanes.

Could cyclists please avoid the main roads? And if they do use the main roads, could they be more considerate and stay behind the white line?

- Worried Motorist

With respect, the department would like to refer to the opinion letter by Frustrated Swimmer regarding "Toilets at National Stadium Need Urgent Attention" that was published in the Borneo Bulletin Vol: 10 on 30th July 2005.

First of all the department would like to thank Frustrated Swimmer on the issue raised. For Frustrate Swimmer's information, the dapartment through the Swimming Pool Management have already tackled the problems (improving the toilets).

Regarding the stagnating water at the doors between the toilet and swimming pool, the department would like to inform that this has been provided to remove or clean any dirt on the feet of the pool users before they enter the swimming pool. For further cleanliness of the pool users, the stagnating water has also been added with antibacterial (Dettol).

At the same time, the department hope that all the pool users will help maintain the cleanliness of the facilities provided by His Majesty's Government by obeying all the rules and regulations at every complex.

- Abang Zamhor OKPSD Abang Hj Abu Hanifah
- Public Relation Unit,
- Youth and Sports Department,
- Negara Brunei Darussalam

Not words are needed, but only actions for these humble creatures.

So many words have been said about having an animal shelter for all the neglected, abused and abandoned animals.

I am in favour of this humane treatment for all these humble creatures. However, some sort of action is needed now.

A decision must be made as soon as possible; perhaps a fund can be set up raising money for a shelter. A committee of animal loving people who have authority can decide the best course of action to solve this problem.

The problem itself is of course world wide not only affecting Brunei. I firmly believe the good compassionate people of Brunei can solve this effectively, ensuring its reputation for caring in all matters.

It will be a big undertaking but must be tackled. Take for example the stray cat problem. Many people here feed them. However they breed very quickly and many of the kittens are abandoned, drowned, left to die alone but if there was a free mobile vet who could come along on request to sterilise these cats, then believe me, people would be a happier.

The cats would be quieter and if fed regularly with all the food bins securely tied, then everybody would benefit.

There are so many good, kind and concerned people here who want to help stray animals but they do not know how, so please help us.

Can some authorities show us the way?

I, like many others, would be willing to volunteer my time in helping these helpless animals.

- Concerned Public, KB

It has been a long time since the highway of Seria to KB had been given some attention.

The road is simply not in a good condition.

The road is so jumpy. Excuse me, this is a highway. And where on earth could a highway be so jumpy. I have always wanted to complain about it till the day that I nearly had an accident due to the bad jumpy road.

I was driving from Seria to KB at a speed of 100km/h and after I overtook a lorry, I went back to my kampong but at that time, the road was not balanced and my car jumped when I applied brakes.

At the end my car ended up in skidding off the road and nearly overturning.

I have been facing such problems a few times now. I hope the Road Department will do something to prevent unwanted tragedies on the roads.

- Fortunate But Angry

Charged more for a mobile phone

I went to a vendor to buy a new mobile phone.

They quoted a price, which seemed quite high.I tried to bargain but the best price they gave me was actually the initial price they quoted to me. I'm a shopper that lacks the bargaining skill.

I chose to buy that phone even though I was charged extra 3.5% for using my credit card. And 3.5% of 900++ is a lot.

I went home only to find out that another branch was selling it at a much more lower price.

And even if I chose to use my credit card the price would be much lower. I felt cheated and being taken advantage of.

I wasn't informed by the salesperson that I might get a cheaper price if I went to their other branch.

I hope a responsible body could do something about consumer protection.

All shops need to be fair to their customers. I'm choosing to get a new phone in Brunei because it is convenient and secondly to support our local company and hence our country's economy.

But I don't know, after all this. I really felt cheated.

- Loyal Local Shopper

My daughter had a fever a week ago, then she started getting red spots on her feet and ulcers in her mouth. I brought her to a private paediatrician and she was diagnosed with the Hand Foot and Mouth Disease or better known as Coxsackie Virus.

I was worried and decided to get a second opinion from the paediatrician at a Government Clinic near my home and it was confirmed that she had the virus. Although I was told it is not dangerous but it is very much contagious amongst children below 10 years of age and there was one point some years back where the virus was fatal.

I was also told by the doctor at the Government clinic that for the past 2 months there has been many cases of the Coxsackie virus spreading. I am just worried that if proper action and prevention is not taken, the situation may get worse and if the virus spreads from one child to another, then the case will be ongoing. I just dont understand if it has been spreading for the past two months, why hasn't the Ministry of Health inform the public and take safety precautions about this?

I, as a mother of a very young child suffering from this disease, am very much worried and believe that anything that concerns children should be taken seriously.

- Worried Mother

In reference to your Saturday August 13th Borneo Bulletin article on the escape of four entrapped Filipinas from a Labuan den with the aid of the Philippine Embassy in that country, I wish to add these comments.

I observe that Brunei too is in a unique position to aide such victims.

The United Nations sponsored research by Wong and Saat (UN Global Programme Against Trafficking in Human Beings: Wong & Saat, 2002) accurately profiles the RM one million per month Sex industry in Labuan where girls as young as fourteen are exploited.

The exploitation of these victims is skillfully manipulated by applying the tools of fear, intimidation, physical violence, hopelessness and cultural entrapment.

The bosses of these brothels are powerful men who become rich off the misery of their victims, but their operations are venerable in that they rely on the trips to Brunei to keep their operations ongoing.

The entrapment begins with unscrupulous agents in the Philippines and Indonesia who offer young girls lucrative employment abroad, but with the full knowledge that they are sending them to Labuan or other slave dens in Malaysia.

It is usual for some, who are often looking to support their desperate families, to borrow money from loan sharks to pay these agents and their airfares into Malaysia. In so doing, they are debt entrapped when they arrive in Labuan.

Their worthless contracts state conditions of work and employment including free meals and accommodation as they work as 'waitress', but they soon find out that their brothel bosses impose numerous fines on them. Before long their debts to the "Company" soon amount to "credit" in thousands of ringgit.

Their situation is hopeless and these victims are terrified that knowledge of their hideous situation will become known in their home communities and bring shame upon their families.

According to informed sources, these girls are locked up in Labuan all day in houses with maybe 20-30 others and made to work in bars from 7pm to around 4am every night.

They have no freedom of movement or basic human rights. They are under constant stress of police raids and are usually in Malaysia on illegal documentation.

Their passports are usually confiscated and sometimes given new identities and dates of birth via fake passports and I.Cs issued in Zamboanga. If they don't work hard their credit to the Company is substantially increased. The victims are thus exposed to STDs such as AIDS and unwanted pregnancies.

There are older girls, the bar "Mummies", minders and certain ferry personnel who keep close watch to ensure they don't try to escape.

The girls are terrified that they may be murdered if they do.

What I suggest is that the Indonesian and Philippine embassy here in Brunei work in conjunction with the Royal Brunei Police and Muara Port Authority to actively help these victims escape this life of terror.

If there is an active campaign at Muara Port to inform these girls they have friends in their Embassy and the Royal Brunei Police, then some may find the confidence to escape from their minders when they arrive in Brunei for their monthly chops.

When the minders and ferry personnel arrive in Brunei, can't we find a way to arrest and prosecute them for their crimes against humanity?

- A Friend.