This morning’s letters focus on the Deepwater Horizon rig disaster, waste recycling, the Lockerbie bomber, and a holiday enjoyed without the ‘torture’ of jet skis.
Evidence the Americans didn’t want to hear? Sir,-It had long been rumoured it was company policy on all the US Transocean rigs to switch off vital warning systems to let off-duty workers sleep.
Mike Williams, the chief technician in charge of the Deepwater rig’s electronic systems, has now confirmed these suspicions in evidence to a federal investigation.
He admitted that the crucial safety device designed to shut down the drill shack when dangerous gas levels were detected had been disabled at the time of the explosion.
The rig’s unreliable computer system had also failed to indicate that a vital valve inside the blowout preventer (designed to shut down the well) had been damaged.
This is the evidence Obama and Congress had been dreading because it switches the blame away from BP to routinely lax American supervision and drilling procedures.
(Dr) John Cameron.10 Howard Place,St Andrews.
Food waste bin hazard
Sir,-Mrs Jill Mackay writes (July 24) complaining that she and thousands of others have been left with stinking and hazardous food and garden waste bins following the decision by Perth and Kinross Council only to empty one bin per fortnight although they have been assessed as requiring two.
I have to wonder if the council has undertaken a risk assessment of this change in practice under its duty of care obligations, and whether it is prepared to make them available publicly, or at least to those affected?
It is impossible to believe that if food waste was being left out in the summer heat for this period of time by a hotel or restaurant that the local enforcement authority would not use its statutory powers to make the offending business remove what would clearly be regarded as a serious health and safety hazard. Why should domestic food waste be considered differently?
Mrs Mackay and all those other householders affected should lodge a formal complaint with their local enforcing authority which is … let me check, ah, Perth and Kinross Council.
If she has no luck, she should then consider complaining to the Health and Safety Executive who, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, have responsibility for inspecting the activities of local authorities and may have powers in this matter.
M. Duncan.100 Craigie Road,Perth.
Reputation muddied again
Sir,-Scotland’s reputation has again been dragged through the mud on a world stage, this time by a combination of United States politicians struggling to boost their home popularity ahead of elections, a British Prime Minister keen to protect the reputation of oil giant BP, and some home politicians opposed to the SNP on any issue, seeking to play local politics on an international stage.
It was wrong, a mistake, and profoundly misguided of the four US senators to use the world’s media to summon Scotland’s First Minister and Justice Secretary to account before its Foreign Affairs Committee, though many will hope the Scottish Government will be as open as possible in its exchange of information with Washington.
To many, it displayed a gross misunderstanding of the Scottish Government’s role and limited powers under devolution, but it is also a very real slap in the face to the Scottish people, tied to America by bonds of blood, and whose men and women have died and continue to sacrifice their lives supporting the USA in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The problem for the US senators is that no one with half a brain believes the Scottish Government had any involvement with oil deals in the desert. As the UK Government doesn’t even allow Scotland to negotiate its own fishing deals in Europe, it would be a fantastical leap, even for the talented Mr MacAskill, to be brokering international oil deals while also deciding the fate of Mr al-Megrahi.
The fact remains that MacAskill rejected the Prisoner Transfer request (the basis of the oil deal claims), but was bound by precedent set by previous Scottish Governments and Scottish Office Ministers to release Megrahi on compassionate grounds it’s that simple.
While Scotland can be proud that First Minister Alex Salmond and his Justice Secretary were diplomatic but firm in their responses to the US Senate Committee, we have witnessed the appalling spectacle of the UK Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Ambassador in Washington falling over themselves in a clumsy effort to rubbish Scotland and defend BP.
It must now be a profound question for everyone in Scottish society whether Scottish foreign relations are best served by a UK Government, which has set itself so clearly and fundamentally against Scottish interests abroad.
Kevin Donnelly.26 Blackfriars Street,Manchester.
No jet skis, happy holiday
Sir,-During a recent holiday to Canada my husband and I were amazed at the facilities available on lakes, rivers, and even the waterfront area of Vancouver, for the various modes of travel such as canoes, sail boats, cabin cruisers and even people brave enough to swim.
The scenery was amazing and whilst watching all this activity I also noticed just how tranquil it all was. Then the penny dropped! There was not one jet-skier in sight. Throughout the whole time there we never saw one of these fellows and their followers.
How right the Canadian authorities are to put a stop to a few noisy individuals spoiling the surrounding area (and no doubt making it safer) for the majority who like the area for what it is, beautiful, and a haven for wildlife.
Why won’t the powers that be, both in Dundee and Fife, put a stop to it at once? Help stop this torture inflicted on the majority of us all for the sake of a bit of mindless noisy “pleasure” for a small minority? Stop sitting on the fence; do something before there is an accident!
Sylvia Norrie.1 West Shore,Inn Street,Tayport.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.