Welcome to our new Feedback site.
We encourage you to forward you views and concerns.
In particular we would like your views on the importance of the 2 vessel
service to your ferry use needs and any comments you have on the
current state of the second vessel.

Please send your comments along by posting directly on the web site or
emailing the webmaster at regdurdle@bellisland.net.

We will pass along your comments and feel free to contact Government
officials directly.

Ed Kent-Committee consultant

Name: Gloria Davis Smallwood
Email: gussmallwood@hotmail.com
From: Mt.Pearl,Nl

Comments:

very reliable,punctual and safety minded

Name: bob sweeney jr.
Email: bobbysweeney@hotmail.com
From: trenton,ontario

Comments:

keep things the same.

Name: GLORIA DAVIS SMALLWOOD
Email: gussmallwood@hotmail.com
From: Mt. Pearl,Nl

Comments:

very dependable service,friendly staff,lots of smiling faces.

Time for us to speak out and support the Ferry Users Committee....everyone should email Tom and Danny....forward to whoever.....paste it where ever

Marilyn

----- Original Message -----
From: Marilyn King
To: wstminister@gov.nl.ca
Cc: priemer@gov.nl.ca
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 10:09 AM
Subject: Bell Island Ferry

Mr. Rideout,
It's early Saturday morning and I was shocked to read on the VOCM website that you feel Bell Island is recieving a good ferry service. Let me share with you one good reason why I stronly disagree with your comments.

My parents live on Bell Island with my younger sister who has Down's syndrome. My father is a dialysis patient who receives his treatment 3 times a week at the Waterford Hospital Dialysis Unit. My father is unable to drive due to his medical condition ,therefore my elderly Mother has to escort him 3 times weekly. Meaning that she has he also take along my sister. Their day starts usually at 5/530 am . They get the first ferry and by 8am they are at the hospital. (I have to give my Mom a lot of credit for learning how to drive in the city...she never did before so this is nerve recking at the best of times for her). After receiving his dialysis they usually rush to the ferry ..hoping to catch the Noon crossing. Well this week they haven't always made the ferry due to the 1 ferry service. Therefore they have had to sit in their car and wait 3 hours for the next ferry.
Is this acceptable for our seniors, especially our sick seniors?
Waiting around for 3hrs in a car...there are no facilities worth talking about other than the local coffee shop. Imagine being on the go since 5 am you had your breakfast, a Snack at the hospital not lunch, your body has undergone the usual trauma associated with dialysis, you then sit and wait for 3 hours with no lunch. ..I wonder if you would even survive this routine 3 days weekly.
The cost of these weekly trips have become unmanageable. My parents are seniors with a fixed income. They receive no help for Dad's medical expenses. With the cost of gas and ferry rates, along with their oil bill for home heating they can't afford to buy lunch on those 3 days a week. So trying having your breakfast at 5 am and not eating until 330 or 4 pm dur to the lack of ferry service to Bell Island.
Mr. Rideout you owe the people of Bell Island ,especially my Parents an apology !!! You have fallen down on this one and my advice to you is to resign from your Ministerial position.
The people of Bell Island deserve better !!!

Marilyn King,
Grand Falls/Windsor