Mr. Editor,

I had been expecting the responses to be fast and furious concerning Foreign Minister Mitchell’s expose concerning recorded mobile ‘phone usage in the Bahamas, but hardly a word from the peanut gallery.

So here is my 5 cents:  Firstly is Minister Mitchell wearing earmuffs and blinders, because he is making so much noise about Bahamian ‘phone conversations, apparently, he could not hear that the Chancellor of Germany Angelika Merkel’s ‘phone conversations were also being taped?

Secondly and far more importantly, does Minister Mitchell not understand that there is no such thing as a “private” telephone call?  The major countries on this planet have had the capability for well over 30 years to record any and all telephone conversations, including fax messages.  The fact that they don’t is only because of logistics, all messages are monitored but, unless the monitoring hears specific trigger words, the message is deleted.

I always remember the words of a good friend of mine way back in the 1980’s who had offices over-looking the American Embassy and said, “Of course there are no private ‘phone calls, why do you think they” – indicating the Embassy – “have so many antenna on the roof, it is definitely not to watch Mickey Mouse from Los Angeles!”

George Francis