THE EDITOR, Sir:
ON CHRISTMAS Eve, I went to visit my elderly aunt at the Shirley Retreat House on Maeven Avenue and noticed what appeared to be a tree which had apparently grown up "overnight" on a property in close proximity to the aforementioned nursing home.
Realising fully well that this "tree" was not in place days earlier when I had last visited, I investigated further and learnt that what was disguised as a beautiful tree was in fact a Cellular Tower which had been erected by one of my otherwise favourite companies, Digicel.
Having lived elsewhere for many years, I am well aware that while not yet proven - much of the worldwide health authorities (including the World Health Organisation) are concerned that the radiation emitted from sites such as this could be harmful when one is exposed to same over a long period of time, this being especially true for small children and the elderly.
I am also well aware that in many countries, the erection of such towers within a 1-3 mile radius of residential communities is quite simply not permitted and I would be interested in knowing the law relating to same in Ireland where I believe Digicel's parent company is based.
POWER LINES
To be fair, I am also aware that many persons state that studies have shown that towers such as this are no more or less dangerous than the power lines which surround our residential neighbourhoods, although even these studies concede that the long-term effects are not known and will not be known for obvious reasons until sometime in the future.
All that being said, considering that there is admittedly doubt as relating to the safety of these towers, I feel strongly that my 90 something year old aunt and other elderly person on the avenue not be exposed to possibly harmful rays as she now appears to be and therefore ask Digicel to kindly consider the relocation of this site to a more suitable location preferably one not in the heart of residential communities.
On behalf of my aunt and, in particular the other elderly and small children who live in these communities, I publicly ask that Digicel do the noble thing and simply remove this contraption.
I am, etc,
JOSE BUCHANAN
Shortwood Road
Kingston 8
