Experts say: Don’t fear Y2K

The Millennium Bugbusters in Switzerland have done their job.The government's delegate dealing with the Y2K problem, Ulrich Grete, says that the chances of a major disruption in essential services over the New Year holiday are virtually nil.

The Millennium Bugbusters in Switzerland have done their job.

The government’s delegate dealing with the Y2K problem, Ulrich Grete, says that the chances of a major disruption in essential services over the New Year holiday are virtually nil.

Special Y2K teams in various branches of the public and private sector have dealt effectively with the problem over the past few years, he told a news conference in Berne on Wednesday.

Flanked by representatives from the post office, gas and electricity services, the SAir group, the Swiss Federal Railways, retail food chains and telephone and telecommunications companies, Grete said that Switzerland was also well prepared for possible Y2K-related problems beyond its borders.

In areas concerning air traffic, gas supplies and telephone links, there has been close collaboration at the international level, he said.

Other speakers also expressed their optimism that the problem had been effectively dealt with, but said that extra staff would be scheduled to work over the New Year to handle unexpected problems.

Grete also urged the public not to start hoarding foodstuffs or withdrawing large amounts of cash from the banks in anticipation of problems.


From SRI staff.