The Editor, Sir:
As the agency of record for the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), we were sorry to learn of the passing of one of Jamaica's cultural icons Louise Bennett-Coverley, and I wish to express my sympathy to the government and people of Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region on behalf of Ruder Finn. She was a phenomenal woman who made an indelible contribution to Jamaica's culture, and the country is richer having greatly benefited from her pioneering work.
Miss Lou's legacy at home and abroad has many aspects, but one of the most enduring is that of bringing the local dialect to acceptable levels in her native land, by way of her poems in Jamaican patois. It is a wonderful resource for the people of Jamaica and for the many other cultural institutions, which she influenced.
Please accept our condolences at this difficult time and let us not mourn but celebrate her life and give thanks for work and impact. She was indeed a remarkable woman, and has made a difference in the lives of many people, not only Jamaicans in Jamaica but those residing overseas.
Her legacy will remain a key component of our public relations efforts, as we promote what is truly the Genius of Jamaica.
I am, etc.,
RICHARD FUNESS
President, Ruder Finn Americas
