The Editor, Sir:

I was walking along the glorious seven miles beach in Negril some weeks ago and saw a lady walking her several dogs along the beach. I was so outraged that I decided not to speak with her. I wondered if this was a regular practice. How could anyone walk dogs on our beaches and why was she allowed to? As I went for a walk the following morning there she was again - walking her several dogs as usual. However, this time dog defaecation was strewn all over the beach.

There are other reasons decent Jamaicans should be outraged by this practice as well as the general cleanliness of Negril and other heritage sites. While property owners at Negril clean their section of the beach, the cleaners do not clean debris and garbage near the water, leaving that section unsightly.

I am disappointed, embarrassed and ashamed by our lack of civic pride, not only for our beaches but other heritage sites.

Do we have beach wardens at Negril and our other popular beaches? If not, why not?

Should we expect better? I do, but perhaps I shouldn't - just look at Port Royal, Hope Gardens, Devon House, Spanish Town heritage sites, our courthouses and historic buildings all over Jamaica - name one that is properly maintained, looks better or is better than it was 20-30 or 40 years ago. Other countries cherish, treasure and protect their beaches and historic sites for their citizens; we do the opposite - allowing our dogs and sometime humans to defaecate on them. It is a crying shame, and downright disgrace. The decent citizens of Jamaica need to rise up and demand better.

I am, etc.,

HENNIS SMITH

hennis@cwjamaica.com