The Editor, Sir:

Having had time to reflect on the recent and very great loss of our dear, The Hon. Lousie Bennett-Coverley and the grand gala of a funeral that was afforded to her and that of her late husband, Eric Coverley, I would like to bring to light one simple thing that the Government and all those responsible for this near state funeral seemed to have overlooked. The capital city has no theatre. Across the park from the very church where Miss Lou's funeral service was held stands The Ward Theatre, whose stage boards were graced by her light feet and noble body for several decades.

The Ward Theatre was a gift to the nation by the late Col. Leslie Ward, around the turn of the 20th century. It was constructed with the finest materials and architectural embellishments that were available at that time. It has seen some of the finest world class and local performers and has been the training ground of many Jamaican theatrical performers. It was the birthplace of the Little Theatre Movement where Greta Burke Fowler and Henry Fowler nurtured the establishment of the Pantomine and as such gave birth to Miss Lou and Mas Ran (Louise Bennett and Ranny Williams), Lois Kelly Barrow and countless others. It could be said that without that professional theatre available to them they could not have developed their style and art to the level they achieved and also enhanced the local vernacular to an acceptable level.

'Poppy show'

It is, therefore, hard to believe that the Government asked the directors of The Ward Theatre to stand outside that theatre as a mark of respect to Mrs. Bennett-Coverly and behind the facade lies an institution dying from wanton neglect. No big 'poppy show' can be achieved in pumping funds into the Ward Theatre that after all was a gift to the nation, and only silence from that noble house can now be audible. In other words, the legacy the Mrs. Bennett-Coverley left will be silenced with her passing as there will be no theatre for future 'Miss Lous' to come from.

Below this great theatre lies a once great city, also a subject of neglect and decay. 'For Sale' and'For Rent' signs are everywhere where the buildings are still standing. What a disgrace that the nation's capital is crumbling and decaying; its once lovely boule-vards, Edwardian buildings, and magnificent waterfront will soon be history, very much like Miss Lou.

One thing that successive Jamaican governments have been quick with, even at death, is to spend for a political point, but they have all been completely negligent in preserving our cultural heritage. What a shame it all is, this senseless loss and scorn for our history that has developed out of ignorance and insensitivity. Downtown Kingston is our most treasured asset and is being allowed to disintegrate because of the lack of vision by those at the helm.

I am, etc.,

E. CHARLES HANNA

18-20 King Street

Kingston