The Editor, Sir:

Hartley Neita's column (December 15) beginning: "Jamaica College students were gentlemen in my time. So, too were the boys at Kingston College, Munro, Wolmer's ... " brought an ache to my heart and a tear to my eye. His time was my time also, and 'in our time' a lot of other things were different, and not just at school.

"In our time, sixth-form students of both sexes could go for moonlight walks across the (usually) dry Hope River bed up to Kintyre Scout camp on a moonlight walk without any fear except the anxiety of losing the last bus or tram from Papine and having to face our parents' wrath.

"In our time" anyone who travelled by foot beyond Gordon Town would be thought surly and uncouth if one did not exchange a pleasant "Good morning" with every person one encountered whether one knew them or not.

"In our time", an 11-year-old boy (me) could safely ride his bicycle by himself down to the 'Chiggerfoot Market' at 5 o'clock in the morning to buy a quarter pound of shrimp bait to catch tiddlers off Victoria pier.

'Whapi King' saga

"In our time", a murder was front page news in the Gleaner and water cooler conversation for at least a week - the 'Whapi King' saga was an incredible horror story that had the whole island petrified for months. Would it rate that reaction today?

"In our time" policemen ('Corpies') were respected, but only feared by those with guilty consciences.

"In our time" policemen earned and deserved that respect.

"In our time", on my first trip abroad, I was proud to advertise myself as 'a Jamaican'.

Today, I am still proud to be a Jamaican, and I keep revisiting my country as often as I can, but I hate the reputation with which we have undoubtedly been identified by many people.

I am, etc.,

CHARLES LEVY

Ontario,Canada