Daily Herald Letter - Mercedes De Windt - School trip to Anguilla Dolphinarium planned? - 23rd November 2006

Upon information and belief, some of the dolphins have died while being in "captivity." Not much mention was made of that at all.

I appreciate the comments regarding tropical species of dogs from Anguilla being sent to New England, when there are so many stray dogs all over the U.S. without owners or homes. Why aren't they being adopted. I guess they are not as "exotic."

Sadly, in the days when Anguillians had much less, each family had some "stark" (cows, sheep, goats, lambs) chickens, cats and dogs. All were well cared for and children were known to bond and learn to responsibly care for their pets. It put a smile on their faces and love in their hearts.

However, that has all changed, pets are being spayed and neutered and sent to New England for "adoption." Pretty soon there will be no dogs left on the island, unless someone takes a stand to keep our rare species of dogs on the island; so there will be no excuse to ship them off to places where their furs are not capable of keeping them warm.

Let's save the dolphins and learn to care for our pets like we did "back in the day."

Ms. Dewindt's letter prompted me to make this comment. I commend her for her caring and sharing her thoughts and her advocacy and activism on and around the issue of dolphinariums vs. the adverse affect it might have on the children who were planning a visit.

I do believe though that yes children are impressionable, yet on the other hand they should be given the opportunity to view the dolphins unnatural habitat, and thus form their own views on the matter. As a matter of fact, I would hope the children who are opposed to the dolphins in the unnatural habitat would send letters and become active around the issue. My point is the experience provides an experience to heighten their awareness that can be channelled into positive activism.

One more point is this "a people without a vision shall perish." I am saying that to say this - Anguilla's national symbol is three dolphins on the "revolutionary flag" that symbolize "strength, courage and endurance." How can a nation that was born of a unified collective revolution allow their national symbol to be degraded.

My final point is this one, when anyone allows others to think for them, you are not in control. It is not only about the dolphins, who are these people that are permitting Anguilla rare species of dogs to be given to people in New England? All of a sudden Anguilla's dogs (that are tropical) are being sent to a cold raw climate? I think this issue needs to be addressed more openly. Besides, if Anguilla gets the reputation of not being a pet friendly place, it could have a negative impact on its economy.

I do encourage and support all those who speak out of their own convictions, again I say it again, the dolphinarium is in Anguilla, because someone in control did not think deeply of all the ramifications of this issue...as the late Malcom X would say, "they have been bamboozled" "they have been had." The idea was given to them and they fell for it.

Personally, I wish them well, but I will end on this note "a people without a vision shall perish." How can anyone allow our national symbol of the dolphin to be degraded, how can anyone allow these creatures of the earth to be in an unnatural habitat?