It is not a matter of either or it should be both

Friday, July 14, 2006

Dear Sir:

With regard to Carol Hay's recent comment that Walkers had donated thousands of dollars towards the blue Iguana recovery programme, while the Pines Retirement Home was going begging, I think it is important to note that that such things can never be an either or situation.

The Pines is in desperate need of support from the community but that should not detract away from the fact that Walkers' donation to the Iguana programme is also essential.

These creatures are critically endangered. They live nowhere else in the world and Cayman is the custodian of this beautiful creature which will be lost forever if we cannot bring it back from the brink of extinction.

Pitching charities against each other is unhelpful. The Pines needs help as well as the blue iguana programme and it should not mean one should do without for another to flourish.

Charity is dependent on the choices of those giving away the money who must decide where their donations go.

In an ideal world, the aged are taken care of through Government taxation and should not be dependent on handouts from the community. Of course the Pines is one of the most deserving causes, however we must be weary of saying one charitable organization doesn't deserve money because of the plight of another.

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