The Editor, Sir:

Congratulations to your photographer-writer Paul Williams on the Lifestyle feature 'The drum, the dance and the spirit', in your July 10 edition. He has captured some of the priceless moments of Jamaica's cultural heritage still being kept alive (thank Heavens) by organisations like the Charles Town Maroon Council, for which we should be duly grateful.

It is reassuring to see that besides the daily dose of dissension and ugliness, there are positive events still taking place in our country. Even more heartening, as Mr. Williams' photographs show, is the fact that efforts are being made to involve a new generation to understand the heritage and - we hope - carry it forward.

In this regard, I'd wish to draw attention to the work of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), which continues to do a remarkable job in the preservation and dissemination of our traditional folk values, particularly through schools islandwide.

I am, etc.,

BARBARA GLOUDON

Kingston 5